October 17, 1780
To don Carlos Fernandez,
Because I have a judicial notice of
the natural death of the alcalde of Taos, don Manuel Vejil, you will, upon
receipt of this, proceed immediately to said pueblo, or any other where he may
have had, or may have, property which his recognized as his, and his wife or
attorney also whom you shall require to deliver to you immediately his
testamentary disposition, books of accounts, notes or instruments that he may
have executed with the rest of the documents concerning this matter… October 12, 1780 – Signed Juan Baptista de
Anza, rubric.
In this locality of Abiquiu, on the
18th of October 1780, in compliance with the order of don Juan Bauptista
de Anza, Lt. Colonel of the royal troops, Governor and commander General of
this Kingdom; I, Carlos Fernandez, being in the dwelling house of don Manuel
Montes Vegil, alcalde mayor and Captain of War of the pueblo of San Geronimo de
Taos, who died on the 13th day of the this current month, notified
doña Maria Magdalena Valdes, widow of the said deceased, to present all the
papers belonging to her deceased husband, in order to begin the inventories. Upon hearing this, she did obey and said she
would deliver to me a great number of papers, among which were many more not pertaining to this
present subject, I found the
following:
First,
a testamentary disposition signed by don
Manuel Vegil, executed before the Lt. Alcalde Mayor don Santiago Martin, not
dated.
A
bill of lading of the merchandise he brought this year, signed by Francisco
Arregui, merchant of the villa of Chiguagua, showing the passive debt of said
deceased.
A
regulation of prices and adjustment of accounts of property of his first
marriage, with neither signature, nor date nor the name of the person who made
it; on half a sheet of paper.
A
list of merchandise received in Chiguagua by four individuals; two of these
sons-in-law of said deceased; and the answer including the bill of lading.
A
promissory note executed before don Bartolome Fernandez, by Antonio Lucero in
favor of said deceased, which, according to what I have understood, is
uncollectible.
Another
note executed by Marcos Baca, in the same state as the former.
A
paper signed by don Pedro Velarde, in which it is evident that 158 pesos, seven
reales and three cuartillos which were received by Antonio Jose Lopez and
Salbador Salazar shall be charged to don Miguel de Olona by reason of a bond of
said deceased, shown in his testamentary disposition.
A
receipt executed by Salvador Trugillo before Jabier Gonzales in favor of the
deceased.
Another
receipt by Juan Torres before the same judge, in favor of same deceased.
A
note by Toribio Chaves in favor of this estate, which shows that 80 ewes have
been given on account.
A
small memorandum without date or signature, pertaining to corn owed the
deceased, which is being collected now.
Another
memorandum of corn owed this estate, without date or signature, which is being
collected.
Another
memorandum of buckskins owed this estate in course of collection.
Another
memorandum pertaining to the major cattle delivered to Juan Lorenzo Atencio, as
herdsman, separating those belonging to the widow.
An
instrument conveyed by Manuel Casillas, before don Juan Paez Hurtado, in favor
of Juan Vegil, father of deceased.
Another
memorandum of debts owed him in Taos, undated.
A
note made by don Manuel Vegil and a receipt from Fray Thomas Fernandez.
A
letter from Captain don Manuel de Azuela, comprising a debt from don Francisco
Diaz Moradillo, as voucher.
Another
memorandum of debts without date or signature.
14 bolts of unbleached muslin from
Puebla; with four varas more.
11 of said, wide, plus six varas.
4 pieces of Pontibi cloth.
5 pieces of narrow Brittany linen.
13 ½ varas of narrow linen.
6 linen rebozos.
1 silk and linen scarf.
3 large silk handkerchiefs.
4 ½ bunches of beads, most of them
white.
13 pesos in coin.
40 pairs of ladies shoes, besides
two more pairs.
10 pairs of same in coarse cloth.
7 dozen and 9 heavy Mexican knives.
1 piece of scarlet cloth.
6 ½ varas of same.
24 ore varas of Pontibi cloth.
13 varas of serge.
6 varas of blue Mexican cloth.
16 bridles.
3 scarlet cloth wraps of three
varas length each.
2 ½ varas of blue plush; 2 ¼ of the
same in blue.
1 sleeve of fine scarlet cloth,
trimmed in silver lace.
1 cloak of Cholula cloth, lined in
plush.
1 cloak lined in Castilian flannel.
1 cloak of Barrascan, completely
used.
1 coat of frieze trimmed with
braid.
Another of the same of fine scarlet
cloth, also trimmed.
1 red velvet waistcoat.
1 waistcoat of embroidered ribbed
silk material; one doublet of chamois skin, embroidered, now old.
1 pair of scarlet frieze trousers.
1 pair of brocaded velvet trousers.
1 pair of black velvet, old.
3 ordinary hats.
2 scarlet cloth jackets with serge
sleeves.
1 three-yard calico cover.
3 pairs of homemade shoes.
1 ½ varas of old trimming.
19 skins of lustrous silk twist.
3 razors.
2 large, iron stirrups, one of them
in open work.
1 cowboy saddle, fully equipped
with knapsacks and pads.
1 bridle.
1 pair of spurs with silver
buckles.
1 cartridge belt, riding boots,
powder pouch with ammunition.
21 pounds of old iron.
½ skein of silk floss.
1 good leather jacket.
1 shield painted in oil.
1 shotgun trimmed with brass,
broken; one gunlock without any guard.
4 rifles.
2 shirts, one of unbleached muslin
and another work shirt.
3 jackets made of twisted cloth,
one of them old.
2 pairs of white unbleached muslin
trousers.
1 pair of brocaded silk trousers.
1 embroidered silk sun-kerchief.
1 pistol.
1 white used hat.
1 guitar.
7 old pictures.
1 of St. Joseph of coiled metal.
1 bronze crucifix.
2 old hoes.
5 small china plates; 12 of the
same, fine ones from Talavera.
7 glass tumblers, large and small.
1 deerskin camping tent; two pairs
of heddles (part of the loom).
2 weaving combs.
1 branding iron.
13 coarse cloth sacks.
2 of the same of white elk skin.
3 Michoacán boxes with locks.
1 lance.
3 locks with their keys.
1 pair of old carding combs.
1 kitchen spoon.
1 axe.
1 bottle with silver stopper.
1 of the same, plain.
5 china chocolate mugs, Talavera.
7 cups of the same.
3 large ones of the same, from
Puebla.
1 small glass flask.
1 small bottle of same.
1 Guadalajara jar.
1 of the same of copper.
1 kettle with a hole.
1 mortar.
1 bronze candlestick.
1 pocket inkhorn.
3 old kettles.
4 plates of yellow metal.
2 of pewter, very old.
8 sickles.
1 copper frying pan.
½ pound, not full, of toilet
powders.
45 pounds of ordinary chocolate, 20
cakes per pound.
2 loaves of sugar, not perfect.
242 buckskins, different sizes.
10 parchments.
11 buffalo hides.
7 white buckskins.
19 thick buckskins.
4 barrels, two with wine, one not
filled.
10 jugs.
14 pairs of ordinary stockings.
14 buckskin harnesses with 11
reatas, and same number of lariats.
Inventory of the house and farm
products. On the 21st of this
current month of October as follows:
One house of four rooms, I mean
three.
2 large tables.
2 benches.
2 footstools.
20 cows with calves.
10 dry cows.
20 spring lambs, owed by Bernardo
Valdes.
120 sacks of corn which have been
purchased by the military Sgt. Juan Martin, with merchandise of the deceased;
they are being collected.
Juan Torres, son-in-law of the said
deceased, declared that Pedro Ygnacio Sanchez, owes this estate a male mule and
some pesos; he does not know the amount.
Salbador Salazar declares that Jose
Lopes owes 2 ½ varas of plush.
The said Torres also declares that,
when the widow of don Manuel Vejil came down from Taos, she left there: two
cows with calves, four oxen, a new Castilian cloth cloak piped in velvet and
trimmed in gold braid around the collar; these articles to be paid to the Rev.
Fr. Tomas Fernandes for the fees for the funeral.
4 bulls.
4 calves.
50 ewes, including a ram.
14 seine, boars and sows, small and
large; six oxen not counting the two which are in Taos.
12 horses.
2 tame mares.
9 tame mules.
9 tame male mules.
Signed along with the two witnesses
before the alcalde mayor, don Santiago Martin of the 21st October
1780. Carlos Fernandez, rubric; wit/
Antonio Baldes, rubric; Salbador Bejil, rubric.
At the said locality on said day,
month and year, I, the commissioner, appointed Ygnacio Baldes as trustee of the
personal property, Juan Lorenzo Atienso of the major and minor cattle and
Francisco Garcia of the mules, all of whom promised to fulfill well and
lawfully the charge entrusted to them.
The last disposition of Captain don
Manuel Bejil, alcalde mayor and War Captain of the pueblo of San Geronimo de
Taos. He did not make a formal testament
as his illness did not permit it.
First: 1,300 pesos in silver which were included in
the inventories by don Diego Borica.
These shall be apportioned among the eight minor heirs; with the notice
that their share of the money is fully paid with the exception of the four I
keep with me who will receive their share from the bulk of the inventory.
To my wife, Maria Madalena, shall
be given a special bequest of 1,000 pesos in silver. [The inventory goes on
with prices added to everything]
For 182 pesos 3 ½ reales to be
delivered to his four godchildren, to wit: Miguel de Luna 47; to Salbador
Salazar 39 pesos and 5 reales; to the brother of the latter, 35 pesos, 6
reales; to Jose Salazar, 60 pesos, the detailed account of which is given
separately.
Division by reales dowry of the
wife: cattle, cash, 400 ewes, blacksmith
shop, total 885 pesos. Other articles on
hand, chamois skins, cash, cloth, leather jackets, cattle, mules, merchandise,
the ranch in Taos, silver fringe, ewes al partido, kimonos, scarf and a woman’s
cape = 1,979 pesos.
Estate brought to the marriage by
Vigil: 500 ewes, horses, mules,
pictures, petticoats of silk, quilt, hoop-skirts, silver spoons, pewter plates,
china mugs, Michoacán boxes, wood, Castilian cloth, griddle and spoon, a house
in the villa and land, more land at BuenaVista = 585 pesos, 2 reales.
The four daughters and their
husbands, Maria Josefa, Maria Barbara, Maria Manuela, Margarita Serafina, with
Juan Torres, Salbador Trujillo, Salbador Salazar who lives in Chama and
Salbador Salazar who live in Abiquiu- each daughter received 350 pesos in goods
or cash.
Kids of the first marriage who are
minors, Jose Antonio, Luisa, Policarpio and Francisco are named. Barbara Vigil whose mother was Getrudis
Armijo and her husband Salvador Truxillo also received goods and or cash. The
appointment of guardian of the minors was Salbador Salazar the one from Chama.
Signed Carlos Fernandez, rubric;
Antonio Baldes, rubric; Salbador Bejil, rubric.
Reference: Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I,
Twitchell 1060, Reel 9, Frames 209-259.
©Henrietta M. Christmas
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