Hispanic Genealogy in Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado

Spanish-speaking people began settling in Northern New Mexico in the late 1500’s and later came to Southern Colorado, living in towns such as Trinidad, Taos, Antonito and Conejos. Nursed by hundreds of years of relative isolation from other Spanish-speaking populations, the descendants of these settlers developed a unique culture with its own folklore and even its own dialect of Spanish (and I was going to tease my wife about the way her San Luis Valley family eats their tortillas, but I won't go there). The descendants of these original settlers still share this culture and many of them have great interest in researching their lineage (Some descendants refer to themselves as Mexican-American and others as Spanish-American. There is a debate in the community). Western History and Genealogy gets many such descendants who are interested in researching their family trees and we have some great tools to help people in their genealogical quest. Family Search and Ancestry Library Edition have uploaded many civil and church records from New Mexico and Mexico and are adding more all the time. The US Census and New Mexican State Census are also available. In addition, we have some wonderful and very comprehensive genealogies of original New Mexican families compiled by LaDeane Miller. Although the sources of these family trees are not confirmed, they could be a good starting point for a researcher. Of course, your best resource in your search will be our knowledgeable staff of librarians. Come into our department and get started on your family history today.

Add new comment

Comments

My family is from NM and Southern Colorado all the way back to the early 1600s. Could you please tell me how to find more than just their names. I would love to hear stories about their lives and the lives around them.

Dear Sarah, my Aunt Susie Portillo from Raton,New Mexico, married a Romero. They are deceased but her daughter still lives in family home in Raton. NM. My mother explained to me many yrs ago that the people from this area and surrounding areas are all intermarried and related.

I grew up in Taos. The traditions there harken back to Spain. National Geographic had a featured article on how in Spain some communities do large communal harvesting of cows/pigs/goats. The meat is cut up and boiled in a tub of water over an open fire. When I lived with my grandparents in Taos, we did this exact ritual. Everybody helped and every bit of meat was harvested; tripe was washed rigorously, and filled with the blood to make "morcia", still a delicacy in Spain. We even harvested the cow brains - not to my taste. The language was distinct and unique to Northern NM and Southern Colorado - 25 cents was "dos riales, 50 cents was "cuatro riales; 75 cts was "seis riales". Many other words were unique to this area - definitely a unique culture filled with Spanish traditions; old religion, and family love. Not many people had lots of mony but we were truly rich.

I read your comment and what you described. Is an every holiday and special event celebration in the small town I was raised in the State of Zacatecas Mexico. Also the word reales instead of the word pesos was always used by our elders including my grandparents!

My decendents were from Mora N.M. The Lefevre's, Silva's .My grandmothers sister married into the Alarid family her husband was the brother of my grandmothers brother in Mora N.M.I found this out on my own recently . They all called each other primo or prima . What does that tell you .

what I meant to say is my grandmothers sisters husband was the brother to to my grandmothers brothers wife. Talk about family marrying into same families. This is what the Royale families of europe did did to keep their blood lines pure .

Robert, my great grandmother was born in Mora, NM, in I believe 1928, and she still has stories from there. Her grandmother was French and owned a general store, which was eventually destroyed by another close family member. I'm not sure of their family name, I only know that my grandmother's married name is Lucero. Her father's family name was Martin, and he was Mexican/Spanish. I imagine her maternal family was French, maybe French-Indian. The women of Mora and the frontier, as I've learned, were *fierce* and adapted to extreme change in the face of adversity. European settlers (men) would arrive expecting to meet women who were docile like back home, but this wasn't the case for mixed-heritage frontier women. They had to weave their multiple ancestries together to create beautiful cultures, and they were the true leaders of family life! There is unfortunately not much writing on women at all, because the men did not often write about them, but what was written, though often short, tell much more about how impactful these women were. My family is now in the Albuquerque area, but Mora is my great grandmother's home.

I know that she still has family and primos in Mora, but it's been many years since she's returned. There was a dispute long ago, which has lasted indefinitely, over their property, which my grandmother's aunt Josephine stole and kept from my grandmother. These are stories that aren't written down, it's so important to keep this history alive!

Israel, I read your comments and enjoyed your comments about the Martin family from Mora. I too come from the Martin/Martinez line. Any information that you have that you would be willing to share would be much appreciated.

Hi, I think this is so interesting! I am also a Martinez, my dad’s parents were Santiago Otero and Maria Gomecinda Archibeque. didn’t grow up with my dad, but his family on both sides are from New Mexico, and researching my dad’s family and New Mexico history

IM also from a martinez family in mora county near ocate. I believe my family had connections to the Los LeFebres community.

My paternal grandmother, whose name was Florence, was born in Mora, and married a Lucero, Raymond. We know nothing else, except the family story that her mother was the daughter of native americans who died of disease, and that she was raised, and then became a servant in a French household.

This is so interesting, Florinda! Funny enough, after digging more into my genealogy, I can confirm that, actually, my great grandmother’s maiden name was in fact Lucero (her grandparents are Jose Albino Lucero and Ella Cheves Lucero—they were goldsmiths and jewelers/merchants), and her dad was Martin, but Anglo Martin. She also ended up marrying a Lucero from Las Vegas. It wouldn’t surprise me if you and I were related! I hadn’t thought about the servitude in French households, but that’s making me second guess things. I’ve come to learn that my ggrandmother’s GREAT grandmother only yelled at them in French, but spoke Spanish. According to our family’s oral history, we believe that some of the Luceros traded people as well as objects, and I believe many women in my family were traded slaves/servants/genízaras—captured Indians from war/raids sold into Hispanic families. Northern New Mexico has such a fascinating history.

Another quick thing: I’ve learned from an elder recently (a Regensburg of Lucero lineage) that the reason Mora has so little records in the mid 1800s was because of occupation by French clergy, who were far less diligent with record keeping. They didn’t want/have the time to travel around from town to town for ceremonial/clerical duties. Even once a month was too much. In my opinion, they were too ambitious and didn’t understand the land or culture enough to get things done. Still seeking more information on this…

If you check the Church records of St. Gertrudis in Mora, NM you will find many many Baptisms, Marriages and Burials recorded by the French Priests. My Ancestor, Fr. JB Guerin kept copious records and traveled to make sure the people were attended to in the Mora area and superbised the building of Churches and Acequias. San Miguel del Vado is the same. After, the American takeover in 1848, Mexico recalled all of their Priests to Mexico and none were left to serve the people. Rome sent Jesuit Priests and Seminarians to New Mexico to start a Seminary in Santa Fe in about 1852 and Nuns for a Convent. If the people were not serviced as you claim, it was because of a lack of Priests and not a lack in their Commitment to serve. Please read about Archbishop Lamy and his quest to bring God to the people.

Ok this is old, and you might not check it anymore, but I have to know how they eat their tortillas. Do they break them into pieces and pinch food with the tortilla bits?

My family and extended family members did! (Albuquerque)

Family is from Albuquerque and they pinched and would roll with soups. Also, tortillas? What about sopapillas.

Yes that's the way they did It. My family Our from 4corners we are the Portillo, Madrid, Garcia, Sandoval, Catalanos, Klein, Guiterriz's, Varelas. Live in the areas of Raton,Santa Fe, Alburguque,Taos

I used to take the whole tortilla, put butter on it to melt, then dit it drip into my beans and then use a spoon to get the beans/chile and take a bite frm the tortilla. Yummy.

Yes i pinch my food with the tortillas.. i dont eat tortillas much anymore. I usually eat bread ,but i do pinch the food with my bread too . I assume avery body does. Now you got me wondering . My grandma was born in trinidad ,co. But the family grew up in mora n.m. In the 1940's they moved. Some settled in pueblo co. Me grandmas moved to denver , Very few families left in n.m. now

Hello Robert, my mom grew up in Mora or Cordillera as they called it. My mom was born in Mora in 1938. she said her family didn't talk much about their relatives but doing my dna I have found they had lots of family around them. My great grandpa was Hipolito Rivera, his daughter Fidelia married a Gallegos.

Hi Elizabeth, Robert here in Denver . My mother was born in Cimmeron ,N.M. I. 1927 for reason I don't know . The rest of the family were born in Mora .My mothers mother (my grandmother) was born in Trinidad ,Co . I don't know nothing about my grandfather he left my grandmother for another woman. I heard he was a only child . He looked Indian is all I know about him . From what my mother said he was a mean father . He was born in Wagon Mound N.M. I want to move to Alamogordo N.M. now that I'm older . I can't take this snow & cold anymore. New Mexico is a great state to adventure . Every night I look at real-estate out there. Roswell was my first choice but Alamogordo wins .I can't hardly wait .

My mother's side Borrego, Garcia and Vigil were born in Trinidad, CO.. (trying to gather more family heritage info)

Hi, I still live in mora Vidilila and elfido Sandoval were my grandparents

That's amazing. Its always nice to see the connections between living Coloradans and the rich history of this region.

Holla ,Robert ... Last time I visited Mora was maybe 1963/ 64 I was still in grade school . My grandmothers brother Thomas Silva and his wife Pita lived there. We stayed at the hotel above the (Arrabs) grocery store . My grandmother cared for there boy who was crippled in the day . I believe their last name was Hannish ,not to sure .The older decendents are buried in Mora cemetery I guess. Is there another cemetery near there ? Some of grandmothers sisters relatives still live in Mora there last name is Alarid the others live in Pueblo, Co. My mothe was telling me that people were buried on top of each other . Maybe because the markers rotted away and no documents where they were burried. I think that's why I see fences around some grave for that reason .

Interesting. My grandmother was born in Trinidad and my grandfather was born in Mora. Our families (mine, Gonzales and Bustos, plus your family) must have known each other.

After reading all these comments ,I think we're all related in one way or another maybe thats why we somewhat have a distinctive look .I ran into a native American girl one day here in Denver . She was telling me she once lived in Pueblo Co. She said all those people in Pueblo are related . I laughed and said I believe it .

Sure we are related.

I will be in ABQ and Santa Fe next week, to attend church there and visit the old Spanish region. My hope is to find a girlfriend of Spanish descent. I think that would be so interesting. I’m very interested in exploring the New Mexico culture and the influence the Spaniards left there. If you have any tips or ideas I would be happy to hear them.

i hope you found your gal pal. I hope to travel to mora county and see my family's old stomping grounds myself.

My maternal grandmother was born in Trinidad, and my paternal grandmother was born in Mora, and everybody tore off bits from the tortilla and pinches to scoop, doesn't everybody do that? How else can you eat it as part of. your meal?

You mean theirs another way!

I harken back to the 700 years that the Moors were in Spain, until 1492. The Moors/ Morrocans of north Africa, event today, sit around a common meal with food in bowls and a tortilla-like bread which they break in pieces that they use to scoop up food from a common bowl in the middle of those eating and place it in their mouths... like we do in northern New Mexico... The practice is obvious why we Spanish do that in New Mexico. .

I grew up pinching food with my tortilla. Still do. Anyone know of Antonio (Tony) and Victoria (Vickie) Aragon? My parents. I live in Illinois now. Last name McDermott.

I actually eat tortillas this way. I barely remember visiting my great-grandparents in Albuquerque when I was 7.

Just in case it is interesting to you, I have been getting to know descendants of families from southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico who migrated to Goat Hill in Adams County decades ago. They founded a church, Our Lady of Visitation, and are fighting to keep it open. You can find the church's facebook page easily. A heart wrenching story.

Hi Marie, thank you for commenting and sharing the church's story.

Not just goat hill but in Denver County. I live in Westminster now in the ghetto part . Ugh ! I hate it here . I went to west high school in the 60's . Thats where the walkout started here in Denver. Many of my fellow classmates parents /grandparents came to Denver back in the 1940's. I want to move to Alamogordo N.M. Where the winters are shorter . If not Denver County is better than Adam's County any day.Westminster is where Denver dumps its garbage .

I from southern Colorado ,and I'm Purro espanol de espania,my family goes back deep here in the San Luis valley!

No one whose ancestors came from Spain/Mexico in the 1600's is pure Spanish. Do a DNA test and you will find that you have anywhere from 10-25% Native American DNA. The Spanish settlers, like mine, came with their servants/slaves (Native Americans) and also used slaves from the Publos and nature happened and we all have Native American DNA.

I didn't think this was true, then my dad had his tested and he's almost 1/2. I can't for the life of me trace the Native roots. It's so frustrating! I found my grandmother's family on an Indian census roll, but the reservation they were on, doesn't have them listed on the Pueblo rolls. It's such a challenge to sort through!

if you're bloodline is nm native chances are you will not find records of your native bloodline for in most cases birth records were not kept for that matter they were not made, i went on an unfortunate search of my great grandmother who was full navajo no records were made on her and it bothers me to this day worse yet my grandfather would not reveal his past false pride i suppose but good luck might find something

What was the name of your Navajo grandmother? My great-grandmother was also full Navajo. Her name was Lucecita Quintana Madrid, born in 1873. There should be records of your native ancestor's baptism? They would be kept.

Hi Johnny Madrid, Sr, are you related to Paul Emeterio Madrid, he is My Tio( Uncle) on my Mom's side of my family.

Thank you my grandma never spoke about her native family but it was well known it was there 11% indegoenous mexico/southern co. 14% spanish 2% Portuguese 2%north African and 1% senegal I want to know what tribe the indegoenous blood is I do think my great great grandma may have been pueblo that's my granmas maternal side so there had to be native on her paternal as well but what tribes were from that area of antonito,co and north western n.m.???

Those percentages were from my ancestry dna

Hi every who had grandparent on the Pueblo roll, but no history , I’m not find any information either! I have 50% indigenous, 26% Spain my grandpa from the same area, I believe Antonio area. Pleas keep posy new information. Thank you

We don't all have native blood . Some have none some have little some have more . People with native blood look at us laughing because we want to act like we're more indian than they are . We wear the the braids etc. How about your other blood decendentents you have running in your veins.

Main menu

You are here

Hispanic Genealogy in Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado

Comments

Pages

Add new comment