Mission Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria (1)

 (1749-1755) - A Spanish mission established in 1749 near present day Rockdale, Milam County, Texas. Abandoned in 1755.

Mission Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria History
Established as Mission Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria by Franciscan Missionaries in 1746. A conflict between the commandant of the nearby Presidio San Francisco Xavier de Gigedo, Captain Rabago, and the missionaries led to killing of Fray Juan Jose Ganzabal and another man in 1752. Captain Rabago was implicated in the murders and all but one of the remaining friars left and most of the Indians fled.

Rabago's uncle, Pedro de Rabago y Teran arrived at the presidio in 1754 and found the three missions in a bad state. In July 1755 he ordered, on his own initiative, the presidio and the nearby Mission San Francisco Xavier de los Dolores relocated to the San Marcos River.

Mission Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria was moved to the San Marcos River in 1755 and moved again to the Sabinal River in 1762 and renamed Mission San Lorenzo de la Santa Cruz.

Current Status
Marker only near Rockdale, Milam County, Texas.

See Also:
 * Texas Missions

Sources:

Links:
 * DAR - Mission Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria