Juan Jose Lobato Grant ~ 1740

On August 24, 1740, Juan Jose Lobato of Ojo Caliente and a vecino of Santa Cruz asks for some land.  The land itself had previously been granted to Diego Torres which causes some problems, but Lobato appears to overcome that small issue.

Jose Isabel Martinez testifies that he is 71 or 72 yeards old, a son of Ygnacio Martinez and grandson of Jose Pedro Martin Serrano.  He brings the wills of his father and mother to this testimony, which they make a copy of.  

Reference:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series, I, Reel 48, Frame 65.

There is a deed transfer from Cristobal Torres, his wife, Angela Leyba and a son Diego Torres to Juan Lujan, which includes a house lot, corral and a garden tract, written in 1726. [168]

Bartolome Trujillo (Margarita Torres) states that lands were given to him by his father-in-law, Cristobal Torres, and that Jose Trujillo (Antonia Lujan) is his father, written in 1731.[175-176]

At Abiquiu on April 16, 1750, they have a copy of the lands owned by the Valdez family.  Miguel Martin, Juan Jose de la Cerda, Geronimo Martin, Ignacio Baldes, Juan Baldes for his mother Rosalia Baldes, and Manuel de las Rosas plus thirteen half-breeds make the resettlement at the plaza where the chapel is situated. [207]

They then name an Ygnacio Baldes, the older, a Ygnacio Baldes, the younger as an attorney for his mother Rosa Baldes.  Does this mean Rosa had a son named Ygnacio or is this her brother/nephew? [214]

The will of Petrona Gonzales who was married and veiled to Jose Ygnacio Martinez stated she was widow, they had eleven children:  Antonio Jose, Jose Manuel, Jose Ramon, Jose Tomas, Jose Ignacio, Maria Josefa, Maria Guadalupe, Maria Encarnacion, Maria de la Luz, Maria Josefa the second, and Maria Clara. [272]  This couple is in the 1790 Abiquiu census as:  Lt. Jose Martin, S, 52; Petrona Gonzales, 46; three sons, 22, 12, 19; five daughters, 17, 10, 8, 6, 5.

Reference:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series, I, Reel 48, Frames, 168, 175, 176, 207, 214, 272.  ©Henrietta Martinez Christmas

Soldier Martin Torres ~ enlistment 1751

Martin Torres, son of Diego Torres and Maria Martin, native of the villa of Alburquerque in this jurisdiction, occupation farmer, height 5'5" tall, 25 years, CAPR (Roman Catholic), black hair and eyebrows, rosy skinned, broad flat nose, full-faced beard.  He fills the position for an unlimited time in this royal presidio of the villa of Santa Fe on this 1 of July 1751.  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; he made the sign of the cross.  Those being witnesses were the Sergeants Antonio Guerrero and Pablo Sandoval. 

Margin:  He was authorized to retire on 1 July 1779.  Signed Juan Bapta Anza (rubric).

Reference:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series II, Reel 21, Frame 749 – SAR. 

©Henrietta Martinez Christmas

Soldier, Francisco Antonio Torres ~ 1826 Will

Know ye all who shall this testament that I, Francisco Antonio Torres, a retired soldier of the National Company of Santa Fe, New Mexico, find myself sick and make this testament in the following manner.

I declare that I was married in first nuptials to Mariana Moya, for nine years, during which time we had two sons.  The first died at the age of two years, five months; the second died at the age of one year and three days.

I declare that I was married a second time to Maria Rosa Lopez, for thirty-three years, more or less.  During this time we had and reared three children who are:  Maria Soledad, who died at the age of one year; the second, Maria Soledad and the third Manuel.

I declare as my property my dwelling house which is composed of four rooms and twenty varas of land contiguous to the house; also one fruit tree, and the patio of the house, in the form of a placita, which belongs to both my children.  Of this said house and land, my daughter, Soledad, cannot acquire her share while her other lives; she has already received her paternal share; and at my wife’s demise, or when my son decides to marry, he will be given the equivalent of what she has received.

I declare as my property a yoke of oxen, a pair of straps, one quirt, one yoke, three reatas.

I declare one axe, one hoe.

I declare as my house furniture one copper kettle; two mattresses; two blankets, two zarapas, one wooden bowl; one chest; another larger chest; a chair; a bridle; one branding iron; five pictures, including of Nuestro Señor de Esquipula in glass.

I declare that I owe don Bartolome Baca eleven pesos and four reales, which must be paid in woven woolen goods, or other effects, as it was so arranged – I order them paid.

I declare that I owe Juan Barranca thirty-pesos in products of the land, which I order paid.

I declare that I owe don Agustin Duran fourteen pesos in coin, or its equivalent, in whatever there may be.  I order he be paid.

I declare that I owe don Juan Garcia three pesos – I order it paid.

Besides, I owe don Pedro Ortiz two pesos – I order they be paid.

Moreover, I owe don Francisco Baca one pesos, I order that these be paid in October a month from this date.

Moreover, I owe Diego Padilla, resident of El Vado, three yards of mauling – I order it paid.

I declare that the deceased soldier, Dionisio Valdez, owes me a fine silk rebozo as shown in the testament of said Valdez – I order that this be collected.

I declare as my property the assets resulting from the respective accounts of my salary.  I order that they be delivered to my wife and heirs.  After my funeral it is my desire that my estate and the salary due me be divided in two equal parts, one for my wife and the other for my children.

I declare as my lawful administrators, first, the Sergeant Jose Salaices from my company and second, my compadre don Ygnacio Lopez and third, don Juan Gallegos, whom I charge for the love of God. To comply and see the fulfillment of this my last will and testament.

Singed at Santa Fe on September 2, 1826.  Francisco Antonio Torres, rubric; Jose Tapia, rubric; wit/ Juan Benabides, rubric and Jose Gallegos, rubric.

Reference:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 1204, Reel 6, Frames 651-654.

©Henrietta M. Christmas

Cayetano Torres ~ Will 1780

At this place of San Antonio de Sabinal, on the 25^th of April 1780, Calletano Torres died without a will and left property in the possession of his wife and four legitimate children and legal heirs.  The property is in the care of the said widow and the executor don Pablo de Salazar; I, Juan Francisco Baca, Lt. of the Chief Alcalde, by the power given me, did order and appoint the said widow as the guardian of the property.  Signed, Juan Francisco Baca, (rubric) wit/ Jose Francisco Pino and Toribio Garcia Jurado.

I, the Lt of the Chief Alcalde, being at the house of doña Feliciana Ballejos, widow of Calletano Torres, deceased, for the purpose of making the inventory and brought forth the property.

First, his right as a settler in the tract of land of Belen, 600 varas of cultivated land at this place of Sabinal under the main ditch, one adobe house containing four rooms.  Three broken mares, one horse, one horse mule, two oxen, two broken bulls, 127 head of sheep, 109 lambs, two large and six small pigs, one image of Saint Anthony with its niche, one small gun with a cover, one blunderbuss, one old sword, one bridle, one pair of spurs, one old leather jacket, one pair of saddle cushions, one cartridge pocket, one table, bench and chair without arms, one plow and a plow point, two dibbles, one ax, one adze, one cart, one complete loom with two spinning wheels, combs for blankets, two pairs of cards and rollers, and one old saddle with iron stirrups.

On the said day, there was no other property than that mentioned, I suspended this inventory, that the said widow and custodian of the property may receive her appurtenances and that of her two minor children and deliver to the two married ones their property.  I appoint don Toribio Garcia Jurado and don Jose Francisco Pino as appraisers, who swore to discharge their duties as such.  Signed Juan Francisco Baca (rubric), wit/ Toribio Garcia Jurado and Jose Francisco Pino.

His right as a settler valued at 200 pesos.

700 varas of land at one peso per vara = 700 pesos.

The house with four rooms, two doors with locks and two without locks, with 36 varas of land, 300 pesos.

Three mares two at 15 pesos each one at 40 pesos.

One horse at 15 pesos.

One horse mule at 30 pesos.

Two broken bulls at 20 pesos each.

Two oxen at 50 pesos.

127 ewes at two pesos each, 264 pesos.

109 lambs at one peso each, 109 pesos.

Two pigs at six pesos and six small one at three pesos, 30 pesos.

One image of Saint Anthony, 50 pesos.

One gun and cover, 25 pesos.

One blunderbuss, 10.

One sword, 10.

One bridle, 4.

One pair of spurs, 8.

One leather jacket, 20.

One pair of cushions, 4.

One cartridge pocket, 4.

One table, bench and chair without arms, 18.

One plow and an extra point, 10 pesos.

Two dibbles, 10.

One ax and adz, 10.

One cart, 15.

One complete loom, 92 pesos.

One saddle with iron stirrups, 20.

All together the amount is 2,180 pesos.  Signed Juan Francisco Baca (rubric), wit/ Toribio Garcia Jurado and Jose Francisco Pino.

After paying for the funeral expenses and 96 pesos to Juan Nino Ladron de Guevara, resident of El Paso, the remaining is 1,972 pesos.  Half to the wife of 986 and the children receive 986 pesos.

There remain in favor of the heirs, 986 pesos, diving as follows:  Javier Garcia, widower of Juana Maria Torres, 246 pesos and four reales; to Salvador Armijo, husband of Maria Francisca Torres, the same amount.  To Juan Francisco Torres, the same amount.  To Antonia Rita Torres, the same amount.

The partition having been concluded, I certify, acting as stated.

Signed Juan Francisco Baca (rubric), wit/ Toribio Garcia Jurado and Jose Francisco Pino.

There appears due the deceased as follows:  Esmerejildo Montoya, a resident of El Paso, 180 pesos of the land or in goods.  Juan Antonio Garcia owes 8 pesos.  The executor don Pablo Salazar, owes 33 pesos, four reales.  The widow to take charge in collecting the debts.

Reference:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 997, Reel 5, Frame 884-890.

©Henrietta M. Christmas