Chief Solano
Encyclopedia
Chief Solano, original native name Sem-Yeto, meaning "brave or fierce hand", and christianed at about age ten with the Spanish name Francisco Solano, was born about 1798-1800 near Suisun Bay, California
in California. Sem-Yeto was a famous chief and leader of the Suisunes
tribe, a Patwin
people of the Suisun Bay region of California. Chief Solano was a charismatic, tall and notable Native American leader in Alta California
, because of his alliance, friendship and eventually the support of his entire tribe to General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo
of Sonoma, in military and political excursions around Sonoma County
and the San Francisco Bay Area
.
Sem-Yeto was described as tall, 6 feet 7 inches (200 cm), handsome and brave.
, and lived there the first years of his life. He was baptized at the San Francisco Mission on July 24, 1810, and there given Spanish name of Francisco Solano. The recorder noted he was a Suisun, about 10 to 12 years old ("como de 10 a 12") with native name Sina, and that his father's native name was Sulapy, and his mother was deceased. It also records both his parents as gentiles (meaning not recruited nor baptized). He presumably grew to adulthood at the mission.
Notably, this baptism took place two months after the tragedy of his tribe losing their men in Moraga's raid of 1810 of the Suisunes. Sem-Yeto was possibly captured as a child in Moraga's raid of 1810, or else because of losing so many adults in the raid, his tribe brought him within two months of the battle to the mission to live. The raid of 1810 had demoralized the tribe, and instead of fighting or moving inland, many that year chose to join the mission and stop fighting. Others believe it was more the next year that the move to the mission occurred, giving support to the view that Solano was among the approximately twelve children taken hostage in the battle.
For seven years he lived at the San Francisco Mission, where he learned Spanish. In the 1820s he reached manhood and became known as the leader of his people, as Chief Solano.
, to help build and populate the mission in the Mission San Francisco de Solano
, along with many of the Suisunes tribe who had grown up at the San Francisco Mission. Mission Solano was the final Franciscan mission north of the San Francisco Bay and built under Mexican rule. Traveling from the San Francisco Mission to the Sonoma Mission was a good move for Suisunes, they were much closer to their homeland at the second mission.
In 1835, however, the Mexican government began to close down and secularize the missions, dispersing the land and properties. General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo
was sent to Sonoma to become the commandante of the new pueblo project, to administer the secularization of the mission, and to keep military control in the region. Chief Solano and the Suisunes became allies of Vallejo. In addition he became a very valuable patron and friend to Chief Solano.
Their first meeting and treaty was remembered by General Vallejo as taking place in June 1835, according to the book Historica de California on Vallejo's first day arriving into present-day Sonoma County: General Vallejo recounts sailing into Sonoma in 1835, just assigned by the Mexican military to extend Mexican domain in the North Bay to maintain a Mexican stronghold against the Russians at Fort Ross. Vallejo described coming to San Rafael
, stopping to form an alliance with a Coast Miwok tribe there, then proceeding past Novato
to the Rancheria of Captain Pulpula near present-day Schellville
where he found over 3000 curious Native Americans amassed, led by Chief Solano. Vallejo pitched tents and dispatched messengers to ask all Native Americans in the region to make treaties with the Mexican government. Vallejo claims that within 48 hours a gathering of 11,000 natives had formed, and only a third of them seemed friendly to him. He remembers Chief Solano acted as his interpreter, and remembers how Chief Solano urged and harangued the gathering crowds to be friendly to the arriving Mexicans, persuading them that alliance meant Mexican-American military aid, and suggesting they could better punish enemy tribes. Thus Chief Solano not only formed an alliance with the Mexican Americans, he also gained a following, from many natives in the region in addition to his own tribe, the Suisunes.
Once the alliance with General Vallejo was formed, Chief Solano and the Suisunes led many expeditions with the object of quelling the other tribes of the region, the "Wappo
, the Satisyomis (aka Sotoyomes) a Wappo
tribe, and the Cainameros" (aka the South Pomo Indians of Cainama in the region toward Santa Rosa) who were attempting to throw off Mexican domination. Chief Solano led both military expeditions against the other tribes, and some peacemaking missions. His main reputation was a man of peace. Chief Solano eventually helped to keep the peace between the region's Native Americans and the Mexicans. A peace treaty was signed in 1836.
In order to impress the Mexican Government, Vallejo arranged for and sent Chief Solano with 100 of his warrior Suisunes down to Monterey, California
to impress and seek military support from Juan Bautista Alvarado
, governor of Alta California (1836–1837, 1838–1842). Chief Solano and his warriors traveled the distance, but missed meeting Alvarado.
When the small pox epidemic of 1837 decimated the Native American population of the Sonoma-Marin region, Chief Solano was one of the few natives to be vaccinated, and thus survived.
Chief Solano was one of only two natives to receive a land grant ranch
o from the Mexican-American Government, due to his friendship and support of General Vallejo. (The other native to be granted land was Camilo Ynitia). He received four square leagues in 1842 known as Rancho Suisun
, however he was not able to retain it for his people after his death, most of the land went to Archibald A. Ritchie in 1857, another section to J.H. Fine. Rancho Suisun was recorded in California state records as follows:
Chief Solano remained a leader of many regional banded tribes and an influential ally and friend of General Vallejo until the Mexicans lost control of the state in 1846.
and presumed dead. Chief Solano thought he had lost his closest ally so fled north and found refuge with tribes as far north as Oregon, Washington and possibly Alaska. He returned to California in 1850 and died soon after of pneumonia at the old Yulyul village site in Rockville.
of Sonoma records that a "Francisco Solano" was one of the first natives baptized in the mission 1823/24. Some say that was Sem-Yeto. By all accounts Sem-Yeto move to the mission in its founding years with his people and was present at the time, however, if he was already baptized at the San Francisco Mission, theoretically he would not need to be baptized again. So the first baptism at the mission in Sonoma might be another neophyte named after the same Catholic saint. Genealogists may look into if the Chief baptized twice. There is an entry in the ledger but is it him? Possibly, Sem-Yeto went through baptism at Sonoma as a sign to all his people to come be baptized and join him.
A statue of Chief Solano was sculpted by Bill Huff in 1934. It was first mounted on a rock above Cordelia, later moved to a library in Fairfield
.
Solano County is named directly after Chief (Sem-Yeto) Solano.
A cenotaph
sign is erected in memory of his tribe under an old Oak Tree on Suisun Valley Road, on Solano Community College
.
Suisun Bay
Suisun Bay is a shallow tidal estuary at in northern California, USA. It lies at the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, forming the entrance to the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, an inverted river delta...
in California. Sem-Yeto was a famous chief and leader of the Suisunes
Suisunes
The Suisunes were a tribe of Native Americans that lived in Northern California's Suisun Marsh regions of Solano County, California between what is now Suisun City, Vacaville and Putah Creek around 200 years ago. The Suisunes' main village, Yulyul, is believed to be where Rockville, California is...
tribe, a Patwin
Patwin
The Patwin are a Wintun people native to the area of Northern California. The Patwin were a southern branch of the Wintun group and native inhabitants of California from 1,000 up to 4,000 years....
people of the Suisun Bay region of California. Chief Solano was a charismatic, tall and notable Native American leader in Alta California
Alta California
Alta California was a province and territory in the Viceroyalty of New Spain and later a territory and department in independent Mexico. The territory was created in 1769 out of the northern part of the former province of Las Californias, and consisted of the modern American states of California,...
, because of his alliance, friendship and eventually the support of his entire tribe to General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo
Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo
Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo was a Californian military commander, politician, and rancher. He was born a subject of Spain, performed his military duties as an officer of Mexico, and shaped the transition of California from a Mexican district to an American state...
of Sonoma, in military and political excursions around Sonoma County
Sonoma County, California
Sonoma County, located on the northern coast of the U.S. state of California, is the largest and northernmost of the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties. Its population at the 2010 census was 483,878. Its largest city and county seat is Santa Rosa....
and the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
.
Sem-Yeto was described as tall, 6 feet 7 inches (200 cm), handsome and brave.
Childhood 1800-1823
Sem-Yeto was born in the Suisunes Bay region of CaliforniaCalifornia
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...
, and lived there the first years of his life. He was baptized at the San Francisco Mission on July 24, 1810, and there given Spanish name of Francisco Solano. The recorder noted he was a Suisun, about 10 to 12 years old ("como de 10 a 12") with native name Sina, and that his father's native name was Sulapy, and his mother was deceased. It also records both his parents as gentiles (meaning not recruited nor baptized). He presumably grew to adulthood at the mission.
Notably, this baptism took place two months after the tragedy of his tribe losing their men in Moraga's raid of 1810 of the Suisunes. Sem-Yeto was possibly captured as a child in Moraga's raid of 1810, or else because of losing so many adults in the raid, his tribe brought him within two months of the battle to the mission to live. The raid of 1810 had demoralized the tribe, and instead of fighting or moving inland, many that year chose to join the mission and stop fighting. Others believe it was more the next year that the move to the mission occurred, giving support to the view that Solano was among the approximately twelve children taken hostage in the battle.
For seven years he lived at the San Francisco Mission, where he learned Spanish. In the 1820s he reached manhood and became known as the leader of his people, as Chief Solano.
Sonoma 1823-1846
In 1823, Sem-Yeto moved to the present-day town of Sonoma, CaliforniaSonoma, California
Sonoma is a historically significant city in Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA, surrounding its historic town plaza, a remnant of the town's Mexican colonial past. It was the capital of the short-lived California Republic...
, to help build and populate the mission in the Mission San Francisco de Solano
Mission San Francisco Solano
Mission San Francisco Solano was founded on July 4, 1823, and named for Francis Solanus, a missionary to the Indians of Peru born in Montilla, Spain, known as the "Wonder Worker of the New World." Originally planned as an asistencia to Mission San Rafael Arcángel, it is the northernmost Alta...
, along with many of the Suisunes tribe who had grown up at the San Francisco Mission. Mission Solano was the final Franciscan mission north of the San Francisco Bay and built under Mexican rule. Traveling from the San Francisco Mission to the Sonoma Mission was a good move for Suisunes, they were much closer to their homeland at the second mission.
In 1835, however, the Mexican government began to close down and secularize the missions, dispersing the land and properties. General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo
Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo
Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo was a Californian military commander, politician, and rancher. He was born a subject of Spain, performed his military duties as an officer of Mexico, and shaped the transition of California from a Mexican district to an American state...
was sent to Sonoma to become the commandante of the new pueblo project, to administer the secularization of the mission, and to keep military control in the region. Chief Solano and the Suisunes became allies of Vallejo. In addition he became a very valuable patron and friend to Chief Solano.
Their first meeting and treaty was remembered by General Vallejo as taking place in June 1835, according to the book Historica de California on Vallejo's first day arriving into present-day Sonoma County: General Vallejo recounts sailing into Sonoma in 1835, just assigned by the Mexican military to extend Mexican domain in the North Bay to maintain a Mexican stronghold against the Russians at Fort Ross. Vallejo described coming to San Rafael
San Rafael, California
San Rafael is a city and the county seat of Marin County, California, United States. The city is located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area...
, stopping to form an alliance with a Coast Miwok tribe there, then proceeding past Novato
Novato, California
Novato is a city located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, in northern Marin County. Novato is located about north-northwest of San Rafael, at an elevation of 30 feet above sea level . The 2010 U.S. Census estimated the city population to be about 51,904. Novato is about ...
to the Rancheria of Captain Pulpula near present-day Schellville
Schellville, California
Schellville is an unincorporated community in Sonoma County, California, United States. Schellville is located at the junction of California State Route 12 and California State Route 121 south of Sonoma...
where he found over 3000 curious Native Americans amassed, led by Chief Solano. Vallejo pitched tents and dispatched messengers to ask all Native Americans in the region to make treaties with the Mexican government. Vallejo claims that within 48 hours a gathering of 11,000 natives had formed, and only a third of them seemed friendly to him. He remembers Chief Solano acted as his interpreter, and remembers how Chief Solano urged and harangued the gathering crowds to be friendly to the arriving Mexicans, persuading them that alliance meant Mexican-American military aid, and suggesting they could better punish enemy tribes. Thus Chief Solano not only formed an alliance with the Mexican Americans, he also gained a following, from many natives in the region in addition to his own tribe, the Suisunes.
Once the alliance with General Vallejo was formed, Chief Solano and the Suisunes led many expeditions with the object of quelling the other tribes of the region, the "Wappo
Wappo
The Wappo are a group of Native Americans who traditionally lived in Northern California in the areas of Napa Valley, the south shore of Clear Lake, Alexander Valley, and Russian River. When Mexicans arrived to colonize California, Wappo villages existed near the present-day towns of Yountville,...
, the Satisyomis (aka Sotoyomes) a Wappo
Wappo
The Wappo are a group of Native Americans who traditionally lived in Northern California in the areas of Napa Valley, the south shore of Clear Lake, Alexander Valley, and Russian River. When Mexicans arrived to colonize California, Wappo villages existed near the present-day towns of Yountville,...
tribe, and the Cainameros" (aka the South Pomo Indians of Cainama in the region toward Santa Rosa) who were attempting to throw off Mexican domination. Chief Solano led both military expeditions against the other tribes, and some peacemaking missions. His main reputation was a man of peace. Chief Solano eventually helped to keep the peace between the region's Native Americans and the Mexicans. A peace treaty was signed in 1836.
In order to impress the Mexican Government, Vallejo arranged for and sent Chief Solano with 100 of his warrior Suisunes down to Monterey, California
Monterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
to impress and seek military support from Juan Bautista Alvarado
Juan Bautista Alvarado
Juan Bautista Valentín Alvarado y Vallejo was a Californio and twice Governor of Alta California from 1836 to 1837, and 1838 to 1842.-Early years:...
, governor of Alta California (1836–1837, 1838–1842). Chief Solano and his warriors traveled the distance, but missed meeting Alvarado.
When the small pox epidemic of 1837 decimated the Native American population of the Sonoma-Marin region, Chief Solano was one of the few natives to be vaccinated, and thus survived.
Chief Solano was one of only two natives to receive a land grant ranch
Ranch
A ranch is an area of landscape, including various structures, given primarily to the practice of ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool. The word most often applies to livestock-raising operations in the western United States and Canada, though...
o from the Mexican-American Government, due to his friendship and support of General Vallejo. (The other native to be granted land was Camilo Ynitia). He received four square leagues in 1842 known as Rancho Suisun
Rancho Suisun
Rancho Suisun was a Mexican land grant in present day Solano County, California given in 1842 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Francisco Solano Indian chief and Captain in the Mexican Army...
, however he was not able to retain it for his people after his death, most of the land went to Archibald A. Ritchie in 1857, another section to J.H. Fine. Rancho Suisun was recorded in California state records as follows:
Chief Solano remained a leader of many regional banded tribes and an influential ally and friend of General Vallejo until the Mexicans lost control of the state in 1846.
California Statehood 1846-1850s
In 1846, at the end of the Bear Flag Revolt when California became part of the United States, General Vallejo was taken prisoner by Americans at Sutter's FortSutter's Fort
Sutter's Fort State Historic Park is a state-protected park in Sacramento, California which includes Sutter's Fort and the California State Indian Museum. Begun in 1839 and originally called "New Helvetia" by its builder, John Sutter, the fort was a 19th century agricultural and trade colony in...
and presumed dead. Chief Solano thought he had lost his closest ally so fled north and found refuge with tribes as far north as Oregon, Washington and possibly Alaska. He returned to California in 1850 and died soon after of pneumonia at the old Yulyul village site in Rockville.
Heir of Chief Malica 1817
One legend (unconfirmed) that has been handed down is that Sem-Yeto was the heir of Chief Malica and was present as a child at the tribe's captured and mass suicide of 1817. In this legend, young Sem-Yeto was convinced by Chief Malica to flee the battleground suicide as the rightful leader of the remaining people of the tribe, with the few that fled into the hills. For six years from 1817-1823, Sem-Yeto's whereabouts are not recorded, possibly he lived freely in the hills, or lived with another tribe, or was captured and was Christianized, then he turned up to bring the people to the Mission of Sonoma. However for this to be true, Sem-Yeto was not living at the San Francisco Mission all that time. (Note: the battles that Sem-Yeto is alleged to have survived, that of 1810 and 1817 have several similarities: both are a legend of a childhood leader being saved from a fiery battleground death to become the leader of the people. It sounds like this legend might have simplified two battles into one battle and placed Sem-Yeto at the scene with Malica, in order to emphasize his leadership of the people.)First baptism at Sonoma
The Mission San Francisco de SolanoMission San Francisco Solano
Mission San Francisco Solano was founded on July 4, 1823, and named for Francis Solanus, a missionary to the Indians of Peru born in Montilla, Spain, known as the "Wonder Worker of the New World." Originally planned as an asistencia to Mission San Rafael Arcángel, it is the northernmost Alta...
of Sonoma records that a "Francisco Solano" was one of the first natives baptized in the mission 1823/24. Some say that was Sem-Yeto. By all accounts Sem-Yeto move to the mission in its founding years with his people and was present at the time, however, if he was already baptized at the San Francisco Mission, theoretically he would not need to be baptized again. So the first baptism at the mission in Sonoma might be another neophyte named after the same Catholic saint. Genealogists may look into if the Chief baptized twice. There is an entry in the ledger but is it him? Possibly, Sem-Yeto went through baptism at Sonoma as a sign to all his people to come be baptized and join him.
Recognition
In a Fourth of July speech of 1876, General Vallejo describes a deep friendship and appreciation for Chief Solano who in the speech he said should be called a prince. The speech was reprinted in The Sonoma-Index of Dec. 4, 1880.A statue of Chief Solano was sculpted by Bill Huff in 1934. It was first mounted on a rock above Cordelia, later moved to a library in Fairfield
Fairfield, California
Fairfield is a city located in Solano County in Northern California, USA. It is generally considered the midpoint between the cities of San Francisco and Sacramento, approximately from the city center of both cities, approximately from the city center of Oakland, less than from Napa Valley, 18...
.
Solano County is named directly after Chief (Sem-Yeto) Solano.
A cenotaph
Cenotaph
A cenotaph is an "empty tomb" or a monument erected in honour of a person or group of people whose remains are elsewhere. It can also be the initial tomb for a person who has since been interred elsewhere. The word derives from the Greek κενοτάφιον = kenotaphion...
sign is erected in memory of his tribe under an old Oak Tree on Suisun Valley Road, on Solano Community College
Solano Community College
Solano Community College is a two-year institution of higher learning located in Fairfield, Solano County, California . It is part of California's public community college system, which comprises 109 campuses in 72 districts across the state.-History:The college was established in 1945 as Vallejo...
.
Sources
- Fink, Augusta. Monterey, The Presence of the Past. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books, 1972. ISBN 0877010723.
- The Huntington Library, Early California Population Project Database, 2006.http://www.huntington.org/Information/ECPPmain.htm
- Lewis Pub. A Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California. Chicago, IL: Lewis Publishing Co., 1891. (For post-mission era, intertribal battles)
- Lynch, Robert M. The Sonoma Valley Story. Sonoma, CA: Sonoma-Index Tribune, 1997. ISBN 0965385701.
- Milliken, Randall. A Time of Little Choice: The Disintegration of Tribal Culture in the San Francisco Bay Area 1769-1910. Menlo Park, CA: Ballena Press Publication, 1995. ISBN 0-87919-132-5 (alk. paper)
- Shumway, Burgess M., California Ranchos: Patented Private Land Grants Listed by County. San Bernardino, CA: The Borgo Press, 1988. ISBN 0-89370-935-2.
- History of Suisunes - "Tragic Demise of People of the West Wind"
- History of Solano County, California
- Sonoma State Historic Park