Miguel de Dios Sandoval Martinez ~ Will 1755

Know all who shall see this instrument that I, Miguel de Dios Sandobal, legitimate son of Juan de Dios Sandobal and Juana de Hernandes, both deceased and residents and natives of the City of Mexico, finding myself ill in bed and make this my last will and testament.

I ask that my body be shrouded with the Habit of St. Francis and interred in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary of this villa.

I have been married to doña Lucia Gomes, for 58 years and two months and during our marriage we had and reared nine children; I name eight, who are:  Manuela, deceased; Juana, deceased; Melchora; Andres; Antonio; Juan Manuel; Miguel deceased; Phelipe deceased.

I declare that I have as my good ten breeding cows.

Three two-year old heifers.

Eight oxen trained to the plough.

Two young bulls of one year.

I declare as my goods 100 head of ewes.

One piece of land, which I have in "La Cañada" which has been taken care of by the account of my brother, Juan Joseph Sandoval, and it, is evident that it is mine by the same instrument which remains in the possession of my said brother, Juan Joseph.

I declare that when I married, neither she nor I had any goods and by virtue of our work and industry, we have acquired those which I have at present, from which I separate the half of said goods for my said wife.  And from the other half, pertaining to me, that they deduct my principal and a fifth for my funeral and internment and the rest which remains, shall be divided in equal parts among my children.

I declare that I owe nothing to any person.

I declare that the Father Friar Andres Garzia in Taos owes me 140 vellones (fleece) of wool.

I declare that Father Friar Juan Hernandes owes me 200 vellones of wool.

I declare that the soldier, Francisco Trujillo, owes me one bull and 12 pesos, which I paid him in order that he would serve me.

I declare that Salvador Gonzales owes one one-yearling calf, I order it collected.

Name executor first my wife, doña Lucia Gomes, second my son, Antonio and third my son Andres, whom I charge to comply as soon as possible with that which is contained therein.

It is my last wish that from my goods, there shall be given to the caretaker of San Miguel, 50 pesos to help rebuild his chapel.

I ask that don Francisco Guerrero, interpose his authority and judicial sanction.   As Alcalde Mayor I sign this along with two witnesses at Santa Fe on November 26, 1755.

Signed: Francisco Guerrero (rubric); witnesses:  Felipe Tafoya, rubric and Geronimo Esquibel, rubric.

References:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 855, Reel 5, Frames 60-65.

©Henrietta M. Christmas

Maria Luisa Rivera ~ Will 1823

Know all who see this testament that I, Maria Luisa Rivera, finding myself sick in bed, but in sound mind and judgment, order this will made in the following form:

I declare that I have been married to the retired soldier, Juan Garcia, we lived together for 28 years; in which time we had raised eight children, five of those having died; and they were Jose Santiago, Jose Antonio; Jose Luis and Juan Jose, who are children; Maria de Loreto, married, living; Maria Josefa, Maria del Carmen and Juana Maria. I confess they are my legitimate children and heirs.

I declare the house where we reside as my property and it is composed of five rooms and a porch; and a piece of land measuring 300 yards, leaving my bedroom to pay for twelve masses for the repose of my soul. A schedule is in my husband’s possession.

I declare as my property 30 yards of land situated near the house of my deceased mother; and 90 in the Cañada of this city and one yoke of oxen, one female burro, three goats.

I declare as my chattels the household furniture, seven holy pictures, two boxes, one kettle, one iron griddle, one axe, two mattresses, one blanket, one bedspread, one brass jar, one chocolate pot, one rug and two pillows.

 I declare I owe don Domingo Fernandes three pairs of stockings; and the gunsmith, Manuel Sena, three yards of sackcloth; I order them paid.

I declare having paid Señor Pablo Garcia 14 pesos, products of the land, for the care of one cow about to have a calf; and now it appears it is lost; I order it collected.

I declare that Juan Antonio Gonzales, resident of Abiquiu, owes me one fanega of beans; and Señora Rosa Archuleta owes me one peso in cash; I order them collected.

It is my will, if God deigns to take me in this illness, that my funeral be paid; and what remains of my small holdings be divided, after the death of my husband, among my children in equal parts in order that they may enjoy them with God’s blessing and mine.

I declare that I have made another testament, which I annul; and this is to be the only valid one.

I name as my administrators, in the first place, Miguel Rivera, my brother; and in the second place, Juan Diego Sena, whom I commission, for the love of God, to comply with and execute this last will and testament.

Two witnesses who were present signed with me in this city of Santa Fe, on the 18^th of September 1823.

Manuel Baca, (rubric); Witness: Jose Larrañaga, (rubric) and Juan Benabides, (rubric).

References:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 803, Reel4, Frame 1296-1298.

©Henrietta M. Christmas

Soldier (Antonio) Marcos Rodriguez ~ Will 1772

Know by this public instrument, that I, Marcos Rodrigues, resident of the Jurisdiction of the Villa of Santa Fe, being ill in bed from and illness, I dispose and order my last will and testament in the following form.

I declare that I have been married, according to the Rites of Our Holy Mother Church, three times; the first to Ana Maria Gutierres, from which marriage, we had a reared five children; Juachin, deceased; Maria; Juana; Joseph; Maria Antonia. And, in the second marriage to Maria Guadalupe (Brito), from which union we had and reared one daughter, named Maria Jusepa, now deceased; and the third to Maria Antonia (Aragon), from which marriage we did not have any children at all. And I acknowledge the children of the first and second marriages to be my legitimate children and heirs, as born during lawful marriage.

I declare that I owe two low masses, one to Saint Anthony and the other to Our Lady of Guadalupe. I order that they be paid.

I declare that it is my will that they any novenas of low masses for my soul.

I declare as my goods, one house in which I live, which is composed of four rooms, which it is my will shall be left to my wife, with the consent of my children.

I declare a ranch of farm lands, which I have distributed to my children in equal shares. And for the land which belonged to my wife, Maria Antonia, from her deceased husband, Juan Joseph de Salasar, she traded it to my son, Joseph Francisco Rodrigues, for another portion of land, which is at the rear of the house in which I live, which I leave to my wife. And this portion of land taken away from that which shall remain, belonging to me, I order that all of my children divide it in equal parts, separating the corn fields “del Caspade.” Which is in my will shall be left to my godchild, Maria Casilda Gonzalo, because I have reared her, and I leave her this corn field, with the consent of my children.

I declare as  my goods a corn field of farm land, which belonged to my deceased wife, called Guadalupe, which it is my will be sold, and that which they would give for it, they will say in masses for my soul.

I declare as my goods one burro, with its suckling, which it is my will shall be left to my wife.

I declare as my goods two oxen, which it is my will shall be left to my wife.

I declare as my goods all of the trappings for horseback riding, a gun, a sword, a lance, leather jacket, saddle, spurs, bridle, little cushions, shield, which it is my will shall be left to my son, Joseph Francisco.

I declare as my goods a cart fully equipped, two axes, one hoe, one branding iron, which shall remain for the benefit of my wife, because it is in my will to leave her all of the branding iron and cart.

I declare as my goods three pictures – Saint Anthony, Saint Barbara and Our Lady of Guadalupe, which I leave to my wife, together with a little chest.

Pedro Rendon owes me fourteen pesos. I order they be collected.

I declare that Geronimo Gonzales owes me three varas of Rouen linen. I order that they be collected.

I declare that Salvador Tapia owes me a sack of corn; I order that it be collected.

I declare that Facundo Moran owes me two pesos worth of adobes. I order that they be collected.

I declare that I do not owe anything to anyone.

I declare that two rooms which are joined to the house, which I leave to my wife, I leave to my daughter, Maria Antonia, without excluding her form entering into equal portion with the other heirs.

And, in order that this, my last will and testament be fulfilled as therein contained, I name as my faithful and trusted testamentary executors: in the first place, Agustin Lovato; and in the second, my son, Joseph Francisco, in order that all and each one personally shall cooperate for the fulfillment of that which I have declared in this, my testament.

Dated in the house of the said grantor, on the seventeenth day of the month of December of the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy two; and, because he did not know how to sign, I signed it. I, said Alcalde Mayor, acting with my assisting witnesses, for want of a Public or Royal Scribe, of which there are none in this Government, To all of which I certify,

Manuel Garsia Pareja, (Rubric); Witness: Antonia de Armenta, (Rubric); and Joseph de Armenta, (Rubric).

References:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 797, Reel 4, Frames 1278-1282.

©Henrietta M. Christmas

Juana Roybal ~ Will 1770

Know all who see this memorial and last will that I, Juana Roybal, settler of this villa of Santa Fe, and legitimate daughter of don Ignacio de Roybal and doña Francisca Gomez, both deceased and widow of don Juan Jose Moreno, am sick in bed and make my last will and testament in the following manner.

I declare that I was married to Juan Jose Moreno and we lived together for thirty-five years, in that time we had no children.

I declare as my property, the house where I live, composed of eleven rooms, with an enclosed yard; also, understood with its doors and locks.

I declare I own a statue of St. Joseph.

I declare that I own two pictures, one of Our Lady of Guadalupe and one of Our Lady of Light, with their gilt frames.

I declare I own one statue of Our Lady of Light, with its canopy.

I declare as my property thirty-five small pictures and one bronze statue of Christ, with a wooden cross; and two small pictures with their frames.

I declare as my property seven Michoacán boxes with their locks; and four white ones, also with their locks and keys; and one liquor case, with eight bottles and a key.

I declare two small Michoacán boxes with keys.

I declare as my property, all of my wearing apparel, cloak and petticoat.

I declare four pickaxes, three crow bars, one axe, one adze, one chisel, one cross-cut saw, one sugar, four old handles, one copper kettle, one chocolate pot, one spit, one iron griddle and spoon.

I declare my property two barrels and one jug.

I declare fifteen mules and seven he-mules with harness for nine.

I declare ten horses that my father, Jose Pacheco knows.

I declare forty head of breeding cows that are in the possession of Miguel Antonio Chavez, settler of Atrisco, who will deliver them in the time, specified in the writing that I hold.

I have four hundred head of ewes, which are in the possession of don Mateo Pino, less the ones sold and paid for by Domingo Baca.

I have two yoke of oxen and cart with its accoutrements.

I have three small burros.

I have the cultivated lands surrounding the house and for its boundaries refer to the deed.

I declare eight-five varas of land which I purchased from Felipe Tafoya, as evident in the deed.

I declare that Salvador Garcia owes me whatever is contained in a paper that my brother, the Vicar hold, I order it collected.

I declare that Diego Naranjo owes me eight pesos, I order it collected.

I declare that Pablo Pando owes me whatever is contained in the account of my deceased husband, I order it collected.

I declare that I owe don Bernardo de Bustamante an account, reducing form the account that he has already received, I order it paid.

I declare that I owe Father Garcia one hundred pesos in goods and he has already received one small Indian, which should be deducted, I order that the balance be paid.

I declare that Balentin Martin owes me the sum of, and what my brother the priest, knows of; I order it collected.

I declare that Juan Mirabal owes me one heifer, I order it collected.

I declare that Julian Talache owes me two blankets, I order them collected.

I declare that a Taos Indian, named Miguel, owes me two chamois skins.

I declare that Domingo Vaca owes me whatever don Mateo Pino states, I order it collected.

I declare that I owe the Sodality of the Holy Sacrament of the villa, the handle for the canopy, I order it paid.

I declare, six metal plates, twenty water glasses, more or less, two small vials and some Puebla chinaware.

I declare that I bequeath to the Blessed Souls of Purgatory 100 head of sheep to be taken care of and the yearly proceeds from the sheep shall be used for masses.

I desire that the statue of Our Lady of Light and canopy and the statue of St. Joseph be placed in the Chapel of Our Lady of Light.

It is my will that the house, where I live, and all the lands be divided among the children of my niece, Manuela, as I raised her.

I tis my will that the household furniture of said house, pictures, boxes, glasses and everything else recognized as mine, are to be sold in order to pay my debts, which are evident and after paying for my burial, funeral and masses, if anything be left, to be divided among my comadres, Manuela and Antonia Dominga and the Priest.  The above is only what pertains to the household furniture and my wearing apparel.  And I order that the livestock be divided among all of my brothers and the said nieces in equal parts.  And to the compliance of this my last will and testament, I appoint as administrators, my brother, the Vicar and my compadre Jose Pacheco, to whom I can entrust and exact fulfillment of said charge.

Antonio Garcia de la Mora who was present signed for her and in the presence of the alcalde mayor Felipe Tafoya, on 13^th June 1770.  Felipe Tafoya, rubric; Antonio de Armenta, rubric; Jose Miguel Tafoya, rubric.

References:  Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Twitchell 790, Reel 4, Frames 1234-1240.

©Henrietta M. Christmas