Inventories of the estate which
remained at the death of Antonio Duran de Armijo, resident of the Pueblo de San
Geronimo Taos; all pertaining to Maria Getrudes Duran de Armijo, a minor,
legitimate daughter of said deceased and Barbara Montoia, likewise
deceased. The inventory was made by
Antonio Martin, Lt. Alcalde Mayor of Taos as Antonio Duran de Armijo was killed
the night of August 1, 1748 by the enemy.
A gun with its stock trimmed with
silver and its used case at 80 pesos in the currency of the land; one short Calvary
sword at 14 pesos; one shield painted in oils at 6 pesos; old munitions pouches
at 4 reales; some saddle pads at 2 pesos; one used St. Michael’s knife at 5
pesos; one worn leather jacket at 25 pesos; one used shoulder belt at 4 pesos;
one pair of large spurs at 15 pesos; one Indian basket at 8 reales; one horse
bridle at 5 pesos; one velvet cloak embroidered in silver at 100 pesos; one
piece of unbleached muslin measuring 1 ½ varas at 12 reales; one piece of
imitation narrow Brittany linen at 16 pesos; one Salamanca scarf with a flounce
and fringe of silver at 35 pesos; one short coat of blue cloth from Castile for
a man at 30 pesos; some red velvet breeches somewhat worn at 16 pesos; two
blankets from Villa Alta at 8 pesos; seven small skeins of crimson silk,
untwisted and one twisted at 20 reales; one pair of worn blue velvet breeches
at 8 pesos; 2 ½ varas of wine colored cloth from Castile of second quality 18
pesos; subtotal at 392 pesos, 4 reales.
Two ½ varas of crimson velvet at
11 pesos, 2 reales; two china soup cups and two mugs of the same, all ordinary,
2 pesos; one case with silver hinges containing four old knives and one whet
stone at 12 pesos; two small used spreads of the country at 20 pesos; one small
broken mirror at 4 reales; one Christian catechism at 2 reales; 1 ½ varas of
glazed linen at 15 reales; one pair of old wool stockings at 4 reales; two
pairs of old socks at 8 reales; one shirt and one old pair of work trousers at
6 pesos; one skein of untwisted silk at 4 reales; two kerchiefs of coarse sun
cloth at 3 pesos; one piece of blue bombazine at 10 pesos; 6 ½ varas of blue
serge at 26 pesos; one cotton table cloth of the country at 3 pesos; one new
ordinary sombrero at 4 pesos; two worn blankets of the land at 14 pesos; six
water bags, two empty flasks, and four small ollas, 4 pesos, 2 reales; one
copper jug for drinking water, 7 used tin plate at 12 pesos; one pair of large
tailor shears at 4 pesos; 3 pair of the above, one for shearing, some others
for a barber and the others for a pocket at 3 pesos; two small copper spoons at
2 reales; one earthen ware mug from La Puebla at 2 reales; Eleven glass
rosaries at 5 pesos, 4 reales; one old chocolate jug with its molinillo at 8 reales; two used copper
ollas, at 12 pesos; two mall copper kettles at 20 pesos; three sieves with
their old hoops at 20 reales; two medium sized Michoacán chests with their keys
at 16 pesos; two small ones of the same, 6 pesos; one old iron spit at 4
reales; eight used buffalo hides at 8 pesos; one piece of an old white buckskin
tent at 6 reales; new subtotal, 605 pesos, 5 reales.
One thick one at 8 reales; one
old iron griddle at 4 pesos; one hand saw at 4 pesos; two new saddle trees and
bows at 4 pesos; two iron anvils, already used, one large one and the other
medium sized, the large one at 80 and the other at 40 pesos; one branding iron
at 2 pesos; 4 pairs of iron tongs at 24 pesos; one iron sledge hammer at 6
pesos; three small hammers at 6 pesos; two of the same medium sized at 8 pesos;
4 small old coa’s at 8 pesos; two old hoes, much used 3 pesos 4 reales; one old
axe at 4 pesos; six old sickles at 3 pesos; one iron ladle at 12 reales; one
vice for a forge at 40 pesos; one small anvil at 6 pesos; one mold for nail
heads at 2 pesos; some small scales at 2 pesos; some of the same without the
cross piece at 12 reales; one 8 pound weight at 20 pesos; one adz at 2 pesos; 4
old charcoal bags at 4 pesos; 10 fanegas of piñon at 8 pesos; 8 fanegas of
wheat at 32 pesos; one small bale of wool at 4 pesos; two small used Indian
baskets at 8 reales; one old copper ___ at 4 pesos; one cowboy saddle with its
embossed stirrups, 55 pesos; 15 ½ varas of wide Lorraine Lace at 12 reales; 5
varas of wide crimson ribbon at 5 pesos; 8 varas of Chinese ribbon embroidered
in silver a6 6 pesos; one lance at 4 pesos; 4 ½ varas of reversible material at
2 pesos 4 reales; 10 varas of crimson China silk at 6 pesos; one cloth ribbon
hat band at 4 pesos; 8 calf-skins at 4 pesos; one Rosary of silver disks with
its face cross of silver 8 pesos; new subtotal 10,182 pesos 6 reales.
One silver reliquary gilded at 10
pesos; 12 strings of coral weighing four ounces at 24 pesos; one pair of
earrings of pearls or rocks at 10 pesos; one small silver cross at 8 reales;
two of the above in bronze at 4 reales; one silver toothpick at 8 reales; one
bronze medal at 8 reales; 14 very small silver rosettes at 12 reales; one ounce
of old silver at 12 reales; one copper smiths punch at 8 reales; 2 small augers
at 8 reales; 2 large old files at 6 pesos; one hand vice at 3 pesos; 2 small cold
chisels for iron at 8 reales; three chisels at 2 pesos; one fine painted
pinchers at 4 pesos; three small round rasps at 8 reales; one small flat file
and one small triangular at 3 pesos; 2 square files at 8 reales; 6 small half
round files used, at 2 pesos; 2 small curved tools at 4 reales; 8 punches at 2
pesos; 2 chisels at 8 reales; some small pinchers at 4 reales; 2 burins at 8
reales; 4 auger bits with their augers at 6 pesos; one poker at 4 reales; one
pavonador at 8 reales; one tin box without a key where the set of tools is, 1
peso; 2 new dresses at 6 pesos; 2 girths and one old riata at 8 reales; 3 work
horses at 45 pesos; 3 mares, the one a filly at 32 pesos; one mule with a sore
back, 24 pesos; one pair of small silver buckles at 2 pesos; one arroba, 20 pound of iron in pieces at 45
pesos; 32 breeding cattle at 20 pesos; 8 of the same, two years old at 12
pesos; 3 young bulls of the same at 12 pesos; 18 calves of this year at 3
pesos; new subtotal, 20,258 pesos, 6 reales.
Four tame oxen at 100 pesos; 7
goats and one male goat at 16 pesos; 17 sheep that are going on two years and
six of the rams at 46 pesos; 296 lambs at 592 pesos; 3 Indian women of those
whom they buy in trade and two little Indian boys, the three at 100 pesos each
and two at 80, 460 pesos; 87 male and female lambs of this year at 8 reales,
total of 30,559 pesos, 6 reales. Done by
the appraiser Gregorio Garduño, Felipe Jacobo de Unanues and Leonardo de la
Cruz.
Given to the grandfather, Antonio
de Duran de Armijo, 1,362 pesos plus.
There remains one house and lands at Taos, the corn which should be
gathered; 300 pesos in silver which are in 600 in currency of the land and were
given to Juan Garcia de la Mora for a period of five years and six months at
5%; some minor lands in El Rio de las Trampas, no appraised.
Other goods handed out was one
Jose Antonio Duran de Armijo, a nephew and native of Taos, the following
blacksmith equipment: some bellows, one
large anvil, one vice, one sledge hammer, one small hammer, one pair of tongs,
one alquibris, one auger, nine small files, two cold chisels, eleven punches
and chisels, two burins, two coppersmiths punches and one hand vice, appraised
at 188 pesos and four reales.
Clemente Montoya received from
don Miguel de Alire, trustee of the estate of Antonio de Duran de Armijo and
his wife, Barbara Montoia, my daughter, 170 pesos, in three mares, three horses
and one male mule, six dry cows and one yoke of trained oxen which my daughter
bequeathed to me. September 12, 1748,
Clemente Montoia [continued]
References: Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I,
Roll 8, Twitchell #240, Frames 618-732.
©Henrietta M. Christmas
