Land Grants through the centuries of New Mexico History
by J. J. Bowden The Pueblo of Zuni assumed an important role in the early history of New Mexico, for it was one of the Seven Cities of Cebola discovered by Fray Marcos de Niza in 1539 and conquered by Francisco Vasquez Coronado in the following year. During the…
by J. J. Bowden Since tillable land within the Pueblo of Laguna league was limited, its increase was forced to seek land outside the grant for the support of their families. Juan Paguate and his brothers settled on an arroyo located just south of the Mesa del Gabilán. Sometime…
by J. J. Bowden In or about the year 1760 the Governor of New Mexico granted and caused Mateo Pino to be placed in royal possession of a tract of land known as the Rancho El Rito. Pino occupied the rancho for some thirty years before the incursions of…
by J. J. Bowden Since the land east of their pueblo was more secure from pillage by the Apaches, the Lagunans purchased the choice tract of land known as the Rancho de Gigante when it was offered to them sometime before 1813. After its acquisition, the Indians used the…
by J. J. Bowden The inhabitants of the Pueblo of Laguna petitioned surveyor General William Pelham on June 29, 1859 seeking the confirmation of the rancho commonly called San Juan. Although their title papers to the premises had been lost or destroyed, the Lagunans based their claim on actual…
by J. J. Bowden Early in the nineteenth century the Laguna Indians purchased to Surveyor General William Pelham on June 29, 1859 for confirmation under Section 8…
by J. J. Bowden In accordance with the customary practice consisted of three separate Spanish instruments. The…
by J. J. Bowden The Pueblo of Isleta, an ancient Tigua settlement, is located on the west bank of the Rio Grande, about twelve miles south of Albuquerque. While the pueblo was mentioned as early as 1540, a mission was not established there until about 1629. Thereafter, it became…
by J. J. Bowden On March 2, 1893 the heirs of John Gwin, Jr, filed suit in the Court of Private Land Claims against the United States seeking the confirmation of the Ojito de los Medanos Grant, which covered a square tract of sixteen leagues, or 69,443.22 acres with…
by J. J. Bowden Santiago Duran y Chaves, a resident of the Town of Atrisco, appeared before Governor Pedro Fermin de Mendinueta and requested a grant covering the tract of land surrounding the San Mateo Spring. As justification for his supplication, he advised Mendinueta that he owned eighty mares…
