Then, Juan de Jesus Muñis, states and declares that here was
a good house, good ranch and sheep, cows, oxen, good horses, two mares, three
mules which belonged to Pedro Gallegos and his deceased wife, Margarita
Garcia. The known property was one
heifer and one cow, another with long and flocks of different color; one yoke
of oxen like no other in the province; a pinto, one dark colored one with a
bell and one curly ox. At the request of
Tomas Gallego, I, Juan de Jesus Muñis, executed this affadavit. Signed Marcial Torres, who signed for him.
I, state that it is true that don Pedro Gallego had a house,
lands and sheep and it is evidenced that I gave Tomas Antonio Gallego for this
purpose. Ojo Caliente, June 19, 1822,
signed Juan Christobal Chabes.
I, Julian Gallego, state that my brother, Pedro Gallegos had
a house and cattle and in evidence thereof I executed this affidavit on June
19, 1922 for him. Signed Julian
Gallegos.
I, don Pedro
Gallegos, add to this file of papers my evidence that may prove what he has
stated, answering all charges. Santa Fe,
August 23, 1822, signed Francisco Trujillo.
In order to comply with the decree, I should declare that I
can furnish no more concrete proof than that which I have already stated…and if
I have not done this, they why should I want to take from my natural children
that which they are legally entitled to, of which I am accused? It does not seem likely, particularly to
those who experience paternal love.
I say with all candor of an honest man that which I have
expressed in my former answer is what I had when my wife died and the wearing
apparel she left, I gave to my children who married first and when the rest
were married, began giving them as dowry marriage expenses in horses, etc.,
what I considered sufficient to clear my conscience and I gave them in equal parts
what they were entitled to. The proof of
this fact is that before don Pedro
Pino, at the time he was Alcalde of the city, he also presented himself asking
for the same thing that he now asks for, and at that time I had everything in
my mind, I would settle their account is such manner; instead of my owning
them, the said Pino ordered them to pay me the balance they owed me. This cannot be denied by this nor my other
son, Domingo, who was one of the petitioners, if either is questioned.
The affidavit only state that I owned what they had said, because
they had seen them, but they do not say when, which was before my wife
died. With those cows and mules I
purchased an Indian woman, I paid 400 pesos hard cash for her and she died on
the same day that my wife did. For their
funeral, I was obliged to give part of the sheep I had.
…I find myself that it is impossible to stop from defending
myself that I know to be just and in order to ease my conscience you may decide
whatever you deem advisable. Santa Fe,
September 20, 1822, Pedro Gallego (mark)
In reply to the foregoing official letter, I can only tell
you that it appeared that the children were indebted to him according to the
charges he brought, after hearing the counter charges made by their
father. That is all I can tell you. Santa Fe, November 19, 1822, Pedro Baptista
Pino.
In view of what has been presented and the information that
I have from both individuals, I find that don
Pedro Gallego is not the debtor, and for that reason he has nothing to pay; filing
this in the archives. Francisco
Trujillo.
References: Spanish
Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 386.
©Henrietta M.
Christmas
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