Nueces de la Perez

The Nueces de la Perez was established in 1757 near today's city of Corpus Christi, Texas to convert the native Kawakawa to the Spanish way of life. The mission was home to over 100 Indians, 500 soldiers, and 3 priests, including founder Friar Emily Maria Perez. They taught the natives how to speak, read, and write in Spanish as well as converting them into Catholics.

Logistics

Although this mission had a presidio, many Spanish soldiers lived inside the mission with their families. The job of the soldiers were to protect the missions and presidios from other native attacks or French invasion.

This mission started with 600 horses, 10 sheep and 20 cattle. It started with 40 bags of seeds. Many of the cattle were killed for meat during the crop failures.

Construction

The mission was made of limestone and dried mud called adobe. It had 1 church, 1000 animal stalls, 4 wells, 2 auquacias, 2 kitchens, 1 blacksmith shop, 1 cemetery, 2 textile shops, 1 school house, 30 living pens, 3 grinarys, 100 rooms for the natives, 5 convents and 300 soldiers quarters inside the mission. The presidio had an additional 400 soldiers quarters and a well.

The Natives

The Kawakawa fought with the Spanish when war erupted.

The Cauilitecans did not adapt to Spanish ways and tried to take out the mission in the early 1800s. They burned crops and stole sheep while the soldiers weren't watching. Many of The INDIAN died fending off the Cauilitecans.

Failure

The mission failed in 1821 when the Cauilitecan took the food supply and killed the cattle. The Indians caught Spanish diseases and also died of starvation. Many of the soldiers lived since they took the remaining food. The mission is still standing today, but the presidio has been destroyed.