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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