Pacomio facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pacomio
Mexican troops advancing on La Purisima Mission, under fire from Pacomio's Chumash warriors. Painting by Alexander Harmer, early 20th century.
Born	Pacomio Poqui c. 1794 La Ranchería de Esniscue, Alta California
Died	1840 (aged 46) Monterey, Alta California
Occupation	Revolutionary, Carpenter, Civil Servant, Comisario de Policia of Monterey (1836-1840)
Known for	Chumash Revolt of 1824
Spouse(s)	Gordiana, Eusebia María
Children	1

José Pacomio Poqui, born around 1794, was a brave Chumash leader. He is best known as Pacomio. He was a carpenter and later became a police commissioner in Monterey.

Pacomio led a major Native American uprising. This was against Spanish and Mexican rule in California. It happened during the Chumash Revolt of 1824. His actions showed the Mexican government that the native people of California would not accept unfair treatment.

Pacomio's Early Life and Skills

Pacomio Poqui was born around 1794. His parents were Chumash people. They lived in a place called La Rancheria de Esniscue in Alta California. In 1803, he was baptized at Mission La Purisima. He was given the Spanish name José.

As a young boy, Pacomio was very smart. The Franciscan friars at the mission liked him. They taught him to read and speak Spanish. This was unusual because most priests did not teach native converts Spanish. They usually focused on teaching them about Catholicism. Pacomio's ability to speak Spanish well helped him greatly later in life.

Family Life and Work

In August 1807, when Pacomio was 13, he married Gordiana, who was 11. They lived at Mission La Purisima for 12 years. Sadly, Gordiana died in 1819. They did not have any children.

During this time, Pacomio learned to be a carpenter. He worked with skilled builders like Salvador Carabantes. After 1811, he worked with master stonemason José Antonio Ramírez. In December 1812, an earthquake destroyed Mission La Purisima. Pacomio and other skilled workers helped build a new mission. It was built three miles north of the old one.

After Gordiana's death, Pacomio moved to Monterey. He worked at the Presidio. He liked Monterey and decided to stay there. In February 1820, he married Eusebia María. In December, they had a daughter named María de Jesús. In 1824, growing problems between the Chumash and the Mexican government made him leave his family.

The Chumash Revolt of 1824

Mexico became independent from Spain in 1821. This changed things for the Spanish settlers and soldiers in California. The Spanish government stopped funding the missions and presidios. This made the former Spanish soldiers angry. They often took their anger out on the Native Californians.

The Spark of the Revolt

On February 21, 1824, a young Chumash boy was badly beaten. This happened at Mission Santa Inés. He was visiting a relative who was held there. This unfair act made the Chumash people at the mission fight back. They used arrows and set buildings on fire. Two Chumash fighters were killed.

After a tough battle, the mission's priest and soldiers hid inside a building. They waited for help. Mexican troops from the Presidio of Santa Barbara arrived the next day. The soldiers forced the Santa Inés rebels into the mission's housing. They then burned it down to make the Chumash leave. Some Chumash ran to nearby missions. They told others about the revolt and asked them to join. A messenger told the Chumash leader, or Wot, about the successful revolt. The leader called for more attacks on missions. He also ordered women and children to go to the mountains for safety. The Chumash warriors got ready for battle. They armed themselves with bows, arrows, and machetes.

Capturing Missions

While the fight at Mission Santa Inés continued, about 2,000 Chumash warriors attacked Mission La Purisima. They captured it and took soldiers, priests, and civilians as prisoners. One Chumash warrior was killed during this attack. In response, the rebels killed four travelers they had captured. On February 24, the surviving soldiers and civilians from La Purisima were allowed to go to Mission Santa Inés safely. Only one Franciscan priest, Father Antonio Rodríguez, stayed with the Chumash.

On February 22, more Chumash warriors joined the rebels at La Purisima. These included fighters from Santa Inés and Mission San Fernando Rey de España. The rebels began to strengthen La Purisima. They built wooden fences and made openings in the walls for guns. They armed themselves with the mission's muskets.

At the same time, another group of Chumash captured Mission Santa Barbara. They forced the soldiers, clergy, and civilians to retreat to the nearby Santa Barbara Presidio. Soon after, Mexican troops and priests arrived at Mission Santa Barbara. They tried to get the rebels to surrender. The Chumash refused, and a fierce battle began. Two Chumash were killed and three wounded. Four Mexican soldiers were also wounded. The Mexican troops went back to the presidio. The Chumash took valuable items and supplies from the mission. Then they went into the countryside.

Pacomio Leads the Fight

When Pacomio heard about the revolts, he was very happy. His people were finally fighting back against unfair treatment. After the Santa Inés revolt, Pacomio left his family. He joined the Chumash at Mission La Purisima. He took command of about 400 Chumash warriors there. He began to train them in European fighting methods. Pacomio gave his warriors gunpowder and muskets. He trained them constantly to use these new weapons well. He also taught them to use the mission's two swivel guns. These were small cannons that could bring more power against the Mexican Army.

Nearly a month after the revolt began, on February 21, 1824, Mexican forces arrived. A company of 100 soldiers, cavalrymen, and priests came to Mission La Purisima. They also brought a four-pound cannon. They planned to stop the rebellion by force. The Mexican Governor of Alta California, Luis Antonio Argüello, wanted the rebellion stopped. He gave the order to use bloodshed if needed.

A fierce battle started at Mission La Purisima. Pacomio bravely led his warriors against the Mexicans. The Chumash fired their muskets accurately, scattering the Mexican soldiers. Many arrows also rained down on the Mexican soldiers and cavalry. The Mexicans charged with their cavalry. They used muskets to support their foot soldiers. The four-pound cannon fired at the Chumash, causing many deaths and confusion.

As the battle went on, Pacomio ordered the mission's two swivel guns to fire. However, the Chumash operating them had little experience. The guns misfired and exploded, killing the gunners instantly. Pacomio was upset but told his men to keep fighting. After a morning of intense fighting, Father Rodríguez helped arrange a ceasefire.

The battle had many casualties. Five Mexican soldiers were killed, and a few were wounded. The Chumash lost sixteen fighters, and more were wounded. After the Battle of La Purisima, Pacomio and his remaining warriors surrendered. The captured rebels were taken to Monterey and tried. Seven Chumash were found responsible for the deaths of the four travelers at Mission La Purisima. They were punished. The four leaders of the revolt, Pacomio, Mariano, Benito, and Bernarde, were sentenced to ten years of hard labor. Benito and Bernard escaped and fled to the mountains. After two months, the uprising was over.

Pacomio's Later Life and Legacy

After serving his ten-year sentence, Pacomio returned to his family in Monterey in 1834. He continued his work as a carpenter. He made furniture for the Monterey Presidio and Mission La Purisima. His business grew as Monterey's population increased.

In 1833, Pacomio's daughter, María de Jesús, married Gregorio. Gregorio was a Chumash man who had also been part of the revolt. In 1836, María moved into her father's house with her husband. Sadly, she died at age sixteen while giving birth.

Pacomio became an important person in Monterey. People described him as a "well-educated native, skillful carpenter and cabinet-maker." They also called him "an intelligent citizen and member of the Ayuntamiento (city council) of Monterey." It is interesting that the man who led the Chumash revolt was offered the job of Monterey's comissario de policia, or Police Commissioner, in 1836. Pacomio accepted this role.

Throughout his life in Monterey, Pacomio never forgot his native heritage. People often saw him outside his house. He would sing "Chumash songs while dancing." He wore a breech-clout, and his body was painted red, white, and black. He also wore feathers on his head.

Pacomio's life ended relatively early. He and his wife both passed away in 1840 due to a serious illness that affected Monterey. Monterey lost a man whose actions had a significant impact on California's history.