Fray José Benito Pereyro, born on June 19, 1768, at the village of Arnoya in Spain's far northwestern province of Galicia, volunteered for America in 1791 and reached New Mexico two years later. Ministering with resolve at Laguna, Sandía, and various Tewa pueblos, he was elected custos of Franciscan New Mexico in 1808 for the standard three-year term. While resident at Taos pueblo, where he served the Taos Valley between 1810 and 1818, Father Pereyro directed construction of the famed church of San Francisco at Ranchos de Taos. On May 24 of the latter year, during a bitter feud with several of his brother Franciscans, he died, just short of his fiftieth birth day.

Three months after receiving word of his election in 1808, Custos Pereyro had compiled a routine biennial report on the missions of New Mexico. Because it contains scattered references to church buildings and provides a concise review of conditions in the growing colony three decades after Domínguez, Pereyro's description is offered here in translation.

PROVINCE OF NEW MEXICO.
MISSIONS OF THE CUSTODY
OF THE CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL. [1]

Account of the missions that the religious of the Regular Observance of Our Holy Father St. Francis occupy apertaining to said custody, which is subject to the Province of the Holy Gospel, with a statement of the ministers, royal allowances, and number of persons of both sexes residing in said province of New Mexico at the end of December 1808.

As the preceding account demonstrates, there has been an increase among Indians of 445 persons and among Spaniards and peoples of other classes 974, which, combining the two categories, results in 1,419 persons more in the total population. [2]

During the two years [1807-8] 265 marriages of Indians have taken place: 794 were born, and 349 died. Likewise during said biennium 370 marriages of Spaniards and mixed-bloods have taken place: 1,634 were born, and 660 died.

1. Villa of Santa Fe. Vacant and served by the Rev. Father Chaplain of the Presidio fray Francisco de Hozio [Oct. 1781-June 1816 passim]. [3] The parish church was rebuilt by the late don Antonio [José] Ortiz and other devout persons, but owing almost entirely to the former. In said church there are two well-adorned chapels, the first dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary who is La Conquistadora. The Blessed Virgin has many jewels of gold, silver, and fine pearls that various devout persons have given her. The other, which the late don Antonio José Ortiz paid for, is dedicated to Lord St. Joséph. Said parish church has three chalices of which one is useless, three ciboria, three chrismatories, a reliquary for viaticum, two cruets, two plates, a censer, an aspergillum, a baptismal basin, and a saltcellar, all these of silver; and a copper holy-water pot. The processional cross with sheath was fashioned and made of silver at the expense of the Rev. Father fray Buenaventura Merino [Apr. 1792-Mar. 1806 passim], now deceased.

This parish has no vestments of its own, for the old ones are unserviceable. It uses those of the confraternities of the Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady of the Rosary.

NOTE

Since many years have passed without a thing from the property of deceased religious (espolios) being applied to the churches of this custody, it has been truly grievous to see that the many effects left by the Rev. Father ex-Custos fray José de la Prada, former minister of the mission of Abiquiú, on his death have been usurped by his servants, without any legal claim, and the churches defrauded of them and of what be longs to the mission.

My immediate predecessor, the Rev. Father fray Ramón Antonio González, made representations concerning the legitimate, legal proofs of the right, dominion, ownership, and use of such spolia. Nevertheless, and worthy of the utmost notice, his active religious zeal has not born any fruit at all. The urgent needs of these poor churches have not been remedied. Nor have the pernicious consequences that will necessarily follow upon such detestable and scandalous corruption been considered or arrested, to the detriment of the custody, the consciences of its subjects, and the laity, and to the obstruction of justice, charity, and the purity of the Rule [of St. Francis].

I present this complaint anew in order that the effective remedy demanded by such deplorable evils may be applied.

The convento was repaired in the year 1800 at the expense of the religious. It is in good order. The Venerable Third Order of Penitence is established here, but the rebuilding of its chapel is not yet finished.

2. Mission of Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles de Pecos. This mission has the vestments, sacred vessels, and altar linens required for the administration of the Holy Sacraments. As for the fabric, church and convento are not up to standard.

3. San Diego de Tesuque. The church and convento are in good condition materially. The sacristy and baptistery were repaired. This mission is short of altar linens and vestments, except for the white set which was made new and to which the Rev. Father [Esteban] San Miguel and the Indians of the pueblo contributed.

4. Mission of Nuestro Padre San Francisco de Nambé. The convento is in good condition and the church decent. The church vestments are old and the green set is missing. The cruets and plate are of silver, and a little bell of the same that was found buried near the old convento. It is presumed that it must have been hidden by the Indians during the last uprising.

5. Mission of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Pojoaque. Vacant and served ad interim by the Rev. Father fray Diego Martínez [Jan. 1799-Apr. 1802, May 1804-Feb. 1809], minister of Nambé. Its convento is in ruins. The church is new and in good order. It has an altar screen of its titular saint paid for by the late don Antonio José Ortiz. The vestments, three sets, red, purple, and white, are decent. The late don Pedro Ortiz gave one and the Holy Province of Mexico another, together with the chalice. The silver cruets and little chalice spoon were given by the present Rev. Father Minister fray Diego Martínez. There are three new albs, one given by don Antonio José Ortiz, another by Father fray José Carral [June-July 1780] and another by Father fray Francisco [Martin] Bueno.

6. Villa of Santa Cruz de la Cañada. Materially the church is in fairly good shape, and it is provided with old but usable vestments. It has the necessary sacred vessels and appurtenances. It was roofed in the year 1783 at the expense of Father fray Sebastián Fernández. It has three very decent altars. Don Cristóbal Vigil paid for the main altar, Father fray Ramón Antonio González [Apr. 1782-Jan. 1793 passim] for that of Souls, and Father fray José Carral [June 1784-Oct. 1789] for that of Our Father St. Francis. It has two chapels, one of the Third Order which Father fray José Carral built at his own expense, while Father fray Francisco Martín Bueno [Aug. 1781-Apr. 1782] paid for altar and pulpit. The other chapel is dedicated to Our Lady of Carmel. Father fray Diego Muñoz Jurado [Aug. 1780-Aug. 1781] paid for this holy image and the altar was painted through the devotion of Father fray Ramón Antonio González in the year 1786. The convento was almost unserviceable and Father fray Ramón Antonio González built at his own expense living quarters of seven rooms upper and lower. In the year 1782 don Vicente Troncoso gave this church a set of white damask vestments, an alb of fine Brittany, and an amice of the same. There are two confraternities, one of the Blessed Sacrament and the other of Our Lady of Carmel. Both are supported by the annual alms that the brothers give.

7. Mission of San Juan de los Caballeros. The church and sacristy are decent and provided with the sacred vessels, vestments, and other appurtenances for administration. In the year 1782 the main altar was made, which the pueblo paid for, and two side altars, one paid for by Father fray Santiago Fernández de Sierra [Jan. 1779-Feb. 1793 passim] and the other by Antonio Beitia, Indian resident of said pueblo. In this same year two sets of vestments were provided, one red which the said Father Sierra paid for and the other white which the Father and the Indians paid for, and in the year 1798 a black cope with fine gold galloon which the present Rev. Father Minister fray Ramón Antonio González [Nov. 1783-Aug. 1784, Aug. 1794-Mar. 1815] paid for. The Indians contributed in the amount of thirty silver pesos (pesos fuertes) and an alb, amice, and altar cloths of Brittany were made. A very decent monstrance, whose value was two hundred forty-four and a half silver pesos, was provided with the local residents and the Indians contributing.

8. Mission of San Lorenzo de Picurís. Materially the church is ordinary, with vestments, sacred vessels, and appurtenances necessary for administration, save the black set of vestments which is very deteriorated. The convento was rebuilt in the year 1780 through the efforts of Father fray Tomás Salvador Fernández [June 1779-June 1780] and at the expense of the Indians. The church's main altar screen was paid for by Father fray Francisco Martín Bueno [May 1785-Sept. 1787]. Two Brittany albs were provided, one from the spolia of Father fray Francisco Bueno and the other given by Father fray Jaime Canals [Mar. 1793-July 1800] while he was minister of said mission. The local residents of this mission paid for a new missal whose value was thirty silver pesos.

9. San Jerónimo de Taos. The church and sacristy of this pueblo are provided with the necessary sacred vessels and vestments, save the green set which is very old. They also have the necessary linen, appurtenances, and other paraphernalia for the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The black set of vestments was mended by the present Rev. Father Minister fray José de Vera [Sept. 1794-July 1810] and at his expense there were provided two amices of fine Brittany, six purificators, two baptismal caps, an altar cloth of Silesia linen with ordinary lace, a purple set of cloth vestments with gold and silver pattern to which the Indians contributed thirty silver pesos. According to the old inventory of said mission it is of record that an alb of fine Brittany was acquired with Father fray Sebastián Antón's spolia and a Brittany amice, some corporals, and a purificator with Father fray Francisco Martín Bueno's [Apr. 1781-Sept. 1787 passim]. The Indians provided at their own expense a set of white vestments, an alb of Silesia linen, a Rouen surplice, and a Brittany amice. The convento, except for three good living quarters, is in ruins.

10. Santo Tomas de Abiquiú. The church is kept decently and it is provided with vestments, sacred vessels, and the necessary linen for administration. Through the effort and at the expense of the Rev. Father ex-Custos fray José de la Prada [Apr. 1789-Nov. 1802] there were provided for the church two crucifixes, four brass candlesticks, a flowered silk chasuble with accessories, a Brittany alb, and a surplice. A new cemetery with gate was built, as were two new living quarters, and a parapet was put on the convento.

11. Mission of Santa Clara. Its church is provided with vestments, the red set from the spolia of Father fray Sebastián Antón [Jan. 1779-May 1782] and a white set that Father fray Diego Muñoz Jurado [Oct. 1785-Nov. 1798 passim] had made at his own expense. The church has three altars painted in tempera. The main one the Indians of the pueblo paid for, and the two side altars the Rev. Father fray Ramón Antonio González [Aug. 1782-Aug. 1787 passim] had made at his expense while he was minister of this mission. It has sacred vessels and linen necessary for administration of the Holy Sacraments. The cruets are silver, paid for by the Indians of said pueblo. The church has some cracks and needs repair.

12. Mission of San Ildefonso. Vacant and in the charge of Father fray Diego Martínez [Mar. 1793-Sept. 1808 passim], minister of Nambé. The church needs repair. The convento was newly repaired by Father fray José Mariano Rosete [Jan. 1802-Jan. 1805], now deceased. It has the necessary paraphernalia for administration. A white set of vestments along with alb and amice was given to this mission from the spolia of the late Father fray Juan Fernández de Sierra. The Indians of the pueblo provided two sets of vestments, one red and the other black. The church has a very old gilt monstrance but the donor is not known.

13. Mission of Santo Domingo. Vacant and served ad interim by Father fray Antonio Caballero [Oct. 1782-Oct. 1811 passim], minister of Cochití. Its church is new and very spacious. It has the vestments and other church necessities for administration. The convento is decent, and it was enlarged and put in order while Father fray Esteban San Miguel [Apr. 1802-Apr. 1804] was minister.

14. Mission of San Buenaventura de Cochití. The church needs both vestments and the rest of the linen appurtenances, for the present ones are very old. The convento is repaired.

15. Mission of San Felipe. The church was rebuilt with its two new towers. The convento is in good order inside and out. The main altar and the rest of the nave of the church as well as the baptistery are very decent and well adorned, all owing to the efforts of the present Rev. Father Minister fray José Rubí [July 1801-July 1810]. It is provided with vestments although threadbare, with the exception of two sets that are quite decent. The linen is somewhat deteriorated.

16. Mission of Santa Ana. The church is decent and adorned. It has the necessary vestments, sacred vessels, and appurtenances for administration. This mission is administered ad interim by Father fray Mariano Sánchez Vergara (May 1804-Jan. 1809], present minister of San Diego de los Jémez.

17. Mission of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Zia. Vacant and served ad interim by Father fray Mariano Sánchez Vergara. The church is in fairly good condition. It has several sets of vestments somewhat old. The sacristy needs renovation, the same with the church linen.

18. Mission of San Diego de los Jémez. The church is in need of vestments and linen because the present ones are very threadbare. The altar screen was touched up and a pulpit, confessional, and two candlesticks provided by the Father Minister.

19. Mission of San José de la Laguna. The church is in good condition, with decent vestments, sacred vessels, and appurtenances. The convento is repaired. Through the devotion of Alcalde José Manuel Aragón there have been provided a side altar painted in tempera, a frontal, a white damask chasuble, another purple one, a missal and irons for making altar breads. Through the devotion of the present Father Minister there have been provided a muslin alb, two amices of the same enbroidered in gold with cloth ribbons, a Brittany amice, a cloth cincture embroidered in gold, several Brittany altar cloths, four purificators, and two brass candlesticks.

20. San Esteban de Ácoma. Vacant and in the charge of the minister of Laguna. It has its vestments but lacks the purple. It is in need of albs and other linen appurtenances. The convento has very good and spacious living quarters.

21. Mission of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Zuñi. The church was built new in the year 1780. It has vestments, sacred vessels, and the necessary ecclesiastical appurtenances. They are decent but lack the purple set of vestments and some linen. The main altar was painted and gilded in the same year while the Rev. Father Silvestre Vélez de Escalante was minister [Jan. May 1775]. The convento has two living quarters.

22. Mission of Nuestra Señora de Belén. The church was built new in the year 1793 through the efforts of the Rev. Father ex-Custos fray Cayetano Bernal [Mar. 1793-Nov. 1806] and the local residents. It is well provided with vestments, albs, and the rest of the appurtennces, all new. It has a monstrance of silver gilt about half a vara tall which don José Pino, lieutenant of this district, gave. Owing to the generosity of this gentleman several sets of vestments were provided for this church even before the need was felt. The local residents of said mission also contributed. As a result it is today the best provided with everything necessary. The convento is most decent, and is the best in the custody.

23. San Agustín de la Isleta. The church is in good order and has the necessary vestments and appurtenances for administration. Its present minister provided a very decent purple set of vestments, and he keeps the convento very clean.

24. Villa of San Felipe [Neri] de Albuquerque. The church and convento were constructed new in the year 1790 [1793] through the efforts of the Rev. Father Minister and at the expense of the local residents. It is provided with everything necessary for administration of the Holy Sacraments, with the exception of the black set of vestments which is useless.

25. Mission of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de Sandía. Church and convento were built in the year 1784, likewise the altar screen which was painted at the expense of the Rev. Father Minister fray José Palacio [May 1783-Oct. 1784]. The usable vestments it has were provided through the devotion of the Indians of the pueblo and the Father Ministers who served it. This mission lacks the white, green, and black vestments because the old ones are now very ancient.

NOTES

1. These missions are endowed with 330 pesos each, paid by the Royal Treasury, except for that of Zuñi which is assigned two ministers with royal allowance of 450 pesos each. The three villas of Santa Fe, La Cañada, and Albuquerque support their ministers with obventions and the alms of the confraternities established in them.

2. Morning and afternoon the call to catechism is rung in the Indian pueblos, to which come the catechumens of both sexes. On Saturdays and Sundays in the morning the married people attend. All know how to pray, although the catechumens better because of continual practice. Lacking this, the married people usually forget something.

3. In repairing churches and conventos the Indians behave with indolence. Only during free time from their farming does it occupy them, or at times of certain hard rains that bring down the flat roofs of church and convento. As a rule they are lazy, even in their own affairs, and consequently, without the prodding of the justice of the district or his help, these structures continue perforce to deteriorate, built as they are of materials as perishable as adobes and mud.

4. The Indians have no other industries than farming; except those of Laguna, Ácoma, and Zuñi, who, besides this and the hunting of buffalo and deer that the others engage in, occupy themselves in weaving blankets, shirts, and cloaks (mantas, cotones, y tilmas) to wear and to trade with the local residents and the Indians of other pueblos. They breed cattle and horses. Those of Ácoma, Laguna, and Zuñi raise sheep but few cattle and horses, with the exception of Laguna and Santo Domingo which have plenty of horses. With them they go out to do battle on campaigns and other forays that occur.

5. The local residents of this Province are more industrious, and they apply themselves to weaving cotton and wool. Their trade consists in the sale of these goods, their harvested grains, and the skins they acquire hunting buffalo and deer and trading with the allied Indian nations. The citizenry and Indians of this province deserve real merit for their exertions on forays and campaigns, for besides risking their lives they serve at their own expense, bearing the cost themselves of mounts, weapons, provisions, and munitions.

Mission of Santa Clara, December 30, 1808.
Fr. José Benito Pereyro [rubric]

198.

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