Jose Miguel de Ribera ~ will about 1770

Know all who shall see this memorandum that I, Joseph Miguel Rivera, resident of this villa of Santa Fe, and the legitimate son of Alferez don Juan Phelipe de Rivera, deceased and doña Maria Estela Rendon Palomino, find myself ill in bed and make this last will in the following manner.

I declare that I have been married according the church to doña Manuela Olgin for a period of four years, more or less, during which time we had two children one girl named Juana Antonia, and one boy named Agustin de Jesus, who I acknowledge as my legitimate children.

It is my will that my brother and compadre, Salbador Matias de Rivera, is my executor.

I declare as my goods 200 ewes, which are united with those belonging to my mother and they are in possession of Jose Chabes, resident of Atrisco; with a share of twenty out of a hundred and half of the wool.  It is my will that they remain with him the one hundred with the profit that belongs to it, to my wife Manuela Olgin; and the other hundred to my daughter Juana Antonia, in the same conformity with the profits.

I declare as my goods, three beasts belonging to the mule family, two jacks and one mule, with four pack saddles with full equipment.

I declare as my goods three horses, my riding saddle, bridle, spurs, little cushions, shield, gun with its case, ammunition pouches, which, together with the two cows and one little bull, are in possession of his grandfather, Antonio Sandobal, it is my last will to leave to my son, Agustin de Jesus, that he may enjoy it with God’s blessing and with mine.

I declare a house which I have built at the rear of the one belonging to my mother, and it composed of three rooms, with free ingress and egress.  It is my will that this be left to my wife.

I declare as goods - fifteen goats, which, with three and a burro and a jack, belong to my wife.

I declare that Francisco Montoya, resident of la Sienega, owes me twenty sheep, I order them collected and delivered to my wife.

I declare that my old clothes and the other things within the house, which may be recognized as mine, it is my wish that my wife enjoy.

I declare that Diego Antonio Baca, resident of this villa, owes me a piece of plush, without trimming, I order it collected.

I declare that Juachin Martin, a resident of El Rio Abajo owes me a jack-ass, I order it collected and if it is verified that it should be paid, he shall be given six pesos of the land from my goods.

I declare that Antonio Sandobal, a resident of this villa, owes me a pattern of scarlet cloth, seven varas long.  He must deliver this next year at the time when the neighbors may come and always when the collection of these debts is made, I order my executor to deliver them to my wife.

I declare that all of the goods, which remained at the end and death of my father, are in the possession of my mother, all without anything having been lost by me.  It is my will that all that is contained in this will be complied with fine and due effect.

I attest that I know the grantor and he did not know how to sign but at his request, Jose Miguel Tafoya, signed and witnesses Joachin Lain, rubric; and Miguel Tenorio de Alba, rubric. [not dated]

References:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 788, Reel 4, Frames 1230-1232.

©Henrietta M. Christmas

Francisco Xavier Rodriguez ~ Will 1764

I Francisco Xavier Rodriguez, a soldier of this royal garrison of the villa of Santa Fe, am sick in bed with an illness and I order the following testament and will.

I ask that my body be shrouded in the habit of St. Francis and that I be buried in the parochial church of this villa.

I declare that I was married to Manuela Nieto by which we had six children.

I declare as my property the house of my residence, which has three rooms and it is my will that the house and furniture by the property of my wife and children.

I declare two parcels of land, and should be divided equally amongst my wife and children.

I have four small bulls, three heifers and one small burro.

I have five horses.

I have a rifle, leather jacket, lance, blunderbuss, powder bag, cartridge belt, saddle and stirrups, and equipment:  spurs, spade and a shoulder belt.

I owe Miguel Romero, a resident of Cieneguilla, three heifers and one young bull.

I owe the vicar Santiago Roibal, 16 pesos.

I owe Salvador Martin five pesos.

I declare that Ygnacio “el Guadalajara” one horse.

Name as my executor’s my wife and son, Joseph Rael. 

Signed 16th Dec 1764, in the presence of Lt. Thomas Madrid and two witnesses who are Joseph Mares and Joseph Maldonado.

References: Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 779, Reel 4, Frames 1158-1160.

©Henrietta M. Christmas

Juana Romero ~ Will 1762

I, Juana Romero, legitimate daughter of don Antonio Romero and Nicolasa del Castillo, natives of the Kingdom of New Mexico, resident of La Cienega, being sick make this my final will in the following manner.

I was united in a first marriage to Nicolas de Chabes and had the following children:  Loreta de Chabes who is married to Luis Montolla; Antonia de Chabes; Joseph Maria de Chabes; Ana Maria de Chabes.

I leave Antonia to my brother Antonio Baca, and Joseph Maria to my brother Miguel Romero.  I leave Ana Maria to my brother, Domingo.  I leave to my brothers, in order that they may rear and shelter them as their adopted children, instructing them in the holy fear of God, protecting them; as I transfer for all the paternal right which pertains to me.  This is my last will. 

In my second marriage to Christobal Montoya and had one daughter, Jusepa Montoya, who will remain with my husband.

I declare as my goods 17 head of cattle; seven breeding cows; one little yearling heifer that is going on two years; three of this season; two little bulls of this season; one two-year old bull and one tame ox.

A scarlet skirt and gauze veil.

One counterpane.

A loom with two pairs of “lisos” and a comb.

An iron griddle.

An iron spoon.

A chest.

Two small pictures one of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, and one of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

I declare that I owe 80 pesos to my compadre don Jose Reano.

I declare that I owe four pesos to don Jose Moreno, and I owe two pesos to Lucas Moya.

Francisco Borrego owes me two two-year old bulls.

Salbador Garcia, the one from El Rio Abajo, owes me eight pesos.

And to fulfill my testament, I name as my executors, Miguel Romero in the first and my brother, Juan Antonio Baca, in the second.

Dated this 30^th of November 1762, by Manuel Gallego, rubric; Alexandro Thenorio de Alba, rubric; Andres Montoya, rubric.

References:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 776, Reel 4, Frames 1145-1148.

©Henrietta M. Christmas

Manuela Rael de Aguilar ~ Will 1758

I, Manuela Rael de Aguilar, resident of the jurisdiction of Isleta, married to don Baltasar Baca, being on my death bed and in sound mind and in order to die with a clear conscience and for the salvation of my soul, my husband being present, I asked permission to make my last will and testament in order to dispose of the property he had given me…

I commend my soul to God and my body to the soil of which it was created and my body to be buried in the church of San Agustin in the Pueblo of Isleta in the most humble spot and to be shrouded with the habit of our patron Saint Frances, I order that my burial and funeral be made by my husband don Balthasar, he may choose.

I declare that I was married according the writ of our Holy Mother, the Catholic Church, with Baltasar Baca and have lived together for 22 years and we have raised six children, three female and three male who are:  Joseph Francisco, Laureno and Miguel Hemernegildo, Maria Isabel, Juana Apolonia and Juana Rita, whom I declare as my legitimate heirs.

I declare that and appoint don Baltasar Baca as the executor of my last will and the second place my father.

I leave 6 pesos as forcible bequests.

Four masses to be said for the repose of my soul; I leave the choice to my husband.

I leave half the house and half the land where we reside.

I declare I have 500 head of sheep.

I declare that I leave 40 head of horses large and small.

I leave two underskirts.

I leave a pair of chintz underwear.

I leave two embroidered veils.

One scarlet cloth skirt and one of serge.

Two good chemises.

One pair of pearl earrings, one necklace and one coral bracelet.

Two reliquaries.

One pair of embroidered stockings.

One cloak and one skirt.

One cloth towel.

I declare that the clothing be divided amongst my three daughters and the equivalent be pro-rated amongst my male heirs.

One Michoacán box.

One brass mortar.

One copper kettle.

I declare that this is my last wish and that all the property that I leave to my children and heirs, be delivered to my husband and executor don Baltasar Baca so that he can take care of the same until the time the children are able to dispose or sell them, signed here at San Antonio…Before me, Benito Baca, Alcalde Mayor and Captain of War of this said settlement, on the 27^th April 1758, don Joseph Chavez, don Juan Ortiz, Antonio Montoya.

*She died May 7, 1760 at Ysleta, NM.

References:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 774, Reel 4, Frames 1122-1140.

©Henrietta M. Christmas

Jose Reano sells land to his mother, Maria de Roibal ~ 1753

April 16, 1753 at this villa of Santa Fe, before me, Nicolas Ortiz, Alcalde Mayor of Santa Fe, appeared don Jph de Reano, resident of said villa, that the was giving and did give in royal sale to doña Maria de Roibal, his mother, all the agricultural lands for planting wheat and also a dwelling house with all the improvements built therein by the said don Jph de Reano, which said house and lands are in the locality of El Alamo, four leagues distant from this villa – for the price and consideration of 800 pesos in silver.

Signed Jph Reano, rubric; Nicolas de Ortis, rubric; witnesses:  Jph de Bustamante Tagle, rubric and Francisco Guerrero, rubric.

References:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 770, Reel 4, Frames 1075-1078.

©Henrietta M. Christmas

Manuel Ramos ~ Will 1750 Pueblo Quemado

At this settlement of San Francisco Javier del Pueblo, dated March 4, 1750, I, Manuel Ramos a settler of this kingdom of New Mexico, am sick in bed and being of sound mind and body, make this my final testament.

I declare that I was married according to the Holy Catholic Church, with Maria de la Encarnacion Montoya, and we had and raised four males and two female children who are:  Antonio, Juan, Marcelino, Sebastian, Petrona and Maria; all of whom as I have already stated are my legitimate children.

I declare as my property a piece of cultivated land I purchased from Pablo Cordova which he legitimately obtained from his wife and for which lands I have not received a deed.

I declare another piece of land that I purchased from Sebastian Martin, as it is evident in the instruments that I now hold.

I declare as m property thee gentle he-mules and one horse.

I order and request my executors, Salbador Barela and my wife, that for the love of God and for the peace of my soul to proceed with due diligence and close this my last will and testament with due care as I am weak and without vigor of mind and hardly able to speak. 

I ask and request Juan Jose Sandoval, a royal justice, who is at present in my presence to attend to my petition and comply with it.

He declares as his property one shot gun, one carbine with its shells, saddle bags, bridle, spurs and saddle blankets.

He declares as his property one axe, one used cloak, one hat, a military cloth jacket, one pair of used buckskin trousers.

He declares that he owed R. P. Mirabal two pesos, to be paid.

He declared owing Ramon Montoya two pesos, to be paid.

He declares that Juan Chillos of Santa Clara owed him two pesos and ordered that it be collected.

He declares the Indian, Cristobal, who was a servant of Francisco Martin, owed him two pesos; he orders that it be collected.

He declares as his one razor.

I, said Lieutenant of the Alcalde Mayor of this jurisdiction of the Pueblo Quemado, interpose my authority that this was his will and to guard and comply in the manner explained.  Witnesses being: Sebastian Martin and Antonio Sandobal, with my witnesses who were Joseph Gomes and Antonio Martin.  He did not sign, now knowing how, the said executor signed for him.  Salbador Barela, rubric;

In testimony of the truth and at the request of Manuel Ramos, Juan Jose Sandoval, rubric; Jose Gomez, rubric, Antonio Martin, rubric.

References:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 768, Reel 4, Frames 1058-1061.

©Henrietta M. Christmas