Ecclesiastical Archives 44.7 
MATAMOROS. 
ARCHIVE OF THE PARISH CHURCH. 
The principal contents of this archive of interest to the student of the his- 
tory of the United States are the following: 
I. Records of the mission of Nuestra Sefiora del Refugio, formerly 
located in Refugio County, Texas, two leather-bound books: 
a. (Outside title): “Libro N° 2. 1807. Bautismos. Confirma- 
ciones del Afio. 1868”. (Inside title): “ Libro II De Bautisms 
Hechos en la Mision de Ntra. Sra. del Refugio de la Bahia Desde 
el ano de 1807”. 35 used folios. 
(The entry numbers run 1-46, 27-194, making in all 214. The first date is 
Apr. 21, 1807, the last, Feb. 21, 1827. This shows that the mission con- 
tinued in existence and operation many years after it has been supposed 
to have been extinct. A note shows that all of the baptisms made after 
July 9, 1824, were administered in the parochial church because of 
Comanche hostilities.) 
b. (Outside title) : “ Entierros, Mision Mision (sic) de Ntro. Padre 
Sor. S. José de Camargo. No. 4°”. (Inside, and correct title) : 
“Libro II De Entierros Hechos en la Mision de Ntra. Sra. del 
Refugio de la Bahia Desde el afio de 1807 ”’. 
(In all there are 157 entries, extending from May 16, 1807, to Nov. 18, 
1825. The entries are signed by Fr. José Manuel Gaitan, Fr. Juan Maria 
Zepulveda, Fr. José Antonio Diaz de Leon, Fr. Miguel Mufioz. 
The two foregoing books are well preserved. The tradition is that 
they were taken to Matamoros during the Texas Revolution. Their re- 
maining there is probably to be explained by the confusing of the mission 
to which they relate with the early church of Matamoros (see below). 
These books afford an outline of the later history of the mission and 
throw light on the tribes concerned. Those named in the book of bap- 
tisms are the Carancahuases, Piguiques, Copanes, Coapites, Pamaques, 
Cujanes, Malaguites, Pajalaches, Tobosos, Cocos, Xaranames, and 
Lipanes. ) 
2. Records of the parish church of Matamoros. 
In 1800 a church was established at Matamoros with the name of 
Nuestra Sefiora del Refugio de los Esteros. It is still in opera- 
tion, but the old records are at the curacy (curato) adjoining the 
parish church. The records, including the books of baptisms, 
burials, marriages, confirmations, and government, are quite com- 
plete down to the present time. The earlier ones throw light on 
the native tribes in the vicinity, particularly the Mulatos or 
Negros. They also throw light on the migration of Spaniards 
from the older settlements up the river to Matamoros. 
3. ‘Libro de Reales Cédulas.” A book containing episcopal and royal 
regulations affecting the church at Camargo, for the period 1780- 
1804. Most of the regulations emanate from the Bishop of 
Nuevo Leén. Originally the book belonged to the church of 
Camargo. 
The administration books throw much light upon the social structure 
of the frontier population. The entries are a medley of Spaniards, 
Indians, mestizos, coyotes, and other castes. The Indian tribes 
represented are, principally, Carrizos, Mulatos, Como se Llamas, 
Cotonames, Anda el Caminos, Pintos, Negros, and Teniacapemes. 
