Newberry, Ayer MS 1147

Petition to establish a Capuchin convent for Indians in Dolores, promoted by El Bachiller Don Josemaria Gonzales, Doña Maria Micaela Rodriguez de Oton [Mariano Abasolo's sister?], y Don Mariano Abasolo and investigated by Miguel Hidalgo on behalf of the diocese. (!!) None of them are indigenous

-- convent would be useful because there are many noble Indian women in the city who would like to become nuns.

p 20 The convent would be for 33 Indian black-veiled nuns and 8 Spanish white-veiled ones, along with Maria Micaela. Following the order of Corpus Christi and Nuestra Señora de la Concepcion (doesn't mention Oaxaca?) 

25 - will only admit cacicas, or noble Indians, or pure-blooded Indians
(I wonder at what point the cacique language drops out -- after independence?) 

25-27 letter of support from the Indians of San Luis de la Paz
28-30 letter of support from the Indians of Santiago del Rio
Both support the project as contributing to the happiness of Fernando VII

67 Fiscal argues that this will benefit all the Indians in the region by providing them an example of morality and freeing them from the habitual corruption present in many of the most Catholic towns of Europe. Fits with Royal aims of teaching the Indians the faith and Spanish. What reason could there be to deny this project, when there are so few convents in America, and even fewer for Indians? 

Cabildo of Valladolid sends the application to Mexico City for approval by the Fiscal de lo Civil.

Fiscal de lo Civil rejects their application in the current form. Reasons:
1) lacking the budget and calculations of the cost of the convent
2) do not present evidence that they have collected 20 mil pesos
3) Unclear if third order Franciscans have the legal power to donate the church
4) Don't present the Real License for the church to clarify #3
5) the donations from the Hacenderos aren't legally binding for their heirs, so the donations could dry up
6) The idea of mixing races sounds nice, but the benefits are doubtful: it's more likely that the Spanish women will try to supress the Indian ones, which is why the dispensation to admit Indian women into Spanish convents hasn't been extended
7) didn't get permission for the founding nuns to leave the Valladolid convent
It would be better if the petitioners gave their money for the defense of the monarchy in its wars against France, which is an urgent need and one that is also in defense of religion. If necessary, however, they could try getting all the above-mentioned missing documents and resubmitting their petition.