In the first episode of this series, we explore the memoirs of Antonio Franco Coronel, a significant figure in Southern California's Mexican past.
Coronel takes us through his reminiscences of the struggles the controversial Híjar-Padrés Colony faced in early California.
He describes the hardships encountered by the colonists, the betrayal by Don Mariano Vallejo's troops, and the political tensions between Mexican leaders over California's future.
Coronel's narrative also offers a different perspective on the controversial secularization of missions and the role of the colonists in California's development.
00:00 Introduction to Antonio Franco Coronel's Memoirs
01:38 Who Was Antonio Coronel?
02:44 Coronel's Early Life and Journey to California
05:01 The Colonization Efforts and Challenges
08:26 The Journey to Monterey and Sonoma
12:21 Struggles and Dissolution of the Colony
18:18 Reflections on the Mission Secularization
20:51 Conclusion and Next Steps
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Contact:
damian@californiafrontier.net
