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.
