SAN FRANCISCO SOLANO
Fifty-four years after the founding of the first Franciscan Mission in
California, the site was chosen for the twenty-first and last, San
Francisco Solano. This Mission was established at Sonoma under
conditions already narrated. The first ceremonies took place July 4,
1823, and nine months later the Mission church was dedicated. This
structure was built of boards, but by the end of 1824 a large building
had been completed, made of adobe with tiled roof and corridor, also a
granary and eight houses for the use of the padres and soldiers. Thus in
a year and a half from the time the location was selected the necessary
Mission buildings had been erected, and a large number of fruit trees
and vines were already growing. The neophytes numbered 693, but many of
these were sent from San Francisco, San José and San Rafael. The Indians
at this Mission represented thirty-five different tribes, according to
the record, yet they worked together harmoniously, and in 1830 their
possessions included more than 8000 cattle, sheep, and horses. Their
crops averaged nearly 2000 bushels of grain per year.
The number of baptisms recorded during the twelve years before
secularization was over 1300. Ten years later only about 200 Indians
were left in that vicinity.
In 1834 the Mission was secularized by M.G. Vallejo, who appointed
Ortega as majordomo. Vallejo quarreled with Padre Quijas, who at once
left and went to reside at San Rafael. The movable property was
distributed to the Indians, and they were allowed to live on their old
rancherías, though there is no record that they were formally allotted
to them. By and by the gentile Indians so harassed the Mission Indians
that the latter placed all their stock under the charge of General
Vallejo, asking him to care for it on their behalf. The herds increased
under his control, the Indians had implicit confidence in him, and he
seems to have acted fairly and honestly by them.
The pueblo of Sonoma was organized as a part of the secularization of
San Francisco Solano, and also to afford homes for the colonists brought
to the country by Hijar and Padrés. In this same year the soldiers of
the presidio of San Francisco de Asis were transferred to Sonoma, to act
as a protection of the frontier, to overawe the Russians, and check the
incoming of Americans. This meant the virtual abandonment of the post by
the shores of the bay. Vallejo supported the presidial company, mainly
at his own expense, and made friends with the native chief, Solano, who
aided him materially in keeping the Indians peaceful.
The general statistics of the Mission for the eleven years of its
existence, 1823-34, are as follows: baptisms 1315, marriages 278, deaths
651. The largest population was 996 in 1832. The largest number of
cattle was 4849 in 1833, 1148 horses and 7114 sheep in the same year.
In 1845, when Pico's plan for selling and renting the Missions was
formulated, Solano was declared without value, the secularization having
been completely carried out, although there is an imperfect inventory of
buildings, utensils, and church property. It was ignored in the final
order. Of the capture of Sonoma by the Bear Flag revolutionists and the
operations of Frémont, it is impossible here to treat. They are to be
found in every good history of California.
In 1880 Bishop Alemany sold the Mission and grounds of San Francisco
Solano to a German named Schocken for $3000. With that money a modern
church was erected for the parish, which is still being used. For six
months after the sale divine services were still held in the old
Mission, and then Schocken used it as a place for storing wine and hay.
In September, 1903, it was sold to the Hon. W.R. Hearst for $5000. The
ground plot was 166 by 150 feet. It is said that the tower was built by
General Vallejo in 1835 or thereabouts. The deeds have been transferred
to the State of California and accepted by the Legislature. The
intention is to preserve the Mission as a valuable historic landmark.