Antonio Urban Montaño ~ Will 1772

Let it be known that this writing that I, Antonio Urban Montaño, resident of Los Palacios, jurisdiction of Santa Fe, and I order this my last will and testament.

I declare that I have been married three times first to Juana Maria de Ortega, from which marriage we had and raised eight children:  Cayetano Lorenzo, Joseph Antonio, Maria Rosa, Miguel Francisco, deceased, Maria Feliciana, Bizente, Maria Josepha, Juan Francisco.  Of the second marriage to Maria Francisca Garzia and we had no children.  From the third marriage to Maria de la Luz Rendon, we have had no children. The eight children of my first marriage I acknowledge as my legitimate children and heirs.

I declare as my property one ranch in the place called los Palacios, with a four room house and of this ranch I have given my children their share on the maternal side which is half.  I have in said ranch an Indian hut near the house.

It is my will that of the half of the ranch belonging to me, including half of the house, it be divided into four parts and that my wife, Maria Rendon, be given one part of the four, not including the house; and this part that I give her, I assign from the point facing east and is bounded with lands of Sena Maese.  The other three parts, with the house, divide among all of my children.  It is my wish that my minor daughter, Maria Josefa, remain in the house s her own, and that no suit be brought against her by my other children.  It is my last wish to give my daughter the house because she is the youngest.

I declare as my chattels all my weapons, shot-gun, leather jacket, lance, one blunderbuss, one leather shield, spurs, saddle pads, half-boots, riding saddle and bridle.

I declare one ox.

I declare three harnesses.

I declare one complete loom, with two shuttles, two spinning wheels, one axe, one old small hoe, one adze, one chisel, one scythe, one plane.

I declare that all the supply of provisions both old and new, remain for my wife.

I declare my wearing apparel.

I declare that Juana Urioste owes me two pesos, I order it collected.

I declare that old Juan Candelaria owes me eight pesos, I order it collected.

I declare that don Carlos Mirabal owes me 60 pesos, I order it collected.

I declare that Nicolas Sanchez owes me two pesos, I order it collected.

I declare that Felipe Apodaca owes me two pesos, I order it collected.

I declare that Santiago Sangil owes me one three-year old bull that I loaned him and I order it recovered.

I declare that the Indian, Antonio Manchego, owes me one three-year-old bull, I order it recovered.

I declare that Pasqual, the minister, owes me one fanega of piñones, and I order it collected.

I declare that Juan Francisco Ortega of La Canada owes me 13 pesos I order it collected.

I declare that Jose Alire owes me three pesos, I order it collected.

I declare that I owe Felipe Sandoval eight pesos, which I order paid.

I declare that I owe Bernardo Padilla ten blankets, which I order to be paid and these should be in half bed-blankets; ten varas of carpet, besides 35 varas of homespun cloth.

I declare that I owe Pedro Rendon two bull oxen, I order they be paid.

I name my sons, Cayetano and second Bizente, as executors.  I declare that I have not made any other testaments, will or codicil.

I request don Manuel Garzia Pareja, alcalde mayor of this said villa who is now present, to interpose his authority and judicial sanction.

Executed at the house of Pedro Rendon of the 28^th of October 1772.  Signed Manuel Garzia Pareja, rubric; Lucas Moya, rubric; Manuel de Armijo, rubric.

Reference:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 1024, Reel 5, Frames 1138-1141.

©Henrietta M. Christmas

Juana de Anaya Almasan Will 1736

Be it known to those who may see the present will, that I, Juana de Anaya Almasan, legitimate daughter of Sergeant-Major Francisco de Anaya Almasan and of Phelipa de Rojas, both dead; resident of the villa of Santa Fe; being sick of body from an illness.

I declare having been married the first time to Lucan Montaño, for the period of eleven years, during which time we had and reared five children, named: Maria Geronima; Maria Jusepha, married to Manuel Martines; Antonio Urbano; Maria Getrudes; Lucas Tadeo. The second time I married Juan Lorenso de Medina; and during the five years of our married life we had three children: Juan Francisco; Maria Antonia, and Margarita Antonia. The third time I was married to Lucas Miguel Moya; and during the five years of our married life we have reared two sons: Lucas de Jesus and Pedro Antonio, whom, as well as the aforementioned, I declare as legitimate children begotten in wedlock.

I declare it is my will to leave to our Master, and to the Church, one peso, and one “toston” (4 reales) for the souls.

I declare that Pedro Barela owes me one quilt of many colors.

I declare that Marzial Gonzales owes me two pesos.

I declare that Lionisio Rodrigues owes me two pesos.

I declare that Antonio “el de las Mexicanas” owes me one peso.

I declare that I am not indebted to anybody for anything.

I declare as my property the house of my residence, consisting of five rooms, to be divided among the hereinafter named, who are the children who are not married, because to Geronima and Maria Josepha I have already given their share.

I leave for the welfare of my soul the small quilt which Pedro Barela owes me; also one sow, and a pair of bead bracelets. To Maria Geronima I leave one white rosary with a large silver medal, and another larger one of bronze. To Maria Josepha I leave one pair of coral earrings, some amulets and chochos. (Supine seeds, sometimes used in rosaries or as voting balls in churches in Spain).

To Maria Getrudes I leave one yard of scarlet cloth skirts and also one used muffler.

I declare that I leave to my husband, Lucas, my bed. The saints’ pictures shall be divided among my unmarried children.

I declare that I have a tract of land in connection with the house; boundaries of same are described in the deed. This parcel of land I leave to be equally divided among the Getrudes, Urban, and Margarita, which land is in front of the house, with a garden. The parcel of land, which is on the north shall be divided among the two, Lucas de Jesus and Pedro Antonio. The box with the dishes, I leave to Maria Getrudes; the axe and hoe I leave to Urban.

It is my will to leave as my administrators or testamentary executors of what I have declared, in the first place, my son-in-law, Joseph Rodrigues; and in the second place, Lucas Miguel Moya, my husband.

In evidence of truth throughout all time, I requested the Corporal of this company, Juan Felipe de Rivera, to sign for me, because I do not know how to sign. The witnesses who were present were: Juan Manuel Chirinos and Captain Manuel Thenorio de Alba, residents of the villa of Santa Fe.

Executed on November 10^th of the year 1736.

At request of Juana de Anaya,

Juan Felipe de Rivera (rubric)

Witnesses: Juan Manuel Chirinos (rubric) and Manuel Thenorio de Alba (rubric).

Reference:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 1226, Reel 6, Frames 757-760.

©Henrietta M. Christmas

Geronimo Lopez ~ Will 1769 Santa Fe

Know all who may see this my last will and testament, that I, Geronimo Lopes, resident of this villa of Santa Fe, legitimate son of Pedro Lopes Gallardo and Sebastiana Martin, both deceased; being ill in bed but of sound mind make this my last will and testament.

I declare having been married to Maria Getrudes Montaño for 33 years, they had 12 children, two of which are dead:  Maria de la Lus and Joseph Pablo—the living:  Blas, Maria, Francisca, Juan, Martin, Santiago, Juan Rosalia, Antonio Juan Ygnacio, Ana Maria, Maria Geronima, and Joseph Pablo. 

At the time I married she did not have any property and neither did I, for this reason all the property that we have now has been acquired through our work and diligence.

I declare as my property the house where I live and another newly b8ilt.  Both houses contain seven useful rooms and adjoining my dwelling house I have fruit orchards consisting of fourteen trees.

I declare as my property my farming lands adjoining my house or the boundaries where I refer to the deeds.

I declare that there is included in said farming lands near my house 50 varas of land which I do not own but which belongs to my Juan Martin as he bought them with a horse.  I have not given them away and his brothers have nothing to do with this.

I declare as my property 150 head of sheep, goats and ewes and breeding cows, and three young goats.

I declare as my property three burros.

I declare as my property three bull oxen and one ox.

I declare as my property the household furniture and the outdoor implements containing:  two axes, two hoes, one copper pot, spit, spoon and griddle.  It is my will that this property shall remain for my wife, whom it is my will to appoint in the first place as my executrix and my son, Juan Martin, in the second place and in third place my son, Santiago.

I declare that Corporal Agustin Lobato owes me eight pesos, I ask they be collected.

I declare that Jose Archibeque owes me fifteen pesos, I ask them to be collected.

I declare that I do not owe anyone anything and if by chance it is true, I order that it be paid.

The grantor did not sign because he did not know how and I certify – Phelipe Tafoya, Alcalde Mayor (rubric)

Witnesses:  Jose Armenta (rubric) and Diego Peña, (rubric)

References: Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 457, Reel #3, Frames 364-368

©Henrietta M. Christmas

Maria de la Candelaria Gonzales ~ Will 1750

I, Maria de la Candelaria Gonzales, resident of Santa Fe, widow of Manuel Trujillo, of which married we had two daughters, and whom I leave as my only heirs. The estate shall be equally divided with the understanding that they will pay all my bequests and the debts caused by my deceased husband.

I leave my son, Fernandes Romero, as my executor and caretaker of my property until my daughter Martina Trujillo shall marry.

I leave as my property on ranch which I have at the upper part of the river is this villa and it may divide between my two daughters, Maria Francisca and Marcela.

It is my last will that my sister, Antonia Gonzales, shall be given one piece of land in said ranch from the lands above the wheat acequia as far as the upper acequia.

Because I raised him since his birth, it is my last will that Ascencio Antonio Trujillo be given another piece of land from the wheat acequia as far as the upper acequia.

It is my last will that one small Indian girl that I won, named Maria Josefa, shall be free because she has served me faithfully and that she remain with my daughter Maria Francisca, so that my said daughter shall take care of and attend her as if she were her mother.

It is my last will that one small Indian, whose name is Acencio Montaño, shall likewise remain with my daughter Marcela Antonia.

I leave my daughter Marcela one old kettle.

I leave my daughter, Marcela one new skirt of blue serge and one cedar chest with a key.

I leave my said daughter a statue of St. Antonio.

I leave my daughter one blanket.

I leave my married daughter, one cloak, without fringe and a statue of Nuestra Señora del Pilar and one of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios painted on board.

From one piece of land obtained through royal grant given our deceased mother, Michaela Basquez, by the Alcalde of the villa, don Jose de Bustamante, who partitioned it among seven brothers and sisters, I leave my two daughters what belongs to me so that they may divide it into equal parts.

I leave one brown cotton mattress to my sister Antonia.

I leave one ox so that a habit of our Father St. Francis may be purchased.

Payment shall be made to don Juan Jose one pack mule and 50 pesos… my deceased husband remained owning (torn).

My said daughter, Marcela Antonia shall remain under the care and protection of her sister, Maria Francisca until she marries.  Signed Jose de Bustamante y Tagle (rubric), Witnesses:  Lucas Moya, Thomas Casillas, year of 1750.

Note:  The will is dated 1753 in yet another spot, but she passed away on April 20, 1751 in Santa Fe.  Since the will was done in 1750, she might have just been very ill. 

References: Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Twitchell 344, Reel 1, Frames 890-893

©Henrietta M. Christmas

Nicolas Duran y Chavez ~ Will 1768

I, Nicolas Duran y Chaves, a native of New Mexico and legitimate son of Captain don Fernando Duran y Chaves and of doña Lucia Hurtado, am sick from an illness.

He first names his executors as his beloved wife, doña Juana Montaño and second, his son, Fernando Duran y Chaves.  He names their children as Joseph Chaves, Gertrudis Chaves, Luis Chaves, Fernando Chaves, Maria Antonia Chaves, Juan Chaves, Vicente Chaves, Maria Chaves, Francisco Chaves. 

He declares a grant of land awarded him by the King; a house which three rooms and hallway and one bedroom and pantry which he leaves to his wife and upon her death to his son, Juan Chaves.

He has 600 head of cattle, seven steers of all ages. He has 1600 head of sheep, 300 of which he leaves for his funeral expenses.

One cart with five oxen.

Other names mentioned:  Jose Guttero, from El Paso owes him a short coat of cloth, a plush pair of trousers with trimming and English linen; Manuel Torres owes him buckskins.

Captain don Nicolas Duran y Chaves doesn't sign due to his serious illness - Josef Marcelo Gallego (rubric).  Witnesses by Josef Marcelo Gallego, Domingo Baca and Manuel Bernardo Gallego.

References:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 201, Frames 1398-1401.
©Henrietta M. Christmas