Experiences in the Historical Borderlands: A Shared Ancestry

By Dolores M. Martínez

This is an original project about the experiences of people who lived in the borderlands of Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado. These individuals were of Spanish and indigenous Pueblo and Plains Indian ancestry. The reader to this book will experience the historical background of New Mexico and Colorado. If the reader is unfamiliar with the migration of the Spanish to the Southwest, they will have a better understanding of the shared ancestry many from this region share. Oral history is lost through generations, and this book captures much of the oral history that could be lost. Some people will gain insight to their family history that will help in their own genealogical research. The historical analysis includes a genealogical mapping of families who lived in this region. The early experiences in the historical borderlands of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado give new meaning to life in the Southwest.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 10, 2018
• ISBN: 9781984539885

Dolores M. Martínez

Dolores Montoya Martinez is a native Coloradoan. Born and raised in the southern part of Colorado, where many of her ancestors settled in the 1800s. Dolores passion in life has been family genealogy and has pursued this interest for over 30 years. Dolores has worked in the legal field for over 40 years. She has integrated her research skills into her genealogy interest. Dolores holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in Political Science from the University of Colorado. She currently lives in Thornton, Colorado and is married. She has one son Kris who was a victim of homicide and four grandchildren Zandra, Kris Jr., Devan and Alicia. Dolores and her husband Jose, who is a practicing attorney, have both worked in public service and have been involved in many community based non-profit organizations for many years promoting Veteran, education, and youth issues. They enjoy spending time with their grandchildren and extended family.

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Copyright © 2018 by Dolores M. Martínez.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2018907945

ISBN:      Hardcover        978-1-9845-3987-8

                 Softcover          978-1-9845-3986-1

                 eBook               978-1-9845-3988-5

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 07/09/2018

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CONTENTS

1 Introduction

2 Review of Literature and analysis of social construction of the New Mexican population

3 The Historical Origins of the Spanish Inhabitants of Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado and their Immigration from Spain to the New World

4 Juan De Oñate and his Relationship with the Indigenous Pueblo and Plains Indian Populations

• First Penitential Activities in the New Mexico

• Spanish Oppression and the Genocide of the Indigenous Pueblo and Plains Indian Populations in New Mexico

• Great Pueblo Rebellion and Expulsion of the Spanish Inhabitants

5 Diego De Vargas and Spanish Colonists Return to Northern New Mexico

6 The Early Years in the Southwest and the Results of Isolation from the Mother Country

• The socio-economics of the Patron-Peon System and Debt Patronage

• Socio-economic impact of Spanish expulsion from New Mexico

• Los Hermanos Penitentes

• Women’s Role in Lay Religion

• El Santuario de Chimayó

• Other Religious Beliefs

• Education in the Southwest

• Language – the Bilingual Controversy

7 The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and its effect on the Spanish, Indian and Mexican Populations in 1848

8 Descendants of the Early Spanish Settlers and Indigenous Population

9 The Early Settlers in Southern Colorado

• The Montoya ~ Vigil ~ Chavez ~ Families

• The Trujillo ~ Duran ~ Families

• The Francisco Antonio Trujillo Family

• Gonzales Family

• Montoya Family

10 Conclusion

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 3.1 FIRST Discoveries Of New Spain 1517 - 1519

Figure 5.1 Populations During Historic Period

Figure 8.1 Sangre De Cristo Mountain Range Viewed From Tercio, Colorado.

Figure 8.2 Fisher’s Peak – Trinidad, Colorado

Figure 8.3 Coke Oven Workers In Colorado. Juan Bautista Gonzales (Third From Right).

Figure 9.1 John D. Montoya, (Left) Santiago Montoya (Middle) And Son Ben Montoya (Right).

Figure 9.2 John D. Montoya (Left), Maria Trinidad Chavez Montoya (Middle) And Ben Montoya (Right)

Figure 9.3 Standing Left To Right: Cristina Trujillo, Inez Trujillo, Piedad Trujillo. Sitting Left To Right: Reynalda Trujillo, Maria Ascension Mondragon Trujillo, Placida Trujillo, Francisco Antonio Trujillo, Rebecca And Balbina (Babies).

Figure 9.4 Cristina Trujillo Gonzales, (Left); Juan Bautista Gonzales, (Middle); And Cristina’s Sister Placida Trujillo Gonzales (Right) Married To Juan’s Brother Juan Benito Gonzales.

Figure 9.5 Placida Trujillo Gonzales And Niece Patsy Gonzales Montoya

Figure 9.6 (Left) Maria De La Luz Trujillo (Great Aunt Lucy Roybal), Patsy’s Brothers Patricio Gonzales (Middle), And Oldest Brother Horacio Gonzales (Right).

LIST OF TABLES

Table 3.1 WOMEN CONQUISTADORES 1514 – 1520

Table 3.2 TABLE OF CONQUISTADORES’ OCCUPATIONS

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my beloved mother Maria Petronila Montoya de Gonzales, affectionately known as Patsy Montoya, and the adventure she gave me in seeking the past; and to my beloved son Kristian Anthony Martínez who will forever be in my heart, may there be Justice one day.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

S PECIAL THANKS TO, Dr. Bob Clifton and Dr. Kathryn Cheever, for their guidance through my graduate studies. They made a huge impact on my life and I will be forever grateful for having known them.

I wish to thank Anna Sampaio for her valuable insight and direction; Tom Noel Dr. Colorado who provided me with the incentive to follow the historical direction of my work; and special thanks to Jana Everett for her support and guidance. This thesis was extremely valuable to me and to the descendants of the early inhabitants of the southwest region of the United States, the early settlers of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

I would especially like to thank my husband José Pedro for his support and encouragement while I worked on this most interesting project. Special thanks to my mother Patsy and my father John who were great storytellers, may they live on through these words that you will be reading.

CHAPTER 1

Introduction

C URIOSITY AND RESEARCH can bring out many interesting discoveries in life. The experience in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado is too encompassing to be a short story of events. This is a story of fascinating lives of many interesting people who lived long ago. Although they may seem but a string of names on a page to some, they are more. As a society, these ancestors left a legacy that is unforgettable. Through my discoveries, the obligation to share the valuable history of the past with others is great, not only for my family but for my extended family, whoever they may be. Whoever finds their path in this work, please continue it for me, as this history is the legacy we leave to our descendents. If we fail to record experiences, our past dies with us.

To understand the complex issues that we face in today’s global society, we need to look back into the past to see where we have been to direct a better future for our children and grandchildren. We cannot ignore history nor fail to record the valuable facts of a people’s existence that we believe are missing in the historical archives today. To ignore the suffering, alienation, hardships, famines, death and genocide that the Spanish colonizers and indigenous populations faced is to disregard the historical facts that make us who we are today.

Many scholars, writers, and genealogists recorded events surrounding the religion, culture, and politics of the inhabitants of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado prior to statehood in the United States of America. The exploration of the world was at an all time high. It should be remembered that the discovery of America revolutionized the common geographical ideas of the time. It required several generations, moreover, before the shape and size of North America were definitely known (Hammond, 1938, p. 33). Regarding history of the southwest, most of the historical documentation is derived from translations of the Spanish archives, which show a one-sided view of history in the southwest region. Many of the historical documents that did exist in this region were lost during various conflicts and battles. The indigenous people passed down history through the ages through oral tradition. However, many important historical facts were hidden as a means of their survival; these facts remain secret to this day. Other historical documentation of this time period came from researchers, who meticulously searched records, interviewed, and explored to find the answer the questions that still puzzle us today. Many early writers and historians were very instrumental in documenting the history of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado for future generations, and this project will contribute to that research.

In my experience in researching the early Hispanos and indigenous native population, I discovered history books do not truly depict them, but we tend to believe what we read. In fact, a large segment of the Hispano history of 1500’s to 1900’s is missing this distinct population in society. During this time, life was hard enough due to natural physical hardships; but with it came colonization, which brought Spanish oppression of the indigenous populations. Despite the sufferings and tribulations this population went through, the descendants of the Spanish and indigenous populations were self-sufficient farmers and agriculturists, responsible for their own welfare, and able to defend their own communities. They practiced their religion, and when they did not have religious leaders, they relied on their own lay religion.

Many Hispano community leaders were very interested in government and contributed to the growth of the State of Colorado. Facts indicate that prior to Colorado becoming a state many Spanish-surnamed people were active in the various councils and legislative bodies, which led to the establishment of the Colorado Territory and finally to Statehood (Vigil, 1976, p. 184). The Spanish population was very interested in being part of the new government. In the Legislative Assembly of January 3, 1876, there were 12 Spanish-surnamed legislators (Vigil, 1976, p. 184-185).

Note, this