Francisco Martin ~ 1767 Will

Know all ye, who may see this, my last will and testament, that I, Juan Francisco Martin, resident of the locality of San Antonio del Embudo, legitimate son of Francisco Martin and Casilda Contreras, being sick in bed with an illness. I order and execute this last will and testament in the following form and manner:

I declare if God should be pleased to take me to Himself, I order that my body be buried in the church of San Juan and shrouded with the habit of Our Father, Saint Francis, which I choose from this time forth.  My funeral expenses shall be defrayed from the residue of my property and in the future let not my soul be forgotten.

I declare that 2 pesos each shall be paid in alms for each of the mandatory legacies, as it is my desire not to miss any, especially that of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

I declare that I have been married and veiled according to the rites and orders of our Holy Mother Church to Maria Paula Villalpando.  From this marriage we had and procreated eleven children, Rosalia, deceased; Balentin; Thomas, deceased; Thomas, deceased; Juan Gabriel; Margarita; Miguel; Rosalia; Juan Bautista; Joseph; Ana Maria; whom I declare as my legitimate children.

I declare that I have a ranch in the valley of Taos which I acquired by royal sale as shown by the deed which is in my possession.

I declare that I own another ranch in Santa Barbara with the ten room house I built; five below and five above; this I acquired as a royal grant.

I declare that I have a ranch in the locality of San Antonio del Embudo, where I live in my house which consists of four rooms and a hall, making five; including a torreon with its alto and another torreon with its bajo in the same house; this is for my son Antonio Lobato, with whom my children shall not interfere. I inherited said ranch from my father.

I declare that when I married my wife, she brought nothing into my possession.

I declare that I have all the necessary equipment for horseback riding, saddle, spurs, bridle, leather jacket, rifle and shield.

I declare that I have five shotguns and a blunderbuss, now broken.

I declare as my property two rapiers and two lances.

I declare as my property four horses that have been broken.

I declare as my property four mules, one broken, another three years old and two-one year old.

I declare as my property four tamed mares.

I declare as my property 12 breeding mares, with three-two year old colts, two male colts and one filly, and from this year’s issue; five- three male colts and two fillies, with their stallion and their jackass.

- 200 head of sheep and five goats.

- 60 head of cattle from branding age up.

- A wagon, fully equipped and a set of new wheels.

- Ten pictures painted on white buckskin, a bulto of Our Lady of the Rosary and a Crucifix of the Inspiration.

- Two good small wooden chests and one large box.

- Two copper jars, a copper kettle, a griddle and the necessary things for the kitchen.

- Three worn out hoes, three adzes, a scythe, and a chisel.

- The clothes I use, consisting of two cloaks, one new the other old; two coats, one new and the other old; two airs of trousers, one new and the other old; a lapel of scarlet cloth; some new sleeves of scarlet cloth with their spangles.

- Twelve pigs small and large.

- Joseph de Jesus a resident from Rio Abajos owes me two blankets, two sheets and three serapes. I order them collected.

- The Indian, Juan Alonso, of San Juan owes me eight chamois skins, I order them collected.

-  An Indian from San Juan, called Simpi, owes me three buckskins, I order them collected.

- Another Indian, from San Juan, son of the deceased Chiguagua, owes me three buckskins, one small and two large, I order them collected.

- Nicolas Serrano owes me a mare, a shield and a hat I bought him; I order them collected.

-  An Indian from San Juan, called Francisco Alonso, owes me four buckskins, I order them collected.

- Miguel Sandobal owes me two- two year old fillies.

- Juan Antonio Barela, a resident of Abiquiu, owes me a male mule two years old, going on three.

- Don Francisco Trebol Navarro owes me a complete riding outfit.

- Mariano Trujillo owes me a broken mule.

- Antonio Martin, El Borrego, owes me a stallion and three mares.

- Ygnacio Vargas owes me a loom frame.

- The son of the deceased Juan Felipe Rodriguez called Bernardo, owes me 50 pesos.

- Joseph Maria, a resident of Atrisco, owes me 14 head of minor cattle.

- Joseph Hurtado owes me a cow with calf.

- Balentin, my son, owes me a cow with calf.

- I have a branding iron.

- My son Balentin, owes me a white elk skin.

- I declare that I do not owe any person anything.

- I declare that two novenas of Masses for my soul shall be paid for from my entire estate.

- I declare that I have a little orphan seven years old, that I reared from infancy.  I order that she be given a cow and calf from my estate.

- I declare, after all the expenses of my funeral have been paid, my estate shall be divided into two parts, one for my wife and the other for my children.

Note as administrators, first his wife, Maria Paula de Villalpando and second, his son Balentin Martin.  Signed this January 24, 1767 by Manuel Garzia Pareja, rubric; Antonio Joseph Lovato, rubric; Salbador Medina, rubric.

Another item, I declare that I have two axes and that the Indian from San Juan called Juan Olli, owes me two chamois skins.

Reference:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 600, Reel 3, Frames 1362-1367.

©Henrietta M. Christmas

Jose Maldonado ~ Will 1789

On 9^th June 1789, I the first ensign of this royal garrison, went to the dwelling house of the pay master, 2^nd Lt. Don Jose Maldonado, by order of the Lt. Col. and Governor, Don Fernando de la Concha, together with the 2^nd Sgt., and one Corporal, so that the said Lt. could make his last will and testament, who of his own free will stated he would do it.

I declare that I married doña Luisa Tenorio, from which marriage we raised and have seven children:  Jose Miguel, Gaspar, Teodora, Francisca, Jose Miguel, Baltasar, and Antonio, tow of which died in childhood.

I declare as my chattels, my dwelling house, which it is my wish that it be left to my wife together with all the furniture.

I declare that I have another house and lands on the other side of the river, which I leave to my wife.

I declare an allotment of land at Buenavista and a cornfield, where they call the wagon road; it is my wish, that it be divided amongst my four sons, giving Antonio the better part, he not having received anything during my life.

I declare that I have at the settlement of Tome, a small house and land, as it appears from this and the above stated writings, and which it is my wish that it be divided amongst my sons.

I declare that to my three married sons, I have given them what I could, I order that to the other two, be given enough to equal the amount of the first ones. 

I declare eleven horses, three mules, and everything pertaining to them. With two saddles, one embroidered, a rifle, a pair of pistols, a saber, my clothes, two oxen, thirty five goats, four cows with calves and two burros one female.

I declare the house and lands on the other side of the river, be my wife’s; but only during her life and that after her death, it be given to my sons.

I declare a partido of ewes, the number which appears in an obligation from Manuel Aragon and that he owes me an additional 15.

I declare another partido of ewes with Marcos Martin, which I have a note for.

I declare that I do not owe anything.

I declare having in the treasury the salary expended services rendered during the whole of last year and this one to this date, as it appears in the books, and I order to be collected.

I declare $350 pesos, from the synod of Fr. Ambrocio Guerra, also $175 from Fr. Diego Sajado and $100 from Fr. Santiago Fernandes de Sierra, which I order to be collected.

I declare that the governor, don Fernando de la Concha, owes me $591 pesos, 6 reales and six grains that were withheld from me at the Royal Treasury in Chihuahua, as it appears in the book at pages fourteen and after.

I declare that Capt. Manuel de la Azuela owes me $173 pesos, three reales and one grain, which I order collected.

Name as my administrators and legitimate attorney, don Rafael Sarracino that in company with my wife doña Luisa Tenorio, as second; and my son Gaspar as third. 

I ask that I be buried at the church door and my funeral humble and that my body be shrouded with the habit of Father St. Francis in the name of God.

I ask that 300 masses be said for my soul.

I order that from the residue of my chattels, that half be divided between my five sons, in equal parts, it being understood that my said wife did not bring anything, a dowry, into the matrimony, neither did I bring anything worth while and the good recognized as mine were acquired by our work.  Signed Jose Nicolas Corat de Maldonado, rubric.

Witnesses: don Antonio Guerrero, Sgt. don Cleto Miera, Corp. Jose Sandoval

References:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 598, Reel 3, Frames 1298-1356.

©Henrietta M. Christmas                                                                                                                                      

Josefa Mestas ~ 1785 Will

Know all persons, that I Josefa Mestas, a resident of this pueblo of Our Lady of Guadalupe of Pojoaque, being sick but in the exercise of my intellectual faculties, memory and natural understanding, make my testament in the following form -

First, I commend my soul to God Our Lord who created and redeemed; I with the invaluable price of His blood, and bequeath my body to the earth from which it was formed.  After being a corpse and being covered with the shroud and habit of Our Father Saint Francis, it shall be buried in the transept of the parochial church of the villa of Santa Fe, paying to the church of the Pueblo of Pojoaque (to which I belong) the dues which belong to it in conformity with the regulations of the church.

           

I order likewise that fifty low Masses be said for the repose of my soul, for which the regulation alms shall be given, in the church of Pojoaque and in the aforesaid one of the villa of Santa Fe.

I declare that I raised a boy named Juan Jose, who has been my servant during my widowhood.  It is my wish that he be given one firelock gun, some old cushionets, one cuirass and one sword, which I recognize as my property which was left to my by my deceased husband, I on this day separate it for said bequest.

To each forcible bequest I order one peso de la tierra each, to be separated from the best of my property.

I declare I was married legitimately, to the Military Lt. of Cavalry, don Tomas Madrid, from which marriage we procreated five children, whom I now recognize as my legitimate children.  They are Gregoria Tomasa, 50 years of age, Maria de Jesus, 30 years of age, both unmarried, Maria Gertrudis, married, who is dead.  Ygnacio, married, Cristobal, who died at the age of seven years.  I recognize them as my legitimate children and heirs.

I declare that when I was married to my husband I did not have anything of the property which God was pleased to give us during our married life.  I declare that after his death a partition of the property was made and my children were given the share to which they were entitled from their father.  I also declare that with the little property left to me I have supported myself during my widowhood.  Today the following property is existing.

           

• I declare as my property the house in which I live, which has three rooms.
• Three yoke of oxen and two breeding cows.  Of the oxen, I declare that I owe one yoke to my daughter, Gregoria Tomasa, and I order that it be given to her.
• I declare as my property one embroidered shawl.
• Another one, all of silk, one silk skirt, all used.
• One riding jacket, one cloth cape lined with blue flannel
• I declare as my property 200 varas of cultivated land adjoining said house, which I inherited from my mother.
• I declare as my property three capes from Jalapa.
• One copper boiler, one kettle of the same material, three old spits, one axe, one pair of buttons, also ten more also ten more silver buttons, also two brass candlesticks. 
• I declare that I owe Manuel Ortega sixteen pesos. I order that the same be paid.
• I declare that I do not owe anybody else anything, but if there should appear any legal debt against me, I order hat it be paid.  I also declare that nobody owes me anything.

For compliance with this, my testament, I hereby appoint as my testamentary executors don Bernardo Roibal, a resident of this place and don Joachin Mestas, a resident of La Mesilla.  I give to each one separately and both the necessary power required, so they can sell from the best of my property whatever may be necessary to pay the legacies and bequests mentioned in my testament.  I therefore recommend to them to attend to all the matters herein mentioned, as if I were doing it personally.  After paying all the matters herein mentioned and having complies with his, my testament, for the remainder of my property rights and shares, present and future, I declare as my only and universal heirs, my said children, Gregoria Tomasa, Maria Gertudes, Maria de Jesus and Ygnacio.  They shall partition equally among them the little property which might be left, so that they may enjoy the same with god's blessing and my own.

           

By the present I revoke and annul any arrangement which I may have made verbally.  I have not made any in writing except the present one which I wish and order to be considered as my deliberate and last will make in the best legal form.  It was thus agreed to and signed at my request by don Pedro Trujillo.  Before me, the undersigned alcalde mayor, at this said place of Our Lady of Guadalupe of Pojoaque, on the 10th day of the month of April, 1785.

           

The witnesses are the said don Pedro Trujillo and Jose Miguel Trujillo, residents of this said place, who, as well as testators, are known to me.  To which I, the said Justice, certify.  Jose Campo Redondo (rubric).  For the testatrix, Pedro Antonio Trujillo (rubric)

wit/ Pedro Antonio Truxillo (rubric) and Jose Miguel Truxillo (rubric).

References:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 596, Reel 3, Frames 1279-1286.

 ©Henrietta M. Christmas

Tomas Madrid ~ Will 1781

In the name of Almighty God, Know all who shall see this will that I, Tomas Madrid, retired Lieutenant of his royal garrison of the villa of Santa Fe, finding myself sick but of sound of judgment and in case God remembers me, I order my will.

           

I commend my soul to God, who created and redeemed it with His most precious blood.  I commit my body to the earth and order that it be shrouded with the habit of my Father Saint Francis and interred in the parochial church of my seraphic father, as a son of his third Order, in the transept.

My funeral is to be with Mass and vigils.  I order the celebration of one hundred Masses for my soul. 

I order the payment of four pesos to the obligatory bequest; one silver peso for each.

I declare to have been married according to the rites of our Holy Mother Church in first nuptials to Tomasa Pineda, for four years, from this matrimony we had one son, Tomas who died.

I declare that I have been married a second time to Josefa Micaela Mestas for the period of forty-nine years.  During this matrimony we had and reared five children:  three girls, Gregoria, Getrudis and Maria; two boys, Christoval, deceased and Ygnacio.

I declare that I have in this villa a house and a small portion of land described in a deed; it is my will to leave it all to my daughter Gregoria.

I declare that I have in the locality of Pojoaque a ranch with house and lands which I purchased as per deed.  It is my will that said house and land be divided between my wife and my sons; half of the house to my wife and half to my two last children; half of the land to my wife, and the other half to my three children in equal parts.

I declare that I have twenty-eight heads of cattle in oxen, cows and bulls and small cattle; it is my will that they remain in my wife's possession for her maintenance and that of her children, excepting two cows to be assigned to two youths whom I have raised; One Jose Antonio and the other Juan Jose, both orphans.  It is my will to give one to each.

I order that all furniture and utensils within the doors of the house is my wife's for her maintenance and that of her children.

I declare that I have a gun, two pistols, a sword, cartridge belt.  In case the King needs them they are at his disposal; if not, it is my will they be given to the orphan Juan Jose.

I declare that I have five horses which remain with the bulk of the estate in my wife's possession for the said purpose, of use for her maintenance.

I declare that I owe the Father Chaplain eighteen silver pesos; I order they be paid.

I declare that Juan de Urioste owes a Villa Alta blanket.

I declare that Francisco Xavier Fragoso, resident of this villa, owes me twenty-five silver pesos; I order them collected.

I declare as my executors and trustees of my estate, in the first place my wife, and in the second my son Ignacio, in order that they may keep and fulfill this last will, revoking, I do revoke, any memorandum, testament or codicil that may have been or still is in existence, and for is due compliance I request the First Ensign of this company to enforce it.  And I, the aforesaid, by virtue of the faculties conferred upon me the Lt. Colonel Governor and Captain of this Kindom, the Señor don Juan Baptista de Anza, did interpose it, acting with two assisting witnesses for lack of a scribe of any kind, not found in this government, on the 28th day of March 1781, the grantor signing with me and undersigned assisting witnesses.  In testimony, Thomas Madrid (rubric), witnesses:  Jose Maldonado (rubric), Antonio Guerrero (rubric), and Pablo Sandoval, (rubric).

References:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 595, Reel 3, Frames 1271-1278.

©Henrietta M. Christmas