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History of San Francisco Solano
San Francisco Solano. The last Franciscan mission established in
California. The removal of the sick Indians to San Rafael had proved so
beneficial that the proposal was made to move the San Francisco (Dolores)
mission to some more favored spot on the north shore of the bay. The country was
explored and the Sonoma valley favorably reported. The cross was first planted
July 4, 1823, but work did not begin until Aug. 25, when a party arrived from
San Francisco. Objections were raised to the transfer, however, and it was
finally compromised by founding a new mission, the old ones not being disturbed.
Neophytes were to be allowed to go to the new mission from San Francisco, San
Rafael, and San Jose, provided they originally came from the Sonoma region, and
new converts might come from anywhere, but no force was to be used. The mission
church, 24 by 105 feet, was dedicated, Apr. 4, 1824, to San Francisco Solano. To
avoid confusion it was commonly called Solano, and later Sonoma. At the close of
1824 there were 693 neophytes, of whom 322 had come from San Francisco, 153 from
San Jose, 92 from San Rafael, and 96 were baptized at the new mission. In 1830
there were only 760 neophytes, though 650 had been baptized, and as only 375 had
been buried, many must have run away. The highest number, 996, was reached in
1832. The mission was not particularly prosperous. The large stock numbered
2,729 in 1830, small stock 4,000; but these numbers were about doubled by 1834.
The crops for several years averaged more than 2,000 bushels. There were 650
neophytes in 1834. The total number of baptisms was 1,312, of whom 617 were
children. The mission was secularized in 1835-36 under Vallejo and Ortega. The
movable property was given the neophytes, who were free to go where they
pleased. Owing to troubles with hostile Indians they seem later to have restored
their stock to the care of Vallejo, who managed it for the general welfare.
Affairs seem to have prospered under his care, and Bancroft estimates that in
1840 there were still 100 ex-neophytes at Sonoma and 500 others in the
neighborhood. Vallejo conducted several campaigns against hostile Indians. The
pueblo of Sonoma was organized in 1835. In 1845, when Gov. Pico was planning the
sale of the missions, Solano was declared without value. The buildings and
immediate grounds, of course, as with all the missions, remained in the
possession of the church. In 1880 these were sold, and for a time the old church
was used as a barn. Lm 1903 the old buildings and grounds were purchased by
William R. Hearst and deeded to the state of California. Some work has since
been done to preserve the buildings from further ruin. The Indians in the
neighborhood of this mission belong to the Olainentke division of the
Moquelumnan family , but many of the neophytes came from more distant stocks,
the Copehan especially being well represented. The following names of villages,
taken from the mission books, are given by Bancroft (Dist. Cal.,
ii, 506. 1886): Aloquiomi, Atenomac, Canijolmano, Canoma, Carquin,
Cayrnus, Chemoco, Chichoyomi, Chocuyem, Coyayomi (or Joyayomi), Huiluc, Huymen,
Lacatiut, Linayto (Libayto?), Loaquiomi, Locnoma, Malaca, Mavacma, Muticolmo,
Napato, Oleomi, Paque, Petaluma, Polnomanoc, Putto or Putato (Pulto or Pultato
or Pultoy=Putah cr. ?), Satayomi, Soneto, Suisun, Tamal, Tlayacma, Topayto,
Ululato, Utinomanoc, Zaclom.
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Handbook
of American Indians, 1906
Indian Missions of the
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