I have also always seen Vecinos de ******  as being neighbors and 
then usually the Rancho is named. 






--- In ranchos@yahoogroups.com, Pacorro73@a... wrote:
> As far as I know vecino means "resident," as of a particular town.  
My Nuevo 
> Espasa Ilustrado Dictionary defines vecino as "adj, s. 1. Que 
habita con otros 
> en un mismo pueblo, barrio o casa. 2. Cercano."  So there.  This so 
called 
> "expert" was probaby confusing the fact that after an Indian was 
converted, 
> he/she could no longer live out in the wild among other Indians.  
He/she had to 
> live at the mission, thus becoming a "vecino," a resident, of said 
mission, just 
> like all the other residents or inhabitants of the mission like the 
> Spaniards, mestizos, and slaves.
> 
> The little cross (+) used on the margins of archives or after 
someone's name 
> simply means that the person has passed away.  It is common usage 
in Spanish 
> writing to refer to Fulano de Tal (+), with the little cross after 
his/her 
> name, to indicate that the person is dead.  I see it frequently 
when reading 
> Spanish books or articles.
> 
> Steven H.