First Hand Account of the New Mexico Territorial Period

Recently, I have been researching early Socorro County history, when I came across a book online titled "El Gringo, or New Mexico and Her People". It was written by William Watts Hart Davis, a circuit judge the United States Attorney for New Mexico. He traveled throughout New Mexico for two and a half years in the 1850s. I find the book interesting because he talks a lot about the people he came across in his travels.

What I specifically found useful in my research was his mention of the residence of the last and late Mexican Governor of New Mexico Manuel Armijo:

The mayor domo of the establishment received us in the court-yard and conducted us into the house, where we were welcomed by the owner of the establishment, a son-in-law of the deceased general [Governor Armijo.] As is customary of a Mexican gentleman, he placed everything at our disposal, but we felt well understood that nothing farther was donated to us than accommodations for ourselves and our horses. We were ushered into the main sala, where servants soon made their appearance with water and necessary ablutions and accompanying toilet fixtures...." [page 363]

The son-in-law is undoubtedly Luis Maria Baca, husband of Manuel Armijo's adopted daughter Ramona Armijo. Ramona inherited her father's house after he died. ^1. Additionally, Luis Maria Baca was also a grandson and namesake of land grant proprietor Luis Maria Cabeza de Baca, and the brother of my 2nd great-grandfather Martin Baca.^2. Through this vignette, I was able to get a better understanding of this family.

To read "El Gringo", click on this link.

Sources:
1. Fray Angelico Chavez, Origins of New Mexico Families: A Genealogy of the Spanish Colonial Period, Revised Edition (Santa Fe: Museum of New Mexico Press, 1992), p. 318. See also J. J. Bowden, "Socorro Land Grant", in the New Mexico Office of the State Historian website http://www.newmexicohistory.org/>, retrieved 24 October 2010. (Link)

2. Chavez, "Origins of New Mexico Families", p. 152-153. See also J.J. Bowden, "Luis Maria de Baca Grant", in the New Mexico Office of State Historian website, http://www.newmexicohistory.org>, retrieved 24 October 2010. (Link)

Socorro Vigilantes

The book "Desperadoes of New Mexico" by F. Stanley includes a chapter called "Murder in Socorro." This is the story of the murder of a Socorro newspaper publisher in 1880 by three Baca cousins, and the subsequent arrest of the men by vigilantes. One man tried to escape by shooting a guard, but was shot dead by the same guard; another was lynched by the mob; and the third was tried and was acquited. It's an interesting story.

The book, which includes sixteen other stories, can be found online at the New Mexico Digital Collections page of the University of New Mexico Libaries website. Here is a direct link to the book. The Socorro story is on chapter 13, starting on page 221.

"Kiva, Cross and Crown" Online!

Once again, searching for something else, I found this online: a free, electronic copy of John Kessell's "Kiva, Cross and Crown"! This is on the National Park Service's website.

This is a very good book about 300 years of Spanish / Pueblo interaction and conflict. I have a copy of this book at home. But my copy is better: it's signed by the author.

I followed a link that showed Miera's 1758 Map of New Mexico.

Online: The Other Luna Family

The Family History Archive has online the book The Other Luna Family: The Maternal Ancestry of Miguel de San Juan by Margaret L. Buxton. This a great source for many people looking for their New Mexican Luna ancestors.

A Concise History of New Mexico

"A Concise History of New Mexico" by Le Baron Bradford Prince was published in the same year that New Mexico became a state - 1912. The book is only 272 pages and covers from pre-Columbian times to American occupation.

Click on here to read the book on Google books.

The Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Volume I

Google Books has an online copy of "The Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Volume 1" by Ralph Emerson Twitchell. Click on this link to access this book.

This book lists many of the Spanish New Mexican documents that can be found on microfilm in certain genealogy libraries such as The Albuquerque Special Collections Library.

Unfortunately, I did not find volume 2 of this book.