Andrés Quintana
Encyclopedia
Andrés Quintana, O.F.M. (November 27, 1777 – October 12, 1812) was a Spanish missionary who labored in the Mission Santa Cruz
, in California
during the early part of the 19th century.
Born in Antonossa, in the Province of Alva in Spain
, Quintana joined the Franciscan
Order in 1794 when he was 17 years of age. 9 years later he had completed his formation and achieved the priesthood in the province of Cantabria
(in northern Spain), as did a great many of the Spanish missionaries. In 1804 he sailed to the New World to join the missionary College of San Fernando de Mexico
, a springboard for all missionaries doing work in New Spain
. There he received further instruction and preparation for his assignment to the Mission Santa Cruz. Arriving in Monterrey
from the Mexican port of San Blas
in the year 1805, he became one of two missionary fathers stationed at Santa Cruz
until 1812, where he died at the age of 35 at the hands of the Indians under his care. According to one of the only surviving Indian narratives of the Mission period in California, Quintana was murdered because of his plans to use a metal-tipped whip against his Indian converts. He is considered one of two martyr priests to serve in the mission system.
During his tenure at the Mission, the vast majority of the native Ohlone
population who lived at or near the Mission died because of the conditions, labor, and endemic diseases. The demographic collapse was so severe, that by 1810, Quintana and others had to hunt for converts from the Yokut populations of the Central Valley, hundreds of miles away, to replenish the vanishing labor force.
Mission Santa Cruz
Mission Santa Cruz was established in 1791 and named for the feast of the Exultation of the Cross, the name that the explorer Gaspar de Portolà gave to the area when he camped on the banks of the San Lorenzo River on October 17, 1769, and erected a wooden cross...
, in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
during the early part of the 19th century.
Born in Antonossa, in the Province of Alva in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Quintana joined the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
Order in 1794 when he was 17 years of age. 9 years later he had completed his formation and achieved the priesthood in the province of Cantabria
Cantabria
Cantabria is a Spanish historical region and autonomous community with Santander as its capital city. It is bordered on the east by the Basque Autonomous Community , on the south by Castile and León , on the west by the Principality of Asturias, and on the north by the Cantabrian Sea.Cantabria...
(in northern Spain), as did a great many of the Spanish missionaries. In 1804 he sailed to the New World to join the missionary College of San Fernando de Mexico
College of San Fernando de Mexico
The College of San Fernando de Mexico was a Roman Catholic Franciscan missionary college, or seminary , founded in Mexico City by the Order of Friars Minor on October 15, 1734...
, a springboard for all missionaries doing work in New Spain
New Spain
New Spain, formally called the Viceroyalty of New Spain , was a viceroyalty of the Spanish colonial empire, comprising primarily territories in what was known then as 'América Septentrional' or North America. Its capital was Mexico City, formerly Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire...
. There he received further instruction and preparation for his assignment to the Mission Santa Cruz. Arriving in Monterrey
Monterrey
Monterrey , is the capital city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León in the country of Mexico. The city is anchor to the third-largest metropolitan area in Mexico and is ranked as the ninth-largest city in the nation. Monterrey serves as a commercial center in the north of the country and is the...
from the Mexican port of San Blas
San Blas
San Blas, the Spanish name for Saint Blaise, can refer to:*San Blas, La Rioja*San Blas Department*San Blas, Costa Rica*San Blas, Quito*San Blas, El Salvador* San Blas, Nadur* San Blas, Nayarit* San Blas, Sinaloa* San Blas Atempa, Oaxaca...
in the year 1805, he became one of two missionary fathers stationed at Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
until 1812, where he died at the age of 35 at the hands of the Indians under his care. According to one of the only surviving Indian narratives of the Mission period in California, Quintana was murdered because of his plans to use a metal-tipped whip against his Indian converts. He is considered one of two martyr priests to serve in the mission system.
During his tenure at the Mission, the vast majority of the native Ohlone
Ohlone
The Ohlone people, also known as the Costanoan, are a Native American people of the central California coast. When Spanish explorers and missionaries arrived in the late 18th century, the Ohlone inhabited the area along the coast from San Francisco Bay through Monterey Bay to the lower Salinas Valley...
population who lived at or near the Mission died because of the conditions, labor, and endemic diseases. The demographic collapse was so severe, that by 1810, Quintana and others had to hunt for converts from the Yokut populations of the Central Valley, hundreds of miles away, to replenish the vanishing labor force.