Land Grants through the centuries of New Mexico History
by J. J. Bowden Sometime prior to 1703 a tract of land located northeast of the Pueblo of San Juan was granted to Joseph Garcia Jurado, Sebastian de Vargas, and. Sebastian de Polonia. However, when they failed to occupy the grant within the time prescribed by law, Sebastian Martin…
by J. J. Bowden Juan Marquis, Francisco Martin, and Lozaro de Cordova had an audience with Governor Juan Domingo de Bustamante on July 17, 1725 during which they presented their petition for a grant covering a triangular tract of land at Embudo de Picuris. In this petition, the petitioners…
by J. J. Bowden On March 3, 1893, Albino Lopez filed suit against the United States in the Court of Private Land Claims to secure the confirmation of “two strips of river bank land facing one another on both sides of the river, commonly known as La Nasa,” which…
by J. J. Bowden In 1790, eighteen residents of Bernalillo received permission from Governor Fernando de la Concha to settle upon the site of the abandoned Pueblo of Ojo Caliente provided they formed “a well ordered and regular settlement on the outskirts of the Canada de las Comanches.” It…
by J. J. Bowden Armed with Archive No. 771, in the Court of Private Land Claims on August 13, 1892, seeking the confirmation of their…
by J. J. Bowden Noting that his herds were gradually diminishing due to inadequate pasturage, Francisco Montes Vigil, a resident of the Villa of Santa Cruz, commenced looking for a more suitable site for his ranching activities. Upon finding an attractive piece of vacant land situated on the north…
Top Books on New Mexico When State Historian Rick Hendricks asked our readers, "What would you recommend as a good book about New Mexico?" the results were astounding, both in percentage of response (42%) and in quality and depth of books and authors. This list will satisfy the…
by J. J. Bowden When Juan de Onate conquered New Mexico in July, 1598 he found the inhabitants of the Queres Pueblo of Cochiti peacefully settled on the west bank of the Rio Grande about fourteen miles north of the Pueblo of San Felipe with which it was closely associated….
by J. J. Bowden Antonio Lucero, a landless resident of the Town of Albuquerque, appeared before Governor Juan Domingo de Bustamante and registered a tract of vacant land situated upon the Mesa of Cochiti “where the Indians who rebelled retreated” for the support of his family. He described the…
by J. J. Bowden Sometime prior to 1742, Captain Andres Montoya received a grant covering a tract of land known as the Rito de los Frijoles. He occupied and used the land until 1780 when, due to advanced age and a lack of funds, he was no longer able…
