Children of CoyoteChildren of CoyotePopulation collapse in Alta Population collapse in Alta

California, 1769-1850California, 1769-1850(Steven Hackel, (Steven Hackel, Children of Coyote, Children of Coyote,

Missionaries of Saint FrancisMissionaries of Saint Francis))

Mission San Carlos, earliest viewMission San Carlos, earliest view

Mission San Carlos, 1875Mission San Carlos, 1875

Mission San Carlos, 1885Mission San Carlos, 1885

Prof. Herbert E. Bolton (1870-1953) Prof. Herbert E. Bolton (1870-1953) at San Carlos, 1920at San Carlos, 1920

Bolton thesis: study the history of the Bolton thesis: study the history of the Americas as a wholeAmericas as a whole

Dancers at Mission San FranciscoDancers at Mission San Francisco

Fray Junípero Serra, 1713-1784 (1787)Fray Junípero Serra, 1713-1784 (1787)

““Cloth of gold” vestments donated to Fray Cloth of gold” vestments donated to Fray Junípero Serra by the Viceroy of New Junípero Serra by the Viceroy of New

Spain (1770) for the MissionsSpain (1770) for the Missions

Population: Mission San Carlos, 1770-Population: Mission San Carlos, 1770-18281828

Baptism occurred within a few days of birth; Baptism occurred within a few days of birth; therefore the data are of good qualitytherefore the data are of good quality

Age and Sex of converts to Mission San Age and Sex of converts to Mission San Carlos, 1770-1808Carlos, 1770-1808

almost half below age 15almost half below age 15

Deaths always exceeded births:Deaths always exceeded births:when “Gentile” baptisms ended, the mission when “Gentile” baptisms ended, the mission

population could no longer be sustainedpopulation could no longer be sustained

Mortality by age and decadeMortality by age and decadeNote “low” mortality in first decadeNote “low” mortality in first decade

Mortality quotients by single years of age Mortality quotients by single years of age and sexand sex

Of 1000 only 30% survived to age 11Of 1000 only 30% survived to age 11

Marital fertility by age and age at marriage:Marital fertility by age and age at marriage:for a natural fertility population –rates are at for a natural fertility population –rates are at

most fecund ages are very lowmost fecund ages are very low

Adult mortality (Adult mortality (55qqxx) is extremely high.) is extremely high.

The data are accurate because there is little The data are accurate because there is little difference between optimistic/pessimist estimatesdifference between optimistic/pessimist estimates

Population pyramid, 1780 Population pyramid, 1780 Note relative absence of adult malesNote relative absence of adult males

Population pyramid, 1800 Population pyramid, 1800 what does the narrow base indicate?what does the narrow base indicate?

Population pyramid, 1820 Population pyramid, 1820 (absence of children 5-19 shows (absence of children 5-19 shows

population in decline; note fewer females)population in decline; note fewer females)

Population of Frontier territories of Population of Frontier territories of New Spain (to 1820) and Mexico (1830-40)New Spain (to 1820) and Mexico (1830-40)

Year Baja Alta CaliforniaTexas/Nuevo México1790 4,076 8,590 30,9531800 5,751 12,172 34,0871810 8,117 17,250 37,5391820 8,158 19,817 50,2251830 8,200 22,766 67,2001840 8,243 29,120 89,912