1781 Rivera Expedition Members: Schwald Family Genealogy

This Expedition's Member list is compiled from:

1. LIST OF RECRUITS OF 1781: THE RIVERA EXPEDITION, SFgenealogy (Genealogy and History for the San Francisco Bay Area)

2. WHO CAME AND WHO STAYED IN CA? 1780 TO 1790, SPAIN'S CALIFORNIA PATRIOTS in its 1779-1783 WAR WITH ENGLAND DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION Part 2, pps. 16-22, Granville W. and N.C. Hough © 1999, SHHAR Press (Society of Hispanic Historical and Ancestral Research)

3. The Founders of Santa Barbara: Who They Were and Whence They Came, Mary Triplett Ayers, pps. 1065-70, California Military Department - California State Military History and Museums Program - Preserving California's Military Heritage

[PLEASE NOTE: NO ONE CAN COMPLETELY AGREE ON THE COMPLETE LIST OF PEOPLE IN THIS EXPEDITION. There are other lists posted with many more names - JSR]

CAPTAIN FERNANDO RIVERA Y MONCADA'S EXPEDITION OF 1781: All expedition members assembled at the Real de los Alamos, Sonora, New Spain (Mexico), on February 2, 1781.
Capt. Rivera divided the expedition into two groups:
1) The Pobladore settler recruits who would colonize Los Angeles
AND
2) the soldier recruits and their families who would establish the Santa Barbara Presidio and three Santa Barbara Channel Missions: a) San Buenaventura (at the lower end of the Channel), b) Santa Barbara (middle Channel) and c) La Purisima Concepcion (Upper Channel).
Each took separate routes and were to rendezvous at Mission San Gabriel in Alta California.

GROUP 1:  LOS ANGELES POBLADORES AND THEIR SOLDIER ESCORTS
DATE DEPARTED:   2 February 1781 - From Los Alamos, New Spain (Mexico)
ROUTE TAKEN:   Loreto, Baja California (stayed at the Presidio 3-4 months as some members had contracted smallpox) > Mission San Fernando Rey de España de Velicatá > San Diego > Msn. San Gabriel
DATE ARRIVED:   18 August 1781 - To Mission San Gabriel, Alta California
JOURNEY'S LENGTH OF TIME:   5 months, 16 days

Group Leaders:
Lt. Jose de Zuniga
Alferez Ramon Laso de la Vega

----- LOS ANGELES POBLADORES/SETTLER RECRUITS -----

1. Camero, Manuel, 30; wife Tomasa García, 24.

2. Lara, José de, 50; wife María Antonia Campos, 22;
children: Juan de Jesús, 6; José Julián, 4; María Faustina, 9 months.

3. Mesa, Antonio, 38; wife Ana Gertrudis López, 27;
children: María Pascuala, 10; Antonio María, 8.

4. *Miranda Rodríguez, Antonio, 50;
child: Juana María, 11.
*(NOTE: Stayed behind in Loreto after daughter dies from smallpox.)

5. Moreno, José, 22; wife María Guadalupe Pérez, 19.

6. Navarro, José Antonio, 42; wife María Regina Dorotea Soto, 47;
children: José María, 10; José Clemente, 9; Mariana Josefa, 4.

7. Quintero, Luis, 55; wife María Petra Rubio, 45;
children: Gertrudis, 16; María Concepción, 9; Tomas, 7; Rafaela, 6; José Clemente, 3.

8. Rodríguez, Pablo, 25; wife María Rosalía Noriega, 26;
child: María Antonia, 1.

9. Rosas, Alejandro, 19; wife Juana Rodríguez, 20.

10. Rosas, Basilio, 67; wife María Manuela Calixtra Hernández, 43;
children: José Máximo, 15; Carlos, 12; Antonio Rosalino, 7; José Marcelino, 4; Juan Estevan, 2; María Josefa, 8.

11. Vanegas, José, 28; wife of María Máxima Aguilar;
child: Cosme Damien, 1.

12. Villavicencio, Antonio, 38; wife María de los Santos Flores, 26;
child: María Antonia Josefa Piñuelas, 8.

----- L.A. POLBADORE SOLDIER ESCORT RECRUITS & THEIR FAMILIES -----

1. Alanís, Máximo, 21; wife Juana María Miranda, 20.

2. Domínguez, Ildefonso, 44; wife María Ignacia Germán, --;
children: José María, 16; María del Carmen, 14.

3. Germán, Isidro, 23; wife María Manuela Ochoa, 20.

4. Gonzales, Felipe, 35; wife Felipa de la Cruz, 38;
child: Tomás, 15.

5. Guerrero, José Julián, 40; wife Rita Gertrudis Sánchez, 30.

6. Hernández, Justo Lorenzo, 40; wife Trinidad de León, --;
children: Juana Nepomucena, 17; Máxima María Trinidad, --; Juan María, 5.

7. Ibarra, Juan Antonio, 20; wife María de los Angeles Velásquez, 20;
child: José Alvino, 2.

8. Lugo, Manuel Ignacio, 20; wife María Gertrudis Limón, 30;
child: José Miguel, 2.

9. Olivas, Juan Matías, 22; wife María Dorotea Espinosa, 23;
children: María Nicolasa, 2; Pablo, 1.

10. Ontiveros, José, 36; wife Ana María Carrasco, 34;
children: Juana de Diós, 13; Patricio, 9.

11. Polanco, José María, 31; wife María Norberta León, 28.

12. Rodríguez, Joaquín, 18; wife Maria Concepción Quintero, 16.

13. Romero, Juan María, 35; wife Rosalía Mallen, 15.**
** (NOTE: Listed by SHARR as Romero, Juan Maria, soldier, wife Maria Lugarda Salgado,
children: Maria Josefa; Joseph Antonio; Maria Gertrudis; Rafaela; Maria Josefa (2d))

14. Sepúlveda, Francisco Xavier, 40; wife María Candelaria Redondo, 35;
children: Juan José, 17; Rafael, 15; Sebastián, 13; Manuel, 11; Teresa, 9; Francisco, 5; María Josefa, 4; José Antonio, 1.

15. Valdez, Eugenio, 25; wife Sebastiana Quintero, 15.

16. Valenzuela, José Manuel, 23; wife María Concepción Armenta, 20.

17. Villalobo, Juan José, 37; wife María Nicolasa Beltrán, 35;
children: María Francisca, 9; Juana Josefa, 7; María Rita, 5; María Antonia, 3; José Pedro, 1.

GROUP 2:  SANTA BARBARA PRESIDIO & THREE SANTA BARBARA CHANNEL MISSIONS SOLDIER RECRUITS & THEIR FAMILIES
DATE DEPARTED:   April 1781 - From Los Alamos, New Spain (Mexico)
ROUTE TAKEN:   Followed Anza Trail: Horcasitas > Tubac Presidio > Mission San Xavier del Bac > the Camino del Diablo (the "Road of the Devil) which ran through the harshest of deserts > Yuma Crossing (junction of Gila & lower Colorado rivers) > Mission Puerto de Purísima Concepción at Fort Yuma > Mission San Pedro > Msn. San Gabriel
DATE ARRIVED:   14 July 1781 - To Mission San Gabriel, Alta California
JOURNEY'S LENGTH OF TIME:   About 3 months

Group Leaders:
Captain Fernando Rivera y Moncada
Lt Diego Gonzales
2nd Lt(Alferez) Cayetano Limon
2nd Lt(Alferez) Jose Dario Arguello
-- NOTES --
At the Yuma Crossing Capt. Rivera sent the main body of this Expedition's group on to Msn. San Gabriel without him, under the continued leadership of Lt. Gonzales, Alferez Limon, and Alferez Arguello.
Rivera, a few of his soldiers, and a handful of soldier recruits stayed behind near Yuma on the Colorado River, across from Mission Purisima Concepcion, with the expedition's exhausted livestock.
Rivera planned to continue on after the livestock had rested. On 17-18 July 1781 the local Yuma (Quechan) Indians were fed up with their abuse by the local Spainards and with Capt. Rivera's livestock ravaging their vital mesquite trees.
The Indians rose up and revolted (YUMA REVOLT). During the revolt the Indians killed many Spanish settlers and priests from local missions Purísima Concepcion and San Pedro, as well Capt. Rivera, his soldiers, and the soldier recruits.

*Expedition Members Killed during YUMA REVOLT: (Ref: Thomas Workman Temple II, Granville W. and N.C. Hough, and Bancroft, op cit, p 363-Provincial State papers, Benecia Military Toma II, pp 10, 22, 60-63)
Soldier Escorts Killed
1. *Leader Captain Fernando Rivera
2. *Robles, Juan Jose
3. *Beltran, Nicolas
4. *Camacho, Tomas Maria
5. *Cervantes, Pablo Victoriano
6. *Espinosa, Joaquin
7. *Gallegos, Carlos
8. *Pena, Francisco

Santa Barbara Presidio & Three Channel Missions Soldier Recruits Killed
9. *Alvarez, Asencio (his son Buenaventura Alvarez did come to Alta California later)
10. *Castro, Francisco NOT Castro, Francisco Macario**
       **NOTE: Macario Castro, wife Maria Potenciana Ramirez and ch: Jose Tiburcio & Ramon Dionisio were ALL in this expedition (Ref: Granville W. and N.C. Hough).
       FRANCISCO MACARIO CASTRO WAS NOT KILLED AT YUMA. Granville W. and N.C. Hough (Ref: WHO CAME AND WHO STAYED IN CA? 1780 TO 1790, pg. 16) INCORRECTLY assumed that the Francisco Castro
       mentioned by Thomas Workman Temple II as being killed in YUMA (Ref: provincial State papers, Benecia Military Toma II, pp 60-63) was the same person as Francisco Macario Castro.
       Macario is listed in the 1790 Alta California Census as being in Monterey with his wife & six children. He died as a retired Sgt. in Monterey on about 24 July 1809, and was buried on 25 July 1809 in the Msn. San Carlos Cemetery.

       It is unknown if this Francisco Castro reported as killed at Yuma is the same person as Expedition member Francisco Castro who deserted and was later arrested on 15 August 1781.
       (Ref: Tucson Presidio: Arrest for desertion, AGN Provincias Internas, i.e. Archivo General de la Nacion (Mexico), 1617-1821, 88 vols.)
       IF these two men ARE the same person, then that would mean that all referenced sources were in ERROR, and that Francisco Castro was in fact NOT killed at Yuma, but instead deserted. Hence the confusion of names.~jsr
11. *Diaz, Manuel Ygnacio
12. *Pardo, Antonio
13. *Quijada/Quijas, Josef

----- SOLDIER RECRUITS & THEIR FAMILIES -----

1. Alipaz-Perez, Ignacio, --.

2. Alvarez-Rubio, Ascencio, --.

3. Araña, José del Carmen, 23; wife María Manuela Guevara, 23.

4. Aranguré, José Prudencio, 56; wife absent.

5. Argüello, José Darío, 28; wife María Ignacia Moraga, 15.

6. Calvo, Francisco Xavier, 26; wife María Inés Campos, 20.

7. Cortés, José Antonio, 34; wife María Valvanera Pacheco, 18.

8. Cortés, José Xavier, --; wife María Nicolasa Ramírez, --;
children: Nicolás Felipe, 14; María Paula Segunda, 12; María Perseverancia, 5; María Isabel, 5.

9. Espinosa, José Miguel, 32; wife (unnamed);
children: five, all unnamed herein.

10. Féliz, Victorino, 30; wife María Micaela Landera, 29;
children: Juana María, 9; Juan Manuel, 6; María Marcela, 10; José Ignacio, 1.

11. Fernández, Rosalino, 24; wife Juana María Josefa Quintero y Rubio , 18;
child: María Lucia.

12. Flores, Hermenegildo, --.

13. Gonzales, Diego, --.

14. Ibarra, Ramón, 18.

15. Juárez, Francisco, 44; wife Vicenta de León, --;
child: Francisco, 1.

16. León, María del Pilar, 32;
child, Gabriel Moraga, 13.

17. Leyva, Agustín, 40; wife María Guadalupe Salazar, 38;
children: Roque Anastacio, 7; Juan José, 9; José Miguel, 5; José Rufino, 2.

18. López, Gaspar, 39; wife María Gertrudis García, --;
children: four, unnamed.

19. López, Prudencio, --.

20. Lugo, María Pascuala, 30;
children: Gabriela Silvas, 24; María Silvas, 16; Bernarda Silvas, 7; Gertrudis, 2; Teodoro, 1.

21. Machado, José Manuel, 24; wife María del Carmen Valenzuela, 17.

22. Martinez, José María, 25.

23. Martinez, Juan Ignacio, 43; wife María Jacinta Moreno, --,
children: Juan José, --; Francisco, --.

24. Mejía, Francisco Xavier, 30; wife Francisca Xaviera de Ortega, --;
child: Juan Urbano, 4.

25. Mejía, Juan Norberto, 18.

26. Mejía, Pedro José, 26; wife Ana Maria Ortega, 26;
child: María Petra, 11.

27. Montiel, Juan Andrés, 38; wife, María Rosa Rodríguez, --,
child: María Concepción, 14.

28. Ontiveros, Francisco, 30.

29. Parra, José Antonio, 25; wife María Isabel Talamantes, 21.

30. Patiño, José Victor, 30; wife María Victoria Martínez, 24.

31. Pérez, Ignacio (see Alipaz).

32. Quijada, Vicente, 26; wife Juana María Armenta, 26;
children: María Rosa, 2; María Gertrudis Valenzuela, 13.

33. Rochín, Ignacio, 36; wife Ana Bojórquez, 30;
child: María del Carmen, 2.

34. Rodríguez, José Ignacio, 19; wife Juana Paula Parra, 16.

35. Romero, Juan Estevan, 45; wife Juana Gertrudis Delgado, 23;
children: José Gerardo, --; María Josefa, --.

36. Ruiz, Efigenio, 46; wife María Rosa López, 28;
children: Maria Ursula, 10; José Pedro, 7; José Hilario, 1.

37. Ruiz, Fructuoso, 20; wife Maria Isabel Acosta, 14.

38. Salazar, José Pedro, 40; wife María Gregoria Espinosa, 24.

39. Samaniego, José María Gil, 42; wife Juana María de Sotomayor, 25.

40. Sánchez, José Tadeo, 24; wife María Petra Montiel, 17.

41. Soto, Guillermo, --.

42. Valdez, José Melecio, --.

43. Valencia, Juan Ignacio, 46; wife María Rita Zamora, 32;
children: María Francisca, 7; Juan de la Cruz Bermúdez, 13; Juan Hilario Bermúdez, 11.

44. Valenzuela, Pedro Gabriel, 22; wife María Dolores Parra, 20.

45. Valenzuela, Segundo, 29; wife Agustina Alcántara, 26;
children: Joaquín, 10; José María, 5; María Antonia, 2.

46. Velarde, José María, 33; wife Juliana Quijada, 45.

47. Villa, Juan José, 39; wife María Paula Martínez, 30;
children: Vicente Ferrer, 9; José María, 1.