John (Juan) Scolly and Juana Lopes - What a way to end up in history.

Reference page 28 of the book titled "Refusing the Favor, The Spanish - Mexican Women of Santa Fe, 1820 - 1888" written by Deena J. Gonzalez and published by the Oxford University Press in 2001. Juan Scolly (Juan Escolle) a "Santa Fe Merchant" and later of the John Scolly Land Grant near Watrous, New Mexico went to court in the mid 1840's to complain about his wife's adulterous behavior, that he could no longer control her.

In the book referenced above it states that when his wife, Juana Lopes, stood before the judge, she neither admitted nor denied the charges, but she informed the judge, in Spanish, that "it was her ass, she controlled it, and would give it to whomever she wanted". The judge did not grant the divorce and Juana was admonished to mend her ways, go home and take care of her family. That family, I am sure, included her husband Juan Scolly.

There is some information on John Scolly at the URL's below, click to view:

http://dev.newmexicohistory.org/filedetails.php?fileID=24831

http://newmexicohistory.org/places/watrous

I would not say that John Scolly was famous, but he was well known at that time in New Mexico. He was born in Ireland to Patrick Scolly and Eugenia Bradis. His New Mexican wife, Juana Lopes, was baptized in Santa Fe, New Mexico on 11 June 1826, the daughter of Jose Vicente Lopes and Eugenia Baca.

John Scolly and Juana Lopes were married on 30 March 1843 as noted on page 208 of the publication New Mexico Marriages Santa Fe - St. Francis Parish and Military Chapel of Our Lady of Light (La Castrense) 1728 - 1857 published by the New Mexico Genealogical Society. Witnesses were Antonio Valdez and Bicente Garcia.

My guess is that ole John did not know that not only had he married a woman with loose morals he also married a woman who could hold her own in the courts of the time and defend herself. The funny thing is that if you are John Scolly or Juana Lopes, this is one hell of a way to end up in the history books.