Jose Gonzales ~ 1738 Estate

Inventories and remains of the deceased, Captain Jose Gonzales.  Made by Captain, Juan Gonzales, Alcalde Mayor of the villa of Albuquerque as Judge in 1738.

At the villa at Our Lady of Conception of Alameda, on January 15, 1738, I Captain, Juan Gonzales Bas, Alcalde Mayor and Captain of War of the villa of Albuquerque, received notice that Jose Gonzales, Alcalde Mayor of the jurisdiction of Bernalillo and the Pueblos of Queres, as it seems, without having made a will, I ordered that the chattels be collected.  Having asked the mother and widow and they replied he had not made any.  They also said that when he was in agony that he could not dispose of anything because he was in great pain, but his father, who survived could dispose of his chattels.  The father being absent from the jurisdiction, could not be ascertained if he accepted.  I made an inventory and signed with my witnesses:  Juan Gonzales Bas, Alejandro Gonzales, Isidro Sanchez.

The following chattels were collected:

·       A house which is the one where the deceased lived and where his heirs now live, and which contains nine rooms with a mezzanine and second story.

·       The weapons of the deceased, being an harquebus, sword, saddle, cushions, accoutrements and bridle.

·       There was a blacksmith shop containing an anvil, three pair of tongues, two heavy hammers, one hand hammer, a large heavy hammer, one screw, nine files, six punches, four chisels, one chopping knife and one scraper, a pair of bellows with blowers and a grinding stone.

·       The implements of the house, which are two adz, a chisel, a hoe, two axes, one for carpentry and another for coal, four spades, two plow points.

·       A cart equipped with chains and yokes.

·       Four horses.

·       Four mules.

·       Four oxen for plowing.

·       Eight breeding cows, with their offspring.

All funeral expenses were made and for the security of what remains with the consent of the widow and the orphan heirs, I Alcalde Mayor as father of the deceased remain as guardian and administrator, which charge I accept.  Also there are farming lands which belong with the house and one branding iron.  Signed Juan Gonzales Bas (rubric)

This is what was found to be due by the deceased:

·       Debts to several Indians of the Pueblo if his jurisdiction, that they be paid are one bull, one hand axe, a scythe, and a knife.

·       To another, an axe and two knives, the Indian being from Jemes.

·       To and Indian from San Phelipe, there is a bridle which should be paid (paid in margin).

·       To Francisco Xavier Miranda, a mare.

·       To Francisco Mascareñas, two bulls.

·       There is due to an Indian of Santana a mare.

·       There is due three lambs and three sheep to Jose Baca.

There is due to the said deceased the following:

·       Juan Apodaca, a soldier, two varas of cloth and a Campeche log.

·       There is due him, the rental of two male mules which they took to Mexico, she does not know the amount, but whatever the witnesses, Andres Montoya and Juan Gallegos say is the amount due.

·       There is due him by Francisco Padilla, son-in-law of Pedro Guillen, a Campeche log for a load of piñon which he took with him to the villa.

These are the debts owed and due him according to the widow and I the Alcalde Mayor, signed along with my witnesses and having finished these I make a remittance for what they may be worth.

Juan Gonzales Bas, Alejandro Gonzales, Isidoro Sanchez.

*Burial record in Albuquerque states "January 12, 1738 En el Rancho que le llaman de los Gutierrez, murio Joseph Gonzales, español, casado con Francisca Garcia; buried on January 14."

References:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell #326, Frames 721-726.

©Henrietta M. Christmas