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History of Santa Cruz Mission
Santa Cruz (Holy Cross). The twelfth Franciscan mission established in
California. The proposed site was personally examined by Fr. Lasuen, who found
the natives friendly and ready to help. Supplies and native assistants were
sent from the neighboring missions, especially Santa Clara, and the mission was
formally founded Sept. 25, 1791, at the place where is now situated the town of
Santa Cruz, Santa Clara County. At the end of the year there were 84 neophytes. In
1792 there were 224, and the highest number, 523, was reached in 1796. In 1800
there were 492. At this time the mission had 2,354 head of cattle and horses,
and 2,083 of small stock, while the crop for the year amounted to 4,300 bushels.
The church, 30 by 112 ft and 25 ft high, with stone front, was completed and
dedicated in 1794. In 1797 a number of colonists arrived from Mexico and settled
just across the river Lorenzo from the mission. This settlement caused the
missionaries much trouble, and seems to have demoralized the Indians. In 1798
the padre in charge was much discouraged with the outlook and reported that 138
neophytes had deserted. He protested against the settlement, but without effect.
The number of neophytes remained about the same for the next 20 years, being 507
in 1810, and 461 in 1820. The livestock increased and the crops continued good.
In 1812 one of the fathers was murdered by some of the neophytes, who plead in
defense that he was excessively cruel, had flogged two of them to death, and was
inventing further instruments of torture. In 1818 and 1819 there was
considerable friction between the mission fathers and the authorities at Brancifort, all but three of the neophytes leaving the mission at one time for
fear of attack. After 1820 the mission continued prosperous, but the population
decreased, there being 320 neophytes in 1830, and about 250 in 1834. The total
number of natives baptized up to that time was 2,216, of whom 939 were children.
Within 4 years after its secularization most of the property had disappeared.
In 1839 there were 70 Indians reported at the mission, with perhaps as many more
scattered in the district. In 1840 a number of buildings were destroyed and the
church was injured by an earthquake. After 1842 the mission was regarded as a
part of Brancifort; the buildings had then entirely disappeared. The Indians in
the neighborhood of the mission belong to the Costanoan linguistic family.
The mission had neophytes from the following villages, all in the present county of
Santa Cruz (Taylor, Cal. Farmer, Apr. 5, 1860): Achilla, Aestaca, Agtisrn, Apil,
Aulintac, Chalumü, Chanech, Chicutae, Choromi, Coot, Hauzaurni, Hottrochtac,
Huachi, Hualquilme, Huocom, Locobo,
Luchasmi, Mallin, Nohioalli, Ochoyos, Onbi, Osacalis (Souquel ), Payanmin,
Sachuen, Sagin, Shiuguermi, Shoremee, Sio Cotchmin, Tejey, Tomoy, Turami,
Utalliam, Wallanmi, Yeunaba, Yeunata, Yeunator.
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Handbook
of American Indians, 1906
Indian
Missions of the United StatesFree
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