David K
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Posts: 64848
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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NEW SPAIN to the CALIFORNIAS by SEA 1519-1668
That is the title on the book's spine, but it is slightly different on the title page:
I am reading it now, trying to get a complete list of voyages to California (Baja California today).
1) Fortún Jiménez after a mutiny took over the ship 'Concepción' from Diego de Becerra, after it left Tehuantepec in October, 1533. This was one of
two ships sponsored by Hernán Cortés to make discoveries. In late 1533 (or early 1534), the Concepción reached California, perhaps near today's La
Paz. Jiménez and others who came ashore were killed by the California natives. Those on board the ship escaped to tell the story, which included the
news of a bay filled with black pearls.
2) On May 5, 1535, Hernán Cortés personally led an expedition to California (Baja California) and established a colony there, which lasted just two
years. Cortés returned to the mainland soon after his visit to La Paz Bay (which he named 'Santa Cruz') and had more ships constructed.
3) 1539, Francisco de Ulloa... with three ships under his command, dispatched by Cortés to seek new lands, sailed from Acapulco. Ulloa was the first
to prove that California was a peninsula and not and island by sailing to the north end of the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), then back south
along the California coast to the tip (Cabo San Lucas) and turning north along California's Pacific coast, perhaps as far north as 33º (San Diego
region today), but at least to Cedros Island.
4) 1540, Hernando de Alarcón, sailing for Antonio de Mendoza (a rival of Cortés) in support of Francisco Vázquez de Coronado and the great expedition
north seeking the Seven Cities of Cíbola. Alarcón discovered the Colorado River, but never connected with the Coronado expedition, which began many
weeks before. While Alarcón may not have set foot on the California side of the river, marching west for Coronado to meet Alarcón was Melchior Díaz
and his troops. Díaz missed Alarcón by just days but found a message left for him that released him from his first purpose to retrieve supplies and
freed Melchior Díaz to explore the new land to the west. If Díaz crossed the river (believed north of Yuma), he would be the first European to reach
California by land. Díaz was injured in a freak accident with his lance and died several days later, but where he was buried remains a mystery.
The list continues, but I am just now reading this book, about 1/3 through it.
With some past sources, including another recently obtained book (Lands of Promise and Despair) here are a few more visitors to California by sea:
5) Antonio de Mendoza, first viceroy of Mexico, dispatched Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo to sea to explore the Pacific coast of California and beyond on
June 27, 1542.
The Cabrillo led expedition traveled as far north as today's San Francisco, but Cabrillo never saw the Golden Gate and the immense harbor beyond. In
fact, San Francisco Bay was discovered by the Franciscans walking/ riding north from Monterey Bay. Cabrillo died during the voyage and was buried on
one of the Channel Islands off Santa Barbara. His ships returned to Mexico and not having found gold, an inland sea passage or shortcut to Asia, Spain
shifted to sailing west to Asia from Mexico, and claimed the Philippine Islands in 1565.
6) 1584, while sailing away from Asia, Francisco Gali discovered the strong Japanese Current going north then east and finally south to California.
After spending a few days at Morro Bay, he sailed on to Acapulco.
7) 1595, Portuguese Sebastián Rodríguez Cermeño while returning to Acapulco from Asia put in at Drake's Bay (he named it San Francisco). His ship was
destroyed in a storm, but he managed to outfit a launch and returned to Acapulco.
With the Manila Galleon bringing so much wealth from Asia, the overly long voyage to Acapulco was near deadly to the crew, who often became sick with
scurvy and lacking water and food being at sea for so long.
A safe harbor was needed along the California coast for the Spanish ships return voyage. The attacks on the Spanish ships by the English Captain
Francis Drake intensified the need for a safe port in California.
8) From September to November, 1596, after Sebastián Vizcaíno had spent some time in Mexico and the Philippines before he established a colony near La
Paz (where Cortés had tried before). Vizcaíno wanted to try again with his colony, instead he was given command of the expedition to discover safe
harbors for the Manila Galleon.
9) Vizcaíno left Acapulco on May 5, 1602 with instructions to explore and name as many bays from Cabo San Lucas to Cape Mendocino as he could. He was
told not to rename any of the previously named bays, but he either did not realize he was at any of them or disregarded the order. The many names
Cabrillo gave to bays where changed by Vizcaíno. Vizcaíno returned to Acapulco on March 21, 1603. Vizcaíno also missed the entrance to San Francisco
Bay. Monterey and San Diego would be the two harbors Spain would eventually colonize, but that didn't come for 166 more years!
To be continued!...
[Edited on 6-2-2015 by David K]
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grizzlyfsh95
Nomad
Posts: 226
Registered: 1-8-2010
Location: East Cape
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So apparently the US stole the land that he Mexicans stole from the Spanish who stole it from the nomadic tribes who lived from Alaska to Central
America, who stole it from the indigenous fauna who stole it from the Jurassic flora and fauna. Well at least they kept those pesky Portuguese,
English and Dutch from getting their hands on it.
The harder I work, the luckier I get
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64848
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Something like that! 
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