I, don Juan Jose Moreno, a native of the city of Seville in the
Kingdom of Castile, and legitimate son of don
Roque Moreno and doña Ysabel de Abila
y Villabuzenzo, residents of the said city and both deceased. I am sick and order this testament.
I ask to be buried in the church
of Our Lady of the Conquest in this town.
I declare having been married to doña Juana Roybal in this villa of Santa
Fe, in whose company and marriage I have lived for over 23 years, during which
time we have not had any children; I declare that it may so appear.
I order to be celebrated for my
soul, 260 masses with three novenas of low masses in the Chapel of Our Lady of
the Conquest, and another novena on the first festivity of Our Lady of Light
after my death.
I declare to have had accounts
with Francisco Gomez, a resident and merchant in the villa of San Felipe de
Real de Chihuahua, to whom I am indebted in the amount contained in the bill
amongst my papers, which I order to be paid when the same may be adjusted.
I also declare that I owe to
Francisco Garcia, resident of the ranch of Carmel about 100 and odd pesos in
current prices of the land, for several accounts which I have collected for him
contained in a memorandum. I have not
collected what I have stated and I order my executors to pay him, returning the
said power that he may collect the rest.
I declare to owe Bentura de
Mestas, 100 pesos in cash, with the interest for two years at the rate of five
per cent per annum. I order to pay him.
I declare to owe don Manuel Saenz de Garvisu 90 pesos in
silver, the amount drawn in favor of Fray Manuel Bermejo, to whom I am
indebted, I order to pay said don
Manuel.
I declare to owe Maria Coca,
deceased three ladies shirts of linen of Rouen, and the other two of fine linen
of Brittany, embroidered with two-inch lace, which I took to the Province of
Sonora to sell and not having sold them I trusted them to don Manuel de Sosa, resident of the province of the real de Cacosari,
to whom I trusted them in good faith and having learned that said gentleman is
dead, and not having sold them; his wife having married a second time, I have
settled with the sons of doña Maria
Coca. To value the goods by expert ladies and they may value them at, to which
account I have given them four horses, not very good ones, and some goods,
which will appear by a memorandum; an if any balance should be due, when
advised of the value, my executors will pay for them.
I declare to have accounts with don Juan Francisco de Arroniz, to whom I
am indebted for several things which I have needed, I order to pay what he may
say as I have no memorandum.
I declare to have several salaried
servants, as will appear in my book of accounts, the same to be adjusted; and
those who may owe me anything, to be collected and to those to whom may owe, I order to pay them.
I order my executors, that if
anybody should demand anything against my property that I owe him any amount,
which I may not have mentioned here for lack of memory, when the same may be
justified; I order to pay them and for the satisfaction of the debts, which I
have mentioned and far those which may be able to occur with justification, I
declare the following as my property:
First, my house of resident
containing a hall, three rooms, kitchen, corrals, stables and two other rooms,
with cultivated lands contiguous to said house, as will appear by deeds in my
possession, the said lands running as far as the creek.
I declare 26 or 27 horses at the
Pueblo of Taos, also one jack and filly – one year old.
The cattle which may be found
with my brand at said Pueblo of Taos.
Also, in the possession of
Antonio Sandoval, resident of Golondrinas, 50 mares of all ages and their
stallions.
In the horse herd of this royal
garrison I have 20 horses. I also have
in said stock of horses, about 30 mules, most them mare mules; nine I have
freighting; three of them on my account.
I declare to have in the
possession of Geronimo Martin, a resident of Abiquiu 58 breeding cows and ten
bulls, as appear by the instrument which he made and which is in my possession,
by which my executors can be guided; also 16 heifers and 16 bulls due for the
increase which remained in the possession of the said Martin on my account and
risk.
Also, eight wethers from 3-4
years old at Taos Pueblo.
Three yoke of oxen in this town.
I declare to have about 500 of
all kinds of hides.
I declare to have about thirty
and some odd measures of rendered piñon.
I declare to have the goods
contained, which will be found in my simple memorandum.
Also declare my wearing apparel.
All my necessary utensils of
horse riding, fire arms, blunderbuss, a cutlass and a shield.
I also declare as my property, to
have that don Antonio Gutierrez del
Castillo owes one load of hides, which appear by a memorandum, that he should
send the same goods with the explanation that in case anything should be
lacking for the compliance of the order he should furnish it.
Also declare to have given to
Antonio Domingues, alias Benado, one load of buckskins on his account all with
its’ own prices; the large ones at one peso and 25 centavos and the small ones
at 62 ½ centavos; the buffalo dressed hides at 1 ½ peso; they appear in a paper
and its quality.
Also declare to have given to
Mateo Roybal some other buckskins which appear in a memorandum how he took
them. -continued-
References: Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I,
Twitchell 552, Frames 1042-1056.
©Henrietta M. Christmas
