A Five Generation Chart for my Cousin

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A five generation chart for my cousin, Saturnino Ortega Sr. I will be posting some more Ortega documents here soon. Keep checking. Changed the chart as the other program has a glitch. It left off a few folks.

El Numero Ocho

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My grandfather, Roman Benavidez, was born on 28 February, 1874 in El Gusano, New Mexico. Today that is South San Isidro in San Miguel County. He worked at many jobs, and one was for the AT&SF, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. By the time I remember him  in Rowe, New Mexico in the mid 1950's he was in his 80's.

Every day he would watch as the trains went by, when "El Numero Ocho" would pass he would reach into his pocket and pull out his pocket watch out and reset it. No Greenwich Mean time for him, no daylight savings time for him, just the scheduled time of El Numero Ocho.

Evolving Names amongst New Mexicans

Maria to Mary or Marie
Pedro to El Peete to Pete
Rosario to Rose
Antonio(a) to El Tone to Tony
Francisco to Frank
Guillermo to El Wille, to William
Carlos to Carl
Refugio to La Rube to Ruby
Roberto to Bob or El Bobbe
Jose to Joseph, Joe
Juana to Jane
Alberto(a) Albert(a)
Gracians to Grace
Altagracia to Grace

Gone are some of the names we were used to and the new names are stranger yet. Very few Rosario's left, same for Guillermo.

Here are some that will be gone soon:

Esperanza
Filimon
Jesus(a)
Eulalia
Refugio
Facundino
Tranquilino

 Here are some of the new ones

Zoie
Amber
Jeff
Alexis
Ryan
Jessica
Tyler

The process is called cultural assimilation.

Four (4) Generations of Known Descendants of Donaciano Vigil

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Modified Register for Jose Donaciano Vigil

First Generation

1. Jose Donaciano Vigil was born on 6 Sep 1802 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He was christened on 8 Sep 1802 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He died on 11 Aug 1877 in Ssnta Fe, New Mexico. He was buried on 12 Aug 1877 in Rosario Cemetary, Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Jose married Maria del Refugio Sanchez on 10 Oct 1825 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Maria died on 13 May 1861 in Pecos, New Mexico. She was buried in Pecos, New Mexico.

They had the following children:

2 M i. Jose Desidrio Vigil was born on 21 May 1828 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He was christened on 24 May 1828 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

3 M ii. Mateo Vigil was buried on 23 Nov 1830 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

4 F iii. Salome Vigil died on 24 Dec 1831 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

5 F iv. Guadalupe Vigil was christened on 16 Dec 1831 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She was buried on 18 Sep 1833 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

+ 6 M v. Jose Epifanio Vigil was christened on 12 Apr 1833.

+ 7 M vi. Bartolome Vigil .
+ 8 M vii. Antonio B. Vigil .

+ 9 M viii. Esmerejildo Vigil was born on 28 May 1835.

10 M ix. Pedro Vigil .

11 M x. Jose Epitacio Vigil was born on 11 May 1837 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He was christened on 13 May 1837 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Jose married Maria Antonia Encinias daughter of Juan Bartolo Sepuriano Cipriano Encinias and Maria Estefana Roybal on 27 Oct 1865 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Maria was born in 1845.

12 F xi. Altagracia Vigil .

13 M xii. Jose Amador Vigil was christened on 1 Mar 1839 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

14 M xiii. Jose Tomas Vigil was born on 17 Sep 1840 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He was christened on 20 Sep 1840 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Second Generation

6. Jose Epifanio Vigil (Jose Donaciano) was christened on 12 Apr 1833 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Jose married Maria Cesaria Garcia on 10 Jan 1858 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

They had the following children:

15 M i. Melicendro Vigil was born on 1 Jan 1859 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He was christened on 3 Jan 1859 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Melicendro married Gabriela Graiss on 5 Jun 1880 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

+ 16 M ii. Donaciano Vigil was born on 21 Mar 1871.

7. Bartolome Vigil (Jose Donaciano).

Bartolome married Maria Eleuteria Roybal .

They had the following children:

17 M i. Jose Pedro Vigil was born on 26 Nov 1873 in Pecos, New Mexico. He was christened on 30 Nov 1873 in Pecos, New Mexico.

18 M ii. Martin Vigil was born on 6 Oct 1877 in Pecos, New Mexico. He was christened on 11 Oct 1877 in Pecos, New Mexico.

19 F iii. Maria Ricarda Vigil was born on 3 Apr 1880 in Pecos, New Mexico. She was christened on 7 Apr 1880 in Pecos, New Mexico.

8. Antonio B. Vigil (Jose Donaciano).

Antonio married Maria de la Lus Roland on 1 Oct 1848 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

They had the following children:

+ 20 M i. Bartolome Vigil was born on 23 Aug 1849.

21 F ii. Maria Guadalupe Vigil was born on 12 Dec 1850 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She was christened on 21 Dec 1850 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Maria married Manuel Quintana on 17 Feb 1868 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

22 F iii. Maria Brigida Vigil was christened on 8 Oct 1853 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

23 M iv. Pedro Alejandro Vigil was christened on 16 Dec 1855 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Pedro married Maria Vicenta Ribera on 26 Nov 1881 in Pecos, New Mexico.

24 F v. Saturnina Vigil was christened on 13 Dec 1857 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

25 M vi. Jose Vigil was christened on 6 Jan 1861 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

+ 26 F vii. Maria Rebecca Vigil was born on 13 Nov 1862.

27 F viii. Maria Antonia Vigil was born on 25 Jun 1865 in Pecos, New Mexico. She was christened on 4 Jul 1865 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

28 M ix. Jose Aseclo Vigil was born on 16 Nov 1866 in New Mexico. He was christened on 11 Dec 1866 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

+ 29 M x. Francisco Catarino Vigil .

+ 30 M xi. Ascencion Vigil .

31 F xii. Maria Manuela Vigil was born on 22 Mar 1870 in Pecos, New Mexico. She was christened on 31 Mar 1870 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

32 M xiii. Jose Feliz Vigil was born on 18 May 1871 in Pecos, New Mexico. He was christened on 21 May 1871 in Pecos, New Mexico.

+ 33 M xiv. Pablo Vigil was born on 15 Jan 1874.

34 F xv. Maria de la Luz Vigil was born on 16 Feb 1877 in Pecos, New Mexico. She was christened on 21 Feb 1877 in Pecos, New Mexico.

9. Esmerejildo Vigil (Jose Donaciano) was born on 28 May 1835 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He was christened on 30 May 1835 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Esmerejildo married Trinidad Pino .

They had the following children:

35 M i. Jose Manuel Mauro Vigil was christened on 30 Nov 1857 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

36 F ii. Maria Dolores Vigil was christened on 1 Apr 1860 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

+ 37 M iii. Jose Fulgencio Vigil was christened on 17 Jan 1863.

38 F iv. Maria Ana Apolonia Vigil was born on 24 Jul 1866 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She was christened on 7 Aug 1866 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

39 F v. Maria Gertrudis Vigil was born on 17 Apr 1869 in Pecos, New Mexico. She was christened on 9 May 1869 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Maria married Lizardo Rougemont on 14 Dec 1890 in Pecos, New Mexico.

40 F vi. Maria Rita Vigil was born on 17 Apr 1871 in Pecos, New Mexico. She was christened on 21 Apr 1871 in Pecos, New Mexico.

41 M vii. Jose Antonio del Rosario Vigil was born on 27 Aug 1875 in Pecos, New Mexico. He was christened on 29 Aug 1875 in Pecos, New Mexico.

Third Generation

16. Donaciano Vigil (Jose Epifanio, Jose Donaciano) was born on 21 Mar 1871 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He was christened on 25 Mar 1871 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Donaciano married Guadalupe .

They had the following children:

42 M i. Amado Vigil .

20. Bartolome Vigil (Antonio B., Jose Donaciano) was born on 23 Aug 1849 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He was christened on 26 Aug 1849 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Bartolome married Eluteria Roybal on 27 Nov 1872 in Pecos, New Mexico.

They had the following children:

43 M i. Alejandro Vigil was born in New Mexico.

Alejandro married Cleofas Lujan on 14 Jul 1898 in Pecos, New Mexico.

+ 44 F ii. Ricarda Vigil .

+ 45 M iii. Tomas Severo Vigil was born on 8 Nov 1875.

+ 46 F iv. Lucinda Vigil .

47 F v. Maria Vigil was born in New Mexico.

Maria married Martin Quintana on 13 Nov 1902 in Pecos, New Mexico.

+ 48 F vi. Manuela Vigil .

49 M vii. Antonio Anselmo Vigil was born on 18 Mar 1889 in Pecos, New Mexico. He was christened on 23 Mar 1889 in Pecos, New Mexico.

Antonio married Dominga Gonzales on 16 Sep 1955 in Pecos, New Mexico.

50 F viii. Quirina Vigil was born on 8 Aug 1892 in Pecos, New Mexico. She was christened on 15 Aug 1892 in Pecos, New Mexico.

26. Maria Rebecca Vigil (Antonio B., Jose Donaciano) was born on 13 Nov 1862 in Pecos, New Mexico. She was christened on 24 Nov 1862 in Pecos, New Mexico.

Maria married (1) Jose Melchiades Armijo on 8 Feb 1881 in Pecos, New Mexico.

They had the following children:

+ 51 M i. Cecilio Armijo was born on 22 Nov 1881.

52 M ii. Frederico Armijo was born on 17 May 1889 in Pecos, New Mexico. He was christened on 18 May 1889 in Pecos, New Mexico.

53 M iii. Francisco Armijo was born on 29 May 1894 in Pecos, New Mexico. He was christened on 2 Jun 1894 in Pecos, New Mexico.

Maria married (2) Jose Rosalio Valencia son of Jesus Maria Valencia and Salome

Quintana on 8 Jul 1896 in Pecos, New Mexico. Jose was born on 3 Sep 1861 in New Mexico. He was christened on 5 Sep 1861 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

They had the following children:

54 F iv. Isidora Valencia was born on 12 Apr 1898 in Pecos, New Mexico. She was christened on 18 Apr 1898 in Pecos, New Mexico.

55 M v. Tiofilo Valencia was born on 31 Jul 1900 in Las Colonias, New Mexico. He was christened on 5 Aug 1900 in Pecos, New Mexico.

29. Francisco Catarino Vigil (Antonio B., Jose Donaciano) was born in New Mexico.

Francisco married (1) Severa Quintana on 27 Sep 1875 in Pecos, New Mexico. Severa died in 1878 in Pecos, New Mexico.

Francisco married (2) Maria Seferina Valencia daughter of Jesus Maria Valencia and Salome Quintana on 5 Dec 1878 in Pecos, New Mexico. Maria was born on 26 Aug 1859 in Pajarito, New Mexico. She was christened on 28 Aug 1859 in San Miguel del Bado, New Mexico.

They had the following children:

+ 56 F i. Abelina Vigil .

+ 57 F ii. Gumecinda Vigil .

+ 58 F iii. Maria Rosario Vigil was born on 23 Nov 1879.

59 M iv. Eriberto Vigil was born on 16 Mar 1893 in Pecos, New Mexico. He was christened on 8 Apr 1893 in Pecos, New Mexico.

60 F v. Antonia Vigil was born on 10 May 1895 in Pecos, New Mexico. She was christened on 18 May 1895 in Pecos, New Mexico.

61 F vi. Camila Vigil was born on 23 Nov 1889 in Pecos, New Mexico. She was christened on 1 Dec 1889 in Pecos, New Mexico.

Camila married Severino Quintana .

62 M vii. Manuel Vigil was born on 5 May 1900 in Pecos, New Mexico. He was christened on 9 May 1900 in Pecos, New Mexico.

63 F viii. Celistina Vigil was born on 6 Feb 1902 in Pecos, New Mexico. She was christened on 16 Feb 1902 in Pecos, New Mexico.

30. Ascencion Vigil (Antonio B., Jose Donaciano).

Ascencion married Margarita Valencia on 30 Jan 1899 in Pecos, New Mexico.

They had the following children:

64 M i. Juan Andres Vigil was born on 30 Dec 1899 in Pecos, New Mexico. He was christened on 7 Jan 1900 in Pecos, New Mexico.

65 M ii. Monico Vigil was born on 4 May 1901 in Pecos, New Mexico. He was christened on 22 May 1901 in Pecos, New Mexico.

33. Pablo Vigil (Antonio B., Jose Donaciano) was born on 15 Jan 1874 in Pecos, New Mexico. He was christened on 9 Feb 1874 in Pecos, New Mexico.

Pablo married Ricarda Varela on 7 Jan 1899 in Pecos, New Mexico.

They had the following children:

66 F i. Maria Celsa Vigil was born on 6 Apr 1903 in Pecos, New Mexico. She was christened on 19 Apr 1903 in Pecos, New Mexico.

Maria married German Lopez .

37. Jose Fulgencio Vigil (Esmerejildo, Jose Donaciano) was christened on 17 Jan 1863 in Pecos, New Mexico.

Jose married Maria Valencia on 13 Dec 1890 in Pecos, New Mexico.

They had the following children:

67 F i. Maria Vigil was born on 9 Nov 1891 in Pecos, New Mexico. She was christened on 10 Nov 1891 in Pecos, New Mexico.

+ 68 M ii. Ascencion Vigil was born on 18 May 1898.

69 F iii. Maria Antonia Vigil was christened on 13 Jul 1900 in Pecos, New Mexico.

70 M iv. Ramon del Carmen Vigil was born on 11 Jul 1903 in Pecos, New Mexico. He was christened on 3 Aug 1903 in Pecos, New Mexico.

Fourth Generation

44. Ricarda Vigil (Bartolome, Antonio B., Jose Donaciano) was born in New Mexico.

Ricarda married Jose Francisco Valencia son of Alonzo (Oclonzo) Valencia and Maria Apolonia Encinias on 9 Dec 1895 in Pecos, New Mexico. Jose was born on 7 Feb 1868 in Pecos, New Mexico. He was christened on 9 Feb 1868 in Ssnta Fe, New Mexico.

They had the following children:

71 M i. Rumaldo Valencia was born on 7 Feb 1897 in Pecos, New Mexico. He was christened on 20 Feb 1897 in Pecos, New Mexico.

45. Tomas Severo Vigil (Bartolome, Antonio B., Jose Donaciano) was born on 8 Nov 1875 in Pecos, New Mexico. He was christened on 15 Nov 1875 in Pecos, New Mexico.

Tomas married Juliana Valencia daughter of Alonzo (Oclonzo) Valencia and Maria Apolonia Encinias on 16 Jul 1900 in Pecos, New Mexico. Juliana was born on 30 Dec 1880 in Pecos, New Mexico. She was christened on 9 Jan 1881 in Pecos, New Mexico.

They had the following children:

72 F i. Maria Guadalupe Vigil was born on 30 Apr 1901 in Vallecitos de Pecos, New Mexico. She was christened on 2 Jun 1901 in Pecos, New Mexico.

73 M ii. Luis Vigil was born on 14 Dec 1902 in Pecos, New Mexico. He was christened on 27 Dec 1902 in Pecos, New Mexico.

46. Lucinda Vigil (Bartolome, Antonio B., Jose Donaciano) was born in New Mexico.

Lucinda married Jose Francisco Valencia son of Alonzo (Oclonzo) Valencia and Maria Apolonia Encinias on 13 Sep 1900 in Pecos, New Mexico. Jose was born on 7 Feb 1868 in Pecos, New Mexico. He was christened on 9 Feb 1868 in Ssnta Fe, New Mexico.

They had the following children:

74 M i. Anastacio Valencia was born on 29 Mar 1903 in Vallecitos de Pecos, New Mexico. He was christened on 11 Apr 1903 in Pecos, New Mexico.

75 F ii. Maria Francisca Zenaida Valencia was born on 16 Jun 1901 in Vallecitos de Pecos, New Mexico. She was christened on 26 Jun 1901 in Pajarito, New Mexico.

48. Manuela Vigil (Bartolome, Antonio B., Jose Donaciano) was born in New Mexico.

Manuela married Melquiades Martinez on 8 Jan 1903 in Pecos, New Mexico.

They had the following children:

76 M i. Jose Antonio Martinez was born on 6 Mar 1904 in Pecos, New Mexico. He was christened on 15 Mar 1904 in Pecos, New Mexico.

51. Cecilio Armijo (Maria Rebecca Vigil, Antonio B., Jose Donaciano) was born on 22 Nov

1881 in Pecos, New Mexico. He was christened on 3 Dec 1881 in Pecos, New Mexico.

Cecilio married Aurelia Roybal on 16 Apr 1902 in Pecos, New Mexico.

They had the following children:

77 F i. Maria Antonia Camilia Armijo was born on 17 Jan 1903 in New Mexico. She was christened on 30 Jan 1903 in Pecos, New Mexico.

56. Abelina Vigil (Francisco Catarino, Antonio B., Jose Donaciano) was born in New Mexico.

Abelina married Apolonio Lopez on 7 Jan 1901 in Pecos, New Mexico. Apolonio was born in New Mexico.

They had the following children:

78 F i. Maria Sixta Lopez was born on 28 Apr 1902 in Pecos, New Mexico. She was christened on 4 May 1902 in Pecos, New Mexico.

Maria married Paulo Valencia .

79 M ii. Feliz Lopez was born on 21 Feb 1904 in Pecos, New Mexico. He was christened on 6 Mar 1904 in Pecos, New Mexico.

Feliz married Gregoria Esponosa .

57. Gumecinda Vigil (Francisco Catarino, Antonio B., Jose Donaciano) was born in New Mexico.

Gumecinda married Andres Abelino Gonzales on 16 Oct 1896 in Pecos, New Mexico. Andres was born in New Mexico.

They had the following children:

80 F i. Eloisa Gonzales was born on 26 Feb 1899 in Pecos, New Mexico. She was christened on 6 Mar 1899 in Pecos, New Mexico.

81 M ii. Gregorio Gonzales was born on 25 May 1900 in Pecos, New Mexico. He was christened on 3 Jun 1900 in Pecos, New Mexico.

82 F iii. Irene Gonzales was born on 28 Jun 1902 in Pecos, New Mexico. She was christened on 11 Jul 1902 in Pecos, New Mexico.

58. Maria Rosario Vigil (Francisco Catarino, Antonio B., Jose Donaciano) was born on 23 Nov 1879 in Pecos, New Mexico. She was christened on 28 Nov 1879 in Pecos, New Mexico.

Maria married Tomas Ortega on 25 Jan 1897 in Pecos, New Mexico. Tomas was born in 1876 in New Mexico.

They had the following children:

83 F i. Josefa Ortega was born in 1898 in Las Colonias, New Mexico.

84 M ii. Francisco Ortega was born in 1902 in Pecos, Mew Mexico.

85 F iii. Angelina Ortega was born in 1904 in Pecos, Mew Mexico.

86 F iv. Melecia Ortega was born in 1906 in Pecos, Mew Mexico.

87 M v. Luis Ortega was born in 1908 in Pecos, Mew Mexico.

88 M vi. Benjamine Ortega was born in 1910 in Pecos, Mew Mexico.

89 F vii. Trinidad Ortega was born on 1 May 1911 in Pecos, Mew Mexico. She died on 8 Oct 1996 in New Mexico.

Trinidad married Juan Varela . Juan was born in New Mexico.

90 F viii. Paulita Ortega was born in 1914 in Pecos, Mew Mexico.

68. Ascencion Vigil (Jose Fulgencio, Esmerejildo, Jose Donaciano) was born on 18 May 1898 in Pecos, New Mexico. He was christened on 30 May 1898 in Pecos, New Mexico.

Ascencion married (1) Lola Ulibarri on 8 Nov 1924 in Ssnta Fe, New Mexico.

They had the following children:

91 F i. Lorenzita Vigil was born in 1926 in New Mexico.

92 M ii. Roberto Vigil was born in 1928 in New Mexico.

Ascencion married (2) Emilia Benavidez daughter of Roman Benavidez and Ignacia Archuleta. The marriage ended in divorce.Emilia was born on 11 May 1902 in Rowe, New Mexico. She died on 4 Dec 1989 in Thornton, Colorado.

Hispanic's in New Mexico are the Majority!!!! Again

Click, if you dare, on the Spanglish sign to see a larger version

At one time prior to 1846 we Hispanics were the majority, the great majority in New Mexico. The "Hispanics", the Indians, los Mestizos, a few Frenchmen and a few Americans, that was it. Then came 1846 and the American invasion, occupation and annexation of New Mexico by the Americans.

I am not sure when the change occurred that made New Mexican Hispanics a minority in our own State. But my guess that it was right around the time of statehood, 1912 or sometime before. The Americans would not have let New Mexico in as a state with a Hispanic majority. Nooooooo sireeee, they would not have admitted us into the union until they were guaranteed a majority.

Americans of the era did not and would not tolerate what they saw as un American voters winning at elections and governing with them. So they waited until they could guarantee they could elect their officials.

There is still some fear of that in parts of New Mexico, especially south of I-40.

Anyway, those that fear it will have to deal with it in their own way. But we are the majority in the homeland once again.

Train Depot in Rowe, New Mexico

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Just a nice picture of the AT&SF depot in Rowe, New Mexico.  I vaguely remember the old steamers stopping by in the early 1950's when I was a kid growing up there. My wife found the image in a book at the Trinidad, Colorado library.

If you recognize any of the folks let me know. Just kidding.

The two (2) small buildings in front of the water tank in the bottom photo was a garage for the speeders and tool shed. The house facing the tank in the upper photo was where railroad employees lived. La casa de el cinero as it was known to the locals. (prouounced seenero in Spanglish).  The house visable in the distance on the lower photo was the house where Alejandro Montoya and his wife Cruz Dimas Montoya lived.

You can make out the road leading to the mesa on the left of the lower picture.

The water to fill the tank that was then pumped into the steam engines came from the Pecos river a few miles away. There was an under ground concrete storage tank and a pump there. The pipeline ran from there to the tank. The water line for the most part was in or right off the arroyo.

More on Las Ruedas and Pajarito, New Mexico

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Las Ruedas, New Mexico is one of two communities that existed on the old Los Trigos Land Grant. The other community was, or is,  Pajarito. The Los Trigos Land Grant lies between the boundaries of the Pecos Pueblo Land Grant and the San Miguel del Bado Land Grant at Gusano, todays South San Isidro, along and on either side of the Pecos River. The Los Trigos Land Grant was made on May 26, 1817 by Jose Manrique, acting governor of the province of New Mexico and confirmed by Alberto Maynes, governor of the province on June 22, 1815. It was granted to Francisco Trujillo, Diego Padilla and Bartolome Marquez.

Up to 1815 only a few acres of land had been tilled in the "arroyo de Las Ruedas" area. The community began to grow until 1829 when Vicente Villanueva sent an Indian boy also known as Vicente Villanueva , whom he had bought from the Comanches, to the Los Trigos area with a flock of sheep. Villanueva and a partner took some cattle to graze at El Canon de los Soldados. Suddenly, the Apaches swooped down on the Indian Boy and killed him, ran off the sheep, and continued on to the Canon de Los Soldados where Villanueva and his partner were also killed.

Las Ruedas was abandoned after the death of its most influential citizen.

The story of the Indian boy, also known as Vicente Villanueva, presisted and in time the people of La Cuesta had the name of their village changed at the request of the American postal authorities because there was another village north of Taos named Questa. The villagers decided on Villanueva to honor the name of the captive who gave his life in the defense of his masters sheep.

Anyway in the 1830's people from San Miguel del Bado and Santa Fe once again moved into the Las Ruedas and Pajarito area of the Los Trigos Land Grant. They were, as can best be identified, Antonio Maria Archuleta, his wife Maria de Jesus Lovato and his brother Nepomuceno Archuleta and his wife Maria Manuela Lovato, the sons of Vicente Antonio Archuleta and his first wife Maria Ignacia Angel. Miguel Sena and his wife Maria Ygnes Valencia were others who moved there. Matias Alarid, the son of Jose Antonio Alarid and Marcelina Quintana and his wife Maria Josefa Valencia also moved there.  Jose Alejandro Montoya, the son of Juan Jose Montoya and Juana Gonzales and his wife Francisca Lovato were another couple who moved there  as were Antonio Ortiz and others who moved into the area.

For the most part, these and other Hispanos with their families were the ones there when the Americans arrived in August of 1846. The village continued to grow until the late 1870's when construction on the Santa Fe Railroad started a few miles up the arroyo at the base of the mesa. By 1880 most of the families had moved to the railroad site at the new village of Rowe. My great grand mother Mariana Duran Archuleta was the last person to be burried at the Las Ruedas cemetary in the early 1920's. She was the the second wife of Juan de Jesus Archuleta who was the brother of Antonio Maria and Nepomuceno Archuleta who are mentioned in the previous paragraph.

Many descendants of these settlers still live in Rowe and the surrounding communities.

Note: Some information for this post comes from the book, Giant in Lilliput, the story of Donaciano Vigil by F. Stanley and the remainder is from information unearthed by my wife and myself.

1860 Las Ruedas, New Mexico

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The top (1st) image is the tail end of El Gusano, New Mexico and the begining of Las Ruedas, New Mexico. The first name in Las Ruedas is Juan de Jesus Archuleta with his wife Maria Anna (Duran) and their son Jose Ologio and daughter Cleta.

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This is the last part of a page for Las Ruedas, New Mexico and the first part of a page for the area between Las Ruedas and Pecos.  See if you can make out the other names.

Between both images it has all of the people enumerated at Las Ruedas, New Mexico in 1860. This was way before the thought of the railroad, so what is now Rowe, was not there, not yet.

There was a small group who went to the ruins of the old church at Las Ruedas on November 9, 2009. One of the latter day Archuleta descendants invited other Archuleta descendants to come along. And another descendant of  long ago Las Ruedas residents guided us in. It was a pleasant day and to be in the ancestral village and was an emotional experience.

Los Americanos and the Fifty Years Following Their Arrival

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In August of 1846 the Army of the west under Stephen Watts Kearney (photo above) march into New Mexico from Bents Fort on the Arkansas River on the border between the United States and Mexico. They march to Las Vegas, then San Miguel del Bado and on through Apache Pass right into Santa Fe. They are strung out for miles and miles. The Benavides' living in El Gusano scatter into the hills while the army marches past.

New Mexican Governor Manuel Armijo, though poised to stop the Americans at Apache canyon decided against it. His soldiers and militia are poorly armed and fewer in Number than the Americans. Rather than risk losing a good portion of New Mexican males in a futile effort to stop the numerous and well armed Americans he orders a retreat away from Apache Canyon.

Charles Bent, of Bents Fort is named governor of Occupied New Mexico. He states " There is no stability in these people, they have no opinion of thare (sic) own, ...entirely governed by the powers that be ... the most servile people that can be imagined... they are not fit to be a free people, they should be ruled by others than themselvs."

His opinion of New Mexicans must have changed on January 19, 1847 when New Mexicans and Taos Pueblo Indians assassinated him and several of his accomplices in Taos. At least two revolts occur and both are suppressed by the Americans. New Mexican Patriots are killed in battle, shot in jails and hung for treason. New Mexicans and their descendants should not forget those who resisted the invasion of New Mexico by Americans.

In 1851 a Territorial Government is established and the surveyor general begins his job. Within a few years most of the land now belongs to the Americans. The Catholic Church appointed Lamy as the Bishop for New Mexico. A feud with New Mexican priests begins as Lamy starts replacing them with French priests from France. Padre Martinez resists, but like other resistance, this comes to an end and French priests take over the Catholic Church in New Mexico.

In the 1880's following the suppression of Indian hostilities New Mexico is flooded with settlers from the East. Displacing New Mexicans where ever they went.  The Americans knew the laws and used them to displace New Mexicans everywhere they went. It would not be long before they were the majority

The 50 Years Before the American Occupation of New Mexico

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New Mexico, in the 50 years before the American occupation of the country, was a place of movement of the population. The New Mexicans had out grown Santa, Fe, they had out grown Santa Cruz de la Canada and they had out grown Taos and Albuquerque. Movement out of the traditional areas was occurring everywhere. Up the Rio Chama, down the Rio Grande, down the Pecos to san Miguel del Bado, north along the Sangre de Cristo Range from Taos, to the Mora valley and over the Sandia's to the interface with the plains.

They were looking for land that could sustain them and their families. They were willing to risk the regular encounters with hostile Indians. They needed tillable and irrigable land to plant their crops. Nothing could stand in their way. They went with their packets of seeds and following a few animals. Following horses, sheep, goats, cattle, pigs and chickens. They settled in small defensible places where they could grow their crops, feed their animals and defend themselves as best they could from the hostile Indians.

There had been little presence of the Spanish government in the past and less as the Spanish Colonial era came to an end. There would be very little government control or assistance as the administrations changed and the Mexicans came to power.

In essence, New Mexicans lived in a virtual void of government. A controlled anarchy. High grade violence between New Mexicans and the hostile tribes that surrounded the area kept the people close to each other. Close as far as a common interest if not close in proximity. They needed to survive in this place and time and fighting with each other was not an option. Arms were scarce to nonexistent. When hostilities broke out with the Indians they were fighting back with common weapons. In some cases the Indians had better weapons than New Mexicans. They would acquire them from American or French traders to the east and north east.

They held their own and the population of New Mexicans increased slowly.

Then in August of 1846 everything would change, everything.