While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
here. So we thought we'd share a few of our gardening sites appropriate
for this time of the year. Along with gardening, there's grilling, and getting
ready to diet so that you can fit back into that bathing suit this summer!
San Rafael. The next to the last Franciscan mission established in
California; founded as an asistencia or branch of San Francisco (Dolores). The
mortality among the Indians in San Francisco had become so great that a
panic was feared, and a transfer of a portion of the survivors to some
situation on the north side of the bay was proposed. At first they were sent over without a
priest, but after several had died it was determined to found a new
establishment; this was done, Dec. 14, 1817, the new mission being dedicated to
San Rafael Arcángel. The native name of the place was Nanaguami. About 230
neophytes were transferred from San Francisco, most of whom, however,
originally came from the north side of the bay. An adobe building, 87 by 42 ft,
divided into rooms for chapel, dwelling rooms, etc., was finished in 1818. Two
years later there were 590 neophytes, and 1,140, the highest number reached, in
1828. By 1823 the establishment was recognized as a separate mission. Its wealth
was never very great, though it was prosperous, having in 1830, 1,548 large
stock and 1,852 sheep, with an average crop for the preceding decade of 2,454
bushels. In 1830 there were 970 neophytes, the number decreasing about 50
percent in the next four years. At the time of secularization considerable
property was distributed among the Indians; but in 1837, under the plea that the
natives were not making good use of it, this was again brought together, with a
promise of redistribution under more favorable circumstances. In 1839 the
Indians were reported to be greatly dissatisfied, and in 1840 a distribution of
the livestock was ordered. There were then 190 Indians near the mission, and
probably 150 more scattered elsewhere. In 1846 Fremont took possession of the
mission. After he left, it seems to have been unoccupied, and it has now
entirely disappeared. The neophytes probably belonged chiefly to the Olamentke
division of the Moquelumnan family.
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