Beyond Origins of New Mexico Families
A website maintained by José Antonio Esquibel
Title of Hidalgo
A question has always existed as to whether any of the original colonists of 1598 were ever granted the title that they were promised as part of the contract for settling New Mexico. This title is namely, that of "Hijo-dalgo" or Hidalgo. Part of the doubt as to whether this title was ever granted was that no documentation had surfaced confirming the grant of title.
José Esquibel recently uncovered a list of papers that had belonged to Francisco Gómez Robledo (ONMF: 35). This list of papers was mentioned in
BONM Volume 3. Among those papers were papers that had belonged to Francisco’s father, Francisco Gómez (ONMF: 35 ). Among those was a "Cédula Real de un Caballero Hidalgo." This confirmed that the senior Francisco Gómez was granted this title, but just exactly how that title was worded remained unknown.Recently, Charles Martínez y Vigil found in the New Mexico State Archives a book entitled, History of New Mexico by Gaspar Pérez de Villagrá. This edition was translated by Gilberto Espinosa and published by the Quivira Society in 1933. In the Appendices are numerous papers written to or about Gaspar Pérez de Villagrá. Apparently these are all part of a collection of Villagrá’s personal papers, though no mention is made of the source, these can all be assumed to be located in Spain.
In Appendix E of this book is found the following:
Title of Caballero and Hijo-dalgo in favor or Captain Gaspar de Villagra and his Descendants. 1603.
Don Juan de Oñate, governor and captain general, adelantado, discoverer and pacifier of the kingdoms and provinces of New Mexico and the adjoining and neighboring regions, in the name of the king, our lord:
To you, honored sir, brave and discreet, Captain Gaspar de Villagra, procurador general of the army, judge advocate [for juez asesor] of the church, of the council of war, head and agent of the royal hacienda:
Whereas the majesty of Caesarean and royal liberality is evidenced in no better way than by fitly rewarding those who deserve its benefits, honors, and dignities, that they may on the one hand receive proper remuneration and recognition for their virtues and deserts, and on the other hand that others may, with hope of such rewards, take notice and aspire with greater fervor and increasing virtue to like recompense, lending similare service; and although it be true that virture is its own reward, yet it is always fittingly followed by such remuneration as its glory, honor, and excellence entitles it to. But especialy is this proper when great princes by their decree and order approve and honor them.
For the above reasons, considering the many and good services you have rendered to the king, our lord, and the outstanding virtures of your person, and their just deserts; the noble and exemplary habits of your life, your great experience in many affairs, your god judgment, industry, and skill, your ability in war, all of which virtues you are endowed with, as I well know, having witnessed them on many occasions, in peace as well as in war. And so, fittingly to reward your efforts and labors and that you may enjoy the privileges which pertain to hijos-dalgo, and so be known, having complied with your duty, and in furtherance of what his majesty has promised to the pacifiers and conquerors of these kingdoms, newly affirmed and renewed in a royal degree referred to the secretary, Juan Ibarra, which is as follows:
Don Philip, by the grace of God, king of Castile and Aragon, [etc.].
Whereas the viceroy Don Luis de Velasco by virtue of a royal decree of the king, our lord, may he live in glory, entered into a contract with Don Juan de Oñate, for the discovery, pacification, and settlement of the provinces of New Mexico, which is in New Spain, and among other things he granted to him what is contained in one of the chapters of the instructions on new discoveries and settlements in the Indies, which is as follows:
That those who bind themselves to settle and shall have settled in thse lands and have complied with their agreement, in order to honor their persons and their descendants, and that a glorious memory may remain of them as the original settlers, we declare them and their legitimate descendants hijos-dalgo de solar (of the lands owned by them) that in the settlements they establish and in any other part of the Indies they may be hijos-dalgo and persons of noble lineage and as such may be considered and known and enjoy all the benefits, privileges, and immunities thereto pertaining and do all things that hijos-dalgo and caballeros may in the kingdoms of Castile, according to the privileges, laws, and customs of Spain.
With reference to the petition of Don Juan de Onate, I have been requested to grant him the grace to approve the above, notwithstanding the limitations made therein by the Count of Monterey, and I have considered it proper to apply said prerogative to those who served five years in the conquest with the proviso that if any have died before serving five years in the conquest then their sons and descendants shall enjoy said prerogatives; for the present I order that all those who may have gone to serve me in said conquest, pacification, and settlement, and according and in conformity with said chapter, and remained five years in said conquest, and all those who in said conquest died, they and their sons and descendants shall be guaranteed all the preeminences, prerogatives, exemptions, and liberties, according to and as conceded them and set forth in said chapter, entirely and completely, failing in nothing.
I order the infantes, prelates, dukes, marquises, counts, knights, priors of the Orders, prefects and sub-prefects, alcaldes of the castles and walled towns and of my council, presidents and judges, alcaldes, sheriffs of my houshold and of the court, and the judges of this kingdom and the seigniories of the Indies, isles and tierra firma of the ocean, and other persons of every character or quality and condition, to guard, comply with, and execute this my franchise and grace that it may have the full force of law, as though it were executed and promulgated by the courts, and that it may be announced in such parts and places as convenient.
Given at San Lorenzo, July 8, 1602.
I, the King
I, Juan de Ibarra, secretary to the king, have done this, his command.
By virtue of the above, I declare you, the said Captain Gaspar de Villagra, as such a pacifier and conqueror of those kingdoms, and having served the royal crown of Castile like a most noble soldier and prudent captain, for which you merit the enjoyment of those liberties and privileges, exemptions and immunities by which hijos-dalgo de solar are recognized and held, fully and to all effects, in favor of yourself, your sons, descendants, and successors.
Given and sealed with the seal of my arms in the villa of San Gabriel of the province of New Mexico, on October 1, 1603.
Juan de Oñate
By command of the governor,
Juan Martinez de Montoya, secretary
The above shows that the title of "Caballero Hidalgo" was in fact bestowed upon certain people. Whether it was given to every settler, or to only a few of those who were loyal to Oñate is hard to say. Only the above for Villagrá and the other in the possession of Francisco Gómez Robledo have come to light. Gerónimo Márquez was one of Oñate’s loyal officers, and was also banished from New Mexico along with Villagrá. And then there was the senior Pedro Robledo who died along the trip in 1598, and his own son, Pedro Robledo II who died at Ácoma. All of these may have also been given this title.