Friday, April 19, 2013

Pedro de Chavez ~ Estate Goods 1735

In the locality of Atrisco, on March 21, 1735, in conforming with the petitions, first by Manuela Chaves, legitimate daughter of Pedro Chaves, I went with two witnesses and took an inventory of all his real and personal chattels.  Which are:  his residence, a picture of the crucified Christ and one of St. James; his whole residence is composed of five rooms, a large porch with arches; the farming implements, one pitch fork, one spade, one as and one adz, a chisel, three kettles; also seven horses, four ‘he’ mules and one ‘she’ mule; of cattle 140, in addition to 12 oxen; also the sheep and goats, 417 head.  Besides this number, 25 were given to Jacinto Sanchez, son-in-law of Pedro de Chavez.  In addition to the number of cattle, there were given to said Jacinto eight cows and two bulls, on account of the dowry that don Pedro de Chaves, owed his daughter doña Efigenia de Chaves. Also as appurtenances to the house, a tract of farming land in which could probably be planted a fanega of wheat and one-half of fanega of corn seed. Besides the right that he has in the settlement to free entrances and outlets, waters, pastures and watering places, as inheritance for his father, don Fernando de Chaves. In addition, five fruit trees, apples and quinces; and whereas, Sebastian de Marcelino, son-in-law of don Pedro de Chaves, assumed the part of guardian, the above mentioned chattels were delivered to him, together with the charge he undertakes of the education of the minors and their feeding and sustenance.   He is assigned the salary of ten pesos per month for his work at the expense of the estate.  On this March 2, for the period of four months, which having passed, he shall be paid in advance from the bulk of the estate. I also give him this inventory made by me, said Alcalde mayor.  Juan Gonzales Bas, Francisco Antonio Gonzales, Cresencio Rael de Aguilar at the request of Sebastian de Marcelino.

At the villa on January 22, 1736, I the Governor of said Kingdom, owing to the death of Pedro de Chaves, resident of San Felipe de Albuquerque, an inventory is to be made amongst the ones who would be heirs; assigned to Juan Paez Hurtado and Juan Gonzales Bas – Signed Geronimo Cruzat y Gongora, Gaspar Gilthomey, and Juan Antonio de Jaramillo.

Affidavit of don Nicolas de Chavez.  At the settlement of Atrisco, on March 12, 1736, I took his oath and asked what he knew of don Pedro de Chaves’s marriage with doña Juana Montoya, if she had in her possession some dowry of cows, oxen or sheep, or other things, furniture, to say what he knew.  Juana brought a servant of hers, an Indian woman to serve her; and that he had also heard it said that she had brought to the possession of don Pedro a cart.  Asked if she had brought some oxen with cart, he replied, he did not know. Asked if Juana had left a will or memorandum, he did not hear or know anything.  When doña Juana died, there were left at least 350 cattle of all ages, about 1,000 sheep, this increase being done to the care and pains of the said Indian woman and he adds that he heard it said that don Pedro de Chaves, deceased, bought from Martin Garcia 30 hear of sheep but did not recall if it was before or after he contracted marriage with doña Juana.  He is interested being a brother of don Pedro de Chaves, deceased, he is 40 years old more or less – Juan Paez Hurtado, Nicolas de Chaves, Isidro Sanchez, Joseph Terrasas.

Ratification of don Francisco Chavez.  He did not want to add or change any of the affidavit.  When asked if doña Juana Montoya left a will or memorandum, he said that he did not know and then asked if he knew about the cattle at the time of death; he stated that when she died there were left about 280 branded cattle she had, more or less, and of sheep and goats there were 1,500 more or less, and that is all he knows. – Juan Paez Hurtado, Joseph Terrasas, Pedro Sanchez.

Affidavit of Baltasar Romero.  On January 3, 1736, at the verbal request of the heirs, caused Captain Baltasar Romero to appear before me; he did not wish to add or change anything from the previous affidavit.  When asked if the Indian woman that doña Juana Montoya brought into the possession of don Pedro de Chavez, when she married, was a person paid or whether she had her as a slave and whether the Indian by her care, as herder of the stock, increased it and to what amount.  In his opinion, he said he did not have her for any particular pay nor slave, nor was she given as such; that he knows, this because he lived in the same house of Captain Diego Montoya and he was present when he gave the said Indian woman to his daughter, Juana and the rest of the children, including the affiant’s wife asked their father why it was he did not give them an Indian woman, as he gave one to his daughter Juana; and that the father said he was giving her to Juana because she was lame.   Asked about the cattle he knew because don Pedro de Chaves told him that when the first wife died, there were over 200 cows and 900 sheep and he did not know why the stock had diminished so.  He did not know anymore, was 63 years old and signed with me – Juan Paez Hurtado, Baltasar Romero, Isidro Sanchez, and Joseph Terrasas.

Affidavit of Antonio Baca.  At Atrisco, I, asked Antonio Baca, being one of the heirs, to appear before me.  Asked at the time that he married doña Monica de Chaves, daughter of Pedro de Chaves and Juana Montoya, was he given any dowry or real or personal chattels; he said that is it true that his said father-in-law gave him 50 ewes and ten cows, and one breeding cow.  Asked about jewelry, he said that he did not give him anything more than what he has stated.  He is 26 years old – Antonio Baca, Juan Paez Hurtado, Isidro Sanchez, and Joseph Terrasas.

I asked Francisco Sanchez, married to Josefa de Chaves, daughter of Pedro de Chavez and Juana Montoya, to appear before me.  I asked him how many cattle and how many head of sheep there were at the time he married with the said Josefa, he said that what his father-in-law gave him was 50 head of sheep and two cows and one breeding and that he did not give him anything else.  He is 28 years old – Juan Paez Hurtado, Isidro Sanchez and Joseph Terrasas.

 
References:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Roll 1, Twitchell #177
©Henrietta M. Christmas 

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