Felipe Santiago García y [ ? ] was born at Villa de Sinaloa, Sinaloa, New Spain about 1750. He was one of several young men recruited by capitán Rivera y Moncada in late 1773 and early 1774. Felipe enlisted as a soldado de cuera at Villa de Sinaloa in February 1774 and was posted to the Presidio de Monterey, Alta California. Felipe married María Petra Joaquina Alcantara Lugo y Domínguez at Villa de Sinaloa in late 1773 or early 1774. He and his wife accompanied the other recruits and their families to Loreto, Baja California, where teniente José Francisco Ortega escorted them to the Presidio de San Diego, arriving there in September 1774. While enroute to Monterey Petra gave birth to their first child, Juan José García y Lugo, at Oso Flaco on November 11, 1774. Juan José was baptized immediately after his birth and this fact was recorded soon after the group arrived at Misión San Luís Obispo de Tolosa (SLO Baptism 00086). They continued on to Monterey where they arrived in late November. Felipe was at the Presidio de Monterey from 1774 until 1782 and again from 1799 until his retirement in 1804. He was promoted to cabo (corporal) by 1780. He served as an escolta at Misión San Antonio de Padua from 1783 until 1786. Transferred to the garrison at Presidio de Santa Bárbara in 1787, he served as an escolta at Misión San Gabriel from 1787 until 1792. He returned to garrison duty at Santa Bárbara, where he remained from 1793 until 1798, at which time he was transferred back to Monterey. After his retirement from the military he remained at Monterey. Felipe died November 9, 1822 and was buried in the Presidio Chapel Cemetery (San Carlos) on November 10 (SC Death 02428).

NOTE: Not to be confused with Felipe García y Romero, the master blacksmith.