In
the city of Santa Fe, on the 15th of May 1839 at about five o’clock
in the evening. I was advised that don
Manuel Sanches had died intestate; that his wife was seriously ill and in great
danger that their children were very small; therefore, don Ygnacio Ortiz required me to go to the house of mourning to
receive the keys and consequently the rest of the goods or chattels contained
therein. In order to proceed to take an
inventory so that the estate may not suffer losses or deteriorate, thus
damaging the interested parties.
Santa
Fe, May 22, 1839
In
virtue of the foregoing proceedings, don
Jose de Jesus Sanchez and don Ygnacio
Ortiz being present for himself and for his brother, don Jose Francisco Ortiz, I ordered that the chattels which are
known to belong to the deceased Manuel Sanchez be placed before them so that
they can proceed with the inventory. The
inventory consists of the following:
1.
A warrant of payment against the Treasury of
this department, dated September 23, 1838, signed by don Jose Caballero and don
Jose Francisco Baca y Terrus.
2.
A
note of don Vicente Sanchez Vergara,
for 50 pesos dated February 11, 1828, and a letter from the same Sanches
requesting a loan of 50 or 50 pesos, dated March 20, 1838.
3.
A
note of don Teodocio Quintana in
which he acknowledges owing 16 pesos and corresponding interest.
4.
A
note for 12 pesos, 6 reales, signed by don
Jose Abreu in favor of don Jose de la
Lus Jacques.
5.
A
note of don Ramon Baca for 16 pesos
and its interest every 8 days.
6.
A
receipt from don Jose Xacques for a
mule.
7.
A
note of don Jose Maria Melendres for
15 pesos, with interest of one real for every eight days.
8.
A
note of Manuel Chaves for 15 pesos, with interest every eight days.
9.
A
note of Sergeant Pablo Domingues, for 12 pesos and interest.
10. A note of Jose
Ribera for a wardrobe due don Jose
Maria Miera.
11. A note of don Blas Hinojos, deceased for 172 pesos
which belong to the don Antonio Maria
Sanches.
12. A receipt from
Ramon Velarde for 13 pesos.
13. A note of Manuel
Tafoya for 100 serapes.
14. A note of don Mariano Chaves for 61 ewes.
15. A receipt from don Eliseo Stanley for 13 pesos.
16. A document from don Antonio Jose Chaves, in which it is
recorded that he sold to don Manuel
Sanches the portion of the house belonging to his sister, Tereza.
17. A note from don Nicolas Quintana for 100 pesos which
he owes the deceased and other letters.
18. A note of Miguel
Seledon for 40 vigas at two reales each.
19. A note of don Ygnacio Miera for 100 ewes.
20. A note of the Reverend
Father Mariano Sanches Vergara for 100 pesos.
21. A deed for the
house at Santa Fe.
22. A note of don Diego Sisneros for 50 pesos.
23. A note of don Juan de Dios Maese for 100 ewes on
shares.
24. A deed to La
Majada in two pieces.
25. One instrument
for 100 ewes which Julian Martin had on shares; but the balance which he owes
is not known. One book containing the
accounts of his servants.
26. A bundle of
anonymous lists and doubtful letters of payment with 25 pieces rubricated by
the present justice.
The
wooden furniture follows:
Two
small desks with locks, two trunks lined with leather, in good condition; three
trunks lined with coarse cloth, in poor condition; one small one; one made
here, without lining; one liquor case with its corresponding equipment; of
these two flasks and a cup are broken; two small boxes with locks; on big box
with lock; two chairs and a small table; one bench; two barrels at the house,
two at Jemez and one at Placer, making a total of five barrels.
27. A note from don Francisco Archiveque for 10 reales being twelve o’clock this
was suspended, to be continued as soon as we may return, which was commenced at
seven o’clock in the morning and continued until half-past one in the afternoon
of the same day. Gaspar Ortiz, rubric;
Domingo Fernandes, rubric and Santiago Sandoval, rubric.
Ten
cartridges with bullets, and 65 loose bullets; 14 reales in cash in one of the
drawers of the desk; 52 pesos and 1 ½ reales in cash in one of the drawers of
the same desk; on package of ink; one pair of spectacles, on meridian; one
package of vermillion, all in said drawer; 56 pesos and 3 ½ reales in a drawer
in the said desk; one gold cross with a solid gold button of the same in a
smoking case of fine beads, with a rosary from Jerusalem; a number of caps, two
steel wedges; 4 ¼ ounces of grain gold in another small drawer of the same
desk; one fine smoking pipe with two bowls and two old pipes for the same purpose;
one small bottle half filled with cologne water; three bullet molds and one
iron spoon, all found in the other writing desk; a child’s small box, fire
tongs and some candle snuffers in the same desk.
In
one trunk one new silk vest and another old vest; one blue cloth military
jacket, first grade, with the epaulets of an ensign; two new jackets of the
same; one pair of brown trousers; one first-grade cloth cloak in good
condition; two books of on folio and three of ¼ folio; one parchment book, entitled
“Cronica de Queretarano”; one silk shawl, one new silk dress; one old scarlet
scarf; one Canton crepe shawl; one cardboard box containing remnants of Dutch
linen and one gun-case; one man’s frill with its’ gold breast pin; one
cardboard box containing two small bottles with a small amount of camphor; ¼
vara of flannel; one white handkerchief and an old cravat; one small brush and
a tin snuff box; one cartridge belt, wick and steel and 14 cartridges; four
remnants of double width cloth wainscoting containing 17 ½ varas, which makes
35 varas.
Of
those mentioned in one trunk a child’s satin dress; one large high comb with
brilliants; two high combs trimmed with gold; one pair of a child’s gilded
shoes; one new mantilla with its silk lace; one silk American muffler; three
old hose; one silver tumbler three forks and one spoon all of silver; one metal
form and one candlestick of the same; one pair large scissors; one plastering
trowel, three clothes brushes; one lead faucet; one steel rod with six wedges;
two small gimlets; one chisel; one padlock without key; one tin cup; tree
smoothing irons; two slates; one old bridle and one pair of spurs; another
hammer without a handle; another small gimlet; two muslin pillowcases; another
clothes brush; 30 etched crystal water glasses; five crystal bottles, two of
them broken; one large crystal tumbler with a broken handle; one small crystal
bottle; one horn back comb; two inkstands, one of porcelain and one of wood;
six cheap mugs; two large cups and four small ones; two small crystal plates
and another one, one black child’s homespun dress; one child’s dress of black
Brittany cloth; one child’s dress of tarlatan with silk waist and one jacket
belt; one child’s dress of white jean; a white tarlatan shawl, embroidered and
one old tarlatan shawl; two horn back combs and one old Canton crepe shawl; 13
varas of fringe for table covers; one small box with mirror and a silver medal
of Our Lady of Guadalupe, four sheets of white paper.
In
another of the trunks a small tin box; a silver needle case; a small box
containing one serving set of fine mother-of-pearl shell; one gold necklace
with its cross; one reliquary and two gold pins; three heavy rings and 10
rings, all of them in gold; one large gold reliquary and one small with a gold
chain; one metal belt buckle; one gold string with 14 beads and locket; six
strings of fine pearls; one pair of damaged gold earrings and one pair of
pendants; 11 small bottles containing gold and a small vermillion; one small
silver star; one box of detonator caps and one small empty bottle; about ½
arroba of sugar; one tangled skein of scarlet thread; one pound of chocolate;
one hammer; on razor hone; one small Latin book.
In
another of the trunks three men’s shirts; four pairs of used white drawers; two
pairs of old outing flannel drawers; one pair of embossed boots; one pair of
first-grade black cloth trousers; another pair of embossed boots; one calico
bed quilt; one used red jacket; one old dress of bombazine; one old child’s
silk dress; one old pair of men’s cordovan shoes; one old buckskin bag
containing an old iron; two pillowcases and one napkin; two pairs of women’s
stockings used; one small book “Derecho de Gentes” a pair of garters and a
beaded stock; one jacket of prairie dog skin; one fine old serge vest.
In
another of the trunks already mentioned one unmade dress of yellow tarlatan;
some worn out flannel drawers; one small gold rosary cross; one paper
containing glass beads; one imitation pearl bead; one small bottle containing
medicine; one brush; three old shirts; eight novenas and small books; one fire
bellow; four lances without handles; two branding irons; one old pocket pistol;
one broken pistol; two new iron spoons; ten old sickles; one old adze; one file
of cast iron; one millstone spindle bushing and the rest belonging to the same;
two cases each containing one raze; four more sickles, one unbleached muslin
sheet; five large porcelain plates; one more; four small plates for a child;
eight small dishes; one tin plate, one tin can; one tin funnel; one candle mold;
one small earthen jug; one crystal lantern; 1 ½ hides of sole leather; one
curry comb; one statue of Christ; 24 hold pictures on cowhide and one statue of
the Infant; two high silk hats; six tin sconces; one black chamois skin; one
old canvas jacket; five white chamois skins and one old strip; one multi-colored
horsehair halter; one broken telescope; one old cartridge belt with seven
cartridges; two pairs of pouches with their girdles and 45 candles; one small
powder bottle; one container with 13 cartridges; one broken saw; one
double-barreled shotgun with detonator; another single-barrel shotgun; another
broken double-barrel shotgun without lock; another one of the same without a
lock; one carbine; two shotguns in good condition and two broken; one sword and
one sabre; one horse girdle; one scale with 6 ¾ pound weights and balances; one
yellow plate; one new oil cloth hat with band; 10 mattresses, seven of them
good and three in bad condition; 100 pesos cash for don Luis Rubidu at 6% interest; don
Donaciano Vigil, 5; don Ygnacio Ortiz
y Baca, 43 pesos, five modern blankets; one Saltillero serape; blankets bed
quilts in use; one Navajo blanket; one can containing four ounces powder; 15
leather packsaddles, 13 ½ loads of salt; one camp tent of buckskin; two
complete saddles; one large box; one box and one bucket of salt; one brass
mortar; two small metal buckets and one large; one spit; one broken brass bucket;
two old used kettles; one leather-covered chest; one iron frying pan; one
copper kettle; one wooden bid; two iron griddles; one almud; one barrel without
bottom; one copper boiler; one large crowbar; four axes, an extra one; and an
extra barrel; one saddle trimmed with silver; two pairs of old hair trigger
arms; two saddle trees, equipped; another of the same in poor quality; one pair
of pistils; one pair of saddlebags and knapsack; three harness cinches; one
hand axe; some pouches; one old tin kettle; one barrel without bottom.
May
23, 1839 resumed inventory.
One
small iron bar; 54 ½ pints of liquor; 10 barrel hoops, one barrel and one
lance; 26 goats with 21 kids; three burros; four horses; one female mule; 23
mules and male mules; one more that don
Tomas Baca owes; 13 tame oxen; 11 cows and calves, from branding age up; 1,200
ewes held by Jose Ortiz; one house and lands in the Alamo ranch. Two shares of the house and land of his
deceased father; one piece of land in Cile (Sile), in the suburbs of San Francisco; 12
varas of land and a tumble-down room; 14 jugs belonging to him and others; of
these nine are loaned to him by doña Rafaela Sanches; one broken bridle trimmed
with silver; one saddle, complete with bride and spurs belong to Domingo, his
son; two buckskin bags and one of canvas; 197 pints of aguardiente and 144
pints of wine. The liquor and wine,
according to the documents belong to the Senor Curate, don Ramon Ortiz, and in order that the said estate of the deceased
may not be responsible, it was delivered to don
Jose de Jesus Sanches, who has made himself responsible, and the corresponding
receipt has been obtained and is herein attached to the inventory.
The
ranch at La Majada-
Of
four horses, 23 mules and male mules, one mare, one mule that don Tomas Baca owes, 13 oxen, 11 head of
cattle of branding age up, 1,200 ewes which are in the possession of don Jose Ortiz, a piece of land located
in Cile and nine jugs.
In
the house and in charge was don
Anselmo Gonsales. 10 old packsaddles, 7
old packsaddles, incomplete; two old cupboards; one bedstead; two old boxes
without covers; two benches; one small table; two broken footstools; on broken
taboret; one almud; six old plowshares, on new; nine pair yoke straps and six
yokes; two baps and one jacket, all of buckskin.
Dona
Maria de la Luz Ortis, wife of the deceased don
Manuel Sanchez, personally appeared before me at the home of don Ygnacio Ortiz and said that she was
satisfied. Signed Gaspar Ortiz, rubric;
Maria de la Lus Ortiz (mark); Jose Ygnacio Ortiz, rubric with witnesses Domingo
Fernandez, rubric and Santiago Sandoval, rubric.
Spanish
Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 912, Reel 5, Frame 381-403
©Henrietta M. Christmas