Juan Jose Moreno ~ 1746 Will

I, don Juan Jose Moreno, a native of the city of Seville in the Kingdom of Castile, and legitimate son of don Roque Moreno and doña Ysabel de Abila y Villabuzenzo, residents of the said city and both deceased.  I am sick and order this testament.

I ask to be buried in the church of Our Lady of the Conquest in this town.

I declare having been married to doña Juana Roybal in this villa of Santa Fe, in whose company and marriage I have lived for over 23 years, during which time we have not had any children; I declare that it may so appear.

I order to be celebrated for my soul, 260 masses with three novenas of low masses in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Conquest, and another novena on the first festivity of Our Lady of Light after my death.

I declare to have had accounts with Francisco Gomez, a resident and merchant in the villa of San Felipe de Real de Chihuahua, to whom I am indebted in the amount contained in the bill amongst my papers, which I order to be paid when the same may be adjusted.

I also declare that I owe to Francisco Garcia, resident of the ranch of Carmel about 100 and odd pesos in current prices of the land, for several accounts which I have collected for him contained in a memorandum.  I have not collected what I have stated and I order my executors to pay him, returning the said power that he may collect the rest.

I declare to owe Bentura de Mestas, 100 pesos in cash, with the interest for two years at the rate of five per cent per annum.  I order to pay him.

I declare to owe don Manuel Saenz de Garvisu 90 pesos in silver, the amount drawn in favor of Fray Manuel Bermejo, to whom I am indebted, I order to pay said don Manuel.

I declare to owe Maria Coca, deceased three ladies shirts of linen of Rouen, and the other two of fine linen of Brittany, embroidered with two-inch lace, which I took to the Province of Sonora to sell and not having sold them I trusted them to don Manuel de Sosa, resident of the province of the real de Cacosari, to whom I trusted them in good faith and having learned that said gentleman is dead, and not having sold them; his wife having married a second time, I have settled with the sons of doña Maria Coca. To value the goods by expert ladies and they may value them at, to which account I have given them four horses, not very good ones, and some goods, which will appear by a memorandum; an if any balance should be due, when advised of the value, my executors will pay for them.

I declare to have accounts with don Juan Francisco de Arroniz, to whom I am indebted for several things which I have needed, I order to pay what he may say as I have no memorandum.

I declare to have several salaried servants, as will appear in my book of accounts, the same to be adjusted; and those who may owe me anything, to be collected and to those to whom  may owe, I order to pay them.

I order my executors, that if anybody should demand anything against my property that I owe him any amount, which I may not have mentioned here for lack of memory, when the same may be justified; I order to pay them and for the satisfaction of the debts, which I have mentioned and far those which may be able to occur with justification, I declare the following as my property:

First, my house of resident containing a hall, three rooms, kitchen, corrals, stables and two other rooms, with cultivated lands contiguous to said house, as will appear by deeds in my possession, the said lands running as far as the creek.

I declare 26 or 27 horses at the Pueblo of Taos, also one jack and filly – one year old.

The cattle which may be found with my brand at said Pueblo of Taos.

Also, in the possession of Antonio Sandoval, resident of Golondrinas, 50 mares of all ages and their stallions.

In the horse herd of this royal garrison I have 20 horses.  I also have in said stock of horses, about 30 mules, most them mare mules; nine I have freighting; three of them on my account.

I declare to have in the possession of Geronimo Martin, a resident of Abiquiu 58 breeding cows and ten bulls, as appear by the instrument which he made and which is in my possession, by which my executors can be guided; also 16 heifers and 16 bulls due for the increase which remained in the possession of the said Martin on my account and risk.

Also, eight wethers from 3-4 years old at Taos Pueblo.

Three yoke of oxen in this town.

I declare to have about 500 of all kinds of hides.

I declare to have about thirty and some odd measures of rendered piñon.

I declare to have the goods contained, which will be found in my simple memorandum.

Also declare my wearing apparel.

All my necessary utensils of horse riding, fire arms, blunderbuss, a cutlass and a shield.

I also declare as my property, to have that don Antonio Gutierrez del Castillo owes one load of hides, which appear by a memorandum, that he should send the same goods with the explanation that in case anything should be lacking for the compliance of the order he should furnish it. 

Also declare to have given to Antonio Domingues, alias Benado, one load of buckskins on his account all with its’ own prices; the large ones at one peso and 25 centavos and the small ones at 62 ½ centavos; the buffalo dressed hides at 1 ½ peso; they appear in a paper and its quality.

Also declare to have given to Mateo Roybal some other buckskins which appear in a memorandum how he took them.    -continued-

References:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 552, Frames 1042-1056.

©Henrietta M. Christmas

Christobal Marquez & Francisco Anaya Almazan mid 1600s signatures

This is another Inquisition testimony document, specifically where we have two nice signatures on the same page that of Christobal Marquez, son of Diego Marquez and Bernardina Vasquez and Francisco Anaya Almazan.  The interesting part is that Diego Marquez was beheaded for the death of Governor Rosas, it could not have been easy to be a survivor of that large family group.  Anaya Almazan was also married to a descendant of the Perez de Bustillo family, many of those second generation men were killed because of their assassination of the Governor.

References:  AGN, Tierras 3268, Zimmerman Library, CSWR. Origins of New Mexico Families by Fray Angelico Chavez, 69.

©Henrietta M. Christmas

Gregoria de Arechuleta ~ mid 1600s

 

In this document, Gregoria de Arechuleta tells us a bit about who she is during her testimony plus she signs her name: 

doña Gregoria de Arechuleta, besina de Nuebo Mex^co en la juridision de sandia buida mujer q fue de cap^an d^go santa cruz, difunto.

Doña Gregoria de Arechuleta, resident of New Mexico in the jurisdiction of Sandia, widow and wife of the deceased, Captain Diego Santa Cruz.

References:  AGN Tierras 3268 f.160, Zimmerman Library, CSWR.

©Henrietta M. Christmas

Luis Martin Serrano ~ 1660

Fray Angelico write in Origins of New Mexico Families that Luis Martin Serrano was an Alcalde Mayor and Captain of the Tewa (Teguas) Jurisdiction.  This is the document where he picks that up from.  Plus Luis's signature is on this testimony.  Another Governor Inquisition document.

References:  AGN, Tierras 3268, Zimmerman Library, CSWR.
©Henrietta M. Christmas

Catalina Salazar ~

Signature of Catalina Salasar in a document where she is testifying in an Inquisition Case involving the Governor.  She states she the widow of Captain Luis Martin, deceased.  I thought her signature was pretty nice.  This is dated 1663.

References:  AGN, Tierras 3268, Zimmerman Library CSWR.AND Orignis of New Mexico Families by Fray Angelico Chavez, Pg. 72.
©Henrietta M. Christmas

Miguel Garcia ~ Letter to Governor 1827

Letter to the Governor Manuel Armijo, regarding an official document.

I citizen, Miguel Garcia, resident of the jurisdiction of Taos and at present residing in this city appear before you; I state that for six days, by order of the Alcalde of the jurisdiction of my neighborhood, I have been at this capital.

I shall say, first asking permission, that the cause of my detention is very harmful to me.  In the time that the retired Ensign, Juan de Dios Peña, also a resident of this city was Alcalde of that jurisdiction, by his order I brought to this capital a document dividing an estate in that district, property of the Señores Romero’s, also of that jurisdiction, which I placed at the disposal of the Colonel Melgares, and I do not know what this sir did with it; and because I brought it, I still have charge of said document and with this object in view I came to this capital to render the blind obedience which I have always been pleased to exercise in these cases with the legally constituted authorities.

The damages that have been caused me have been inexpressible and I place them before Your Excellency and I charge and hold the said Alcalde responsible for all those that have originated and that may originate.  I hope the integrity of Your Excellency will clarify the doubt which confronts us; whether I am responsible for said document, so that if I am I say present my resignation and if I am not, that the said Alcalde pay me the damages to which I have referred.

Therefore, I ask Your Excellency for the justice that may assist me in this matter, I sign and whatever necessary, etc., Miguel Garcia (rubric)

Taos, June 25, 1827

In order to comply… That Miguel Garcia by my order went to copy the said document which is very necessary to the owners of the land, who are sanctioned by Garcia in his petition.  Inasmuch as I do not remember the number of varas of land that said document states they are entitled to, and since on the other hand a lawsuit is instituted over another tract contiguous to this and formerly donated in which the lands fall short, by which they seek to be admitted to the tract of those owners of the document and which they do not want to give up, the only way to decide with certainty is by examining the document itself.  They would not allow him to see it and until he obtained it from some other individual who allowed him to see it and he kept it until it went to the government archives, as I have been informed, and which has not been ignored by this party, despite that they were negligent in demanding it; and said petitioner Garcia, freely offered in the month of May of the current year to go and make a copy, with the joint consent of the parties, believing that it would be easy to obtain; and then the time came to execute it, he wanted the Alcalde to five him an official letter to Governor so he could obtain it without any expense, which he was not able to allow.  This, I believe is the objection felt by the petitioner, and the reason he wants and official letter.  Signed Manuel Martines (rubric)

…Garcia is obliged to present it (document), granted the document is necessary and you will cause said Garcia to come personally and copy the said document from the archive, advising him to bring money so that he may pay the corresponding fees for the same.  God and Liberty, Santa Fe, July 17, 1827

References:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Twitchell #390, Series I, Reel 2, Frame 1228-

©Henrietta M. Christmas

Francisco Martin ~ 1764 Will

Know ye all that I, Francisco Martin, am sick and execute this testament.

I ask that I be buried at the church of San Juan, near the steps and to Our Lady of Guadalupe, at the same.

I elect and appoint my son, Julian, as executor and my wife, Casilda Contreras, as the keeper of my estate.

I declare that I was married to Casilda Contreras, and from this marriage we had eleven children:  Antonio, Juana, Juan Francisco, Pedro, Josefa, Manuel, Salvador, Maria, Barbara, Julian, Luisa – all Martines, who are my legitimate children and heirs.

I declare that I own a house which contains four rooms within the boundaries of the parcel of this place, which I declare is shown by the documents.

I declare that I have twenty head of cattle of all ages, eleven cows, one bull, one bullock and three yoke of oxen.

One cart complete, two plows and one plow-point complete.

I declare that I have fifteen head of sheep and fifteen goats.

Six mules, four gentle and two wild.

Three horses broken to the bridle.

Seven mares wild and one gentle, and one other wild and a horse colt.

Two old pick axes and two old wooden plow points.

One adze, two chisels, two axes and one saw.

I declare that I do not owe any person a single real.

I declare that I have eight sickles.

Two large hogs and three small.

I declare that I have three women servants; they are free, but remain with my wife so she can take care of them and they will not be left to run around as vagabonds.

One branding iron.

I declare that I own one barrel for one and another for two flasks and one saddle complete.

I find myself, that all my lands and other goods are divisible in equal parts among my legitimate children, as brothers and sisters.

I declare no other testament.

I, Francisco Sisneros, the deputy for the alcalde mayor, certify and make the witnesses, Miguel Medina and Miguel Duran, residents of this kingdom on November 14, 1764.

Signed, Francisco Antonio Sisneros (rubric); Julian Martin, Cristobal Lorenzo Lovato.

References:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 565

©Henrietta M. Christmas