Margarita Martin ~ Estate 1744

Carlos Fernandez, a resident of the jurisdiction of San Geronimo de Taos, in the name of my wife, doña Juana Padilla, and appearing in her own behalf and lending voice and complaint for her brothers and sisters, the minor children of Juan Padilla, now deceased, and of Margarita Martin, now deceased and of don Bernardo Roybal, the second husband of the said deceased, we appear before you…

In Santa Fe on August 8 1744, before me Joachin Codallos y Rabal, Governor asked that an inventory be made of all the property of the deceased.

At this town of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Rio Arriva, on August 4, 1744, I don, Francisco Ortiz, went to the house of the deceased with Juan Garcia de la Mora, there appeared at a hearing before Captain Sebastian Martin, with the papers, which as executor of the deceased, Juan Padilla, were held in favor of the minors…which from the paternal side, had fallen to the children of the first marriage of the above mentioned Margarita Martin.

Immediately, I, the Chief Justice, having separated the chattels which the paternal bequest of the deceased, Juan Padilla, which came as the share of doña Juana Padilla and doña Barbara Padilla and to their two brothers, the youths, Julian and Tomas;  I now have appointed two disinterested persons, Juan Jose Pacheco and Hermenjildo Sisneros.  Signed Francisco Ortiz

The inventory:

Some residences which contain a parlor, kitchen, pantry and two bedroom 320 pesos.

Another house of two stories, now old, with two living room and three rooms, with a piece of land, together with thirty four fruit trees, 290 pesos.

Twenty-seven cows and calves, 675 pesos.

Nineteen cows, but dry ones, at 380 pesos.

Three bull oxen, 60 pesos.

Two gelding oxen, gentle, 50 pesos.

Six yearlings and year old heifers, half and half, 48 pesos.

Seven pack horses, gently, amounting to 105 pesos.

304 head of sheet, goats, etc., 608 pesos.

193 Lambs, 194 pesos.

Seven strings of black pearls at 160 pesos.

Four and ¼ varas of wine colored woolen cloth, 85 pesos.

19 ½ varas of serge, 6 ½ varas were given to Juana Padilla and another to Barbara Padilla and the other stayed with Bernardo Roybal, 78 pesos.

10 varas of narrow black ribbon with silver flowers, 100 pesos.

Six varas of lace, Mexican, 40 pesos.

A scarf, with silver fringe, new at 40 pesos.

Another one at 30 pesos.

Some scarlet cloth skirts, used, at 20 pesos.

Some drawn work shirt sleeves, women’s 20 pesos.

A purple blue satin cloak, lined with bright pink satin, 30 pesos.

Some sleeves of British linen for a lady, embroidered in silk, in the possession of Barbara Padilla, 10 pesos.

A purple Polleza de Piquin, now used, 50 pesos.

An embroidered shawl, with gloss, 40 pesos.

A bronze, Crucifix, good, 25 pesos.

Two small paintings of Saint Isabel, 2 pesos.

Some slippers, now used, 26 pesos.

An axe at 5 pesos.

A chisel at 3 pesos.

A scythe at 3 pesos.

Two hoes at 4 pesos.

A large copper saucepan, now broken 2 pesos.

Another of the same, medium size, good condition, 10 pesos.

A long narrow cart, used, 20 pesos.

Another of the same, 12 pesos.

A small wooden bench, 4 pesos.

A small wheel barrow, 15 pesos.

A pine table, 6 pesos.

A wooden chair without arms, 1 peso.

A chest from Michoacán, lock and key, 12 pesos.

A high wooden bed with small posts, 10 pesos.

Six medium sized china plates, 18 pesos.

An old copper water jar, 1 peso.

A stable with walls, 22 pesos.

A cake griddle, 4 pesos.

Two sieves black and white with their handles, 2 pesos.

A harp for playing, 40 pesos.

A metate, 2 pesos.

A lot of land, two razors, 2 pesos.

Also a lot of land, which Captain Sebastian Martin transferred to the deceased which appear to contain 618 varas in length and 239.  New total, 30,747 pesos.

The same land, a little more or less, under irrigation, at 470 pesos.  Although they do not belong in the dower they belong to the dower.

Another tract of land, which is located in the valley of San Geronimo de Taos, between two rivers, which came as a grant to both of the deceased, Juan de Padilla and Margarita Martin, during their married life, 400 pesos.

A wild mare with colt, which belongs to the estate, Jose Antonio Naranjo, 15 pesos.

Two pieces of property redeemed and appraised accordingly, 200 pesos.

Another of the same condition, 75 pesos.

Total of 40,997 pesos.

Also 250 pesos, which apparently have been withdrawn from the estate for Novena and funeral Masses and internment, new total of 50,017 pesos.

The sum of 3,296 pesos which were part of a dowry which don Bernardo Roybal, her second husband, had mortgaged.   Said Roybal is guardian for the three minor children.

The division goes on between Barbara, Juana, Julian and Tomas Padilla.  The three Roybal minors who are Maria, Tomas and Rosa are also named in the disposition.

Bernardo Roybal ends up with the pearls at 160 pesos, amongst other household items, animals and so amounting to 10,044 pesos.

Juana Padilla, 10,088 pesos. Along with harp, which her husband took, which her grandmother had made to his wife so that his wife might learn to play.

For the estate of the minors, Julian and Tomas, 10,088 pesos each.

Signed Sebastian Martin, rubric, Francisco Ortiz, judge

Aid of: Juan Garcia de la Mora, rubric and Jose Antonio de la Torre, rubric.  Jose Martin and Juan Jose Pacheco.

References:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Twitchell 530, Reel 3, Frames 858-893.

 ©Henrietta M. Christmas