The Mission of the Archangel, San Rafael, was founded to give a
health resort to a number of neophytes who were sick in San
Francisco. The native name for the site was Nanaguani. The
date of founding was December 14, 1817. There were about 140
neophytes transferred at first, and by the end of 1820 the number
had increased to 590. In 1818 a composite building, including
church, priest’s house, and all the apartments required, was
erected. It was of adobe, 87 feet long, 42 feet wide, and 18 feet
high, and had a corridor of tules. In 1818, when Presidente Payeras
visited the Mission, he was not very pleased with the site, and
after making a somewhat careful survey of the country around
recommended several other sites as preferable.
In 1824 a determined effort was made to capture a renegade
neophyte of San Francisco, a native of the San Rafael region, named
Pomponio, who for several years had terrorized the country at
intervals as far south as Santa Cruz. He would rob, outrage, and
murder, confining most of his attacks, however, upon the Indians.
He had slain one soldier, Manuel Varela, and therefore a determined
effort was made for his capture. Lieutenant Martinez, a corporal,
and two men found him in the Canyada de Novato, above San Rafael.
He was sent to Monterey, tried by a court-martial on the 6th of
February, and finally shot the following September. This same
Martinez also had some conflicts about the same time with
chieftains of hostile tribes, north of the bay, named Marin and
Quentin, both of whom have left names, one to a county and the
other to a point on the bay.
When San Francisco Solano was founded, 92 neophytes were sent
there from San Rafael. In spite of this, the population of San
Rafael increased until it numbered 1140 in 1828.
In 1824 Kotzebue visited the Mission and spoke enthusiastically
of its natural advantages, though he made but brief reference to
its improvements. On his way to Sonoma, Duhaut-Cilly did not deem
it of sufficient importance to more than mention. Yet it was a
position of great importance. Governor Echeandía became
alarmed about the activity of the Russians at Fort Ross, and
accused them of bad faith, claiming that they enticed neophytes
away from San Rafael, etc. The Mexican government, in replying to
his fears, urged the foundation of a fort, but nothing was done,
owing to the political complications at the time, which made no
man’s tenure of office certain.
The secularization decree ordered that San Rafael should become
a parish of the first class, which class paid its curates $1500, as
against $1000 to those of the second class.
In 1837 it was reported that the Indians were not using their
liberty well; so, owing to the political troubles at the time,
General Vallejo was authorized to collect everything and care for
it under a promise to redistribute when conditions were better. In
1840 the Indians insisted upon this promise being kept, and in
spite of the governor’s opposition Vallejo succeeded in obtaining
an order for the distribution of the live-stock.
In 1845 Pico’s order, demanding the return within one month of
the Indians to the lands of San Rafael or they would be sold, was
published, and the inventory taken thereupon showed a value of
$17,000 in buildings, lands, and live-stock. In 1846 the sale was
made to Antonio Suñol and A.M. Pico for $8000. The
purchasers did not obtain possession, and their title was
afterwards declared invalid.
In the distribution of the Mission stock Vallejo reserved a
small band of horses for the purposes of national defense, and it
was this band that was seized by the “Bear Flag” revolutionists at
the opening of hostilities between the Americans and Mexicans. This
act was followed almost immediately by the joining of the
insurgents by Frémont, and the latter’s marching to meet the
Mexican forces, which were supposed to be at San Rafael. No force,
however, was found there, so Frémont took possession of the
Mission on June 26, 1846, and remained there for about a week,
leaving there to chase up Torre, who had gone to join Castro. When
he finally left the region he took with him a number of cattle and
horses, went to Sonoma, and on the 5th of July assumed active
command of all the insurgent forces, which ultimated in the
conquest of the State.
From this time the ex-Mission had no history. The buildings
doubtless suffered much from Frémont’s occupancy, and never
being very elaborate, easily fell a prey to the elements.
There is not a remnant of them now left, and the site is
occupied by a modern, hideous, wooden building, used as an
armory.
