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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.
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