Finding Aid of the New Mexico Documents Collection, 1758-1876

The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for Southwest Research

Center for Southwest Research
Zimmerman Library
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131-1466
Phone: 505-277-6451
Fax: 505-277-0530
Email: cswrref@unm.edu
URL: http://www.unm.edu/~cswrref/



©2000

The University of New Mexico



Collection Summary

Title New Mexico Documents Collection
Dates (Inclusive) 1758-1876
Collector University of New Mexico. Center for Southwest Research
Abstract This collection contains documents pertaining to New Mexico in the years 1758-1876. The collection consists mostly of land records as well as documents regarding New Mexico's status as a non-slave holding Territory.
Collection Number MSS 146 BC
Size 1 box (.45 cu. ft.)
Repository University of New Mexico. Center for Southwest Research.
Language English and Spanish

Scope and Content

Seal of the Mexican government on Las Golondrinas Grant papers. (Box 1, Item 46).

The collection contains documents representing New Mexico's colonial (to 1821), Mexican (1821-1846), and territorial (1846-1912) periods. The majority of the documents represent sale deeds, while others are wills and other estate papers, promissory notes, IOUs, account lists, acts of possession, and printed government documents from Chihuahua, Mexico. The majority relate to Blas Trujillo (also spelled Truxillo and Trugillo) and his family in Taos. Some documents refer to matters in Abiquiu, Santa Cruz de la Cañada, and other places in Northern New Mexico. Many of these documents present valuable information on the social and economic history of New Mexico and are especially useful for matters pertaining to genealogy and land ownership in the Taos area (especially Don Fernando de Taos and San Gerónimo de Taos). Item number 43 refers to Carlos Beaubien, a prominent trader associated with the Bents. The majority of the documents are in Spanish. Also included in this collection are photocopies of 8 documents regarding New Mexico's early territorial status and early statehood.


Restrictions

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Copy Restrictions

Limited duplication of print and photographic material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publications or distribution.


Preferred Citation

New Mexico Documents Collection, (MSS 146) Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections, University of New Mexico Libraries.


Related Material

New Mexico Land Documents and Marriage Authorization University of New Mexico. Center for Southwest Research

Sandoval County, New Mexico Land Documents University of New Mexico. Center for Southwest Research

Albuquerque Area Land Documents and Letter Regarding Miracle Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico Libraries

Sandia Pueblo Land Deed Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico


Access Terms

Abiquiu (N.M.)

Land tenure--New Mexico

Land tenure--Taos Pueblo (N.M.)

Legal documents--New Mexico

Legal documents--Taos Pueblo (N.M.)

New Mexico--Genealogy

New Mexico--History--1848-

New Mexico--History--To 1848

Taos Pueblo (N.M.)


Contents List

Description Container

1. Legal statements regarding land sales, prepared by Don Pedro Antonio Martín, Alcalde Mayor and War Captain of the jurisdiction of Santa Cruz de la Cañada at the village of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, Río Arriba.   June 22, 1770

Box 1 Folder 1

2. Statement regarding settlement of the estate of Matías Barela, Abiquiu. Mentions exchanges Barela had with Antonio Sisneros and Jose Francisco Maes. Signed by Antonio Ballejo.   February 20, 1781

Box 1 Folder 2

3. Royal Act of Possession.   May 2, 1797

The Alcalde José Antonio Ortiz by order of Governor Fernando Chacón placed Santiago Silva in possession of 63 varas of land. San Gerónimo de Taos.

Box 1 Folder 3

4. Formal Act of Possession.   May 4, 1798

Alcalde José Antonio Ortiz by order of Governor Fernando Chacón conducts ceremony placing Salvador Martínez in possession of land at the "Puesto del Río" de Don Fernando de Taos.

Box 1 Folder 4

5. Deed of Land Sale.   April 11,1806

Paulín de Rera [read Herrera] conveys a piece of land 57 varas wide to Lionisio Quintana. Executed by Alcalde Tomás Ortiz, Pueblo de San Gerónimo de Taos.

Box 1 Folder 5

6. Sale deed. Sept. 22, 1809.

Salvador Padia [Padilla] conveys a piece of farm land (boundaries described) to José Antonio Alari [Alarid], soldier of the Santa Fe Presidial Company, for 150 pesos. Executed by Alcalde Tomás Ortiz. San Gerónimo de Taos.

Box 1 Folder 6

7. Statement of Salvador Padilla conveying to Don Miguel Quintana 43 varas of land on the Rio de Don Fernando de Taos, this paper to serve while formal deed is being prepared, October 20, 1807.

Box 1 Folder 7

8. Sale deed. 

Vicente Lucero conveys to Juan Antonio Bernal a piece of farm land in the Plaza of Don Fernando for the sum of 126 pesos. Executed by the Alcalde Don Tomás de Taos, July 6, 1811. Further conveyance appended April 10, 1841.

Box 1 Folder 8

9. Sale deed. 

Juan Antonio Alarid conveys a piece of farm land (boundaries descried) to Manuel Baca for 80 pesos. Executed by the Alcalde Don Tomás Ortiz. Pueblo de San Gerónimo de Taos, November 13, 1811. Further conveyance appended April 24, 1838.

Box 1 Folder 9

10. Sale deed. 

José Romero conveys a farm lot to Tomás Sánchez. Executed by the Alcalde Mayor and War Captain of Taos, Juan de Dios Peña. San Gerónimo de Taos, October 28, 1816. Note appended November 3, 1825.

Box 1 Folder 10

11. Matters regarding a house lent by Salvador Padilla to Rafael Pacheco. Document executed by Don Felipe de Sandoval, Alcalde of the Barrio of San Fernando de Taos. November 7 (year lacking, but ca. 1810-1820).

Box 1 Folder 11

12. Deed. February 15, 1821.

Manuel Baca conveys a piece of land to María Polonia Lucero. Executed by Don Pablo Lucero, Regidor decano (senior alderman) and Alcalde Constitucional Interino (Interim Constitutional Magistrate) of Taos.

Box 1 Folder 12

13. Sale deed. June 5, 1822.

José Gabriel Casados conveys a lot 63 varas wide to Francisco María Sandoval for 200 pesos. Executed by the Alcalde Don Thomas Romero, San Fernando de Taos.

Box 1 Folder 13

14. Sale deed. March 14, 1823.

Land conveyed by the three heirs of the deceased Juan Dominguez Montoya to Felipe Jesús Montoya. Executed by the Alcalde de Juan Antonio Lovato. San Gerónimo de Taos.

Box 1 Folder 14

15. Sale deed. December 24, 1824.

María Chavez conveys a piece of farm land in Ranchito to Juan Trujillo. Executed by the Alcalde Don José Gabriel Martín. Pueblo de San Gerónimo de Taos.

Box 1 Folder 15

16. Sale deed. June 2, 1825.

A piece of land sold to Blas Trujillo for 132 pesos by Manuel Sanchez, Antonio Gomez and José Antonio Romero. Executed by the Alcalde José Gabriel Martínez. San Gerónimo de Taos.

Box 1 Folder 16

17. Document regarding legal matters and accusations against the citizen Manuel Cavallero. Signed by L. Molina, Chihuahua, February 7, 1826.

Box 1 Folder 17

18. Sale deed. February 9, 1827.

Manuel Ramos Martín conveys a piece of land to Felipe Tenorio. Executed by Don Manuel Martínez. San Gerónimo de Taos.

Box 1 Folder 18

19. Sale deed. September 13, 1828.

José Antonio Vigil, resident of San Francisco de las Trampas del Rancho conveys to Felipe Tenorio a piece of farm land. Executed by the Alcalde Don Vicente Trujillo. San Fernando de Taos.

Box 1 Folder 19

20. Sale deed. 

Jesús Archuleta conveys a piece of farm land to Antonio Suazo for 56 pesos. Executed by the Alcalde Juan Antonio Lovato. San Gerónimo de Taos. February 17, 1829. Further conveyance appended, April 24, 1838.

Box 1 Folder 20

21. Sale deed. March 23, 1829.

Property conveyed by Francisco María Sandoval to José Manuel Sandoval. Executed by Alcalde Juan Antonio Lovato. San Gerónimo de Taos.

Box 1 Folder 21

22. Sale deed. July 30, 1829.

Regarding a house in the Barrio de San Fernando sold by Pedro Antonio Durán and María Marcelina Casados. Executed by the Alcalde Juan Antonio Lovato. San Gerónimo de Taos.

Box 1 Folder 22

23. Sale deed. April 30, 1830.

Maticena Silva, a resident of the jurisdiction of San Juan de los Caballeros, conveys a piece of land in Taos, inherited from his grandmother, to José María Silva. Executed by the Alcalde Pablo Lucero. San Gerónimo de Taos.

Box 1 Folder 23

24. Sale deed. September 13, 1830.

José Manuel Serbe conveys a lot inherited from his father to Manuel Suaso for 40 pesos. Executed by the Alcalde Pablo Lucero, San Gerónimo de Taos,

Box 1 Folder 24

25. Part 1: 

Legal statement regarding settling of debts of deceased María Josefa García. Executed by the Alcalde Don José María Ortiz. Santo Tomás de Abiquiu. December 29, 1830.

Box 1 Folder 25

Part 2: 

Regarding sale of land by Rafael Archuleta to Tomás Salazar for 4 mules, a horse, and 16 pesos in cash. Executed by the Alcalde Francisco Trujillo. Santo Tomás de Abiquiu. January 23, 1834.

Box 1 Folder 25

26.Sale deed. March 14, 1831.

Antonio Mateo Montoya conveys a piece of farm land to Felipe Tenorio. Executed by Alcalde Rafael de Luna. Taos.

Box 1 Folder 26

27. Legal statement by Pedro Vigil that he fulfilled the provision of the will of the deceased María Dolores Ortiz, by selling her house to the naturalized citizen Don Matías Quinque [possibly Matthew Kincaid]. Other details executed by the Alcalde Rafael de Luna. Taos, May 15, 1831.

Box 1 Folder 27

28. Sale deed. July 2, 1831

Alariano Tafolla [Tafoya], resident of Santa Cruz de la Cañada, conveys to Antonio Montoya lands in the Cañon del Río de Don Fernando. Executed by Alcalde Rafael Antonio de Luna, Taos.

Box 1 Folder 28

29. IOU. July 10, 1831.

Juan Benito García owes to Blas Trujillo the sum of 16 pesos.

Box 1 Folder 29

30. Printed court docket, Chihuahua, Jan, 1831 -June, 1832.

List of civil and criminal cases pending in the Supreme Tribunal of Chihuahua City

Box 1 Folder 30

31. Sale deed. May 6, 1833.

Land conveyed by Juan Sanchez to Blas Trujillo. Executed by Alcalde Juan Antonio Lovato. San Gerónimo de Taos.

Box 1 Folder 31

32. Part 1: 

Sale of a house of two rooms (each room of 9 vigas) by José Padilla to Juan Cristóbal Chavez. Executed by the Alcalde Blas Trujillo, San Gerónimo de Taos, May 7, 1833.

Box 1 Folder 32

Part 2: 

Legal matters and deed relating to above house raised by Juan Trujillo. Executed by the Alcalde Juan Jesús Valdes, Taos, January 9, 1840.

Box 1 Folder 32

33. Sale deed. May 2, 1834.

Land conveyed by Manuel Suazo to Victor Sanchez. Executed by the Alcalde Juan Antonio Aragón. San Gerónimo de Taos.

Box 1 Folder 33

34. Printed broadside of the Congress of Chihuahua addressed to its citizens regarding Indian hostilities. August 28, 1834.

  Oversize Folder 1

35. Sale deed. January 13, 1835.

Francisco María Sandoval conveys a piece of farm land in the Barrio de San Fernando to Blas Trujillo. Executed by Alcalde J. Mariano Jaramillo. San Gerónimo de Taos,

Box 1 Folder 35

36. Sale deed. July 29, 1836.

Land conveyed by María Gertrudes Sanchez to Blas Trujillo. Executed by the Alcalde Santiago Martínez, San Geróniomo de Taos.

Box 1 Folder 36

37. Receipt for funeral expenses by the Parish Priest of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Taos to Santiago Gallegos. Don Fernando de Taos. March 5, 1837.

Box 1 Folder 37

38. Sale deed. June 22, 1837.

Land conveyed by María Josefa Archuleta (widow of José María Chaves) to Don Blas Trujillo. Executed by the Alcalde Juan Antonio Aragón. San Gerónimo de Taos.

Box 1 Folder 38

39. Sale deed. July 16, 1837.

Land conveyed by the Cruz brothers to Blas Trujillo. Executed by the Alcalde Don Rafael de Luna. Taos.

Box 1 Folder 39

40. Libro de cuenta. July 24, 1838.

Statement of what is owed to the servant José Victor Martín for his work.

Box 1 Folder 40

41. Legal matters relating to the company and store of the deceased merchant Branch. Executed by Juan Bautista Vigil y Alarid, attorney for the naturalized citizen Don Luis Lee. Don Fernando de Taos. March 1, 1841.

Box 1 Folder 41

42. Sale deed. May 1, 1841.

Antonio de Herrera y Francisco de Herrera of Rio Arriba convey to their brother-in-law in Taos, Pablo Trujillo, a piece of land (boundaries described). Executed by the Alcalde Buenavista Valdes. Don Fernando de Taos.

Box 1 Folder 42

43. IOU. Sept. 5, 1842.

Carlos Beaubien and Teofilo Forcier promise to pay 15 good buffalo hides and the use of 5 mules on a trip to the Kiowas of 35 days to Don Blas Trujillo. They also agree to pay the same Don Blas 15 good hides more for 20 flasks of whiskey. Taos.

Box 1 Folder 43

44. Statement of Conveyance. January 14, 1843.

Juan Nicolás Durán to Juan de Jesús Aguilar "a small house of eight vigas with two doors and some windows" and the contents of the house. Don Fernando de Taos.

Box 1 Folder 44

45. Will of the deceased José Manuel Martínez, resident of Abiquiu. Feb. 25, 1842.

Box 1 Folder 45

46. Grant papers (Merced) for the Puesto de las Golondrinas. January 28, 1844.

Box 1 Folder 46

47. IOU. 

Gregorio Padilla owes Santiago Gallegos 6 goats and 6 sheep by April 1, 1845.

Box 1 Folder 47

48. Will of José de Jesús Trujillo, March 2, 1841. Taos.

Box 1 Folder 48

49. Power of Attorney conveyed by Esteban García, citizen of the Rio de Chama, to the Alcalde Miguel Tafoya for the sale of 100 varas of land to Blas Trujillo. No date. 

Box 1 Folder 49

50. Application by Miguel Lucero, citizen of San Francisco del Rancho, requesting that Don Vicente Martínez, prefect of Taos, administer the estate of his deceased wife María Manuela Salazar. Taos. January 12, 1848.

Box 1 Folder 50

51. Declaration regarding a land sale made by María Tomasa Madrid to Francisco Olivas. 

Statement taken by the Alcalde José María Chaves, Abiquiu, March 3, 1849.

Box 1 Folder 51

52. Legal statement regarding land, made to the request of María Tomasa Madrid and Don José Antonio Manzanares. 

Executed by the Alcalde José María Chaves, Abiquiu, March 5, 1849.

Box 1 Folder 52

53. Matters of inventory regarding settlement of the estate of the deceased Blas Trujillo by his widow María Manuela Sanchez. San Fernando de taos, April 14, 1849.

Box 1 Folder 53

54. Record of money and goods received by Fernando Antonio Trujillo. May 10, 1849.

Box 1 Folder 54

55. Statement of 10 pesos debt owed by Felipe Necio Maes to Don Santiago Gallegos. July 10, 1849.

Box 1 Folder 55

56. List of debts owed to Blas Trujillo, 1851.

Box 1 Folder 56

57. Inventory of the estate of María Manuela Sanchez, May 9, 1855.

Box 1 Folder 57

58. Receipt to administrators Gabriel Vigil and Santiago Gallegos for articles left in the estate of his mother María Manuela Sanchez by Juan Gomez. May 11, 1855.

Box 1 Folder 58

59. List of the 75 benefactors of the estate of the deceased María Manuela Sanchez showing goods and/or money left them. Don Fernando de Taos. May 11, 1855.

Box 1 Folder 59

60. Statement of Gabriel Vigil and Santiago Gallegos, administrators of the estate of María Manuela Sanchez. Don Fernando de Taos. 1856.

Box 1 Folder 60

61. Land document executed by José Miguel Archuleta on behalf of Don Juan Rafael Pacheco. Taos, August 14, 1857.

Box 1 Folder 61

62. Cover sheets dated 1857 for document by Felipe Ledor on behalf of Juan Trujillo.

Box 1 Folder 62

63. Sale deed. September 10, 1858.

Land conveyed by Manuel Gomez to Andres Trujillo. Taos.

Box 1 Folder 63

64. Deed conveying a house to María Ignacia Pacheco. Executed by Antonio Vigil, Justice of the Peace. Taos, September 20, 1860.

Box 1 Folder 64

65. Promissory note. July 15, 1862.

Taos County Treasurer to Francisco Chaves for 23 pesos, 75 centavos. Taos.

Box 1 Folder 65

66. Promissory note. May 1, 1863.

Taos County Treasurer to Charles Portugues for $6.00. January 10, 1863. Also, promissory note, Taos County Treasurer to Francisco Sanchez for $13.00.

Box 1 Folder 66

67. Receipt for sheep by mayordomo Pablo García. June 15, 1864.

Box 1 Folder 67

68. Land deed. August 11, 1866.

Cosme Trujillo to Smith H. Simpson. Don Fernando de Taos.

Box 1 Folder 68

69. Land deed. August 11, 1866.

María Ignacia Pacheco to Smith H. Simpson. Taos.

Box 1 Folder 69

70. Sale deed. August 26, 1866.

José Vicente Martínez conveys to María Domingo Anaya a house of 13 vigas. Taos.

Box 1 Folder 70

71. Sale deed. Sept. 28, 1868.

House sold by Domingo Anaya to Smith H. Simpson for 50 pesos. Taos.

Box 1 Folder 71

72. Discharge from Responsibility -- Smith H. Simpson, Administrator of the Estate of John B. Leroux. Don Fernando de Taos, July 14, 1869.

Box 1 Folder 72

73. Sale deed. July 23, 1874.

María Trujillo conveys to Luz Barela a house in the Plaza of Don Fernando de Taos.

Box 1 Folder 73

74. Personal letter from Antonio Chavez to his parents. Cimarron, November 29, 1874.

Box 1 Folder 74

75. Wedding invitation. Don Fernando de Taos, February 2, 1876.

Box 1 Folder 75

76. Notice regarding the cleaning of acequias and transfer of land to Maria Manuela Silva, Pueblo de Santa María de Belen, signed by Tomás Baca and mentions Vicente Chavez.  1843

Box 1 Folder 76

77. Will of the deceased Joseph Trujillo, dividing land among his sons. Executed by Francisco Sanchez, Alcalde Mayor and Captain. Of War of the jurisdiction of San Ildefonso, February 27, 1758.

Box 1 Folder 77

78. Photocopies of documents regarding New Mexico's territorial status and early statehood. 

These copied documents were contributed by Jack D. Rittenhouse and were used by him and Richard Ellis in their book, New Mexico Historical Documents. They are reprinted there.(Missing as of Nov. 2015)

Box 1 Folder 78