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1796 Dec. 4
Merino, (O.F.M.), Father Antonio
Pensacola, (Florida)
to Bishop (Luis Penalver y Cardenas)
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
He has been delayed by illness in informing (Penalver) of his arrival. He is displeased because he cannot stand the cold there and because of the loose habits and irreligion there. He asks to go back to his old home or some other place.
A.L.S (Spanish)
On the same paper:
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1797 Jan. 15
(Penalver y Cardenas), Bishop (Luis)
New Orleans, Louisiana
to Father Antonio Merino, (O.F.M.)
(Pensacola, Florida)
(Penalver) received Merino's letter asking to go back to Havana. (Penalver) has no substitute at present. He too suffered from the cold at rio Colorado, sleeping under a tent. Merino must suffer a little until the priests come whom he asked for and the king has offered. As for the loose habits, Merino is to do what he can.
Copy (Spanish)
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1797 Jun. 23
(Penalver y Cardenas), Bishop (Luis)
New Orleans, Louisiana
to Father Antonio Merino
(Pensacola, Florida)
(Penalver) has been informed that Merino's ill health has continued making him incapable of serving as chaplain. (Penalver) has consulted with the governor and will consider his return.
A. Copy (Spanish)
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1798 Feb. 19
Serrano, (O.P.), Father J(ose)ph
Pensacola, (Florida)
to Bishop (Luis Penalver y Cardenas)
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
On February 8, Serrano arrived at Pensacola where he was greeted cordially by everyone. The soil is poor; they have only lean meat and poor bread. The battalion lacks everything and there are no quarters in the barracks so Serrano is living in the town until (Penalver) provides a chapel.
A.L.S. (Spanish)
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1798 Mar. 1
Serrano, Father J(ose)ph
Pensacola, (Florida)
to Bishop (Luis Penalver y Cardenas)
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
The pastor and Serrano have a doubt about the clause in his appointment which says that the chaplain has charge of the corps and all the military who lack a pastor whether this means the governor and others who get a military salary. He asks (Penalver) to clarify the matter.
A.L.S. (Spanish)
On the same paper:
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1798 Mar. 15
(Penalver y Cardenas), Bishop (Luis)
New Orleans, Louisiana
to Father Jose Serrano
(Pensacola, Florida)
(Penalver) has sent letters to the Intendant and Colonel about quarters and a chapel. If necessary Mass is to be said under a tent so that the troops are served. In the appointment (Penalver) meant only the battalion and other troops attached to it and not the staff and officials.
A. Copy (Spanish)
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1798 Jul. 3
Serrano, Father J(ose)ph
Pensacola, (Florida)
to Bishop (Luis Penalver y Cardenas)
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
It is now nine months since his brief for Havana arrived and Serrano asks that his permit be sent to him and the inspector so that his substitute Father (Jose) Briones can come so that he will have time to draw up his papers.
A.L.S. (Spanish)
On the same paper:
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1798 Jul. 26
(Penalver y Cardenas), Bishop (Luis)
New Orleans, Louisiana
to Father Jose Serrano
(Pensacola, Florida
The royal order of November 21, 1784 stated that viceroys and Captain-Generals are the only ones who can give the chaplains permission to be absent and (Penalver) has passed on Serrano's request to the Captain-General who has been in Havana since July 1.
Copy (Spanish)
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1798 Sep. 6
Serrano, Father J(ose)ph
Pensacola, (Florida)
to Bishop (Luis Penalver y Cardenas)
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
In order to take the boat from this port for Havana and obtain free passage in November Serrano hopes that (Penalver) will expedite his permit as there is little time to conclude the extension given him and then he would lose 220 pesos which is a fortune to a poor chaplain.
A.L.S. (Spanish)
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1798 Sep. 17
(Penalver y Cardenas), Bishop (Luis)
New Orleans, (Louisiana)
to Father Jose Serrano
(Pensacola, Florida)
On July 26 (Penalver) answered Serrano's letter of July 3 as follows: The royal decree of November 21, 1784 limited to viceroys and Captain- Generals the giving of permits for chaplains to leave their corps and (Penalver) sent on Serrano's request to the Captain-General in Havana. Since there have been no boats from Havana, (Penalver) has received no answer.
Copy (Spanish)
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1799 Apr. 9
Serrano, Father J(ose)ph
Barrancas, (Florida)
to Bishop (Luis Penalver y Cardenas)
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
Serrano hopes (Penalver) will favor him with 154 pesos according to the enclosed account (no enclosure). There being no money in the battalion treasury, the bearer, Father (James) Colman will know where to present it.
A.L.S. (Spanish)
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1799 Jul. 22
(Penalver y Cardenas), Bishop (Luis)
New Orleans, Louisiana
to Father Jose Serrano
(Barrancas, Florida)
(Penalver) has received a list of the persons in the Third Battalion of Louisiana who have not made their Easter duty, and a list of those who have done so.
A. Draft S. (Spanish)
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1799 Nov. 25
(Penalver y Cardenas), Bishop (Luis)
New Orleans, Louisiana
to Father Jose Serrano
(Barrancas, Florida)
Several vans have left for Pensacola; the governor has asked for a chaplain for the expedition and has named Serrano to exercise his ministry over all these persons as he did in the post where he went at his return. A portable chapel will go with the expedition and Serrano is to leave the one he has in Barrancas as the priest (Penalver) sends will continue occasionally until Serrano returns.
A. Draft S. (Spanish)
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1800 Mar. 25
Serrano, Father Jose
Barrancas, (Florida)
to Bishop (Luis Penalver y Cardenas
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
Serrano left on January 20 in the expedition in which he fulfilled his duty up to March 19. Then, being ill he returned to Barrancas. As is evident from the letter from the Commandant of the expedition to the governor, he also informs (Penalver) that in Apalache, (Florida) he performed 7 baptisms and one marriage. He also took charge of the portable chapel for the battalion as they lacked one.
A.L.S. (Spanish)
--------
1800 Apr. 20
Serrano, O.P., Father Jose
Barrancas, (Florida)
to Bishop (Luis Penalver y Cardenas)
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
Having suffered continually in health since coming from Havana to be chaplain of the Third Battalion, and as a man can scarcely live on 29 pesos, Serrano asks to be transferred to the vacancy of the Second Battalion.
A.L.S. (Spanish)
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1800 May 16
(Penalver y Cardenas), Bishop (Luis)
New Orleans, Louisiana
to Father Jose Serrano
(Barrancas, Florida)
When (Penalver) has a chaplain to replace Serrano he will appoint Serrano as chaplain of the Second Battalion. There are only two priests in that city since the marine chaplains are temporary and must leave soon.
A. Draft S. (Spanish)
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1800 Aug. 13
Serrano, Father Jose
Barrancas, (Florida)
to Bishop Luis Penalver y Cardenas
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
The portable chapel left in his charge when he came from Apalache has been ordered turned over as it was for the expedition. Therefore they have been without Mass for four feast days. The Commandant of the battalion told Serrano to inform Penalver.
A.L.S. (Spanish)
On the same paper:
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1800 Sep. 17
(Penalver y Cardenas), Bishop (Luis)
New Orleans, Louisiana
to Father Jose Serrano
(Barrancas, Florida)
On September 12 Colonel F(rancis)co Bouligni (Bouligny) informed (Penalver) of what the governor said in his letter of the 10th: that he had informed the royal officials at Pensacola to give the portable chapel to the chaplain of the Third Battalion. As Serrano has the chapel he can carry out his ministry. This cancels the reply to the August 13 letter.
A. Draft S. (Spanish)
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1800 Jun. 7
Serrano, Father Jose
St. Charles of Barrancas, (Florida)
to Bishop Luis Penalver y Cardenas
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
Serrano encloses the petition given him of Victoria Rola against Jose Decluet whom Serrano questioned about a promise to marry Victoria. Decluet said he had made no promise and did not know her. She replied that his commandant was a witness and had negotiated with her father.
A.L.S. (Spanish)
On the same paper:
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1800 Jul. 2
(Penalver y Cardenas), Bishop (Luis)
to Father Jose Serrano
(Barrancas, Florida)
(Penalver) sent the petition to the pastor of Pensacola to investigate Decluet and send him the results. This is in answer to Serrano's letter of June 7 and to that of Victoria's father of June 11.
A. Draft S. (Spanish)
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1800 Jun. 1
Rola, Pedro
Pensacola in St. Charles of Barrancas, (Florida)
to Bishop (Luis Penalver y Cardenas)
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
Rola, Second Lieutenant of the Third Battalion informs (Penalver) that Decluet with false promises of marriage had gained the friendship of his daughter, aged 16, and had given her to understand that he had written for permission but that receiving no reply the surest way to obtain it would be to force it. So he stole her away through a window and took her to his house. She has confessed her disgrace. Rola, 58, has served His Majesty for 34 years. He asks (Penalver's) help.
L.S. (Spanish)
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1800 Jun. 19
Serrano, Father Josef
Barrancas, (Florida)
to Bishop (Luis Penalver y Cardenas)
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
He has written to Bouligny asking him to turn over something from the treasury of the deceased of this battalion which contains about 1,000 pesos. If anyone dies the pastor, as chaplain of the hospital, collects the stipend. Serrano asks (Penalver) to intercede with him as he cannot help his parents with a salary he can barely live on himself as everything costs double there.
A.L.S. (Spanish)
--------
1800 Jul. 1
(Penalver y Cardenas), Bishop (Luis)
New Orleans, L(ouisiana)
to Father Jose Serrano
(Barrancas, Florida)
(Penalver) has spoken to the colonel about what Serrano asked in his letter of June 19.
A. Draft S. (Spanish)
V-2-k A.L.S., Copy, A. Copy, A. Draft S. (Spanish) 34pp. 8vo. and
folio
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