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Esca11don and Settlement of Lower Rio Grande, I738-I779
to come to live in the mission. The Apostolic College of Zacatecas was requested to send a missionary to minister to the new settlement and mission as soon as possible. Father Fray Ignacio Antonio Ciprian, who was now Guardian of the College, was obliged to reduce the number of missionaries assigned to Soto La Marina from two to one in order to comply with the request, since this new settlement was not included in the original plans of Escandon and no provision had been made for it. Father Fray Buenaventura de Rivera, the first missionary of Mission San Francisco Solano de Ampuero, arrived to take charge early in 1751 and remained at his post until 1754, when he was replaced by Father Fray Miguel de Santa Maria de los Dolores. Between 1750 and 1754 Revilla was moved three times. It was originally established at a place called Los Moros (or Mozos), about nine leagues above its final site. After a year, more or less, it was moved to one of the hills in the vicinity of present Guerrero, opposite Zapata, Texas. But this site not being satisfactory, it was moved about the end of 1753 to its final permanent location, which is where Guerrero stands today. The settlement grew rapidly. By 1753, when the location was confirmed by Escandon, there were forty-three families already established with two hundred and eighteen persons. Their herds numbered over seven thousand head of cattle, and a good part of them was being pastured north of the Rio Grande, much to the annoyance of the inhabitants of Dolores. Although the mission had not been formally established, there were many friendly Indians from beyond the river who came frequently to solicit admission, but who had to be put off on account of the lack of food to congregate them. It was at this time that Escandon officially granted the mission twelve caballerias one league north of Revilla. In 1754 Fray Buenaventura declared that there were no Indians formally congregated for lack of supplies and equipment, but that there were many in the vicinity ready to come to live in the mission. He stated that he had frequently visited many of the ranclzerfos beyond the river and distributed knives, tobacco, and other presents among them. The attitude of the natives is described by Escandon in 1755. "There are many," he says, "who inhabit both banks of the said river, who, having intercourse with the settlers, have become friendly. Once the grain, to start with, is obtained to support them, a great mission can be established, which they have repeatedly declared their intention of joining." When the formal inspection was made in 1757, Revilla had fifty-eight
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