I, Barbara Trujillo, a resident of
Vallecito de Jemez, with all due respect, present myself… in that my father
(in-law) don Paulino Montoya, having
sold to Baptista Gonzales a resident of said place, the lands recorded in the
deed of sale which my said father had executed for the afore-named Gonzales,
which lands were sold to Bautista Gonzales with the understanding that he and
my husband, Pablo Montoya, would always treat each other as brothers; and
seeing the numerous and unbearable mistreatments my husband is undergoing from
the judges in that locality – who are the alcalde
mayor, don Antonio Armenta, and his commissioned assistant and the said
Bautista Gonzales, with no more cause or motive than wishing to appropriate all
of my father’s ranch; and fully recognizing that it is not just for them to
mistreat my husband as much as they have up to this present time, urge us to
come and place this, my complaint before your Honor, as my husband cannot do it
personally, because he is a timid man, especially in arguments, as will be
verified by the enclosed letter which I present to your Honor.
In the same way, I request your Honor
do deign to summon the residents of Vallecito, who now are at this capital, and
take their positions concerning the good or bad procedures of my husband, so
that your Honor will see how badly they treat my husband.
I also declare that if, for the
fact and reason that my father sold the lands to the said Bautista Gonzales,
they have to mistreat my husband as they have to this present time, in order
not to have to put up with it in the future I am obliged to get ready the
amount which said Bpta Gonzales gave my father for the land, and
then immediately, with no delay whatsoever, I will deliver it to him, first,
for that when I have already stated regarding the mistreatment of my husband
and second, for the right which belong to me and my husband.
Besides that which I have already
referred to, I also request your Honor to deign to make them present a deed of
donation which don Antonio Armenta,
as Alcalde Mayor, made to my already deceased father, Pedro Antonio Truxillo
(Antonio Truxillo), without any permission, power or authority whatever, in my judgment,
to make said donation, because it was not until after my father’s death that
this letter of donation appeared. In
view of the fact that I have never given my permission for the execution of
aforesaid, and knowing that it is not just that I should lose the inheritance
which belongs to me both from my father as well as from my mother, I execute
this petition before you. Said donation
is now in the possession of my deceased father’s administrator, Lt. Phelipe
Varela of Abiquiu.
Signed Barbara Truxillo, rubric
Asking for all the papers, deeds
and so on from the alcalde don
Antonio Armenta, and received six depositions from witnesses from Vallecito –
which proves the truth the sale executed by Paulin Montoya, in favor of Juan Bta
Gonzales and the deed of sale, as well as the declarations of the witnesses,
who that he only sold him the lands formerly belonging to Marcos Archuleta.
I have examined the papers
presented to me by Juan Bta Gonzales, and they are all suspicious as
is evident by a false receipt which he says was given to him by Paulin Montoya,
which evidently tried to imitate the writing and signature, for neither the
writing or the signature belong to said Paulin.
On account of said forged paper I have him in this jail. Likewise, said donations, which plaintiff
made to her father, the deceased Pedro Antonio Trujillo of the property which
she had, which is in possession of Felipe Varela, Lt of the pueblo of Abiquiu,
shall be given into my hands; and its conclusion send to me that I may make a
decision according to justice.
Signed Miguel Gonzales, rubric
[Barbara Trujillo's husband Pablo Montoya is the son of Paulin Montoya and Josefa Ortiz, who had a land grant in the Jemez; she the daughter of Pedro Antonio Trujillo and ?]
Reference: Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I,
Twitchell 1001, Reel 5, Frames 940-943 – incomplete.
©Henrietta M. Christmas
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