Gabriel Chavez and Gabriel Chavez, What is up in the Chavez Household?

While looking at some genealogical information on an individual(s) we were having problems with, we had to dig deeper than normal to ascertain some facts that at first were confusing. 

The person we were having problems with was Gabriel Chavez the son of Jesus Chavez and his wife Ramona Garduno. At first glance we were confused because we could find children of Gabriel Chavez with what appeared to be two separate women. That in itself is not that unusual but things did not match up with Gabriel, his wives and children. 

Specifically, the marriage dates we found with the birth dates of the children of Gabriel Chavez and either of the women he was listed as having been married to. One was Cecilia Madrid whom Gabriel married May 17, 1874 in Anton Chico, New Mexico, the other was Porfiria Lucero whom Gabriel married on September 3, 1877 at Las Colonias, New Mexico.

At first look it appeared that the first wife, Cecilia Madrid, had died and Gabriel remarried to Porfiria Lucero and continued having children with Porfiria Lucero. But looking forward there appears a birth entry for December 25, 1890 for an Ignacia Chavez, the legitimate daughter of Gabriel Chavez and Cecilia Madrid. Now Christmas presents being what they are, a daughter with a former wife while the current wife is still alive does not fit into a proper Roman Catholic household of the period we were looking at. 

Looking still more we found an entry for the woman whom we thought had passed away, Cecilia Madrid, marrying an individual by the name of Elizario Crespin on October 29, 1896 in Anton Chico, New Mexico. This entry does not indicate that she was  a widow, it is a simple entry listing the groom his parents and her name as well as her parents. But divorce and remarriage by the Catholic Church was not an option open to believers, So we had to believe that Gabriel Chavez had passed away sometime before.

So what was the situation with Cecilia Madrid, it could not have been a divorce as the church does not remarry divorced individuals. And she was remarrying and Gabriel was already married to Porfiria Lucero. Could Gabriel be seeing his ex, now remarried, and continuing to have children with her?

The solution came when we started scouring the U.S. Federal Census.

The screen grab below is from the 1870 U.S. Federal Census for "Las Colonias de San Jose in San Miguel County, New Mexico. It lists the household of Jesus Chavez and his wife Ramona Garduno de Chavez. You will need to click on the image to make it larger.

Click on the image to make it larger

Mr. Jesus Chavez and Mrs. Ramona Garduno de Chavez had at least five (5) different children and for whatever reason the second child was named Gabriel and the fourth Jesus Gabriel. Again, this giving the same name to different children was not really unusual in New Mexican history  It was used frequently when the first child passed away. The next child born might be named in the honor of the recently deceased child.

But this was not the case here, both children survived well into adulthood and both married and both had children. The problem came when they were both listed simply as Gabriel Chavez in the church records. it would be my guess that in the village one was known as Gabriel and the other as Jesus.

The church records made a mystery where none really existed. But to the individual following the individuals a over a century later the situation required looking around to figure it out.

New Mexican Patriots or Horse Thieves and Murderers in August of 1847

This post is about the drumhead court martial incident that came to be known as The Las Vegas Affair or the Battle of Las Vegas, which  was a battle associated with the Taos Revolt and fought in July of 1847 in and around Las Vegas, New Mexico. It was initiated by American troops against New Mexican insurgents at the town of Las Vegas during the Mexican-American War.

Some information can be found at the web links below:

http://www.kmitch.com/Taos/martialdeaths.html

and

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Vegas_Affair

and at this one below. At this last location scroll down to page 60 otherwise you have to go through the whole magazine.

http://nmsantos.com/archive/TR57.pdf

Several men were hung as a result, the ones hung in Santa Fe on the 3rd of August of 1847 are listed below. Note: The three (3) Martín brothers executed were my relatives.

Jose Tomas Duran also known as Tomas Duran Y Chavez who was married to Maria Donicia Blea. Tomas was the son of Juan Jose Duran and Juana Francisca Montoya and left one small child as well as one on the way that his wife would give birth to on the 8th of November of 1847.

Note that Maria Donicia Blea and the three Martín brothers noted below were first cousins, all four grandchildren of Juan de Jesus Blea and Maria Matiana (Mariana) Moya.

George Rodriguez, I have not bumped into any information on George.

Manuel Saens, some information on Manuel, but nothing that I can substantiate at this time.

Pedro Esquipula Martín was baptized on the  16th of  December 1817 in San Miguel del Bado, New Mexico by his padrinos Jose Maria Romero and Antonia Corina de los Angles. His parents were Santiago Martín and Paula Blea. Pedro married Maria Getrudis Trujillo on 02 October 1842. Her parents were Juan Antonio Trujillo and Rafaela Ocana.

Pedro Esquipula Martín left a very young widow. He himself was just shy of his 29th birth date when he was tried, found guilty and executed by the Americans.

Jose Policarpio (Carpio) Martín was born and baptized on the same day, 26 November 1818 in San Miguel del Bado, New Mexico. His padrinos were Jose Rafael Baca and Maria Guadalupe Gallego. His parents are identified as Santiago Martín and Paula Blea.

Carpio, as he was known, was either single as I have found no marriage record nor other records that would indicate that he was married. He was just shy of his 28th birth date on the fatefull day of his hanging.

Jose Dionicio Martín was baptized on 11 April of 1845, his padrinos were Jose Duran and a woman named Gertrudes, last name unknown. His parents are identified as Santiago Martín and Paula Blea, He was not married that I know of and was just past his 22nd birth date when he was executed along with his two brothers and Tomas Duran who was married to his first cousin.

The Old New Mexico And Our Ancestors, Caught In A Time Warp

Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Baca. Andres Dorantes de Carranza, Alonzo del Castillo and Esteban de Dorantes started the journey through time in New Mexico in the late 1530's. They were the futuristic Spanish explorers in the vanguard of the new world exploration.

They were soon followed by Fray Marcos de Niza and once again Esteban de Dorantes in 1539. In 1540 Francisco Vasquez de Coronado followed de Niza north into New Mexico and beyond.

Vasquez de Coronado came to New Mexico and points north, east and west into what is now the American states of Texas, Kansas, and Arizona. A whirlwind of activity, exploration, battles and disappointment until he left in 1542.

A few other Spaniards and Spanish expeditions in the following years penetrated into New Mexico for various reasons. But the settlement and the end of the futuristic expeditions was initiated by don Juan de Onate in 1598. New Mexico was entering the time warp without even knowing it. 

In the he Onate era and the following 212 years, through 1810 or so, New Mexico and New Mexicans slipped further and further back in time to the point that they adapted to and adopted much of the Pueblo Indian way of life. Abandoned by Spain in the northern most province of the Spanish Empire with no access to the sea and thus no real access to the outside world. New Mexico was landlocked with no access to new technology or ideas.

In the 1810 to 1846 era the future started arriving in the form of traders and fur trappers trappers first from France then from the new nation of the United States. It was slow at first and exploded into the open with the expulsion of Spain from the New World and especially New Spain which included New Mexico.

In the late 1820's the Mexican Republic was born and its northern most province, New Mexico, opened its borders to the future in the form of traders and trappers from the United States. The future came rushing in.  By ones and twos at first and soon whole trains of Americans. It was not good or bad, but it was the future and the rush was on.

Then 248 years after the entrance into the time warp by don Juan de Onate came August of 1846 and the future in the form of the American Army of the West was here. General  Stephen Watts Kearny took possession of New Mexico in the name of the United States.

The rest, as they say, is history. The struggle of the Onate Colonists and their descendants to adapt, this time to the future. Mind you, there are a few more details and individuals in the interim. But for all intents and purposes, this is it.

¿Quiten se las como puedan?

¿Quiten se las como puedan? The true meaning lies somewhere between "tough, you figure it out" or "that is the way it is". It means you are alone to figure out your problem. There is no help to be had. It was an old New Mexican saying from antiquity.

People are looking for meaning in their lives, looking for assistance from someone, anyone. Or so it seems. They look to religion, they look to government, they look to religious or governmental institutions to alleviate their search for meaning in their lives. They look anywhere and everywhere and seem to find other like minded individuals to form some kind of a group. Looking for fellowship or some other synonym.

Being alone or having idea(s) that only you seem to have is uncomfortable for most. So we look for others who seem to share our joyous or miserable condition(s).

The quest will never end......

Adios

Adios Fidel

Buying into New Mexican History

You want to buy into New Mexican history, marry a New Mexican or someone with New Mexican roots. That is all it takes. New Mexicans are intricately tied to the history of the area by the blood relationships that developed with living in near isolation from 1598 to 1846. That is 248 years folks, by comparison New Mexico and what was then new Mexico has only been part of the United States since the occupation by the Americans in 1846, that is only 168 years. A small population isolated for that long a period of time become tied together in all sort of ways.

Every hero and every crook of the pre American period is related to us. Related by blood, a bit distant maybe, but all related. Even the "old" Anglos, the trappers, early soldiers and traders as they all married into the New Mexican families. We all know who they are. Their names are salted through New Mexico like pepper on an egg white.

Some folks may not want to be a part our history, some may want to deny it. But in all reality it is there, like it or not. And, this is a big AND.... It is interesting.

Como Se Llama La Cosa Mala?

The names of evil in Mew Mexico, at least as I recall them! 

Como se llama "la cosa mala"?

Satanas? Satan? The name was used regularly.

El Diablo? Very much used, some odd folks were actually called Diablos or Diablitos.

Asmodeo? Ascually a name for the second in command in the nether regions. Was a character in the play of "Los Pastores".

La Cosa Mala? Literally the "bad thing". I don't really know why this was used as much as it was. It used to give me the creeps.

El Angel de la Muerte? The angel of death. Usually had a dark hoodie on. Came around on occasion, the folks he took always were delivered to heaven. He was the delivery man for St. Peter.

El Demonio Colorado? Literally the red demon. Remember the "Demons" in Santa Fe? The Santa Fe High School Demons. The St. Mikes Horsemen and the Santa Fe Demons were traditional rivals. Funny if you think of the whole name "the city of holy faith demons".

Historical Writing, From Cuneiform And Cave Drawings To Facebook. Why Was It Written As It Was And/Or Is?

Ask yourself the question! Why was it written? What was the objective of the writer? What were the writers goals. Actually these questions can be asked of novels and historical novels and even just plain articles, webposts and Facebook posts. Some publications can be deciphered pretty quick as to motives for having been written, others not so mush. Especially when written as "serious history"!

So why were the publications listed below written?

Commerce on the Prairies? It was meant for publication. Why does that make a difference? Well Josiah Gregg had a reason for writing the book. All you have to do is read it and seriously ask yourself the question.

Sears and Roebuck catalog? Was or is it historical? It is used as a historical publication on occasion. Both Sears and Roebuck had their reasons for publishing the catalog. Sales, profit in their pocket was the reason.

Blood and Thunder? The "role" played by Kit Carson in the conquest of the Navajo. Why was it written? To make Kit Carson and his story heroic and maybe make it into a movie.

Cave drawings? You think the person drawing them was looking for fame or hero hood? I think not.  The individual was just bored and drawing something that came into his mind. Don't let the archaeologists fool you, they do not know any better than you or I why they were drawn.

The Lost Pathfinder? The travels in the southwest by Zebulon Montogomery Pike. A pretty good historical account of Pike's travels in the area. Remember it was written by someone else using his dispatches back to the American government.

Decision Points? Written about George W. Bush about George W. Bush. Take a wild guess as to why it was written.

My life? Written by Bill Clinton about Bill Clinton.... Take a guess about the reasons for this "historical" account.

Rousseau and Revolution? Written by Will and Ariel Durant. Read it and find out.

Death Comes to the Archbishop? Written by Willa Sibert Cather. She wanted to destroy the heroic image New Mexicans had of Padre Jose Antonio Martinez. Sad to say she did a bang up job of it too.

Modern day newspapers? Take a guess why they are written the way they are.

Facebook posts? Puckered lips and all, like some crazy teen?

Well I hope you get the picture. Books in general and historical books in particular are written for a reason. Most times, the truth be told, there is an ulterior motive, sometimes sinister or injurious to someone or something.

The bottom line is look for the motive behind the writing, it is there. You do not need to be a Sherlock Holmes to figure it out. But you do have to look for it.

What Is In A Name?

Maria Preciliana Telesfora de Jesus Maria y Jose Salazar. Quite the moniker if I do say so myself. Preciliana, as she was known was born the 4th of January in 1827 in Tome, New Mexico to Jose Antonio Salazar and Maria de la Luz Jiminez.

Her baptismal or given name even had two (2) Maria's.

Preciliana married a man by the name of Jesus Maria Luna, the son of Jose Enrique Luna and Juana Maria Gabaldon. Preciliana and Jesus had one son, Patrocinio Luna born on the 9th of November on 1843. Jesus Maria Luna died right around the time his son was born as Preciliana was remarried on October 26 1845 to husband number two, a guy named Jose de Jesus Romero with whom she would have at least an additional four (4) children.

So she Married 1) Jesus  Maria Luna and 2) Jose de Jesus Romero.

Notice that she and her first husband shared two names Jesus and Maria. With her second husband she shared another two names Jose and Jesus.

This naming of folks after the "holy family" and especially the "savior" himself really upset Americans as they started the occupation of the New Mexico. The Protestant  religious leaders that came in as the occupation took hold saw this as sacrilegious. This was especially true if the guy was named Jesus and was an idiot, or worse, some type of a criminal.

Everyone, or so it seemed, was named either Jose, Maria, Jesus, Juana or all of the above.

Time wise, we are a ways from that now that everyone is assimilated to the degree that we are. I do not think we will see anyone like Preciliana anymore.

Another Genizaro, Named Francisco Valdez.

By the time Francisco came into Hispanic New Mexico, the term Genizaro was no longer used. More than likely the softer term "criado" was used. The term Genizaro was banned for use to describe individuals after New Mexico passed from Spanish control to Mexican control. The Mexicans did not appreciate the caste system which had developed under the Spanish. Mind you the effect and the situations were identical. To the individual it mattered little what term was actually used.

We know what happened to Francisco, we don't know exactly where he came from. The best information we have is that he was Apache born in the Navajo country. He may have been Navajo. He was purchased, or somehow ended up in the family of Antonio Jose Valdez and his wife Maria Antonia Quintana originally from Taos but later from Rayado in Colfax County, New Mexico. The best information I have is that Antonio Jose Valdez and his wife, Maria Antonis Quintana had twleve (12) children of their own.

So Francisco's children are 1/2 Native American and his grand children at least 1/4. As to what tribal group Francisco was taken from we can only guess. Family information has it that Francisco knew he had a sister, whom he never saw again after being taken form his family and homeland.

We know that Francisco survived the ordeal and actually thrived. He has many descendant around today in Northern New Mexico and Colorado.


Some Descendants and Families of Francisco Valdez

1. Francisco Valdez  was born about March 1858 in Navajo Country. He died on 22 December 1927 in Miami, New Mexico. He was buried in Agua Dulce (Miami), New Mexico.

Francisco married Marina Coca  on 26 November 1880 in Cimarron, Colfax County, New Mexico, the daughter of Isidro Coca and Refugio Lucero. Marina was born in January 1861 in New Mexico. She died about 1897 in Blanco, New Mexico.

They had the following children:

+ 2 F i. Benina Valdez  was born in Deccember 1881 and died about 1969.

+ 3 F ii. Salome Valdez  was born on 22 October 1883.

4 M iii. Guillermo Valdez  was born on 10 February 1887 in New Mexico and died on 11 May 1972 in New Mexico.

Guillermo married Cecelia Sanchez .

5 M iv. Jose Damian Valdez  was born on 18 November 1890 in New Mexico.

Jose Damian married Adela Aguilar, the daughter of Aurelio Aguilar and Carolina Ortega on 8 November 1910 in Springer, New Mexico. Adela was born in 1895 in Springer, New Mexico.

6 M v. Pedro Jose Valdez  was born on April 1892 in New Mexico.

7 F vi. Adelaida Valdez  was born on March 1895 in New Mexico.

8 M vii. Francisco Valdez  Jr. was born on 22 September 1897 in Rayado, New Mexico. He was buried on 12 November 1988 at the Fairmont Cemetery in Raton, New Mexico.

Francisco Valdez Jr. married Maria Soledad Aguilar  daughter of Aurelio Aguilar and Carolina Ortega on 7 October 1918 in Springer, New Mexico. Maria was born on 14 March 1899 in Rayado, New Mexico. She was buried in 1991 in the Fairmont Cemetery in Raton, New Mexico.

9 M viii. Jose Gabriel Ventura Valdez  was born in July of 1899 in New Mexico.

Jose Gabriel Ventura Valdez married Magdelena Montoya  in Springer, New Mexico.

10 F ix. Refugio Valdez  was born about 1903 in New Mexico.

Refugio Valdez married Santiago Felipe Aguilar, the  son of Aurelio Aguilar and Carolina Ortega on 3 September 1920 in Springer, New Mexico. Santiago was born about 1902 in New Mexico.

11 F x. Delfina Valdez  was born about 1903 in New Mexico.

Delfina Valdez married Jose Isaiah Montoya .


Francisco's Grandchildren And Their Families

2. Benina Valdez  (Francisco) was born in December 1881 in New Mexico. She died about 1969.

Benina Valdez married Jose Ignacio Herrera  son of Juan Nepomuceno Herrera and Maria Cecilia Martín on 20 June 1900 in Springer, New Mexico. Jose Ignacio was born on 3 July 1871 in Santa Gertrudis, Mora County, New Mexico. He was christened on 10 July 1871 in Santa Gertrudis, Mora County, New Mexico. He died on 7 August 1935 in Cimarron, New Mexico.

They had the following children:

12 M i. Candido Herrera  was born about 1901 in New Mexico.

13 M ii. Santiago Herrera  was born about 1904 in New Mexico.

14 M iii. Juan Herrera  was born about 1906 in New Mexico.

15 M iv. Francisco Herrera  was born about 1908 in New Mexico.

16 F v. Marina Herrera  was born about 1910 in New Mexico.

17 F vi. Mary Ann Herrera .

18 F vii. Ramona Herrera .

19 F viii. Eloisa Herrera .

3. Salome Valdez  (Francisco) was born on 22 October 1883 in Springer, New Mexico. She was christened on 15 November 1883 in Springer, New Mexico. She died in Trinidad, Colorado.

Salome Valdez married Sabino Deciderio Casias  on 3 February 1906 in Springer, New Mexico. Sabino was born in October 1882 in New Mexico and he died in Colfax County, New Mexico.

They had the following children:

20 F i. Maria Ferminia Casias. born on 30 April 1905 in Cimarron, New Mexico. She died on 31 August 1964 in Denver, Colorado.

Maria Ferminia Casias married Pedro Alfonso Pina . Pedro Alfonso was born on 23 July 1891 in Trinidad, Colorado. He died on 27 January 1952 in Denver, Colorado. He was buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Denver Colorado.

21 F ii. Teodora Casias  was born on 4 May 1907 in Los Montecitos, New Mexico. She died on 7 March 1996 in Cimarron, New Mexico.

Teodora Casias married Felipe LeDoux . Felipe was born on 3 December 1899 in Agua Dulce (Miami), New Mexico and he died about 1950 in Trinidad, Colorado.

22 M iii. Pablo Casias  was born on 22 September 1909 in Agua Dulce (Miami), New Mexico. He died about January 1972.

Pablo Casias married Juana Gonzales  on 16 April 1933 in Springer, New Mexico. Juana was born in 1918 in Levi, Mora County, New Mexico.

23 M iv. Marcelino Casias  was born about 1911 in Cimarron, New Mexico.

Marcelino Casias married Linore Montoya  in Springer, New Mexico. Linore was born in Mora, New Mexico.

24 F v. Leonora M. Casias  was born about 1913 in New Mexico.

25 M vi. Desiderio Casias  was born on 7 November 1914 in New Mexico. and he died on 2 February 1983 in Trinidad, Colorado.

26 M vii. Eloy Casias  was born on 20 June 1917 in New Mexico. He died on 20 Oct 1990.

27 F viii. Elena Casias  was born about 1926 in New Mexico.

Here are additional posts on the matter of Genizaro's;

http://nuevomejicano.blogspot.com/2010/03/say-it-loud-i-am-genizaro-and-proud.html

http://nuevomejicano.blogspot.com/2013/01/what-became-of-jose-gutierrez-navajo.html