Soldier Tomas Urioste ~ Will 1820

Know ye, all who shall see this memorandum, that I, Tomas Urioste, soldier of this company in Santa Fe, finding myself sick in bed of an illness that God has seen fit to send me, and being in sound mind and judgment, execute and order this, my last will and testament, in the following manner:

I declare that I have been married, in first marriage, according to the rites of the Catholic Church, to Juana Jeronima Maese, for twenty-four years. In the said time we had and raised one child who was named Juan Antonio, and the said child died in tender age.

I declare that I received, as my wife’s dowry, five breeding cows and one burro. Of these chattels nothing is left; and we both enjoyed same.

I declare that I have one shotgun; one pistol which will be found in the warehouse; one lance; one cartridge belt with 15 cartridges; one saddle, fully equipped; one gun case. The bridle and spurs are at the home of the gunsmith. They have been there since last year, and have been examined, but have not been returned to me. The saddle pads were lost in Navajo; Sergeant Manuel Baca is aware of this.

I declare that I have 3 horses; one “he” mule and one of the horses has been lost since last winter.

I declare that I have in the plaza of San Fernando de Taos 300 varas of farming land which Jose Miera is cultivating. I order that this land be delivered to my wife.

I declare that I have a house in the plaza of San Francisco de Taos (sic), composed of 4 rooms, where my brothers are living. I order my wife to recover it.

I order that the salary due me as a soldier be given to my wife so that she can pay for my funeral.

I declare that Manuel Lopez owes me six varas of printed cotton; one rebozo; four varas of linen and two pairs of shoes. I order that they be collected.

I declare that Manuel Alire owes me one fat ox. I order that it be recovered.

I declare that Juana Zena owes me two pesos in coin. I order that they be collected.

I declare that Manuel Gregorio of Abiquiu owes me four first-grade chamois skins. I order that they be collected.

I declare that Manuel Maestas owes me 6 first-grade chamois skins. I order that they be collected.

I declare that Juan Baldes of Cuyamungue owes me two pesos in coin. I order that they be collected.

I declare that I owe don Francisco Ortiz 12 pesos in coin. I order them paid. I owe the Master, Manuel Sena, one two-year old colt, and I owe corporal Ortiz four pesos in coin.

I appoint as my executors, in the first place, Corporal Francisco Ortiz, and Felix, my brother; and I ask them, in the name of God, that, after paying for my funeral, they give what remains to my wife, and also pay my debts; and the balance my wife may enjoy with God’s blessing and mine.

I declare that I have not executed any other testament or codicil except the present one; and for its greater force and validity it has been executed before Sergeant don Jose Alarid, who made it, and whom I requested to interpose his authority. I certify that I know the grantor, who did not sign, because he did not know how, and who made the sign of the cross. I signed in the presence of my assisting witnesses, who were the soldier, Jose Alarid, 2^nd, and Ant^o (Antonio) Ortiz.

Executed in the villa of Santa Fe, New Mexico, on the 10^th of July, 1820.

Jose Antonio Alarid (rubric); Jose Alarid, 2^nd; (rubric) and Antonio Ortiz (rubric).

References:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 1025, Reel 5, Frames 1142-1145.

©Henrietta M. Christmas

Vicente Martin ~ 1774

Let it be known that this testament that I, Bizente Martin, resident of Santa Fe, make my last and final will.

I declare that I have been married first to Ysabel Tafoya (1730-1757) from which marriage we had one son called Joseph Antonio; and the second time to Maria Manuela Urioste ( -1802), from which marriage we had no children.

I declare as my property, my house and lands.

I declare eight tame oxen, two horses and a mule which is a tame male mule.

I declare a saddle, a gun, a lance, a leather jacket, spurs, saddle pads, shield and bridle, which it is my will to bequeath to my son, Jose Antonio.

I declare as my property 350 ewes, which I have given on shares to Juan Lorenzo Atencio, for which I have an instrument executed by the said J^u Lorenzo, to wit: that of these 350 ewes, 200 are mine, 50 belong to my son and the remaining 100 belong to my wife which my wife had an brought to my possession before we were married.

I have given Bentura Baldes three cows, in all good faith, from which I do not collect any issue whatever, only the principal.

I declare I do not owe anything to anyone.

I declare I have a tract of land bounded by lands of the deceased Padre Bernardo, and lands of Manuel Ortiz, which it is my will to leave to my wife and son, Joseph Antonio.

I declare I have a house lot with its patio contiguous to my house.  It is my will, also that of my wife and son, Joseph Antonio, that it be left to my natural son, Miguel Martin.

I declare that Prudencia Gomez owes me 30 pesos; I order that they be collected.

I declare that Juan Fuentes, a resident of El Paso, owes me a barrel of wine. I order it collected.

I declare that it is my will that all the property known to be mine be partitioned in equal parts between my wife and my son, Joseph Antonio.

I name as my administrators, first my wife, second my son, Joseph Antonio Martin.  I request that don Manuel Garcia Pareja, Alcalde Mayor of this villa of Santa Fe, who is here present, interpose his authority.  This testament is executed in the grantor’s dwelling house on the 22^nd of  March 1774, because he did not know how to sign, I, said Alcalde Mayor signed it with my witnesses.  Manuel Garzia Pareja, rubric.  Witnesses:  Antonio Armijo, rubric and Francisco Javier Fragoso, rubric.

*He also uses the name Benavides and Baranca.  His burial record is dated March 23, 1774 for a Vicente Baranca spouse of Manuela Urioste.  Other records indicate he is a Benavides, possibly his mother's name. 

References: Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 594, Reel 3, Frames 1267-1270.

©Henrietta M. Christmas

Josefa Montoya ~ Will 1766

I, Josepha Montoya, daughter of don Salvador Montoya and doña Manuela Garcia de la Riva, deceased and a resident of this villa of Santa Fe, and a widow of Joseph Antonio Benavides, find myself sick in bed.

I was married to Joseph Antonio Benavides, deceased, and we raised six children who are:  Manuela, Xaviera, Gertrudis, Ygnacia, Antonio Gervacio and Juan Domingo; whom are the heirs of me and my husband. 

The ones of age and married:  Manuela married Antonio Lucero; Xaviera to Nicolas Garzia; Ygnacita is promised since childhood to Manuel Urioste.  The other three are with me and under my protection being of minor age.

I declare my home which I received from my deceased mother as inheritance.

I have three cows with calves which are in the possession of Antonio Lucero; one female burro and one small burro; I order they be given to my daughter, Xaviera.

I owe don Nicolas Ortiz three pair of hose, I order them to be paid.

I owe the son-in-law of Antonia Montoya six pesos, which I order to be paid.

I owe Estevan Rodrigues the schooling for my son.

I declare that Barthola Lopez owes me four pesos, I order it collected.

The Indian woman, Rosalia, owes me two pairs of hose, I order it collected.

Juan Estevan Baca owes me five pesos for making a pair of women’s skirts, collect four pesos as I owe him one peso.

I declare that Francisca, the wife, of Fragoso owes me four pesos, which I order collected.

I declare that Jose Manuel Apodaca owes me fourteen pesos, I order it be collected.

I declare that I owe Joseph Lozano one peso and four reales, I order it paid.

I leave my kitchen comal and one kettle.

My brother-in-law, Domingo Benavides, has two cows and two heifers, which is my property and not my deceased husbands.  The said cows upon the information of my brother-in-law, Manuel Benavides and Francisco Lujan, a neighbor, still exist. I order them collected and added to my goods.

I leave as my executor, my son-in-law, Antonio Lucero de Godoy. Signed this 3^rd of April 1766. 

Signed Francisco Guerrero, rubric; Francisco Xabier Fragoso, rubric; and Juan Francisco Niño Ladron de Guevara, rubric.

References:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 569, Reel 3, Frames 1155-1157.

©Henrietta M. Christmas