PEACEMAKER: ‘A little daughter named Margarita Amelia was born to Dona Teresa and Don Guillermo [Hartnell] on February 22, 1847′

This interview with Dona Teresa put the lonely and disgruntled officer in such a good frame of mind that when he met Teresita in the hallway, he forgot to look behind her ears.

He only noted, this time, that she was “extremely graceful and pretty.”

The magic of the Hartnell home was working even on Lieutenant Wise, who had been correct in his surmise.

A little daughter named Margerita Amelia was born to Dona Teresa and Don Guillermo on February 22, 1847.

Mission records show that this was the seventeenth Hartnell offspring (even the mother lost count occasionally).

Four sons had already died.

Another, the little Nathaniel who had been born at Alisal in 1840, died shortly after his seventh birthday, cause unknown.

In those days a child’s death was regarded as truly an act of God as his birth.

Pediatrics, like birth control, was a science yet to be discovered.

Don Guillermo spent the remainder year 1847 and early 1848 making a selection, translation, and digest in English of such Mexican laws as were “supposed to be still in force and adapted to the present condition in California.”

As various sections were finished, the Americans posted copies prominently in all the pueblos of Alta California.

But Governor Mason (relieving Kearney while the general went to Washington for further instruction in occupation) planned in addition that the digest be printed by the government press in San Francisco and distributed in greater numbers than ever had been possible in the past.

Besides his task of legal selection and translation, Hartnell continued to edit the Spanish section of the Monterey Californian (moved to San Francisco in May 1847).

He enjoyed such work, but soon was roused from his scholarly abstraction by news from the north that gold had been discovered at New Helvetia by James Marshall, while building a sawmill for Captain Sutter.

Don Guillermo rode to the capital from Alisal, to sort out facts from rumors.

Everyone seemed similarly engaged, and work was suspended.

Finally, the alcalde sent a messenger all the way to Sutter’s Fort, to seek the truth.

Two weeks later, when the man rode into the Monterey plaza, he had to force his way through a crush of Californians and their conquerors.

In Colton’s own words:

‘As he drew forth the yellow lumps from his pockets and passed them around among the crowd, the doubts which had lingered till now fled. . . . . .

‘The excitement produced was intense and many were soon busy with their hasty preparations for departure to the mines.

‘The blacksmith dropped his hammer, the carpenter his plane, the mason his trowel, the farmer his sickle, the baker his loaf and the tapster his bottle.

‘All were off for the mines, some on horses, some on crutches, and one went in a litter.’

 

THE LIVES OF WILLIAM HARTNELL

PEACEMAKER: Pages 282 – 283

Susanna Bryant Dakin

Stanford University Press 1949

 

PEACEMAKER: Dona Maria Teresa de la Guerra Hartnell ‘gave her full consent to any schemes undertaken in California for the amelioration of her sex’

Hutton was welcome in such homes as Hartnell’s and Jimeno’s because of mutual interests and good manners.

Others were not so fortunate.

One young navy officer, who arrived in the rainy season and lacked the social graces, described the same people unkindly, with little understanding or knowledge of their ways.

Lieutenant Wise notes in his diary that “with the denizens of Monterey, even the wealthiest, cleanliness was an acquirement very little appreciated or practised.”

Even while “playing the agreeable” with a young lady he noticed a “chemisette of a chocolate hue peeping through a slit in her sleeve,” and resolved, in the case of becoming infatuated like so many others, “to exact a change of raiment in the marriage contract.”

This was Teresita Hartnell, who learned the polka from Wise, never suspecting his horrid thoughts.

By chance, the lieutenant was sent by his superior officer on an errand to la casa Arnel.

In the courtyard he passed by Indian servants “rejoicing in great masses of wiry shocks of hair, quite coarse enough to weave into bird cages.”  

He was glad to see that the rain was doing for some of these savages “what they never had the energy to perform themselves — washing their faces.”

Finally, says the navy officer:

‘I reached terra firma, thankful to have escaped with my boots overflowing with mud and then we marched boldly into the domicile.

‘We entered a large, white-washed sala where, after clapping hands, a concourse of small children approached with a lighted tallow link (for it was a dark day) and in reply to our inquiries, without further ceremony, ushered us by another apartment into the presence of the mistress of the mansion.

‘She was sitting a la grand Turque, on the chief ornamental structure that graced the chamber — namely the bed, upon which were sportively engaged three diminutive brats, with a mouse-trap — paper cigarrittos — dirty feet, and other juvenile and diverting toys.

‘The Dona herself was swallowing and puffing clouds of smoke alternately —  but I must paint her as she sat, through the haze.

‘”Juana,” said she, calling to a short, squat Indian girl, “lumbrecita por el Senor” a light for the gentleman — and in a moment I was likewise pouring forth volumes of smoke.

‘She wore her hair, which was black and glossy, in natural folds stright down the neck adn shoulders, dark complexion, lighted by deep, black, intelligent eyes, well-shaped features, and brilliant white teeth.

‘I saw but little of her figure, as she was was almost entirely enveloped in shawls and bed-clothes. . . . .

‘She excused herself on the plea of indisposition for not rising, and it being one I surmised she was a martyr to every year or so, I very readily coincided in opinion, but in truth I found the Senora . . . . . sensible, good-humoured, and what  was far more notable, the mother of fourteen male and five female children — making nineteen the sum of boys and girls total, a she informed me herself, without putting me to the trouble of counting the brood; and yet she numbered but seven and thirty years, in the very prime of life, with the appearance of being again able to perform equally astonishing exploits for the future.

‘She named many of her friends and relatives who had done wonders, but none who had surpassed her in these infantile races.

‘In Spain she would receive a pension, be exempted from taxes and the militia.

‘On being told this she laughed heartily, and gave her full consent to any schemes undertaken in California for the amelioration of her sex.’

THE LIVES OF WILLIAM HARTNELL

Susanna Bryant Dakin

Pages 281 – 282

PEACEMAKER: Dona Maria Teresa de la Guerra ‘Hartnell… was too much engrossed by the care of her twenty children (or thereabouts)’

One of Hartnell’s first attempts to promote harmony between the Californians and their conquerors was when he offered the use of his Monterey house to the American Company F for a baile with dancing, midnight supper, and champagne.

The “first families” of the capital all received invitations.

Some did not deign to answer, some sent formal regrets, and the majority came, from motives that varied with the individual.

Dona Angustias Jimeno who, during the war, had asked for a neclace all of American ears, now reluctantly danced with the conquerors to please her brother-in-law.

At events which followed this first breaking of the ice, she and her daughter became belles among the American officers.

Teresita Hartnell, not quite fifteen, outshone them all in sparkling eyes and shining hair and agile dancing.

A twenty-one-year old volunteer in the occupation troops was William Rich Hutton, a surveyor by trade.

Often called upon for professional services by Hartnell, Halleck, and Colton, he won admittance to the inner circle, and kept a diary concerned a great deal with the doings of the Hartnell-Jimeno-de la Guerra clan, Glances at California, 1847 – 1853: Diaries and Letters of William Rich Hutton, Surveyor:

‘Of the native Californians what can I say?

‘I could write of Dona Angustias Jimeno who, altho’ filled with patriotic hatred of the invaders, the conquerors of her country, hearing that an Amercian officer was ill in a shanty (Dr. Murray’s quarters) near her house, went to see him, took him to her house, and gave him every attention until his death.

‘This was Lieut. Minor of the Third Artillery.

‘She was thus brought into relations with Murray, Sherman, and Halleck, and they soon became warm friends.

‘She was a most attractive woman, handsome, a little stout, agreeable & witty in conversation, well read in the older Spanish literature, familiar with Calderon, Lope & Quevado.

‘Her daughter Manuelita was a universal favorite – and several of the American officers were captured by her intelligence and the charming simplicity of her ways.

‘She died when about seventeen.

‘Mrs. Hartnell her sister was too much engrossed by the care of her twenty children (or thereabouts) to give much attention to literature — but her house was always gay.

‘The respectable Americans as well as Californians were always welcome . . . .

‘Teresita . . . . was perhaps a greater favorite, and had more than one militaire at her feet.

‘Very tall, lithe, wonderfully gracefull in the waltz.

‘The younger girls of these two families were children at the time.’

THE LIVES OF WILLIAM HARTNELL

Susanna Bryant Dakin

Stanford University Press 1949

Pages 280 – 281

PEACEMAKER: ‘The Spanish section [of the 'Californian'], as edited by Don Guillermo [Hartnell], was in part his own composition and in part translation’

Semple, once a dentist, has been described as “an emigrant from Kentucky, in a buck-skin dress, a fox-skin cap; true with the rifle, ready with his pen, and quick at the type-case” [from Colton's Three Years in California, 1846-1849].

Walter Colton, a kindly and intellignet chaplain berthed on the U.S.S. Congress, agreed to go into partnership with Semple, and Hartnell undertook to edit a Spanish section.

The Kentuckian was experienced in typesetting; the navy chaplain had had editorial experience on the Philadelphia North American; William Hartnell knew where there was a printing press, could suggest a long list of subscribers, and was bilingual in English and Spanish.

The association could not have been improved upon.

Zamorano’s old press and type were found in the government house in a state of dusty disuse.

Colton says: ‘The press was old enough to be preserved as a curiosity; the mice had burrowed in the balls; there were no rules, no leads; and the types were rusty and all in pi.

“It was only by scouring that the letters could be made to show their faces.”

Using a jackknife, he cut a sheet of tin into rules and leads.

With the press was stored a keg almost full of ink, but no paper.

None could be found in the capital, except some destined for “segar” wrappings, in foolscap-sheet size.

A trading vessel had aboard a small supply which the partners procured.

Office space was provided by Lieutenant Minor in the American barracks, and the first number of the Californian appeared on August 15, 1846.

Semple takes up the tale: “A crowd was waiting when the first sheet was thrown from the press.

“It produced quite a little sensation.

“Never was a bank run upon harder; not , however, by people with paper to get specie, but exactly the reverse.”

The newspaper appeared every Saturday thereafter, and contained official orders and military proclamations as well as news events and timely, intelligent editorials.

The Spanish section, as edited by Don Guillermo, was in part his own composition and in part translation of important English items.

Hartnell became absorbed in this new occupation, assembling a great deal of material for use in his columns.

LA ROSA reprint:

THE LIVES OF WILLIAM HARTNELL

Susanna Bryant Dakin

Stanford University Press 1949

Pages 273 – 274

 

LA ROSA – CCC TRANSCULTURAL PACIFICAN HISTORY 1846 – 2010

Don Guillermo ‘Hartnell, with the others, signed a resolution of loyalty to Mexico, but refused to run away from Monterey,’ p. 272, The Lives of William Hartnell, Susanna Bryant Dakin

William Hartnell, remembered for his service to Commodore Jones four years previously, was asked to translate Sloat’s proclamation.  He also acted as U. S. appraiser in the customhouse where, six days after the fall of California’s capital, the Mexican customs officials met to protest the American conquest.

Pablo de la Guerra appeared as leading spirit in this anticlimatical act.  With fiery eloquence he begged his fellow officials, including his English brother-in-law, to support the Mexican cause still embodied in General Jose Castro.  Since fighting still continued in the south, they should flee from the fallen capital and regain every loss.  Hartnell, with the others, signed a resolution of loyalty to Mexico, but refused to run away from Monterey.  De la Guerra, in turn, refused to give over the custom-house flags and boats to the American conquerors.  Finally, alone, he fled southward to avoid giving parole.  It was a long time before he saw his sister and brother-in-law Hartnell again, and some time before bitterness subsided, on both sides.

Besides accepting the customhouse position, Don Guillermo agreed to become surveyor and land auctioneer for the American government, to help straighten out the land-grant muddle left by Pico in his last days in office.

Perhaps the most important service that Hartnell performed toward the establishment of peace and understanding was to act as an editor of California’s first newspaper.  Its first appearance was an important event in the capital.  Not only had no newspaper ever been published in the country, but the appearance of outside publications was spasmodic.  A few people subscribed to the Honolulu Polynesian.  A few, like Hartnell, received copies of the Lima Gazette or the London Times from Mexico City, on incoming vessels.  But it remained for the American Robert Semple to bring out a regular, comprehensive newssheet, printed in Monterey and distributed weekly.

[Excerpt from THE LIVES OF WILLIAM HARTNELL, written by Susanna Bryant Dakin and published in 1949 by Stanford University Press, pages 272 - 273]

LA ROSA TRANSCULTURAL HARTNELLIANA 2010

PEACEMAKER: DR. ROBERT WYLLIE TO WILLIAM HARTNELL: ‘If the General [Micheltorena] wishes to join us, he could secretly, have one third of the allotment to me and to you, so as that his Grant also would come under British Protection,’ pages 267 – 269, Susanna Bryant Dakin

The doctor’s eloquence could not be shut off, because he now was across the world from where he had expected to be.  Writing from Oahu, Wyllie finally gave an address:

“You will be surprised to know that I am here, along with General Miller, now H. B. M.’s Consul General for these and other islands in the Pacific.”  When this legendary character from Kent, whom both cousins had known in South America in the twenties as one of Bolivar’s bravest generals, asked the Doctor to accompany him and a lovely daughter to the South Seas, Wyllie couldn’t resist, although, says he: “I was all ready to start for England agreeably to what I told you.”

He planned to stay several months longer and then ‘it is not impossible that the answers from the London Committee to my communications from Mexico, may lead me to visit California, to determine how far English settlers there would enjoy greater advantages than in the Departments nearer to the Atlantic.”  He is quite out of touch with recent developments on the mainland, and inquires anxiously about more land which he hopes Hartnell has secured from Micheltorena.

Impatient to hear from his “old cronie,” he soon writes again: “I regret that you do not say anything about the terms on which grants of land can be obtained in California.”  A splinter of truth finally pricks the bubble: “Bye & bye, I think, the N. Americans will overrun your whole Department.”  By outgoing vessels he sends several communications to Hartnell from Honolulu, each assuming that Micheltorena is still in office and that the major obstacle blocking his plan is American intervention:

‘A time may arise, and that soon, when a grant of land may be of great importance to you, & to your family.  From the successive touchings at California of American Ships of War, their views upon the Territory are apparent, and if the question of Texas had led to a war, the result cannot be doubted.

‘In such an event, the only power that could save California is Great Britain, and nothing could justify her interference so much, as previous grants of land, under the Mexican Government to British subjects.

‘Be ready therefore to grasp all you can for me and for yourself, if such a crisis should threaten, and if the General [Micheltorena] wishes to join us, he could secretly, have one third of the allotment to me and to you, so as that his Grant also would come under British Protection. . . . . If the grants can be obtained for nothing, in the old way, of course it is much better than paying for land in Deferred Bonds.’

 

[Pages 267 - 269 of Susanna Bryant Dakin's book on Alta California, THE LIVES OF WILLIAM HARTNELL, published by Stanford University Press in 1949.]

[Gregory Hartnell is also transcribing Susanna Bryant Dakin's important history of Alta California at gregoryhartnell.wordpress.com.  A link to that transcription, which is on pages 12 - 13 at the moment, is found in the comments section below, or in the LA ROSA BLOGROLL to the right, under 'CCC BLOG.']

 

LA ROSA – CCC TRANSCULTURAL PACIFICAN HARTNELLIANA 1819 – 2009

Don Guillermo Hartnell’s cousin Dr. Robert Wyllie informed him that their ‘old friend McCulloch died’ leaving ‘his and your claim on the Mexican government’

Wyllie’s letter ends with distressing news of Mr. Brotherston, the family friend and kind employer of Hartnell’s youth: “Brotherston became a Bankrupt, and is now serving as a Clerk to a Bank in Newport, Wales.”  And Hartnell’s former partner, “our old friend McCulloch died in February, 1842 near Liverpool, of disease of the Heart.  He left his and your claim on the Mexican government.”

From Mexico City, Wyllie writes again to Hartnell on November 5.  It is almost a duplicate of his August communication from Tepic, which he fears may have miscarried.  But he refers, in addition, to efforts of the late English envoy to Mexico, Mr. Pakenham, to settle several private claims, among them the ancient bill of McCulloch, Hartnell and Company for $7,800 to the Mexican government.  McCulloch’s heirs in England now wish to renew attempts at collection.  To his earlier arguments for acquiring land in California in order to settle the huge Mexican debt to the Spanish-American bondholders, Dr. Wyllie adds:

‘The British bondholders prefer lands on the Atlantic coast but as without doubt both the United States and France grasp at California and as Mexico cannot defend it, it is evidently more for the interest of this country to strengthen that remote Department, by throwing the Colonists there – California would thus soon become capable of defending itself and its connection with Mexico would be secured.’

Of course there is a personal stake in this huge transaction.  As a silent partner in the firm of Barron and Forbes, which he admits to be “a shrewd establishment with a vigilant eye to the main chance,” Wyllie stands to profit handsomely by the commissions and other benefits the firm would receive for handling the cession.

 

[Pages 262 - 263 of Susanna Bryant Dakin's 1949 history of Upper California, The Lives of William Hartnell]

DON GUILLERMO HARTNELL RESIGNED HIS POSITION ON SEPTEMBER 7, 1840, JUST BEFORE DONA MARIA TERESA BIRTHED THEIR SON NATHANIEL: Pages 239 – 240, ‘The Lives of William Hartnell,’ by Susanna Bryant Dakin

+++  Traveling on up the coast, leaving his so-called assistant behind, el visitador found that the situation at Capistrano had not been improved by his recent appointment of a mayordomo to succeed the administrador.  According to the diario: “When I passed by San Juan Capistrano the padre ministro [Zalvidea] told me that . . . . . the Indians . . . . were all running away because of Don Ramon Arguello; and that it was necessary to put in another mayordomo.”  Such a move would mean bad blood between el visitador and the most powerful member of the powerful Arguello clan.  On August 19, Hartnell records: “Today I received a letter from Don Santiago Arguello in which he demands satisfaction for my having forcibly deprived his son Ramon of the office of mayordomo of San Juan Capistrano, and so, and so on, and so on.”

Continuing with what now seemed the hopeless task of promoting “harmony among all classes,” el visitador ran into new complications at each mission.  Everywhere the ex-administrators, their families and friends were indignant at being displaced, at being forced away from the feeding trough.  Everywhere Hartnell’s own motives were questioned, along with his assistant’s; and the two were vilified together.  From San Buenaventura, on August 26, Don Guillermo wrote to his “brother” Jimeno: “You will see that my official duties have gone badly with me.”

He was cheered to receive, simultaneously, a letter from Don Manuel visiting at Alisal: (translation)

‘My sister Dona Teresa is waiting for you daily because (if you do not come) she will be assisted only by old women in her delivery, but we trust all will be well.  Angustias already has come out of her “bundling.”  At nine in the morning of the 14th she was delivered of a boy, plump and handsome – the women say he resembles my sister Dona Teresa – and we place him at your service . . . . . I hope you return soon, and remain in good health.  Your affectionate brother.’

This letter pointed the contrast between the simple love and faith of Hartnell’s family and the complex animosities he had aroused as visitador de misiones.  Don Guillermo resolved to resign from this position.  He would quit the labyrinths of politics and return to the warm security of his family circle.  In some other way, he would make them a living.

His resignation, dated September 7, 1840, was sent from the de la Guerra home in Santa Barbara after consultation with his father-in-law.  Governor Alvarado did not accept it immediately, but only after earnest conversations with his friend and former tutor, at the conclusion of his tour.

A last entry in Hartnell’s diario was penned September 15: “I left San Antonio and arrived at my rancho.”  Here he found a five-day-old addition to the family, a fine boy named Nathaniel after his English brother.  The family welcome dispelled the gloom that had been gathering in his soul.

General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo ‘actually arrested DON GUILLERMO HARTNELL and carried him bodily across the bay’

+++  This was discouraging indeed, to be rebuffed at the outset by the padre presidente, as well as the most prominent mission administrator.

There are no 1840 entries in Hartnell’s diario previous to July 19.  From contemporary sources, we learn of the visitador‘s presence at the northern missions, and his success in putting the new machinery in motion everywhere except at San Rafael.  On April 11, Manuel Jimeno told his brother-in-law:  ”In spite of everything that the commandante general Vallejo has to say about San Rafael, the Governor has decided to put that mission under the plan of the reglamento.”  As champion of an oppressed race, el visitador must now oppose the most military-minded man in California.  On May 14, he notified Alvarado that Vallejo would not permit occupation of San Rafael “in pursuance of your instructions.”

The General actually arrested Hartnell and carried him bodily across the bay “for having ventured to interfere in matters concerning the northern fr0ntier.”  Since the General had imposed the strictest military discipline on a large force of men in his domain, nobody could defy him with success.  Hartnell remained remained a prisoner with no hope of being rescued until he conceded in writing that “Vallejo’s views in this particular case were correct.”  Immediately he was released and allowed to proceed on his tour of the missions.  The incident seemed closed, but much bitterness had been generated.

Feeling flamed highest in Santa Barbara, where Vallejo had made enemies during the contest between Alvarado and Don Carlos Carrillo for the governorship of California.  While commanding Alvarado’s forces, Vallejo had arrested the venerable Don Jose de la Guerra for not obeying orders.  He also had refused an interview with the padre presidente.  These disrepectul acts were not forgotten, and the Hartnell incident added fule to the fire.

San Luis Rey in the south was as much of a hotbed as San Rafael in the north.  Here various members of the Pico family, led by Don Pio, actively opposed el visitador when he attempted to carry out his instructions from the Governor. . .   +++

El Visitador DON GUILLERMO HARTNELL found failure at all missions along ‘El Camino Real’, save at ‘Misiones San Gabriel y San Juan Capistrano’

+++  In his ‘diario, el visitador’ describes the interview with the Indians wherin he informed them of concessions secured from the government:

‘July 14 – Sunday – Today I went to the mission to appoint an alcalde mayor.  I told the Indians that one by one they should come with me to put down the name of the person that each wanted for the position . . . . but I charged them to name a man of worth and one capable of discharging his obligations.  So it was done; and Ambrosio, one of the present alcaldes, having obtained 56 votes and no one else more than 10, he obtained the position.  After this election I warned the Indians that now that they do not have an ‘administrator de razon’ they must work hard so that the mission will prosper and they have clothing . . . . By means of their interpreter Jaime the Indians of this mission said to me,

  ’”Senor, the people are very happy about what you have done here and we thank you very much.  We are poor as you know, but there are a few hides and some tallow; take what you want.”‘

  Hartnell held an audience with the grateful Indians and distributed government money for clothing and staples.  During the day, ragged strangers came and threw themselves at the feet of ‘el visitador’.  These were runaways from San Diego and San Luis Rey.  They asked for pardon from their fearless champion.

  ’The first ones said it was a well-known fact that in their mission [San Diego] there was no longer anything to eat and that the whole Indian population went about almost nude.  Therefore they had come to Santa Barbara to get, by their work, something with which to cover themselves.  The latter said that all that the San Luis Rey Mission produces is not enough for the administrator [Don Pio Pico], his brothers, and brothers-in-law. . . . . They all say that if the administrators are removed they will return to their missions and take the responsibility of founding them again.’

  The story was the same at Santa Ines, next in line along ‘El Camino Real’.  Everywhere, save at San Gabriel and San Juan Capistrano, the ‘visitador’ found a failure in responsibility on the part of the civil administrators.  His final recommendation was forming in his mind.  It would hit hard, and without discrimination, at the lay successors of the founding fathers.

+++