By your letter of last August 29th, I am informed of the arrest of the townsman Gabriel Amesquita, who is already in this Presidio. I only need to ask you in this matter to inform me if the Indian who participated in the robbery consented to return the woman.
The arrangement you made about the appointment of people to take care of the labors is fine. With those who resist, work rigorously to carry out the orders that I gave everyone in the community without exception. If anyone does not work when it is his turn or demonstrates any resistance, punish him immediately and assign one of your company to take his place. Send me a note about this right away. Then send the resister, so that I can personally give him the most severe punishment.
Regarding what you tell me about the oxen of the Mission, I say nothing because I have not been enlightened by the Padres.
In 1806 the present Sr. Gobernador, together with the late sergeant Macario de Castro and the Alcalde of the Pueblo (I do not remember his name) tried to put an end to the disputes between the townspeople and Mission San José regarding land ownership. The jefe properly designated a hill that lies to the south of the Rancho that belonged to Josef Larios as the boundary beteen the Pueblo and the Mission. I remember that the Fathers agreed to put a fence from the top of that hill to the first estuary. Since you have not told me whether the Place of the Skulls is on that hill or adjacent to the Rancho of Larios, I cannot declare who owns the place where the Fathers from Mission Santa Clara keep their livestock. Let me know the location as soon as possible.
It is very good that the town’s horses have been removed from the riverside, since that site belongs to the Mission.
The son of graduado Alférez don Pedro Amador, is in this Presidio and does not want to go with his father. He claims that life with his stepmother is bad.
God keep you many years.
Monterey, September 15, 1809
José María Estudillo
P.S. Tell the inválido Toribio Guzmán to give you the inválido certifications that he has, and send them to me as soon as possible.
Regards,
Estudillo