Goods & Dowries:
The children from the first and second marriages; and their
setting aside the stock of the first wife (Antonia Gurule), the dowry which
consisted of 50 heads of sheep, which were delivered to the two children by the
first marriage. (It turns out this is
incorrect later in the testimony). Further
testimony states they were married either three or four years. Based on the ages of the children from the
second marriage, she married him around 1760-1761.
Dividing from the stock the dowry of the second wife (Elena
Gurule), which consists of 17 cows, which was her own dowry that she brought to
the dominion of her husband. She also included later, 300 varas of land, which
she inherited from her father and was sold to Cristobal Gonzales. The total of animals, goods and land
estimated at 231.50 pesos. No marriage record
has been found, but their first child was born in 1765, making their marriage
about 1764. There seems to be confusion
on the land bought by Cristobal Gonzales, no mention if whether the first wife,
who was the adopted one, inherited the land or the second wife, but that was
dated 1761 or if it pertained to the second wife the date could be 1767. Antonio
Gurule states that her trousseau was a piece of serge with trimmings, three
varas of Britton Linen and one pair of shoes.
What Jose Duran y Chavez brought to the marriage was only
noted as a cape and his shoulders (brawn) and he had to borrow horses.
Getrudis Sanchez, the mother of the deceased stated that the
50 heads of sheep she had given to them at the time of the second marriage and
that the first wife was very poor girls whose parents were not known, but they
were from the same house. She assumed
one was adopted (wife # one) and the second was legitimate. The first one brought now dowry, also
confirmed by Juan Lucero.
Than later under testimony she states she gave to her son
and his first wife, a piece of serge, three varas of English cloth, a used
black shawl, one pair of shoes and silk stockings, and the 50 head of sheep.
His Gurule brother-in-laws testified that he received as a widower
then goats as inheritance from the wife (Antonia).
Yet, Colusa Chavez states that she never brought with her
but a skirt of sabanilla, a shirt and a grinding stone along with a little
locket.
Juan Bautista de Anza tell us in the records that it is all
very confusing, especially that testimony of Getrudis Sanchez, the mother of
the deceased. She also states that she
was in bed at the time of the first questioning by the soldier, and she just
covered her head. She likely was
grieving.
Antonio Gutierrez testifies that the first wife’s mother was
an Indian and that the first wife brought nothing to the marriage. He tell us that whole of Los Ranchos knows
this and also the neighbors of Bernalillo. Too bad they didn't name the mother.
Then Facundo Gonzales, a grand-son of Antonio Gurule and who
lived with Elena Gurule and the deceased Chavez stated that the Getrudis
Sanchez did dower her (wife #1), but she herself never brought anything to the marriage. Corrales 1783
The items outlined in the will are as follows:
For the funeral, two cows and their calves, a cow for Novena
of Masses, a mule for the shroud, a horse for another mass. Two cows and calves were returned by the
Priest and a mule which came back to the stock by order of the guardian.
First: 30 breeding
cows valued at 600 pesos; new born calves; 16 calves at a year old; six
heifers; four breeding bulls; four bulls, two steers; four trained oxen; six
wild mares; three year old colt; four horses; three mules; two mules; fire arms
and a shot gun; sword; one leather jacket used; one saddle used but good; one
used cape, one bridle; some overalls and coat one of wool; two first class plows;
two hoes used; one used axe; one sickle; one chisel, two copper kettles; one
copper olla; one iron pot; one iron trowel; three old trunks with their keys;
one copper chocolate pitcher; one water pitcher; one old loom; pack saddles; 263 varas of land valued at 131.50 pesos which
belonged to the mother of the deceased; 90 varas of agriculture land in
Albuquerque; one adobe house with three rooms with doors and windows valued at
80 pesos. Remaining were the debts and
are: an Indian from San Felipe, named Candelario Tropillos, two pesos; Bartolo
Fernandez the soldier, six varas of common unbleached muslin at nine pesos;
Francisco Aragon one-two year old calf at 12 pesos; Juan Lorenzo Atencio for
one ox at 25 pesos; Francisco Gallegos for one cow and calf at 25 pesos; and Miguel
Tenorio the soldier one pair of shoes at two pesos.
References: Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Roll 2, Twitchell #250, Frames 316-352
©Henrietta M. Christmas
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