Rivera's Inspection and Removal of Missions to San Antonio 253
frontier of New Spain. Many of these had died during the thirteen years that had elapsed, either while actively engaged in the new establishments, or while exercising their holy zeal for the conversion and salvation of souls. He recommended, therefore, that the king should accede to a peti- tion which was so in accord with the Catholic zeal and pious desires of His Majesty. 52 At this time, according to the petition, there were only fourteen mis- sionaries in the College capable of carrying on the work of the Indian missions and of preaching among the Spaniards. This small number was obliged to preach in the various Spanish towns, cities, and villages in the rest of New Spain as their ministry required, and to instruct the young seminarians who were preparing themselves for the priesthood. Shortly after the arrival of the seventeen Padres in 1715, the College had under- taken the establishment of four missions in Texas, which had been main- tained at great cost and many hardships throughout these years. In that time Fathers Fray Diego de Salazar, Fray Manuel Castellanos, Fray Juan Suarez, Fray Francisco Ruiz, Fray Francisco Hidalgo, and Fray Lorenzo Garcia, had died while in the missions of Texas or those in the vicinity of the Presidio of San Juan Bautista on the Rio Grande. Brother Joseph Pita suffered death at the hands of the Apaches, while on the way to East Texas, during the Aguayo expedition, and Father Joseph Gonzalez perished on the road from Texas to the Rio Grande. After laboring incessantly either attempting to convert the barbarous Indians or preaching the Gospel to the Spaniards, the following missionaries had passed away in the College of Queretaro: Fathers Fray Francisco Esteves, Fray Joseph Diez, Fray Antonio de Olivares, Fray Angel Garcia Duque, Fray Francisco Xavier Molina, Fray Juan Orma, Fray Joseph Granizo, Fray Bartholome de Torres, and Fray Francisco Cumbreras. In addition to these, Fathers Fray Andres Martinez and Fray Gaspar de Vargas had expired while preaching missions among the Spaniards. In 1728, Father Sevillano de Paredes declared that the following sons of the College of Queretaro were stationed in the missions of Texas: Fathers Fray Gabriel de Vergara, President, Fray Joseph Rodriguez, Fray Juan Bautista Garcia, Fray Alonso Giraldo de Terreros, Fray Manuel de Ortunon, and Fray Joseph de San Antonio y Estrada. At this time Father Fray Joseph Gonzales (evidently a younger missionary than the one recently deceased, who had the same name) was President
SZQpinion del Fiscal, June IS, 1729. A. G. /., Audi.mcia de :1/Jxico, 62-2-29 (Dunn Transcripts).
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