Request for a new presidio

After the 1853 Gadsden Purchase formally transferred southern Arizona to the United States, including Tucson, a group of prominent citizens of Altar petitioned the government of Sonora to establish a new presidio in Busani. This was to provide defenses for the valuable mines in northern Sonora and help discourage the emigration from Sonora to California. The letter was signed on 7 February 1856. I received a copy of this document from distant cousin and fellow Suastegui descendant Raclare, who copied this from the Arizona Historical Society. The document includes the signature of my 4th-great-grandfather Pedro Suastegui and others in the family.

The signature of Pedro Suastegui appears near the bottom of the first signature page:

I think the second signature page also includes my 5th-great-grandfather Ramon Orosco (see the middle of the image, next to the signature of Bartolome Suastegui).

I am hoping to find similar documents from Sonora that may list other members of the family during this time period.