Maria Damiana Tapia, Both of them!

This post is about two different women, both named Maria Damiana Tapia. The first was the paternal aunt of the second. It is an odd story and somewhat complicated with many unanswered questions for both of them. In fact there are more questions than anything that is known about either of them.

The first Maria Damiana Tapia I am talking about was born in the early 1800's most likely in San Miguel del Bado, New Mexico where all of her siblings were born to Diego Antonio Tapia and Maria Apolonia Gallegos. She was one of at least seven children of Diego Antonio and Maria Apolonia. One of the other children of the couple was Jose Nicolas Tapia. More on him a bit later.

The first Maria Damiana Tapia married at least 3 times,

1) First she married Jose Santiago Armijo on the 2nd of July of 1828 - Jose Santiago Armijo was dead by 1839.

On March 17 1833 Damiana Tapia and her husband Santiago Armijo baptized (and adopted) Maria Tereas Armijo at San Miguel del Bado. Maria Teresa is listed as being from unknown parents.

On May 3, 1838 Damiana Tapia and her husband Santiago Armijo baptized (and adopted) Jose Dolores Armijo at Santa Fe. Jose Dolores is listed as one month old and as being from unknown parents.

2) Next she married Antonio Salazar  - Her second husband and the father of Jose Felipe de Salazar born the 18th of February of 1840 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

On May 21, 1839 Damiana and her husband  Antonio baptized and adopted Maria del Rosario Salazar, the daughter of "Indios".  Maria del Rosario was approximately five years old when she was baptized in Santa Fe.

On the 6th of December 1839 Damiana, by this time 7 months pregnant,  and her husband Antonio Salazar baptized (and adopted) another child. This time a three day old girl named Maria Antonia Salazar and listed as being from unknown parents and also baptized in Santa Fe.

On February 18, 1840 Damiana gave birth to their son mentioned above, Jose Felipe Salazar. Jose Felipe was baptized in Santa Fe by a woman named Josefa Peres Serrano.

On August 5th 1840 Damiana and Antonio baptized (and adopted) another child. This one named Jose de Jesus Salazar who was born 3 days previous to unknown parents at Placer de Dolores, New Mexico.

3) Next Damiana Tapia wed Juan Jose Vigil on the 7th of January of 1854 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

NOTE: Between May of 1839 when they baptized the Indian Maria del Rosario and August 5, 1840, In just fifteen months or so they went from no children to a five year old and three infants. Maybe even an additional two adopted children from her first marriage.

Next we look at the second  Maria Damiana Tapia, the niece of the first Damiana and the daughter of Jose Nicolas Tapia and Maria Lauriana Ulibarri. This Maria Damiana was born in San Miguel del Bado and baptized there on September 29, 1833 by  her maternal uncle Antonio Ulivarri and Maria Josefa Martín.

Damiana Tapia number 2 seems to have never married. She is listed as the mother of three different individuals and two others were placed in her care:

1) Vitor Tapia, when Vitor married in November of 1873 he was listed as the "natural" son of Damiana Tapia. No father was listed nor identified.

2) Maria Benigna Tapia was baptized on the 17th of February of 1855 in San Miguel del Bado by Ysidro Martín and Anastacia Montano. She is listed as the daughter of unknown parents and placed with Damiana.

3) Maria Cesaria Tapia Born on August 27, 1856 in San Miguel del Bado and who was raised by her grandparents Jose Nico;as Tapia and Maria Lauriana Ulibarri. No father is listed on the birth and baptismal record.

4) Jose Francisco Tapia was baptized on April 3, 1859 having been born the day previous. His padrinos are listed as Jose Eusebio Lucero and Josefa Encinias. Jose Francisco's parents are also listed as unknown and he was also placed in the household of Damiana.

5) Maria Vidal Tapia born on April 25, 1867 in San Miguel del Bado. Only her mother is noted on the birth and baptismal record.

NOTE: This Damiana seems never to have married yet gave birth to three children and adopted another two.

If  anyone needs information on any of this, just ask.