REFN: 1588
The Dominguez Family
The small pueblo of Cozala in the state of Sinaloa was teeming with
excitement with the arrival of the news that Capitan Fernando Rivera &
Moncada was recruiting for far away California, this distantland that
was first seen by the explorer Juan Cabrillo in 1542.
At the sametime another pueblo, Villa de Sinaloa nearby, was
experiencing the same emotion. To the populace of these small corners of
Mexico which at that period of time was called Nueva Espana, New Spain,
decisions had to be made that would affect the future of the families who
were migrating and the ones remaining. Family, neighbor and community
gatherings were held to listen to the great Capitan about this great land
which needed to be populated by families.
Capitan Portola in 1769 and Capitan De Anza in 1775 had already traveled
overland with large groups originating in Sonora, Baja California and
Sinaloa. Missions: San Diego, San Gabriel, San Luis Obispo, San Antonio
and Carmel and three presidios: San Diego, Monterey and San Francisco
had been founded. There was a need for another presidio in the Santa
Barbara Channel and a city south, future Los Angeles, to support the
presidio which would close the gap between San Diego and Monterey. As
the largest population of Indians were concentrated in this area it was
important that travelers from the south be protected as they passed
through this beautiful area. Our own world known city of Santa Barbara
and its evirons.
After listening to El Grand Capitan about theopportunities that were
available in this far away land, California, IDELFONSO DOMINGUEZ, widower
of MARIA YGNACIA GERMAN, and his two children, Jose 16,and Maria Carmen
14, were in the middle of this indecision in the Villa de Sinaloa,
Sinaloa, Mexico. In another pueblo, El Real de Cozala in Sinaloa, the
family of JUAN VITORINO FELIZ, his wife, MARIA MICAELA LANDERA, and their
children were experiencing the same dilemma. These two families who were
toleave many descendants in California, decided there was no future in
these small remote pueblos in New Spain. The decision was made to throw
their lot with Rivera. It was not going to be easy leaving loved ones
with the possibility of never seeing them again.
Arrangements were started immediately. The recruits didn't have the
luxury of traveling with covered wagons as the pioneers who crossed the
prairies bound for California half a century later. Following the
tradition of the other expeditions they would be walking, carrying all
their belongings on mule backs. They would also be bringing horses and
cattle which were needed badly in this new land.
Los Alamos, a rich mining townin the Sierra Madres, was going to be the
point of rendezvous. Two groups were formed and supplies distributed.
One was led by Capitan Fernando Rivera & Moncada, who traveled north to
the Presidio of Tubac, Sonora, south of present day, Tucson, Arizona,
following the De Anza route through the desert via Yuma. Rivera remained
here to rest the animals while the rest of the group continued to San
Gabriel Mission arriving there on July 14, 1781. They were saddened by
the news that awaited them; the Capitan and a small band of soldiers who
remained with him had been massacred by the Yuma Indians. Immediately a
small troop returned to Yuma. After identifying the victims, they buried
them were they had fallen. Unfortunately for us, all his records were
lost or destroyed.
The second group was led by Alferez Jose de Zuniga crossing the Sea of
Cortez in lanchas traveling up the coast of Baja California to San Diego
then on to the San Gabriel Mission where the two groups plan to meet.
The Pobladores for the proposed City of Los Angeles were also part of
this important expedition. A tragedy also befall this group, a small
child was stricken with small pox, she and her father remained