Reference: Spanish Archives of
New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 1212, Reel 6, Frames 705-707.
©Patricia Sanchez Rau
ARCHIVE 1212
Public Survey Office
Date: October 15, 1821
Will of Andres Ortega, soldier of
the Santa Fe Company
In the name of Almighty God, and of
the most Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady, conceived without the stain of original
sin, Amen.
Know all who may see this, my last
will and testaments, that I Andres Ortega, soldier of this company of Santa Fe,
being sick in bed, but of sound mind, judgment and understanding and will, do
make and order this in the following manner:
First: I wish to say that I believe
and confess the mystery of the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, three
distinct persons, but only one true God.
I believe in the mystery of the incarnation, and in all that is believed
and is taught by our Holy Mother Apostolic, Roman, Catholic Church and in all
that a Catholic Christian ought to believe; and in this faith and creed, I want
to live and die which my god shall be pleased to call me unto him. In such case, I commend my soul to the Lord
who created it and redeemed it with the infinite price of his most precious
blood, and my body to the earth from which it was formed; it is my will that I
be shrouded with that which my wife may find and that it be buried at the door
of the Military Chapel and that Mass be celebrated on the day of my funeral and
after that nine Masses be celebrated.
Item: I leave one peso in cash to each one of the
forcible bequests (mandas forzosas).
Item: I declare that I was married according to the
rites of the church, the first time to Clara Antonia Sandoval for a period of
twenty-seven years, during said period we reared eight children, three of whom
died in infancy and five are living being Joana, Josefa, Pedro, Antonio,
Rosalia and Jose Pablo, which I acknowledge as my legitimate children and
heirs. The second time I was married to
Maria de la Luz Jaramillo for four years and entering the fifth, by said
marriage we had no children.
Item: I declare as my chattels, my saddle fully
equipped, saddle pads, spurs, bridle, halter, gun, cartridge belt, 15 cartridges,
scabbard, shield and one “he” mule.
Item: I declare as my chattels, one burros, and the
sum of one thousand and thirty-nine pesos, balance of account that became due
me on the last day of the month of December of the year 1820, and what is due
since the month of January of this year, 1821.
Item: I declare that I have no other property.
Item: I declare that I am indebted to the priests, don Tomas Terrazas for the sum of ten
pesos, to don Manuel Gallegos,
sixteen pesos, doña Soledad Olguin for the Lt. don Jose Maria de Arze, twelve pesos, to Antonio Martin, resident
of Cienega ten pesos, which I order to be paid.
Item: I declare that Jose Maldonado owes me one
horse, Nasario Martin one horse, my countryman Manuel Lopez two pesos and 2
reales and one pair of heavy shoes, paying him four reales for making the same;
Jose Duran formerly in the military service, half fanega of wheat, Viterbo
Gonzales, eight pesos, which without my consent he took from my money to pay
for his wedding. I order that all be
collected.
Item: It is my will that if God should call me unto
himself from this illness, after paying all my funeral expenses, from what
balance is left of my limited property, my wife Maria de la Luz be given five
hundred pesos, the burros and the household furniture which I have not included
in this will because it belongs to her; and forbid anyone to interfere with it
and that the balance be divided equally among my five children with the
blessing of God and mine.
Item: I declare that I have made no other
testament, and if one should appear, I declare same to be void, and that this
one only be acknowledged as legal
Item: I name as my executors, in
the first place, my sergeant Manuel Baca, in the second place, Corporal
Francisco Ortiz, whom I requested to sanction the same with his official
authority of law. I the said Sergeant, do hereby acknowledge the same with all
the authority vested in my by the Señor Governor, don Facundo Melgares to make
this testament. By virtue of which I do
hereby acknowledge the same and certify that I know the grantor.
Signed, together with two witnesses
who were present, at this city of Santa Fe, on the 16th Day of
October, in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one.
Manuel
Baca (Rubric)
Witnesses: Jose Larrañaga (Rubric)
Ignacio
Dominguez (Rubric)
Reference: Spanish Archives of
New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 1212, Reel 6, Frames 705-707.
©Patricia Sanchez Rau
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