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Fray Angélico Chávez commented that the Ángel family surname occurred infreaquently could not be traced effectively (ONMF: 126). Here is some new information to begin to help outline the genealogy of this colonial New Mexico family.

The only Ángel family listed in the 1750 census of Santa Fe was that of Xavier Ángel and María Ramírez. The following individuals, apparently their children and a daughter-in-law, resided with this couple: Laurencio, Maria Jimenez, Gregorio, Miguel, Ynes, Juana, and one unnamed child (Olmsted, SMCNM, 10).

Laurencio Ángel was married with María Antonia Jiménez by 1748 and had these known chiildren all baptized in Santa Fe (Catedral de San Francisco de Asís):

1. Juan Francisca Ángel, bt. 26 June 1749.
2. Lucía Ángel, bt. 18 December 1755.
3. María Barabara Ángel, bt. 30 April 1758.
4. José Francisco Ángel, bt. 20 April 1761.
5. Juan Miguel Ángel, bt. 24 April 1763.
6. Rosa Rafaela Ángel, bt. 21 August 1765.

Gregorio Ángel and his wife, María Gertrudis Rodríguez had four children baptized in Santa Fe (Catedral de San Francisco de Asis):

1. Francisco Ygnacio Ángel, bt. 16 July 1765
2. María Rosa de Jesús Ángel, bt. 16 January 1773.
3. José de Jesús Ángel, bt. 19 November 1775.
4. María Josefa Ángel, b. 12 March 1785, bt. 14 March 1785.

The 1790 census of Santa Fe lists a Gregorio Ángel, age 58 (b.ca. 1732). His racial designation was recorded as color quebrado (broken color), similar to the designation of other Ángel people of Santa Fe. His wife's name has been transcribed as Antonia Domínguez, age 36 (b.ca. 1754). In their household were two sons ages 20 and 17, and four daughters ages 18, 16, 9 and 7.

Miguel Ángel was married with María Rosalía Urioste by 1761, and they had these known children who were all baptized at Santa Fe (Catedral de San Francisco de Asís):

1. María Silveria Ángel, bt. 22 June 1761.
2. Gaspar Ángel, bt. 6 January 1764.
3. María Polonia Ángel, bt. 10 February 1766. Padrinos: Manuel Paulín Rael y Juana Catarina Ángel.
4. José Julián Ángel, bt. 23 February 1768.
5. Juan Bartolomé Ángel, bt. 24 August 1772.
6. José Tomás Ángel, bt. 28 September 1775.

Miguel Ángel was deceased by 1790 when his widow and their eight children were enumerated in the 1790 census of Santa Fe as follows: "Rosalia Urioste, española, 52, widow; 4 sons: 19, 17, 15, 12, 3; 3 daughters: 16, 11, 9."

Ynés Ángel was still single in 1790 when here age was given as 59 (born about 1731), and she was described with the term color quebrado (broken color,; a euphemism usually referring to some mixture of African, Indian and Spanish ancestry). Ynés was listed immediately before the household of Paulín Rael and Juana Catarina Ángel, and just two households from Rosalía Urioste, the widow of Miguel Ángel. In her household was one son age 20.

Juana Catarina Ángel appears to be the same individual listed as Juana in the household of Xavier Ángel and María Ramírez. She was married with Manuel Pauilín Rael. The 1790 census of Santa Fe lists this couple immediately after Ynés Ángel. Paulín Rael was identified as español, age 61 (b.ca. 1729). Juana Catarina was identified as color quebrado, age 57 (b.ca. 1733). In their household were three sons ages 19, 16, 13, one daughter age 7, and one niece age 15. This couple had these 12 known children baptized in Santa Fe (Catedral de San Francisco de Asís):

1. María Rael, bt. 16 May 1755.
2. José Julián Rael, bt. 11 February 1759
3. Felipe de Jesús Francisco Rael, bt. 9 February 1761.
4. María Magdalena Rael, bt. 25 July 1763.
5. Agustín Rafael Rael, bt. 1 September 1765. Padrinos: José Rael y Juliana Antonia Rodríguez.
6. José Francisco Rael, bt. 20 November 1767.
7. Gaspar Antonio Rael, bt. 7 January 1770.
8. José Mariano Rael, bt. 24 February 1772.
9. Ana María Rael, bt. 24 April 1774.
10. Miguel Ramón Rael, bt. 12 May 1776.

Padrinos: José López and Teresa Rael.

11. José Julián Rael, español, bt. 22 January

1781.

12. María Candelaria Rael, bt. 11 February

It appears that Xavier Ángel and María Ramírez were the progenitors of one Ángel family group of 18^th century New Mexico.

A census of the Bernalillo community made circa 1803 lists Agustín Archibeque, age 51 (b.ca. 1752), and his wife Manuela Cháves, age 40 (b.ca. 1763). This Agustín Archibeque appears to be the person of this name baptized at Santa Fe on June 20, 1753 and christened Agustín Antonio Archibeque, son of Antonio Domingo Archibeque and Casilda González (ONMF: 129), and a namesake of his paternal grand father Agustín Archibeque (ONMF: 129).

Agustín Archibeque and Manuela Cháves were enumerated with the following children: 1) Matías, age 13 (b.ca. 1790); 2) Gaspar, age 11 (b.ca. 1792); 3) Juan de Jesús, age 9 (b.ca. 1794); 4) Marcelino (b.ca. 1801; and 5) Antonia Teresa, age 15 (b.ca. 1788).

Erroneous information concerning the ancestry of Ana Ortiz, daughter of Francisco Pacheco, is still being accepted by people who can trace their ancestry to this common ancestor of people with Hispano roots in New Mexico. Although corrections have been published to inform people of that the connection Ana Ortiz and don Francisco Pacheco de Córdoba y Bocanegra is not verifiable, there are individuals who continue to pursue this avenue of research and continue to publish the supposed family connection.

In my article titled "The Jewish-converso Ancestry of Doña Beatriz de Estrada, Wife of don Francisco Vásquez de Coronado," I stated quite frankly that there is no substantiated evidence to link Ana Ortiz with the family of don Francisco Pacheco de Córdoba y Bocanegra. I have received several responses asking if it can be disproven that Francisco Pacheco, father of Ana Ortiz, is not the same person as don Francisco Pacheco de Córdoba y Bocanegra. With this, we now entered into another aspect of this issue which is a sign of reluctance to stop hoping that there is indeed some family connection with the prominent families of early New Spain. Now, there is a challenge to have proof to disprove an unsubstantiated genealogical conclusion. To satisfy this challenge, information that was presented at the 10^th Annual Conference of the Genealogical Society of Hispanic America is provided below. Of particular note is the year of birth of don Francisco Pacheco de Córdoba y Bocanegra, 1573. Compare this date with the approximate year of birth of one of Ana Ortiz's daughters, Isabel de Bohórquez, born circa 1586 —13 years after the birth of don Francisco Pacheco de Córdoba y Bocanegra.

Additional sources: Guillermo Porras Muñoz, El gobierno de la Ciudad de México en el siglo XVI, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 1982: 268-71; José Antonio Esquibel. "The Jewish-Converso Ancestry of Doña Beatriz de Estrada, Wife of Don Francisco Vásquez de Coronado."

Francisco Cháves (most likely Francisco Durán y Cháves who was the husband of Juana Baca) was baptized at Guadalupe del Paso on 21 December 1681, and was a son of don Fernando de Cháves and doña Luisa (sic Lucía) de Salazar. His padrinos were Bartolomé Gómez and doña Teresa Varela.

The following information regarding a record of passage from Spain to New Spain offers an intriguing and possibly valuable opportunity to acquire additional information about the family of Pedro Gómez Durán y Cháves in Spain:

"#4065. Alonso García Cerrato, natural de Valverde de Llerena, hijo de Hernán Sánchez Rico y de Leonor Durana, con su mujer Catalina Cabeza, natural de Valverde, hija de Alonso García Izquierda y de María Cabeza, y sus hijos Leonor, Cristóbal, Fernando y María, a Nueva España —9 de Junio 1576. 5225-A, No. 2, R.36.

According to information found in ONMF, Pedro Gómez Duran y Cháves (ONMF: 19) —b.ca. 1550), the progenitor of the Cháves family of New Mexico, was a native of Valverde de Llerena and a son of Hernan Sánchez Rico. Could Alonso García Cerrato be a brother Pedro Gómez Durán y Cháves? It would certainly be most worthwhile for an interested researcher to acquired the documents that make up this record of passage and examine the specific contents. Records of passage often provide some personal information about the people who sought license to travel to the Spanish realms of the New World. There may have been witnesses who knew the family that provided testimony on behalf of the character of the couple. There may be a copy of a marriage certificate, and possibly additional information on the family lineage that could be of assistance in extending the family line in Spain. Also, it would be important to confirm all the names extracted from the record. In particular, was the surname Durana a mistaken transcription for Durán?

If a researcher does acquire the records of passage for Alonso García Cerrato and Catalina Cabeza, please consider makingthe information available on this web site.

The name of Elena Gallegos is still known to many people today in New Mexico. The large tract of land that she acquired by sale in 1716 became known as the Elena Gallegos Land Grant during the mid-late 1800s. Today, most of her land, which stretched from the banks of the Rio Grande near the village of Alameda to the Sandia Mountains, is part of the City of Albuqerque. A parcel of land at the foothills of the Sandia Mountains is now Elena Gallegos Park.

No approximate year of birth has been ascertained for Elena Gallegos. Most likely she was born just prior to or soon after the Pueblo Indian revolt of August 10, 1680. She was a native of Bernallillo and her parents were named as Antonio Gallegos and doña Catalina Baca in her prenuptial investigation record dated 1699, Bernalillo. Curiously, Antonio Gallegos and doña Catalina Baca were not accounted for in the census made in early 1693 of the exiled New Mexico families intending to return with Governor Vargas. The household of Antonio's brother, José Gallegos was enumerated in this census and only lists his wife, Catalina Hurtado, and their five sons. In addition, there is no listing of any Gallegos household in the cattle distribustion census made by Governor Vargas in May 1697. In short, it is still not known how and when Elena Gallegos and her brother Felipe Gallegos came to reside in the Bernalillo area.

In 1699, Elena Gallegos sought to marry Santiago Grolé (aka Jacques Grolet), a native of La Rochelle, France, who was born about 1663. (Chávez, "NMR," 87-88, DM 1697, no. 12, Santa Fe; and Chávez, ONMF, 193). A careful review of a copy of the original prenuptial investigation record clearly shows that Santiago Grolé named his parents as "Ybon Groleé" and "Marie Odoin." (DM 1699, no. 8, Bernalillo, San Felipe). It has been previously cited that the surname of Santiago's mother was "Odom" (Chávez, ONMF, 193). In her last will and testament, Elena Gallegos declared she had been married with Santiago Gurulé for twelve years, indicating that Santiago died around 1712. According to her last will and testament, Elena Gallegos directed that she be buried by the font of Holy Water in the church of San Felipe de Neri in Albuquerque.

In 1716, Elena Gallegos purchased a large tract of land from Diego de Montoya, which he had received from the crown in 1694. This particular tract of land has become known as the Elena Gallegos Land Grant. Records concerning this land grant, and many others have been preserved among the collection of land grant records that are part of the Spanish Archives of New Mexico. These records are part of the Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I (SANM I) and can be accessed on microfilm. A copy of last will and testament was one of the important documents collected in regard to the Elena Gallegos land grant. Researchers will often find this and other land and personal family papers in the land grant records. In addition, many of the original Spanish documents are transcribed and also translated into English.

The last will and testament of Elena Gallegos is dated May 1, 1730. The revised English translation presented here is based on a copy of the original Spanish version and the first English translation. A copy of the original Spanish version is found in SANM I, Roll 38, fr. 764-66, and the first English translation is found on frames 823-24 of the same roll.

Spanish Transcription ½ English Translation

On May 4, 1662, at Santa Fe, an inventory of the embargoed possessions of Francisco Gómez Robledo (ONMF: 36) was made as part of his arrest by the Inquisition. This first thing listed was his house "que cae en la esquina de la plasa R^l desta villa," indicating that the house of Francisco Gómez Robledo was right along the Plaza of Santa Fe at one of the corners. This house consisted of "una sala, tres aposentos, y un patio conseguerta abaj_ [missing letter(s)] espaldas" ("one living hall/living room, three rooms, and a patio that was entered from behind"). Among the items embargoed were his personal papers. According to the list, Gómez Robledo had fourteen appointments ("nombimientos") as Captain and Cabo (Squadron Leader), two royal "provisiones" as Sargento Mayor, another royal "provision" as Cabo, a "titulo de fiscal de su mag^d", and a "merced de alferez R^l." Of particular interest are three additional entries. Gómez Robledo held "dos titulos de teniente de gov^r y capⁿ g^l, and one "merced de titulo de teniente de gov^r y capⁿ g^l." This indicates that he was appointed Lieutenant Governor and Captain General, presumably of New Mexico, prior to 1662. The third entry is the most intriguing. It was recorded that among his personal papers Gómes Robledo had "una informacion de servicios, y en ella una sedula R^l de cavallero hijodalgo que esta en veinte fojas escritos en todo y tres en blanco" ("a report of services, and among this a royal decree of Caballero Hijodalgo"). Here is an indication that either Francisco Gómez Robledo, or possibly his father before him, was knighted by the King of Spain, most likely for services rendered in New Mexico. In either case, it would be extremely worthwhile for the adventurous researcher who is familiar with the process and documents of Spain pertaining to petitioning the king for acquiring the title and privileges of Caballero Hijodalgo to attempt to locate copies of these records. Perhaps, if such records still survive in some archive in Spain, there may be documents relating to the lineage of the Gómez and Robledo families. Happy hunting!!

In addition to the papers mentioned above, a list of the land holdings and encomiendas of Francisco Gómez Robledo were made. The land documents that Gómez Robledo had in possession were:

In all, Sargento Mayor Francisco Gómez Robledo possessed title to all or part of seven encomiendas in New Mexico. In addition, he had been held five land grant titles. In is no surprise that his enemies wanted to see his downfall with the Inquisition, as he was accused of secretly practicing Judaism. These enemies stood to profit from the loss of his encomiendas if he was found guilty.

Damián Hernández was a native of the Villa de San Fernando (most likely San Fernando de Austria) in the province of Coahuila (now the northeastern Mexican State of Coahuila) who came to New Mexico about 1817 and resided in the home of Juan Estevan Pino at Santa Fe until his marriage in 1825. Hernández was married at the church of San Francisco de Asís in Santa Fe on 18 March 1825. He bride was María Candelaria Baca, of La Cieneguilla, bt. 4 February 1805, Santa Fe, daughter of Francisco Baca and María Dolores Blea. Damián and María Candelaria raised a family of at least seven children. From the baptismal records of these children we learn that Damián was a son of José Manuel Hernández and Josefa Martín. His children by María Candelaria that were baptized at Santa Fe were:

1. María Dolores Hernández, bt. 26 August 1830.
2. Marcelina Hernández, bt.26 May 1834.
3. Antonio José Hernández, bt. 13 June 1836.
4. María Asención Hernández, bt. 12 May 1839.
5. José Dolores Hernández, bt. 2 April 1841.
6. María del Refugio Hernández, bt. 9 March 1842.
7. José Amado Hernández, bt. 15 September 1844.

Domingo Luján (ONMF: 63-64) was married with Ynés Martín Serrano by 1679. This couple were residents of the Guadalupe del Paso area where their daughter, Getrudis (identified as española) was baptized on 20 April 1680. The child’s madrina was María Martín Serrano.

Pedro Martín Serrano (ONMF: 222) and Juana de Arguello had a son named Francisco, español, who was baptized 7 October 1680 at Guadalupe del Paso. This child was "given the water of exteme neccesity." The child’s godmother was Josefa Sambrano. It is unsure if this child survived, but he very likely did and thus would have been the same Francisco Martín Serrano (ONMF: 223), son of Pedro Martín Serrano and Juana de Arguello, that was married with Casilda Contreras.

A census of the Bernalillo community made circa 1803 lists Salvador Mora, age 32 (b.ca. 1771), and his wife Rosa Salazar, age 28 (b.ca. 1775). This couple was enumerated with six children: 1) Francisco, age 14 (b.ca. 1789); 2) Antonio, age 12 (b.ca. 1791); 3) Juan Diego, age 10 (b.ca. 1793); 4) Juan Domingo, age 8 (b.ca. 1795); 5) María Guadalupe, age 6 (b.ca. 1797); and 6) Rafael, age 1 (b.ca. 1802).

As Chávez notes in ONMF, the Mora family surname has been difficult to pinpoint. Now, the family of Salvador Mora and Rosa Salazar can be added into the mix of Mora people of colonial New Mexico.

Salvador Olguín (ONMF: 82) apparently had a second wife following his marriage to Madgalena Fresqui. Salvador Olguín and his wife Josefa de Cháves had a son, Juan Manuel Olguín, baptized at Guadalupe del Paso on 25 January 1685, with Antonio Domínguez de Mendoza and Juana García as padrinos.

José Padilla (ONMF: 253) and his wife María López had two additional sons besides the ones identified by Chávez in ONMF:

• Cayetano Padilla, son of Captain José Padilla and María López, was baptized at Guadalupe del Paso on 16 October 1686. His padrino was Governor don Domingo Xironza Petris de Cruzate.

• Luis Padilla, son of José Padilla and María López, was baptized at Gudalupe del Paso on 3 May 1688. His padrinos were don Pedro Remeros de Posada and Ana de Tapia.

Research into the Páez Hurtado family has yielded new information on several generations of this family.

Capitán Juan Páez Hurtado (ONMF: 254) was born 14 December 1668, Villafranca, and baptized in the church of Santa María la Blanca, Los Palacios y Villafranca de la Marisma, Andalucia, Spain on 22 December 1668. He was a son of Domingo Hurtado and Ana Rubio, vecinos of the villa de Villafranca. His padrino was Juan Moreno Bernal. The following transcription of the baptismal record was made by Sr. Antonio Cruzado González, Cronista Oficial of Los Palacios:

Domingo Hurtado and doña Ana Josepha Rubio were married in the Church of Santa María la Blanca on 13 August 1662. Domingo's father was identified as Juan Páez Hurtado. His mother was Gerónima. Her surname has proven difficult to decipher. The surname looks like 'de Veiro Viscaino' or 'de Veire Viscaino,' but also has been transcribed as 'de Reina Viscaino.' Doña Ana Josepha Rubio was a daughter of Juan López Pachón and doña María Vásquez Rubio. The marriage record of Domingo Hurtado and doña Ana Josepha Rubio reads:

Based on the research presented by John B. Colligan in his book, The Juan Páez Hurtado Expedition of 1695, the following genealogy of the early members of the Páez Hurtado family has been constructed:

1. Domingo Hurtado md. Ana Domínquez [born in the latter part of the 1500s]. Their known son:

1. Juan Páez Hurtado, bt. 25 April 1610, Santa María la Blanca Church, Los Palacios y Villafranca, Andalucia, Spain; md. 14 April 1636, Santa María la Blanca, with Gerónima de [Veire/Vere/Reina?] Vizcaino. Their known son:

1. Domingo Hurtado Vizcaino, bt. 15 February 1637, Santa María la Blanca Church, Los Palacios y Villafranca, andalucia, Spain; md. 13 August 1662, Santa María la Blanca Church, with doña Ana Josefa Rubio, daughter of Juan López Pachón and doña María Vásquez Rubio. Known children:

1. Juan (I) Hurtado, b. 2 February 1663, bt. 10 February 1663, Santa María la Blanca Church, Los Palacios y Villafranca. Padrino: Francisco Benítez Bohórquez. Presumbly died as a child.
2. María Hurtado, b. 3 November 1664, bt. 9 November 1664, Santa María la Blanca Church, Los Palacios y Villafranca. Padrino: Lázaro Parejo.
3. Gerónima Hurtado, b. 14 September 1666, bt. 18 September 1666, Santa María la Blanca Church, Los Palacios y Villafranca. Padrino: Andrés Martín Parejo. Presumably died as a child.
4. Juan Páez Hurtado, b. 14 December 1668, bt. 22 December 1668, Santa María la Blanca Church, Los Palacios y Villafranca - burial 5 May 1742, Chapel of la Conquistadora, Santa Fe, New Mexico; md. (1) Pascuala López Vera, died 1693. Known children:

1. Rosa María López, b.ca. 1684-85, Tlapujahua, Nueva España; md. 1699 with Alonso del Río, b.ca. 1646, Santa Fe, New Mexico, widowed of María González, son of Captain Diego del Río de Losa and María Madrid (Chávez, "New Mexico Roots," 1556-60, DM 1699, no. 10).
2. Ana Páez Hurtado, b.ca 1693; md. 6 January 1716, Santa Fe, New Mexico, with Pedro Ortiz Escudero, b.ca. 1693, Oaxaca, son of Pedro Ortiz Escudero and Lucía de Quiñones y Cervantes.

1. Gerónima Hurtado, bt. 10 October 1676, Santa María la Blanca Church, Los Palacios y Villafranca.

 

2. Juana Hurtado, bt. 27 December 1678, Santa María la Blanca Church, Los Palacios y Villafranca. Padrino: Francisco Benítez Bohórquez.

Sources: Baptisms, Santa María la Blanca Church, Villas de los Palacios y Villafranca, libro 5, folio 89, libro 5, folio 123, libro 6, folio 42, libro 6, folio 209v, libro 7, folio 18; Marriages, Santa María la Blanca Church, Villa de los Palacios y Villafranca, libro 5, folio 123; libro 6, folio 38v. John B. Colligan, The Juan Páez Hurtado Expedition of 1695: Fraud in Recruiting Colonists for New Mexico, Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1995, 3-9, 131 n18, 132 n24, n30, 133 n42; Fray Angélico Chávez, "New Mexico Roots, Ltd.," 1556-60, DM 1699, no. 10; Correspondence of C. Victor Jeter with Charles Martínez y Vigil, January 25, 1998.

The mother of Juan Páez Hurtado (ONMF: 254) Josefa Vásquez Rubio, was baptized in the church of Santa María de la Blanca, Los Palacios y Villfranca on 1 August 1648. Her parents, residents of Villafranca, were named as Juan López Pachón and doña María Vásquez.

The source for the baptismal record of Domingo Hurtado (bt. 15 February 1637), the father of Juan Páez Hurtado, is Santa María la Blanca Church, Villas de los Palacios y Villafranca, libro 3, folio 103v.

Also, the marriage record of Juan Páez and Gerónima de Reyna (md. 14 April 1636), grandparents of Juan Páez Hurtado, identified Gerónima as a widow and does not provide the name of her parents, although her husbands parents are named.

Alvaro de Paredes (ONMF: 85) was baptized at the Catedral de México (Sagrario/Asunción Church), Mexico City on 23 February 1638. His parents were named as don Esteban de Paredes and doña Beatris Cortés.

José Bernardo Prada (ONMF: 261), a soldier of the Santa Fe Presidio, was married at Santa Fe, NM, on 19 October 1787, with María del Loreto Sandoval.

Graciana Romero (ONMF: 133 & 271), the wife of Cristóbal de Arellano, was baptized at Gudalupe del Paso on 22 October 1680. Her parents were named as Francisco Romero [de Pedraza] and Francisca Ramírez [de Salazar], and her padrino was the infamous Francisco Xavier (ONMF: 113) It should be noted that the wife of Francisco Xavier was Graciana Griego, from Graciana Romero may have received her name.

Don Ignacio de Roybal y Torrado (ONMF: 273-75) dictated his last will in testament in Santa Fe on February 14, 1757. Five months later, being over 80 years of age, don Ignacio died, and he was buried on July 14, 1757 (not 1756 as noted in ONMF, 275). The original copy of his last will and testament has remained in one branch of his family for the past forty-two and a half years. For quite a while the original document had been kept between two plates of clear glass to protect and preserve this family record.

The original copy has been in the possession of the Gallegos family of Pojoaque, descendants of don Ignacio. In January 1999, Tony Gallegos brought the will to the New Mexico Records Center and Archives for assistance in updating the preservation of the document. The sealed plates of glass were carefully separated. Initially there was concern that the some of the ink may have come off on the glass. Fortunately, this was not the case.

Great appreciation goes to Tony Gallegos for bringing to light the existence of this will and his interested in further preservation of the document and making a copy of the will available to the general public. Those who will show the most interest in this document will be people who are descended of don Ignacio.

Incidentally, Tony Gallegos is a brother of Pojoaque author Eloy Gallegos, author of Jacona and other historical novels about colonial New Mexico. If you happen to know either one of these men, please take time to acknowledge appreciation for the efforts of their family in preserving the last will and testament of don Ignacio Roybal and their willingness to provide a copy of the will for others to read.

A reading of the will makes it apparent that don Ignacio dictated his statements. The translation attempts to keep the flavor of don Igancio's style of speech and his use of sophisticated words, but also strives to make the language and content understandable to English readers today. It is evident that don Ignacio was a well-educated person. This can be seen in the use of particular words and phrases that are not commonly found in other New Mexico wills nor any other civil or ecclesiastical records of the era. This contributed to the challenge of translating the will. In fact, a few words can not even be found in modern dictionaries of the Spanish language, words such as alajas (referring to household possessions), and amedias (a reference to the practice in which livestock are given to a "partner" to care for in return for a certain number of the increase in stock). Phrases such as "es mi voluntad adjudicasselo, como se lo adjudico a mi Nieta Maria Martin excluyendola con dha adjudicacion," and "se lo tengo adjudicado a mi hijo el P^e Dⁿ Santiago," are possible indications of his familiarity with legal language and processes.

In February 1757, don Ignacio was ill in bed in Santa Fe when he had this last will and testament drawn and authorized. He was blind and did not have the strength to sign his will. Instead, he requested that Fray Tomás Murciano de la Cruz, the Vice Custodian of New Mexico, sign for him in the presence of these witnesses: Francisco Guerrero, Alcalde Mayor, Felipe Tafoya, Pedro Tafoya, Lucas Moya, and Juan Antonio Alarí.

Don Ignacio began his will by identifying himself as a resident of Santa Fe in the kingdom of New Mexico, a native of the kingdoms of Castilla, and a son of don Pedro Roybal and doña Elena de Santa Cruz. He continued by proclaiming his belief in the Roman Catholic faith and petitioning the saints of his devotion for their intercession on behalf of his soul. He requested to be buried in the habit of San Francisco, indicating he was a member of the Third Order of St. Francis, and asked to be buried in the parish church of Santa Fe "next to the altar of the souls." In addition, he asked for masses to be said for the good of his soul.

From the will, it is clear that don Ignacio was proud of his son, Vicar don Santiago de Roybal, whom he held in high esteem and referred to consistently as "my son the priest, Don Santiago." He gave don Santiago "a small Holy Christ of bronze" that he kept at the head of his bed, two arms of the Holy Office of the Inquisition and one two-handled silver cup and six silver plates (most likely his own personal drinking and eating utensils). He named don Santiago as his chief executor of his estate in conjunction with his wife, doña Francisca Gómez Robledo.

Don Ignacio continued his will by affirming his legitimate marriage with doña Francsica Gómez Robledo and named his children in this order (very likely in the order of their birth): Manuela, María, Pedro, Santiago, Juana, Elena, Ygnacio, Bernardo, and Mateo Roybal.

Don Ignacio owned land and houses in the areas of Santa Fe, Pojoaque, Jacona, and Santa Cruz. He mentioned having property below the Villa de Santa Fe next to the Torreon. In his will, he gave this tract of land as a donation to two servants, Juan Miñon and Telmo, and to his sister-in-law, Lucía Gómez. His other grant of lands in Santa Fe boardered the marsh, most likely the marsh that was located northeast of the Casas Reales (Palace of the Governor's) in the colonial era. The land and house in the Jacona area he bequeathed to his son Mateo, whom he also held in high regard because "of the special love he has always had for me." Another tract of land in the Pojoaque area, most likely also connected to his Jacona property, ran along the Cuyamungue River and had a house. He bequeathed this land and house to his son Bernardo. This house consisted of seventeen rooms. One of the rooms had a loom for weaving coarse wool. He is an indication of an active weaving operation in the Roybal household. He raised and maintained sheep from which he most likely obtained the wool for weaving.

In addition to sheep, don Ignacio had 135 head of cattle that he equally divided among his heirs, except for his son Pedro who accepted 300 pesos (an equivalent of about $9,000.00 in modern terms).

Don Ignacio only made mention of a few personal items, such as his riding saddles, his leather jacket, his gun, sword and case, a large French gun, a broad sword, spurs and branding irons. He requested that no list of all his possessions be made. Instead, he asked that his executors simply distribute his possessions, such as his clothing, according to their discretion to his heirs and his servants.

Spanish Transcription ½ English Translation

The precise origins of the Ruiz family of northern New Mexico remain elusive for the interested researchers. The earliest Ruiz family of New Mexico was the Ruiz Cáceres clan, closely associated with the Luján family (ONMF: 62, 63, & 99). There is no indication that the Ruiz family the mid-1700s is descended of the Ruiz Cáceres people. In fact, the Ruiz Cáceres surname disappears from New Mexico records in the early 1700s.

The next Ruiz family in New Mexico was that of Juan Ruiz Cordero (ONMF: 277), a native of Medina Sidonia in Andalucía, Spain. Ruiz Cordero came to New Mexico from Mexico City with his wife, María Nicolasa Carrillo Terrazas. This family settled in Santa Fe. Members of this family were more often known by the Cordero part of their surname. In fact, the only son of Juan Ruiz Cordero, Francisco Xavier Cordero, left Santa Fe to settle at El Paso, where his descendents went by the surname of Cordero (Esquibel and Colligan, SRNM). Thus, there is no evidence that the Ruiz Cordero family was in any way associated with the Ruiz clan of northern New Mexico.

In the late 1700s there was a man named Antonio Ruiz Villegas (ONMF: 277) who became a resident of Albuquerque where he was married in 1785. There is no indication that this man ever settled in northern New Mexico, and he was married later than other Ruiz people of the Santa Cruz and Abiquiu areas.

At Santa Cruz, New Mexico, 21 November 1717, Andrés Ruiz, a native of San Buenaventura de Casas Grandes and a soldier of the Presidio de San Felipe y Santiago de Janos, was married with Jacinta de Valencia, a native of El Paso del Norte and a daughter of Juan de Valencia (deceased) and Juana Madrid. Through the prenuptial investigation process, Andrés Ruiz identified himself as a son of Nicolás Ruiz and María Fontes. Apparently, this couple spent time between Santa Cruz and El Paso. On 2 October 1733, Andrés Ruiz was buried at the church of Santa Cruz, and was identified as a vecino del Paso (citizen of El Paso), married and age 48-50. There are no baptismal records for any children of Andrés Ruiz and Juana de Valencia in the records of the church of Santa Cruz, and the records for El Paso have not been consulted for this study. As such, it is not certain if this couple left any descendants in northern New Mexico.

Another early Ruiz family of Santa Cruz was that of Matías Ruiz and Sebastiana Salazar. Matías Ruiz was a native of the Janos Presidio, born circa 1705. He was married by 13 August 1725 when he was a witness for a prenuptial investigation and in which he gave his age and place of origin. Matías Ruiz and Sebastiana Salazar had at least three children:

1. Reymundo Ruiz, bt. 4 December 1733, Santa Cruz, NM. Padrinos: Pedro Atencio y Estefanía Trujillo (aka Moreno de Trujillo).
2. José Ruiz, español, b.ca. 1734. He was first married under the name Joseph Antonio Ruis at San Juan, NM, on 2 October 1759 with Teodora Sisneros, both vecinos de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad del Río Arriba. This couple settled in the Abuquiu area, and had at least two daughters: 1) María Gertrudis Ruiz, bt. 28 June 1767, Abiquiu; and 2) María Reyes Ruiz, española, b. 6 January 1770, Nuestra Señora de la Soledad del Río Arriba, bt. 12 January 1770, San Juan, NM, and md. 8 december 1782, Abiquiu, NM, with Ventura Martín, español of Santa Cruz, NM, son of Pedro Martín, deceased, and Margarita de Luna. José Ruiz was married secondly in 1774 at Santa Cruz with María Josefa García de Noriega, b.ca. 1758, of San José de Chama daughter of Captain Gregorio Anselmo García de Noriega and María Vigil.
3. María de la Concepción Ruiz, bt. 6 May 1735, Santa Cruz, NM - d. 26 September 1737, Santa Cruz, NM.

The one Ruiz family of northern New Mexico with known descendants living in New Mexico today was that of Antonio Ruiz, identified as Coyote, b.ca. 1760 (1790 census of the Plaza de San Rafael, Abiquiu jurisdiction), and whose precise origin is still unknown. Antonio Ruiz was married with María Isidora Bustos, aka María Isidora González, bt. 15 May 1757, San Juan, NM - d. 25 June 1800, San Juan, NM, daughter of José Manuel González Bustos and Teresa Loreto Casillas. Antonio and María Isidora were residents of the Abiquiu jurisdiction living at the Plaza de Colorado and the Plaza de San Francisco (modern-day Ojo Caliente, NM). This couple had six known children:

1. Juana Rafaela Ruiz, bt. 2 October 1779, San Juan, NM.
2. Manuel Antonio Rafael Ruiz, bt. 26 December 1780, San Juan, NM - d. 20 February 1781, buried 21 February 1781, San Juan, NM.
3. Casimiro Rafael Ruiz, bt. 4 March 1782, San Juan, NM; md. 1 April 1811, Abiquiu, NM, with María Antonia Martín, bt. 12 April 1793, Abiquiu, NM, daughter of José Antonio Martín and María de la Luz Sandoval. Known children of this couple were: 1) María Manuela Ruiz, bt. 18 May 1823, Abuquiu, NM; and 2) José Vicente Ruiz, bt. 18 February 1826, Abiquiu, NM.
4. José Miguel Ruiz, b. 15 February 1784, bt. 19 February 1784, Abuquiu, NM.
5. María Polonia Ruiz, b. 10 April 1786, Plaza de Colorado, bt. 15 April 1786, Abiquiu, NM.
6. Juan Cristóbal Ruiz, b. 12 November 1788, bt. 14 November 1788, Abiquiu, NM; md. 7 December 1812, Abiquiu, NM, to María Manuela Romero, daughter of Lorenzo Romero and Juana Gallegos. Known daughter: 1) María Soledad Ruiz, b.ca. 1820, Abiquiu, NM, - burial 10 April 1891, Chaparito, San Miguel County, NM; md. 21 June 1841, Taos, NM, with Miguel Antonio Esquibel, bt. 15 September 1812, San Juan, NM, (2^nd great-grandfather of this researcher—José Antonio Esquibel), son of José Cipriano Esquibel and Barbara Rafaela Quintana.

There was a branch of the Silva family established in the area of Picurís in the latter decades of the 1700s by don Santiago Silva and doñ Josefa Ponce de León. This couple had at least five children. This family was enumerated in the 1790 census of Picurís as follows: #58 Santiago Silva, español, 45; M^a Josefa Ponce de León, española, 39; 3 sons: 13, 3, 1.

A year earlier, at the church in Picurís, don Santiago Silva was a witness to the marriage of Juan Pablo Padilla, resident of New Mexico for one and a half years. Padilla was described as a native "del Paso del Norte, soltero, coyote," and was 19 years of age, and the natural son of Juan Nepomuceno Padilla and Maria del Carmen Vanegas. Padilla's bride was Maria de los Reyes Aragón, age 16, a daughter of Juaquin Aragón and Margarita Vásquez. The marriage record for this couple is dated January 21, 1789. Don Santiago Silva, as a witness for the groom, gave his own age as 46 (indicating he was born around 1743) and declared that he was "originario del Paso."

Santiago Silva, the son of Francisco Silva and ---------ntes (name apparently illegible) was married in October 1771 at the church of Nuestra Senora de Gudalupe, El Paso del Norte, with Josefa Ponze, daughter of Juan Joseph Ponze and Casilda Lucero.

Maria Josefa de la Luz Ponce, española, was baptized at the church of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, El Paso del Norte, on March 12, 1751, a daughter of Juan Jose Ponce and Casilda Lucero.

María Josefa de la Luz Ponce de León had a sister named María Petrona, española, who was baptized on August 1753, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, El Paso del Norte. She als had a brother named Joseph Ponce who was married April 10, 1780, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, El Paso del Norte, with dona Josefa Dias del Carpio [Díaz de Carpio]. This couple had a daughter named María Feliciana Carpio who was married at the church of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, El Paso del Norte, on June 7, 1794 with Fermín Morro, a native of El Paso and a son of Juan José Morro and María Ribera.

Extending this family genealogy one more generation, Juan Joseph Ponce de León, of San Buenaventura [most likely in Nueva Vizcaya] and Casilda Lucero de Godoy were married November 10, 1744, Nustra Señora de Guadalupe Church, El Paso del Norte. It appears that further research on the Ponce de Leon family can be done with records from a little further south in San Buenaventura, Nueva Vizcaya.

Further research needs to be conducted to determine if this Silva family was related to the Silva family founded further north in New Mexico by Antonio de Silva and Gregoria Ruiz.

Don Santiago Silva and doña Josefa Ponce de León had these known children:

1. Margarita Silva, md. 27 September 1788, Picurís, NM, with Juan Cristóbal Sánchez, español, resident of Embudo, son of José Sánchez and Isabel Fresqui.
2. Mariano Silva, b.ca. 1774, md.ca. January 1793, Santa Cruz, NM, with María Manuela Martín, b.ca. 1776, española of El Cerro de Chimayó, daughter of Julián Martín and Rosa Mascareñas.
3. Antonio José Silva, b. 9 February 1788, bt. 15 February 1788, Picurís, NM.
4. Son (name unknown), b.ca. 1789.
5. Tomás José de los Dolores Silva, b. 29 December 1791, bt. 2 January 1792, Picurís, NM.

Sources: AASF Roll 6, San Lorenzo de Picurís Church, Baptismal Records 175 1834; AASF Roll 28, San Lorenzo de Picurís Church, Marriage Records 1726-1837; Virginia L. Olmsted, New Mexico Spanish and Mexican Colonial Censuses, 1790, 1823, 1845, New Mexico Genealogical Society Publication [1790 census of the jurisdiction of Picurís], 123; John B. Colligan and Terry L. Corbett, "A Guide to the 1788 and 1790 Censuses of El Paso del Norte Arranged Alphabetically and Listed to Indicate Possible Family Groupings."

Santiago Silva and doña María Josefa Ponce de León (see above) had this additional child:

José Mariano Silva, son of Santiago Silva and María Josefa Ponce de León, was born circa 1774 in the Picurís jurisdiction and died 06 April 1838 in Llano, (Taos County) New Mexico. He was married on 16 June 1793 in Santa Cruz de la Canada, NM, with María Manuela Martín, daughter of Jose Julián Martín and Maria Rosa (Rosalía) Mascareñas. There is a pre-nuptial investigation record dated 6 June 1793, Santa Cruz from which Fray Angélico Chávez extracted this information: "Mariano Silva (19), espanol of Las Trampas de Picuris, son of Don Santiago Silva and Dona Josefa Ponce de Leon and Manuela Martin (17) española of El Cerro de Chimayo, d. of Julian Martin and Rosa Mascarenas----Witnesses: Clemente Mestas (37) and Juan Roybal (32) of Las Trampas; Juan Domingo Gonzales (44) Pablo Gonzales (46)" (Chávez, NMR: 1831, DM June 6, 1793, no. 24, Santa Cruz)

The known children of José Mariano Silva and Maria Manuela Martín were:

1. Felipe de Jesús Silva, born 24 February 1798, bt. 25 February 1798, Santa Cruz de la Cañada, NM.
2. María Dolores Silva, born 22 March 1799, bt. 24 March 1799, Santa Cruz de la Cañada, NM.
3. Juan Miguel Silva, español, born 29 September 1802, bt. 3 October 1802, Santa Cruz de la Canada.
4. Gabriel Antonio Silva, born 12 March 1806, bt. 12 March 1806, Santa Cruz de la Canada, NM.
5. María de la Luz Silva, born 24 September 1809, bt. 29 September 1809, Santa Cruz de la Cañada, NM.
6. Maria Theodora de Esquipulas Silva, born 01 April 1812, bt. 11 April 1812, Santa Cruz de la Cañada, NM. She was married circa 1829 with José Antonio Casillas, son of Juan Andrés Casillas and María Manuela Romero. Known children:

1. María Magadalena Casillas, born 23 March 1848, Picurís, N.M.
2. José Ramón Casillas, born 06 June 1832 Embudo, N.M.
3. María de la Luz Casillas, born 27 October 1827, Llano, NM, bt. 30 October 1827, San Lorenzo de Picurís, NM.
4. Jesús María Casillas, born 08 March 1838, Llano, NM, bt. 08 April 1838, San Lorenzo de Picurís, NM.

1. María Rosalía Silva, born circa 1814. Her known child was:

1. Juan Marcelino Silva, born 07 March 1854, bt. 12 March 1854 at San Lorenzo de Picurís. His padrinos were Juan Nepomuceno Frequís and María de la Luz Casillas, vecinos de San Juan Nepomuceno del Llano. No father is listed.

Diego de Trujillo (ONMF: 107-08), the progenitor of the Trujillo family of New Mexico, identified himself as a native of Mexico City. Fray Angélico Chávez noted that in 1632, Trujillo gave his age as 19 or 20, and in 1662 he gave his age as 50, indicating he was born circa 1611-12. In addition, Chávez informs us that Trujillo and his wife, Catalina Vásquez had a son named Francisco de Trujillo and a daughter named Ana Moreno de Lara, wife of Cristóbal Baca (ONMF: 10 & 108). For the purpose of the promising lead presented below, it is also worthwhile to note that a daughter of Francisco de Trujillo was named Bernardina de Salas y Oroszco, aka Bernardina de Salas y Trujillo (ONMF: 49 & 108).

In the early 1600s, there was a couple named Francisco de Trujillo Villvicencio