Vallecito de San Antonio and Vallecito de Lobato Grants ~ 1807

Jose Garcia de la Mora and twelve associates - Pedro Apodaca, Miguel Montoya, Ignacio Salazar, Lorenzo Manzanares, Pablo Manzanares, Juan Miguel Aguero, Juan Antonio de Herrera, Antonio de Herrera, Jose Santiago, Ignacio Sanchez, Juan Pedro de Herrera, Jose Martin, Salvador Garcia, Juan Pedro Aguilar and Miguel Sandoval petition for lands known as Vallecito. [480]

At Abiquiu on 16 June 1838, Miguel Montoya sells lands to Damaso Lopez, residents of the jurisdiction; lands he inherited. [495]

The Testimony of Merejildo Martinez, 67 years old son of Manuel Martinez and grandson of Manuel Martin - dated 1896. [596]

References:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Reel 48, Frames 480-495, 596, map 487.

©Henrietta Martinez Christmas

Corporal, Juan Luis de Herrera ~ enlistment 1759

Juan Luis de Herrera, son of Miguel de Herrera and Antonia Trujillo, native of new villa of Santa Cruz of this governmental jurisdiction, occupation farmer, height 5'2" tall, age 25 years, CAPR (Roman Catholic), beardless, pug-nosed, heavy build.  He fills the position in this presidio of Santa Fe on 23 September 1759 in place of Francisco Trujillo.  He was read the penalties called for in the ordinance…having been advised that this is the explanation (justification) and no excuse whatsoever will be accepted from him; signed by mark. Those being witnesses were the Sergeants Antonio Guerrero and Pablo Sandoval. (mark)

Juan Bapta de Anza (rubric)

Margin:  Thirty-three wounds from hatchets and lances by Comanches.  He was promoted to Corporal on 1 January 1779.

He was given license to discharge to in invalid state, 21 August 1789.  Anza (rubric)

Reference:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series II, Reel 21, Frame 760. – DAR SAR

©Henrietta M. Christmas

Cristobal Tafoya ~ 1718 Will

Know ye all who shall see this last will and testament, that I, Cristobal Tafolla, a native of Real de Minas of “Talpojuangun,” a legitimate son of Juan de Tafolla Alta Mirano and of Felipa Faguada de Uloa, and a resident of this Kingdom of New Mexico and a citizen of the villa Nueva of Santa Cruz, and married to Ysabel de Herrera, a native of this Kingdom, by whom I have two children the oldest called Juan de Tafolla and the other on Antonio Tafolla, both being my legitimate children, state that, being in good health and of sound mind which God was pleased to give me, and about to take the cows of the Third Order of Our Father Saint Francis, I make my las will and testament in the following form and manner.

I declare that I have acknowledged as my natural daughters, Antonia Tafolla Jaramillo, married to Sevastian Barela, and Gertrudes de Tafolla Ruis, both of whom I declare to be my natural daughters, in order that my legitimate sons and executor shall consider them in the share which shall fall to their lot when the time of my death shall arrive.

I declare that I have at home a boy that I raised and who is my nephew, he being a son of Antonio Tafolla, my brother, and whose name is Cristobal de Tafolla, and to whom it is my will, because I raised and love him, that my children and executor assign lands on which he may live, and that they help him out as much as they can without injuring the rights of the others.

I declare, that in order to carry out the terms of this testament and inheritance of my children, I have at the present time as my own property, acquired during my matrimonial life with the said Ysabel de Herrera, my wife, the following:

First: One house in said jurisdiction of Santa Cruz; a ranch with its necessary lands for agriculture, free from all encumbrance, and for which I have the necessary instruments of writing.

Also: Seventy-eight head of cattle and four yoke of oxen, together with equipment and a cart.  Thirty head of sheep.  Fifty-four head of horses and mares, and three mules.

Which said property, and the other which would be the increase thereof, if God grants me life, I declare belongs and pertains, at the end of my days, after my debts are paid including funeral and masses, to my wife and my children, for having helped me to make what I possess, and because no other person has any claim to or share in the same.

I declare I have an unsettled account with General Felix Martinez, on a note which I gave him for two hundred pesos which he loaned me, of which and for which I have paid him twenty fanegas of corn at the price of two pesos each, and three of wheat at two pesos and fifty cents each.

I declare that the said General had an agreement with me that I should serve him for the price and sum of four hundred and thirty-one pesos a year, on account of which he gave me, in the city of Mexico, the two hundred for which I gave him a note as above stated, and in this Villa, one hundred and sixty. And likewise I loaned him a mule that he has not returned. All of which I declare, in order that, if the time for settlement of accounts shall arrive, whatever he would owe me shall be collected.

I declare that I owe to Felipe Sais, a resident of Parral, a few pesos, which I agreed to pay with a little Indian girl. It is my wish that in case I have not yet paid him that which he says I owe him, be paid or given to him.

I declare that I owe Domingo Felis, a merchant and resident of Chihuahua, twenty-give pesos. It is my wish that he be paid.

I declare that Captain don Pedro de Arisaga, a miner and resident of Chihuahua owes me ten pesos which shall be collected.

I declare that Juan Estevan de Apodaca, a soldier of this garrison, owes me a horse that I loaned him, which shall be recovered.

I declare that the retired Ensign of this garrison, Bartolo Sanchez owes me two cows that I paid Thomas Garcia for him, which shall be recovered.

I declare that to the said Thomas Garcia I loaned another cow which shall be recovered.

I declare that I loaned a bull to the Reverend Father, Friar Lucas de Arevalo, which shall be recovered.

I declare that to an Indian of Picuris, by the name of Trujillo, I loaned an ox, which shall be recovered.

I declare that to an Indian of Taos, Captain of War, by the name of Francisco, I loaned a horse, which shall be recovered.

I order that the above and all other debts that shall appear to be owed to me shall be collected, and likewise that those whom I owe, and all debts that I may contract shall be paid; and that whatever is left and that which I know to be mine be divided among my children and wife, that each one may receive the share to which she is entitled without dispute or dissension.

I declare that I have the lands of the ranch planted with five fanegas of wheat, some beans and peas.

I request that my firearms and my horse’s equipment be sold and the returns by paid for masses that my Executor and heirs shall desire and wish to have said for me.

I leave the said property, plus that which I would have as increase, through my efforts and labor, if God shall be willing to prolong my life, as likewise less that which it might be decreased by the diversities of fortune. Therefore, I shall leave an executor appointed and named. For the present I appoint my aforesaid wife and my sons as executors and guardians of my property and heirs, and ask and request Captain Francisco Bueno de Bohorquez y Corcuera, Alcalde Mayor of this villa and its jurisdiction, before whom I make this, my last will and testament, in the presence of witnesses who were my brother, Antonio Tafolla, and the Lieutenant of the company of this garrison, Francisco Montes Vigil, to interpose his judicial authority to make it valid; I, the said Alcalde Mayor, interposing all of the judicial authority that I have and can. I certify that I know the testator and the witnesses. And that he did not sign because he did not know how. I, the said Alcalde Mayor, acting as receiving Judge, in the absence of a Public or Royal Scribe, of which there is none in this Kingdom, signed it with my assisting witnesses; done in this villa of Santa Fe, New Mexico, on the twenty-ninth day of the month of March of the year one thousand seven hundred and eighteen, written on this common paper because the sealed is not to be found in these parts.

Attesting Witness: Diego Arias de Quiros, (rubric); Juan Manuel Chirinos, (rubric); Executed before me, Francisco Joseph Bueno de Bohorquez y Corcuera, (rubric).

Reference:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 938, Reel 5, Frames 533-540.

©Henrietta M. Christmas

Francisco Ortega ~ Will 1782

Let all that see this letter know, that I, Francisco de Ortega, a soldier of the garrison of Santa Fe am sick in bed but of full mind and understanding and order this my last will.

I declare that I was married to Clara de Herrera for the term of nine years from which marriage we had eleven children: Juan Domingo, Jose Joachin, Juan Bautista, Manuel de Jesus and Cristobal (these died without being married); Ana Maria, Miguel Antonio, Andres Antonio, Juan Domingo, Geronimo and Maria Sebastiana, whom I declare as my heirs.

I declare as my chattels, the leather jacket, rifle, pistols, lance and spade, five horses and one mule.

I declare the house of my residence with lands and orchard that I possess.

I declare a tract of land, 70 varas square, which I bought and paid for from Jesus Lucero.

I declare as my chattels, a tract of land I bought from Joseph Romero from Cuyamungue, containing 27 varas.

I declare a room which I bought from my mother-in-law at La Cañada.

I declare a yoke of oxen and eight goats.

I declare the clothes of my use, uniform and cape.

I declare the furniture of my house.

I declare that I owe Gallegos, two pesos in reales, which I order be paid him.

I declare that Antonio Armijo owes me for a horse, which I order be collected.

I declare as my administrators, my wife, Clara de Herrera so that at the proper time, she may partition them in equal parts to my children who are entitled to them.  Signed September 11, 1782 at Santa Fe.  The testator did not know how to sign and was signed by Manuel de la Azuela, rubric; witnesses – Salvador Tenorio, rubric; Manuel Baca, rubric.

References:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 660, Reel 4, Frames 398-401.

©Henrietta M. Christmas

Maria Martin ~ Will 1768

I, Maria Martin, a resident of the villa of Santa Fe and widow of Corporal Juan Lujan, deceased, am the legitimate daughter of Domingo Martin and Josefa de Herrera; both deceased find myself ill in bed and make my final testament.

I declare that I was married and veiled for the period of forty years in which we had and raised nine children who are:  Antonio Lujan, deceased; Joseph, living; Cristobal and Juan, both deceased; Santiago, deceased; Domingo, Maria and Francisco who are living. [Only lists eight]

Declare as my property my house which is composed of four rooms and a piece of land in front.

Declare that I have some property at the villa of Santa Cruz de la Cañada, a house and cultivated lands, as it evident by the deed of sale in my possession.

It is my wish that my dwelling house and the piece of land pertaining thereto be left free for my daughter, Maria, because she is a woman and poor, and also because she has lived in my company all of my life without having forsaken me. No other heir shall bring a suit or claim against her; she can sell or transfer it at her pleasure.

It is my last wish, that from the rand and lands at la Cañada, after paying for the shroud, interment, funeral and masses, I leave whatever is left to the wish of my children, to be partitioned among my three living children, Jose, Domingo and Francisco, as my daughter Maria has been taken care of.  I said that whatever remained of the lands of La Cañada should be partitioned among the said three; it was because I did not have Santiago Lujan, my grandson, in mind, and he shall have an equal share with the rest.

I name as my executors, first my son, Jose Lujan and second my other son, Francisco.

Signed on the 14^th of January 1768, I certify, Phelipe Tafoya, rubric.

Witnesses:  Joph. Miguel Tafoya, rubric; Manuel Fernandes, rubric; Santiago Fernandez, rubric; Lucas Moya, rubric.

Moreover, I, Maria Martin, mentioned in the memorandum, being of sound mind as already stated, in order to concur with my son, Joseph Lujan, my first executor, as is shown on his arrival we have remembered that my deceased husband, his father, owed the wife of the said Jose for a small two room house and a small piece of land, and it is my wish that whatever the value of this may be, the equivalent be paid by my heirs from the lands at la Cañada.

I declare that the new house which my son Jose has built at La Cañada belongs to him alone and that none of the other heirs may have any right to the said house.

I declare that besides the lands that I have already declared there is another cornfield at the said Cañada, that may hold one quartilla of corn seed, and it is my wish that it be added to the rest that I have already declared, and that it remain partitioned as I have said of the rest, at the desires of my executors. Signed Phelipe Tafoya, rubric; witnesses:  Jose Migel Tafoya, rubric; Lucas Moya, rubric.

References:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 587, Reel 3, Frames 1200-1203.

©Henrietta M. Christmas