San Pablo was originally known as Sampaloc, they got the name San Pablo from their patron saint. It was founded by Agustinian Fathers, who in 1794, ceded its administration to this apostolic province of St. Gregory, taking possesion on April 4 (my birthdate) of the same year, being apponted as its first Franciscan Parish Priest Rev. Father Friar Andres Cabrera. San Pablo is situated at 140^o 5' 20'' latitude, climate is moderate. Most common diseases were fevers.  It is supplied with waters from several sources. There are good roads for vehicular traffic.  Halfway on the road leading to Nagcarlan, there are signs that a subterranean exists, this is surmissed from the noise produced by the hooves of horses. There used to be a market of assorted merchandise on Saturdays.  Mail was received on Thursdays and went out the same day.
The church under the patronage of St. Paul, the first hermit, is made of bricks, sufficiently strong and spacious. Its construction was undertaken when this town was under the administration of the Agustinian Friars, as well as the parochial house or convento, which is also of bricks and spacious. In 1840, the woodwork of the church and the parochial house was renovated by Rev. Friar Pelegrin Posper, painting and polishing it in such a way that it can  compare wiht the best churches in the Philippines. At the center is a beautiful chapel with niches around, constructed in the year 1796 under the direction of Rev. Friar Andres Cabrera.
The area of this town is about four leagues from North to South and another four leagues from East to West. Within this area flow the rivers called Sinipian, Malamig, Malaonot, Bulayong, Bacate, Casayan, Balanga and Labasin, originating all from Mt. Cristobal, changing their course at a little distance from their source, they ran from North to South until they empty into the big river Lalig, within the jurisdiction of the town of Tiaong of the province of Tayabas. On the road to Batangas are the rivers Balatuin and Macampon to the right, and to the left the rivers called Socol, Mapaet, Bae and Macopa, which flow from Northwest to Southeast and empty into the so-called Lalig river.
Among the mountains that exists within the jurisdiction of this town, are worthy of note, for their height, the Mt. San Cristobal and the Malarayat, the latter with its glorious memories for the members of the angelic province of St. Gregory, for hiding in its thick forest for three years the vulnerable and penitent Father Friar Francisco Solier. In the mountains of Bacot, Ubabis, Imut, Mabacan, Olila and Mapaet are found good lumber for construction and cabinet work, such as the Banaba, Mangachapuy, Bancal, Camagon, Narra, Baticulin, with the trees of Antipolo and Palomaria that yield good resin.
There are also some quarries although of inferior quality, and big and small game.
The land cultivated and irrigated mostly by the waters of said rivers, produces plenty of rice, wheat, coffee, monggos, patanes, and some sugar cane. The locals devote themselves to agriculture and the production of sugar which are exported to the surrounding towns and specially to the market of Sta. Cruz.
 
English translation by CANTIUS OBAK, OFM