Mission San Francisco de los Tejas was originally established in 1690 by Franciscan missionaries to Christianize and civilize the Neches and other Indians of the region. It was reestablished in 1716, temporarily abandoned because of French incursion from Louisiana in 1719, and relocated here as San Francisco de los Neches by the Marquis de Aguayo in 1721. It was removed to the Colorado River in 1730 and permanently located on the San Antonio River in 1731, where it became known as San Francisco de la Espada.