Our Catholic Heritage, Volume II

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Reiistablislmzent of iJt/issions, z72I-I722

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site chosen in order to safeguard the rights of the Indians who had already been congregated thereon. Much pleased with the progress made by the indefatigable missionary in getting the coastal tribes to agree to form a mission and establish a pueblo, the Marquis ordered that possession be given to Father Patron, as representative of the College of Zacatecas, and to the Indians of such lands as were necessary for the erection of a church, the founding of a pueblo, and the establishment of farms where they might raise their own food. The governor fixed the date of the ceremony for April IO, 1722, and summoned Father Patron, the mission Indians already congregated, and Captains Tomas Zubiria, Miguel Colon, Gabriel Costales, and Manuel Herrera for that day. 21 Father Agustin Patron gathered all the Indians of the Coco and Cujame nations on the site selected for the proposed mission, which was about two miles from the very spot where the unfortunate La Salle had originally established Fort St. Louis. Here the captains, already men- tioned, also came to witness the formal ceremony of transfer. When all had assembled, the Marquis of Aguayo in person gave possession of the chosen site to Father Patron and the Indians, designating the place where the church was to be built, and granting them all rights to the use of the lands and the water necessary for the planting and raising of crops, all in the name of His Majesty the King. Father Patron entered the temporary church and made other demonstrations to show possession. Aguayo took the chiefs of the assembled Cocos, Cujames, and Carancahuas (Karankawas) by the hand, led them into the church and out again and then over the fields. After the ceremony was over, he appointed the chief of the Cocos as governor of the Indian pueblo nearby and ordered that a copy of all these proceedings be sent to the viceroy. To all of the transac- tions Father Patron and the captains present gave testimony. The new foundation was officially named Mission Nuestra Senora del Espiritu Santo de Zuniga and the zealous Padre was left in charge of the new establishment. 29 It remained at this site but four years, and was moved in 1726 to the Guadalupe River. When Aguayo returned to San Antonio on April 26, 1722, he could claim with reasonable pride that he had successfully accomplished the purpose of his expedition. He had not only refounded the original seven missions, but he had added three: San Jose, San Francisco Xavier de Najera, and Nuestra Senora del Espiritu Santo de Zuniga. The first

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