Great that you are suddenly interested in mission history! For more details and up-to-date history, may I send you my book? Some data from it is
included here:
The 2012 article by Carlos is pretty good but is not up to speed on a couple of historic facts. The Dominican Padre Pallás wrote the governor on July
18, 1794, informing him that crops were freezing (in July!) at this location, less than three months after it was founded (at nearly 7,000').
Because government controlled the padres after the Jesuits were removed, it took many times longer to do what was needed. In this case, starvation
would be the result. The next day (July 19) a second letter was sent down the mountain for the governor, informing him the mission would be moved this
week.
A third letter of July 29, requested official permission for the move from Casilepe to Ajantequedo, a place the Kiliwa Natives had known, near the
5,000' level, seven miles south. Governor Borica responded on Aug. 10 to permit the transfer.
The Natives attacked the mission, which was heavily fortified with cannon openings in the walls, several times as reported in 1796. Read more in my
book.
The mission was abandoned during a particularly cold winter in 1811 (not 1824). The Natives who had joined this mission were transferred to Mission
Santo Domingo.
The next 'mountain mission' to be established was Santa Catalina in 1797, the 25th and final Spanish mission on the peninsula. Plans for a third
mountain missions were dropped. Unlike San Pedro Mártir, the Santa Catalina location was thoroughly researched to make sure it fit the bill.
Photos at Mission San Pedro Mártir (from Baja Nomad Jack Swords in 2004) on this page of Franciscan and Dominican missions in Baja California: https://vivabaja.com/missions2/
Lazcano seems to have gotten around, he has written extensively on baja history…David K - 4-27-2023 at 08:01 PM
I know Carlos, we have chatted.
He is very passionate about his views of history and has a few personal views he sticks to.
My information comes from a desire to present the latest and most accurate data presented by historians and researchers.
Too many previous Baja mission books have simply repeated earlier books, even though revised data was available.
At least Carlos keeps writing, super!David K - 4-28-2023 at 10:33 AM
Lazcano seems to have gotten around, he has written extensively on baja history…
This account is more factual, perhaps because Santo Domingo had better records preserved. The only disagreement with Carlos I have is the date when
the mission moved further up the canyon. He gives 1793 and I give 1798, when records say a large chapel and additional rooms were constructed at a new
location, where water was more consistent.
Carlos does give an interesting story, which I do not recall having heard before:
