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History of San
Luis Rey de Francia Mission
San Luis Rey de Francia (Saint Louis, King of France, commonly contracted
to San Luis Rey). A Franciscan mission founded June 13, 1798, in San Diego
County,
Cal. It was the last mission established in California south of Santa Barbara, and
the last one by Fr. Lasuen, who was aided by Frs. Santiago and Peyri. The native
name of the site was Tacayne. Occupying an intermediate position between San
Juan Capistrano and San Diego, it seems to have been chosen chiefly
because of the great number of docile natives in the neighborhood. On the
day of the founding,
54 children were baptized, and the number of baptisms by the end of the year
reached 214. Fr. Peyri, the head of the new mission, was most zealous and
energetic, the natives were willing to work, and by July 1, 6,000 adobes were
made for the new church, which was completed in 1802. Other buildings also were
constructed, and neophytes rapidly gathered in, so that by 1810 the number
reached 1,519, a more rapid growth than in any other mission, while the
death rate was the lowest. The mission also prospered materially, having in
1810, 10,576 large stock, 9,710 small stock, and an average crop for the
preceding decade of 5,250 bushels. During the next decade the mission continued
to prosper, the population reaching 2,603 in 1820, while the large stock
numbered 11,852, the small stock 13,641, and the average crop was 12,470
bushels. In 1816 Fr. Peyri founded the branch establishment, or asistencia, of
San Antonio de Pala, about 20 miles up the river. Here a chapel was built, a padre
stationed, and within a year or two more than a thousand converts gathered. The
mission attained its greatest prosperity about 1826, when it had 2,869
neophytes, but from this time it gradually declined. The mission lands were
extensive, including ranches at Santa Margarita, Las Flores, Temecula, San
Jacinto, and Agna Caliente, all of which were tended by the neophytes. At the
time of secularization in 1834 San Luis Rey had the greatest number of
neophytes of all the missions, namely 2,844, and also the greatest number of
livestock. After secularization the decline was rapid, both in population and
wealth. The Indians managed to retain partial control of some of the mission
ranches for a few years longer, but soon had to give them up.
The total number of natives baptized up
to 1834 was 5,401, of whom 1,862 were children. In 1846 Gov. Pico sold what was
left of the mission buildings and ground for $2,437. Their agent was
dispossessed by Fremont, and during most of 1847 the place was garrisoned by
United States troops. It was also held as a sub-Indian agency for some time
afterward. As with the other missions, the title to the buildings and the
immediate grounds was finally confirmed to the Catholic Church. In 1892 the
church was repaired, and the next year rededicated. Other buildings also have
been repaired or rebuilt, and San Luis Rey is now a college for the training of
missionaries. The chapel at Pala has likewise been restored, and while the
original inhabitants have entirely disappeared, Pala has recently become the
home of the Hot Springs Indians from Warner's ranch, having
252 inhabitants in 1908. The Indians in the neighborhood of the San Luis Rey
mission belong to the Shoshonean linguistic stock, and have been given the
collective name of Luiseños
Additional Mission
Resources
This site
includes some historical materials that may imply negative stereotypes
reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place. These
items are presented as part of the historical record and should not be
interpreted to mean that the WebMasters in any way endorse the stereotypes
implied .
Handbook
of American Indians, 1906
Indian Missions of the
United StatesFree
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