Mission San Gabriel - photo by Alexander Harte

Mission San Gabriel - photo by Alexander Harte

California Mission Work Duties


This list will give you an idea of the types of jobs that were done around the Missions.


  • making shoes, saddles and other leather goods
  • spinning wool
  • herding cattle, sheep, horses, and other animals
  • chopping down trees for wood
  • washing clothes
  • weaving cloth
  • plowing and planting the fields
  • sewing clothes
  • preparing the food for meals
  • making tallow
  • candle making
  • tanning and preparing hides
  • weaving baskets
  • winnowing grain


Courtesy of The Escondido School District