Finding Aid to the José Marcos Mugarrieta Papers, [ca. 1837-1886]

Processed by The Bancroft Library staff

The Bancroft Library.

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, California, 94720-6000

Phone: (510) 642-6481

Fax: (510) 642-7589

Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu

URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu

Note

This finding aid has been filmed for the National Inventory of Documentary Sources in the United States (Chadwyck-Healey Inc.)

Note

History --History, North America (excluding USA) --History, Mexico History --History, California --General Geographical (By Place) --California --Bay Area

Finding Aid to the José Marcos Mugarrieta Papers, [ca. 1837-1886]

Collection number: BANC MSS 69/93 m

The Bancroft Library

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, California

Contact Information:

The Bancroft Library.
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California, 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu

Processed by:: The Bancroft Library staff
Date Completed:: ca. 1969
Encoded by:: Charlotte Gerstein

Collection Summary

Collection Title: José Marcos Mugarrieta Papers,

Date (inclusive): ca. 1837-1886

Collection Number: BANC MSS 69/93 m

Creator: Mugarrieta, José Marcos, 1822-1886

Extent: Number of containers: 8 boxes and 1 oversize folder

Repository: The Bancroft Library

Berkeley, California 94720-6000

Physical Location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.

Abstract: Correspondence, passports, army orders, accounts, certificates of appointments, fragments of diaries, mainly relating to his military career in Mexico and to his activities as Mexican consul in San Francisco, 1859-1863. Also included: ship manifests with related papers, copies of documents relating to Baja California, tracings of lands of the Santa Barbara mission, an espediente for Rincon de San Francisquito, and some papers pertaining to the American conquest of California.

Languages Represented: Collection materials are in Spanish

Information for Researchers

Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], José Marcos Mugarrieta Papers, BANC MSS 69/93 m, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Materials Cataloged Separately

Printed items in the collection (miscellaneous pamphlets, periodicals and broadsides) have been removed and cataloged separately under the call number
Identifier/Call Number: xF1203 M8.
A portrait has been removed to the Portrait Collection.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

The papers were purchased for the Library by the Friends of The Bancroft Library in February 1969. A small body of additional material was given by Wellman Topham on February 13, 1970.

Biographical Sketch

José Marcos Mugarrieta, prior to his term as Mexican consul in San Francisco, 1857-1863, served in the Mexican army from 1837. He saw action in numerous battles and campaigns -Jamaica, under General Canalizo in 1841; Campeche, 1842-1843; Merida, 1843; Veracruz, 1845; Mexico City, 1846; Angostura and Cerro-gordo, 1847; Guanajuato, 1848, and Sierra-Gorda under Bustamante, 1848-1849; and Matamoros, 1849-1850. He directed the Sierra-Gorda colonies until ordered by General Mariano Arista, then Minister of War, to return to Mexico via New Orleans and Veracruz, reporting on activities there. Arista retained him in his service until January 1, 1851. Mugarrieta then became private secretary to Manuel Robles, who succeeded Arista as Minister of War. In October 1851, Mugarrieta, aide-de-camp to General López Uraga, traveled to the northern frontier, and accompanied the general on a reconnaissance trip in January 1852 from Brownsville, Texas to Washington, New York, and Havana, coming back to Mexico to resume his position as secretary to the Minister of War. In this capacity, he attended Robles on an official visit to the principal points of the Gulf of Mexico. In November 1852, Mugarrieta was appointed aide to Arista, who was then President. When Arista fell from power in 1853, he chose Mugarrieta as official secretary and translator. Mugarrieta then left with the former president for exile in England in April 1853, returning to Mexico in September of that year. At Arista's request, Mugarrieta sailed for Europe in the fall of 1855, but before he arrived, learned of Arista's death. He completed his journey, settled the estate, and came back to Mexico with Arista's heart.

In April 1857 Mugarrieta received an appointment from the Comonfort government for the consulship in San Francisco. He did not actually begin his new duties until September 1, 1859, due to illness and to the political situation in Mexico. Once an established consul, Mugarrieta directed Mexican patriotic society activities in California, and was involved in Baja California affairs. In the fall of 1863, he was replaced by Manuel E. Rodríguez as consul. According to Mrs. Mugarrieta, the reason for her husband's dismissal was his refusal to help General Plácido Vega in his quest for weapons, ammunition and supplies for Mexico in 1863. It was expressly forbidden to export weapons during the American Civil War, but Vega, angered by Mugarrieta's refusal, managed to oust him and have him replaced by Rodríguez. Mugarrieta, who never received his full pay, not even a travel allowance to return to Mexico, remained in San Francisco, broken in health, working as a Spanish instructor and translator. He died on June 14, 1886.

Scope and Content

This collection, which reflects Mugarrieta's military and consular careers, contains many communications from military figures and from friends relating to the troubled times in Mexico; the strong patriotic movement of Mexican nationals in California; and events in Baja California. Manifests and related documents from American, Mexican and Colombian vessels also constitute a sizable group. The span of Papers is roughly from 1837 to 1886, the bulk being in the 1860s. A few early California documents are to be found in the collection, as well as tracings of California land papers, certificates of military appointments and awards and passports. Mugarrieta's outgoing letters from 1843 to 1878 are mainly rough drafts of an official nature, requesting various positions, protesting injustices of the military system, and reporting on consular activities.

A key to arrangement and a partial list of correspondents follow.

Box 1

Mugarrieta, José Marcos: Outgoing letters, 1847-1878.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Boxes 2-4

Incoming letters

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically. Single letters have been placed in miscellanies preceding each letter of the alphabet.

Box 5

Diary concerning Mugarrieta's departure with Arista for England. 1853

box

Fragments of diaries and autobiographical notes, 1841-1853

Scope and Content Note

Including portions of record of journey to England with Arista in 1853.

Papers relating to the settlement of Arista's estate, 1855-1856

Scope and Content Note

Including opinions concerning the will, accounts, lists of effects, etc.

Papers in suit against José Antonio Fontseré, 1856-1857

Scope and Content Note

Including copy of agreement between Fontseré and Ignacio Muñoz Campuzano, Nov. 1, 1856, statement by Mugarrieta, etc.

box

Miscellaneous military papers, 1845-1857

Scope and Content Note

Including hojas de servicio.

A register of official consular acts, 1859-1861.

Miscellaneous consular papers, 1858-1867

Scope and Content Note

Include forms used; various statements; signed petition protesting article in the Voz de Mexico, 1864; and signed petition to remove Godoy from office of Mexican consul in San Francisco, 1867; accounts, 1859-1863.

Material relating to Mexican patriotic societies in California, 1859-1869

Scope and Content Note

Including letters, minutes, membership lists, speeches, accounts, etc.

Box 6

Accounts of Mugarrieta, 1837-1878

Personalia

Scope and Content Note

Anagrams, calling cards, death notices, invitations, etc.

Clippings

Scope and Content Note

Including some articles by Mugarrieta and Godoy.

Records and company rolls found in the Mexican camp at battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, May 8-9, 1846

Scope and Content Note

Include letter from Bernardo Bonavía to Joaquín de Arredondo, Mar. 28, 1815, concerning Arredondo's request for aid for troops; draft of reply of Arredondo, Apr. 19, 1815, reporting on current battle with the Comanches and asking for more soldiers; letter by José Enrique Villareal to José B. G. de Lara, Aug. 15, 1826, concerning deserters; contemporary copies of documents relating to the arrival of and negotiations with the Cado Indians, in Nacagdoches, Aug.-Sept. 1827; and letter, Sept. 18, 1830, from José Francisco Robledo accompanying report on operations for the previous month.

Early California documents, 1845-1846, relating mainly to the American conquest.

Scope and Content Note

Include drafts of two letters by José Castro, July 13, 1846; letter from Louis Gasquet, July 17, 1846, to Pío Pico; letter from James Alexander Forbes to Pío Pico, July 24, 1846, enclosing original letter of George Seymour and translation; contemporary copy of letter by José Castro to the Commander of the U.S. naval fleet, Aug. 9, 1846; and two letters, 1845-1846, from the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Relations by Manuel de la Peña y Peña and Castillo y Lanzas to the Governor of California.

See also José Castro proclamation in oversize portfolio.

Copies of documents relating to Baja California and the extraction of salt, 1856-1860

box

Papers relating to the Antonio Gómez estate, 1861-1862

Correspondence and papers relating to Garland family property, 1864-1865

Scope and Content Note

Including letter and documents signed by F. Herron and letter from E. O. C. Ord.

Miscellaneous notes

Boxes 7-8

Material relating to ships

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by name of ship, then chronologically within each folder.

Scope and Content Note

Include ship's manifests, statements, etc., 1856-1863

Box 7

A - J

Box 8

L - Z

portfolio Oversize portfolio

José Castro proclamation, Aug. 9, 1846

Passports, mainly issued to Mugarrieta, 1846-1859

Scope and Content Note

Include signatures of Mora, Domingo Echegaray, Cosme Furlong, Lemos, Francisco Avalos, V. A. Camacho, Lúcas de Palacio y Magarola, Salcedo Morelos, Pedro C. Negrete, Rafael Cevallos, Manuel G. Publita and J. Álvarez

Certificates of military appointments and awards, 1843-1857

Scope and Content Note

With signatures of Valentín Canalizo, José María Tornel, Manuel Rincón, Manuel Enríquez, José Y. Correa, José Joaquín de Herrera, Pedro María Anaya, Matías de la Peña y Barras, Tranquilino de la Vega, Jesús de la Vega, Francisco de Paula Montero, Luis Galindo, Matías Royuela, Rafael Caro, Antonio López de Santa Anna, Manuel María Lombardini, Lúcas de Palacio y Magarola, Juan M. Durán, Agustín Reygada, P. Velez, Agustín Pardo y García, Juan A. Zambrano, Antonio de Palacio y Magarola, Tomás D. Gómez, Antonio Vizcaino, Alcorta, Ignacio Falcón, Mariano Arista, Juan Agea, José L. Aragón, Manuel Riquelme, Pablo de la Barrera, Manuel Morales, Luis Arteaga, Ignacio Comonfort, Juan Soto, Angel Frías, Juan de D. Peza, José María Faras and Benito Quijano.

Land papers - tracings

1. Record by Pío Pico of sale of Mission Santa Barbara lands to R. S. Den, June 10, 1846

2. Espediente for Rincón de San Francisquito, 1841

Agea, Juan

3 letters, 1849-1852, concerning military matters.

See also certificates in oversize portfolio.

Ahumada, José María

36 letters, 1860-1863

Additional Note

Early letters from Mazatlán. Some relate to the sale of the bark Adelaide and to mutual acquaintances. Enclosure to letter of July 18, 1862: letter of C. Wilson; letters of Jan. 18 and Feb. 13, 1863, contain drafts of Mugarrieta's replies.

Alcerreca, Augustín

4 letters, 1846.

Additional Note

Some relate to military matters. Draft of Mugarrieta's reply attached to letter, August 23, 1846.

Alcorte, Lino José, 1787?-1854

See certificates in oversize portfolio.

Almada, Gregorio

2 letters, 1864.

Additional Note

One addressed to Félix Gibert.

Alva, Joaquín de

2 letters, 1843-1845

Álvarez, Diego, 1812-1899

7 letters, 1860-1868

Additional Note

Letter, Aug. 5, 1863, includes letter from Félix Franco and draft of Mugarrieta's reply. Letter, Aug. 2, 1861, describes battle of Temascaltepec.

Álvarez, Juan, 1790-1867

3 letters, 1859

Additional Note

Official communications written as general in charge of the southern division of the federal army.

See also 1859 passport in oversize portfolio.

Álvarez de la Rosa, Vicente

5 letters, 1861-1863

Additional Note

Mainly from Mazatlán. Letter, Oct. 17, 1861, contains information concerning Plácido de la Vega's whereabouts; letter, Feb. 12, 1862, describes the salt depredation on the Islas Marías by Capt. Poole of the Sarah Warren from San Francisco.

Amador, Gerónimo

19 letters, 1860

Additional Note

Written mainly as Jefe Político of Baja California. Some relate to salt deposits in Baja California. Many decrees and circulars also included.