California Frontier

In this episode, we look at Native American life at Mission San Miguel Arcángel through the eyes of the padres who oversaw the mission. 

Mission San Miguel is located in central California, almost equally distant from San Francisco to the north and Los Angeles to the south.

In 1813, the Spanish Government sent a questionnaire to the priests of the California Missions to learn about the life of the native people at each of the missions. 

Each mission provided answers with more or less detail depending on the temperament and experience of the missionaries. 

The padres recorded their observations of the life of the native people at the mission and often wrote down what they understood about indigenous customs outside the mission boundaries. 

Their answers provide valuable glimpses into the lives of the native community at each mission over 200 years ago.

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In this episode, we delve into the lives of three remarkable women from early San Diego whose stories offer profound insights into the tumultuous times of California's frontier era. Drawing from the rich narratives preserved in Testimonios: Early California Through the Eyes of Women, 1815-1848 by Rose Marie Beebe and Robert Senkewicz, we explore the diverse paths of Josefa Carrillo de Fitch, Juana Machado de Wrightington, and Apolinaria Lorenzana.

Josefa Carrillo de Fitch, daughter of a soldier and a descendant of early California settlers, embarked on a journey of love and resilience, eloping with an American sea captain amidst familial tensions and navigating the challenges of land disputes in the aftermath of her husband's passing.

Juana Machado de Wrightington, born into a military family, experienced the transformations of California through the Mexican-American War and the U.S. annexation, offering poignant reflections on loss, survival, and the enduring presence of tradition amidst change.

Apolinaria Lorenzana, a beloved figure in San Diego society, emerged from humble beginnings as an orphan to become a pillar of her community, advocating for education and serving as a beacon of compassion amidst the violence and upheaval of the era.

Through their testimonies, we uncover the individual trials and triumphs of these women and the collective resilience and strength of those who shaped the early fabric of California. Join us as we listen to the voices often forgotten yet integral to understanding the complex tapestry of California's history.

Learn More:
Testimonios: Early California Through the Eyes of Women, 1815-1848

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This episode features an intriguing conversation with Jorge Del Castillo as he shares his experiences following the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail. This historic trail was a route used by Spanish settlers in the 18th century to reach Northern California from New Spain (Mexico).

Jorge describes his journey, detailing various memorable sites, and shares his love for the history of California, the West, and Mexico. He also offers practical travel advice for anyone interested in following the trail, emphasizing the richness the trip adds to one’s understanding of history and culture. Additionally, Jorge shares his perspective on the Spanish influence on culture and historical sites in the Southwest.

A brief addendum from Jorge:

“Anza did find the trail and traveled back and forth on it at least twice. It was supposed to provide an alternative land route to the ocean route by boats, but it did not remain open. Initially, the Anza party, including a Native American translator and priests, established very friendly relations with the Yumans near the Yuma crossing of the Colorado River. He felt confident that he could leave a small contingent of Spanish colonists, including soldiers and priests, in two communities, one on each side of the river; however, those relations soured over a period from 1779 to 1781. The Spaniards demanded that the Native Americans provide food and other things for their subsistence in the desert along the river. They pushed too hard and deprived the natives of the necessary things for their own survival. This led to an eventual Yuman revolt and massacre or enslavement of all of the colonists.

Though the war against the Yumans continued throughout 1782, the principal leaders of the revolt were never apprehended, and the Yumans once again controlled their own lands. The Colorado River mission project had ended in failure. The Yuman revolt closed Spain’s overland route to Alta California, leaving the province dependent on resupply by sea for about the next 50 years. Anza had gone on to become the Governor of New Mexico, where he eventually subdued the Comanche tribe.”

References:

• Font, Pedro, trans and ed by Alan K. Brown, 2011, With Anza to California 1775-1776, The Journal of Pedro Font, O,F.M. Norman Oklahoma, University of Oklahoma Press, 464pp
• Bernal-Mendoza Smestad, Greg, PhD, 2005, “A Guide to the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail”, Antepasados, a publication of Los Californianos, Vol XI
• Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, United States National Park System website.

To learn more:

• The Story of Juan Bautista de Anza
• The Anza Expedition
• Interview with Descendant Greg Bernal Smestad

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This is a special episode from the California Frontier Show archives.

In this episode, I speak with Greg Bernal-Mendoza Smestad, a direct descendant of the families who settled Alta California over 200 years ago.  Greg talks to us about their journey, the character of those who risked their lives to come north, and the legacy they passed on.

When Spanish explorers came to Alta California in 1769, they soon understood that they would never be able to defend the province from the English and Russians if they did not found a colony populated by families.

In 1775, Felipe de Neve, the governor of California, together with Juan Bautista de Anza, an intrepid army officer from Tubac, in Sonora, recruited a group of about 200 people to journey north on foot and establish towns in Alta California. Neve knew that without families to raise crops and establish towns, creating a stable Spanish presence in the territory would be hard.

Anza led these families of mixed European, Native American, and African ancestry from what is today southern Arizona. They traveled for almost 1,000 miles on foot, horseback and mule, arriving at the Presidio of Monterey in March of 1776. Members of the expedition later branched off to found the Presidio of San Francisco and the Pueblo (now City) of San José.

Over time, a new, hybrid culture grew: the culture of the Californios.

In my conversation with Greg, he explained the significance of the Anza expedition, told some wonderful stories about his ancestors and their dramatic journey, and gave insight into what it means to be a Californio.

Greg talks about his grandmother’s insistence that he carry on the family legacy. Later, he tells us about the network of Californio descendants who are keeping their heritage alive and sharing it with others.

In his drive to share his ancestors’ story, Greg has worked with the National Park Service to help found the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail. He has created original materials in both English and Spanish to help visitors understand the significance of this national treasure. He was instrumental in starting Founders Day or Happy Birthday San José, which celebrates the birth of California’s third largest city.

Links for this episode:

• Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail 
• Los Californianos
• The Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area
• Mount Umunhum
• Chitactac-Adams Heritage County Park 
• My story about Happy Birthday San José: 
• My article about Greg
• Alan K. Brown’s book on the Anza Expedition of 1775-76.
• Vladimir Guerrero’s book on the Anza Expedition of 1775-76.

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Although little known today, the name of William Alexander Leidesdorff is enshrined on streets in San Francisco and a town along the American River. He was also one of California’s pioneers of African descent and instrumental in bringing about the American annexation of California.

Further Reading:

William Alexander Leidesdorff – First Black Millionaire, American Consul and California Pioneer by Gary Palgon.

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This is a special episode from the California Frontier Show archives.

A growing number of people of all ages are taking up the challenge of walking the entire California mission trail. For many, it is an adventure, a spiritual pilgrimage, a scenic tour, a way to get to know themselves, or all of the above.

So today, I'm going into the archives and presenting the first podcast episode I ever did for California Frontier. It's an interview with author Maggie Espinosa, who walked the whole trail herself and wrote a very engaging book about it called On a Mission.

Maggie Espinosa is a journalist, travel writer, and blogger who decided to set off on a quest to visit all 21 of California missions. She overcame challenges, made friends, and learned about herself along the way. The story of her journey is detailed in the book On a Mission: An 800-mile Walk to Discover California’s El Camino Real. On a Mission is a wonderful, personal account of her life on the mission trail. When I read it, I knew I had to interview Maggie somehow and hear her story.

Maggie’s website: https://travelwithmaggie.com/
Maggie’s book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3qAUwSI
The California Mission Walkers Facebook page: www.facebook.com/groups/californiamissionwalkers

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Juan Bautista de Anza was a military officer, governor, explorer and diplomat. His life had an enormous impact on the history of California, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, and Northern Mexico.
To learn more:

• Book: Carlos R. Herrera. Juan Bautista de Anza: The King’s Governor in New Mexico.
• Book: Vladimir Guerrero. The Anza Trail and the Settling of California.
• Anza Trail Guide: This guide to the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail was developed by Anza party descendant Greg Bernal-Mendoza Smestad. I interviewed Greg on the California Frontier Podcast.
• The Anza Society has an extensive list of books about Anza.

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In this episode of the California Frontier Podcast, Damian interviews Trudi Angell, producer of the documentary film La Récua (The Mule Pack Train).

La Récua follows the story of Darío Higuera, a 70-year-old Baja California ranchero, who dreams of recreating an early-20th-century mule train transporting traditional goods from Comondú to La Paz in southern Baja California.

Accompanied by his son, 8-year-old grandson, and friends, Darïo plans to travel 200 miles on mule-back through the daunting Baja outback, retracing historical routes and discovering never-before-filmed sections of El Camino Real.

Along the way, the travelers face dangers, encounter old and new friends, and exchange memories, providing viewers with insights into the traditional lifestyle of Baja California’s backcountry ranchers.

The documentary uses breathtaking cinematography and captivating storytelling to take the viewer on a legendary journey into Californio vaquero history.

The official website of La Récua: https://larecua.com/

The California Frontier Project:  https://www.californiafrontier.net
California History Teachers:  https://www.californiahistoryteachers.com

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In part two of this interview with author Eric Plunkett, we get into some real stories of people who lived through some of the enormous changes of the early years. Eric emphasizes the importance of translating and making primary sources from Spanish colonial California available, as they provide deeper and more authentic insights into the […]

The post Stories of Early Orange County: Eric Plunkett, Part 2 first appeared on Early California Resource Center.

The post Stories of Early Orange County: Eric Plunkett, Part 2 appeared first on Early California Resource Center.

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Eric Plunkett is an amazing historian whose enthusiasm for discovering the riches of California’s past is contagious. In this episode, Damian Bacich hosts a deep-dive discussion with Eric on the history of early California, especially Orange County. They touch on indigenous languages, the California grizzly bear, and their mutual interest in archival research. Eric shares […]

The post Uncovering Orange County’s Hidden History with Eric Plunkett (Pt. 1) first appeared on Early California Resource Center.

The post Uncovering Orange County’s Hidden History with Eric Plunkett (Pt. 1) appeared first on Early California Resource Center.

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