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NATIVE AMERICAN CAPTIVITY, SLAVERY & IDENTITY

10/24/2018

by Estevan Rael-Galvez

I am writing to ask your assistance on an important project focused on a foundational and complex part of the history and experience of our region. Please pardon the long post, but for those interested in this topic, I ask you to read all the way through, particularly those with a personal connection.

I am writing to ask for your help in gathering more STORIES, PHOTOS and OBJECTS that help illustrate this story of Native American captivity and slavery.

By way of introduction for those that may not know about my work in this field, among other positions I have had the honor of holding, I served nearly a decade as the State Historian of New Mexico. Prior to holding that position, I completed my PhD in Anthropology and History. My doctoral dissertation was entitled, “Identifying Captivity and Capturing Identity: Narratives of American Indian Slavery,” and focused on the experiences and meanings of Native American slavery and a unique legacy and identity in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. After a couple of decades serving as an administrator of cultural based organizations, I am returning to the writing of the book, building not only on the original dissertation, but on nearly 30 years of continual archival and ethnographic research.

Since returning back to New Mexico, I have also created my own consulting firm and over the past several years have worked on projects globally and nationally, though I love it most when I am close to home. I am writing today about one project in particular. I have been engaged by History Colorado to begin some exciting work toward developing a renewed vision for the Fort Garland Historic Site. One key part of this work will entail my designing and curating a new exhibit and memorial featuring this story of Native American captivity and slavery as part of their exciting focus on Borderlands.

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The story of our region is one of astonishing complexity. It is set within a magnificent and sovereign landscape that is both ancient and modern. Its people are the heirs to unique and richly woven histories, traditions and a depth of wisdom and memories, all manifest in the physical and social landscape.
A foundational part of this story is based on the experiences of thousands of Native American women and children who were captured and held in these communities. Many of them became our ancestors and every single family and community was impacted in one way or another. This is a significant part of our legacy and yet, these stories have been quieted over the years by whispers as much as by silence, hushed aside even by those who have inherited it — carrying if not their geography in their faces and hands, certainly its memory in an aching consciousness.

I have over the years interviewed some of your abuelos, tios and tias and as I pick this project back up, social media offers an opportunity to engage even more broadly, perhaps. Given how this story has been obscured, and in my work on this subject over the past three decades, I have realized that it is one of fragments and yet these pieces form in composite a more complete picture.

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CHURCH RECORDS
Over the past decades, I have also amassed a huge database of individuals who were named in church records, civil records like censuses and much more. This database is essentially thousands of interconnected family trees. I have spent years interviewing people as well and for those of you looking for information, I am happy to help you as well.

While these captivities and their legacy span time and space, part of this project is focused on our local villages of southern Colorado, including places like San Luis, Conejos, Trinidad and all of the valley communities of Huerfano, San Luis and Las Animas Counties.

Church records, including baptisms, marriages, death are revealing of how individuals were ritually incorporated into these communities and a couple of samples are illustrative:

• In 1862, a 5-year-old Navajo child was baptized with the name MARIA DOLORES in Conejos to Vicente Sanchez and Maria Juana Vigil
• At her marriage in 1880 in Costilla, NM to Jose Marcelino Valdez, MARIA RITA ESQUIBEL is still noted as “india de Juan Esquibel”
• In 1878, 15-year-old Indian JOSE FRANCISCO is listed in the Walsenburg burial records, still being listed as a servant of Manuel Gonzales.

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CENSUS RECORDS
Census records are also revealing and I have looked at every single census record for NM and CO documenting this. Here are some few examples of the many I have from Colorado census records:

• JOSE GREGORIO, a 25-year-old Indian servant is listed in the 1860 census in Conejos in the household of Jesus Maria Olguin and Maria Ramona Valdez
• MARIA ANTONIA is enumerated in the 1870 Census in San Luis de la Culebra as a 12-year old domestic servant in the family of Narciso Gallegos and Rafaela.
• JOSE ANTONIO is listed in the in the Valley of Apishapa River, as an 8-year-old Indian herding cows in the family of A. J. Archuleta.
• RITA, a 12-year old Indian and LIBRADA, an 11-year-old Indian are listed in the 1870 Census of Cucharas in the household of Louis Marie Cabeza de Baca.
• FRANCISCO, an 18-year old Indian servant, is listed in the 1880 census of San Acacio in the household of Luciano Lucero and Francisca Martinez
• EUSTACIO, a 29 Indian servant is listed in the 1880 census in Trinidad in the household of Antonio Padilla

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LAFAYETTE HEAD LISTS
In 1865, in an effort to end the practice of capturing and enslaving Native Americans in the mid 19th century, an even more targeted and focused census was created in July of 1865 documenting the enslavement of 149 individuals in Costilla and Conejos Counties. In my dissertation I fully examine these lists and its larger context in tremendous detail. The enumerated included 149 individuals across both Costilla and Conejos Counties. What follows is this enumeration for both Costilla and Conejos Counties. While the lists have amazing data, which I have greatly augmented over the years with extensive research, including genealogies. I have only listed their names, age, identified tribal affiliations and the name of their owner below, but may be helpful for folks..

COSTILLA COUNTY
• Rita, 10 year old Navajo in the household of Teodoro Maes;
• Juan Tomas, 8 year old Navajo in the household of Teodoro Maes
• Juan Bautista, 4 year old Navajo in the home of Teodoro Maes;
• Guadalupe, a 10-year-old Navajo in the household of Juan Andres Manzanares;
• Resiona, a 20-year old Navajo in the household of Joseph Bourcy and Maria Agustina Arellano;
• Leonor, a 10-year old Navajo in the household of J. Santos Maes
• Antonia, a 20-year old Navajo in the household of Benito Maes
• Margarita, a 15-year old Navajo in the household of Juan Trujillo
• Maria Antonia, a 14-year old Navajo in the household of Juan Trujillo
• Maria Refugio, a 20-year old Navajo in the household of Pedro Duran
• Juan Miguel, a 12-year old Ute in the household of Pedro Duran
• Juana Maria, a 17-year old Navajo in the household of Mariano Pacheco
• Maria Guadalupe, a 30-year old Navajo in the household of Amador Sanchez
• Maria Lucia, an 8-year old Ute in the household of Amador Sanchez
• Pablo, a 7-year old Ute in the household of Juan M. Vigil
• Juan Antonio, an 8-year old Navajo in the household of Juan Miguel Vigil
• Juliana, a 12-year old Navajo in the household of Juan Miguel Vigil
• Nicolas, a 7-year old Navajo in the household of Francisco Sanchez
• Dolores, a 10-year old Navajo in the household of Francisco Sanchez
• Maria Alcaria, a 11-year old Navajo in the household of Maria Guadalupe Vallejos (widow of Juan Angel Vigil)
• Juan Antonio, a 6-year old Navajo in the household of Maria Guadalupe Vallejos (widown of Juan Angel Vigil)
• Maria Paula, a 14-year old Navajo in the household of Francisco Vallejos
• Pedro, a 7-year old Navajo in the household of Jose W. Jacques
• Maria, a 40-year old Navajo in the household of Maria Dolores Vallejos (widow of Ricardo de Jesus Vigil)
• Maria Rosario, a 7-year old Navajo in the household of Maria Dolores Vallejos (widow of Ricardo de Jesus Vigil)
• Francisco Antonio, a 7-year old Navajo in the household of Tomas Vigil
• Jose Antonio, a 9-year old Navajo in the household of Maria Dolores Vallejos (widow of Ricardo de Jesus Vigil)
• Margarita, a 16-year old Navajo in the household of Juan Cordova
• Cayetana, a 7-year old Navajo in the household of Juan Cordova
• Juan Jose, an 8-year old Navajo in the household of Juan Cordova
• Miguel, a 4-year old Apache in the household of Juan Montoya
• Antonio, a 7-year old Navajo in the household of Topolo Trujillo
• Piedad, a 10-year old Navajo in the household of Topolo Trujillo
• Macaria, a 6-year old Navajo in the household of Julian Lucero
• Maria Louisa, a 35-year old Navajo in the household of Juan J. Esquibel
• Carmel, a 14-year old Navajo in the household of Jose R. Esquibel
• Jose Rafael, an 11-year old Ute in the household of Vicente Chavez
• Margarita, a 12-year old Navajo in the household of Jose A. Martinez
• Dolores, a 15-year old Navajo in the household of Antonio Vallejos
• Josepha, an 8-year old Navajo in the household of Miguel J. K. Vallejos
• Felipe, an 8-year old Navajo in the household of Miguel J. K. Vallejos
• Hilario, an 4-year old Navajo in the household of Antonio J. Martin
• Juan Felipe Gonzales, 12-year-old Navajo in the household of Desiderio Gonzales and Tomasa Madril
• Rosalia Vallejos, 18-year-old Navajo in the household of Jose Maria Vallejos and Maria Louisa Archuleta
• Guadalupe Martinez, 18-year-old Navajo in the household of Antonio J. Martinez and Maria Sefarina Martinez
• Antonio, 7 year old Navajo in the household of Damacio Sanchez
• Dominga, 25 year old Navajo in the household of Tomas T. Tobin
• Margarita, 16 year old in the household of Faustin Medina
• Guadalupe, 50 year old Navajo in the household of Buenaventura Medina
• Maria Antonia Quintana, 20-year-old Navajo in the household of Vicente Quintana and Maria Rita Martinez.
• Maria, 30-year-old Navajo in the household of Maria P. Padilla
• Lupita, 11-year-old Ute in the household of Maria P. Padilla
• Jose Antonio, 12-year-old Ute in the household of Maria P. Padilla.
• Catalina, 17-year-old Navajo in the household of Maria P. Padilla
• Maria Tomas, 30-year-old Ute in the household of Pedro Manzanares and Isabel Martinez
• Miguel, 8-year-old Navajo in the household of Juan M. Madrid
• Juan del Carmel, 6-year-old Ute, in the household of Phelipe Gonzales and Maria Dolores Vigil
• Juliana, 6-year-old Navajo in the household of Phelipe Gonzales and Maria Dolores Vigil
• Maria Dolores, 11-year-old in the household of Abaristo Gonzales and Ursula Chalifoux.

CONEJOS COUNTY
• Jose Antonio, a 6 year old Navajo in the household of Francisco Estevan Aragon
• Agapita, 18 year old Navajo in the household of Pedro Aragon.
• Maria Dolores, 10 year old Ute in the household of Manuel Archuleta
• Guadalupe, 15 year old Navajo in the household of Manuel Archuleta
• Rafaela, 25 year old Navajo in the household of Hilario Atencio
• Juan Quaro, 15 year old Navajo in the household of Hilario Atencio
• Jose Antonio, 11 year old Navajo in the household of Hilario Atencio
• Madelina, 8 year old Navajo in the household of Jose Buenaventura Borrego
• Francisco Antonio, 4 year old Navajo in the household of Miguel Casias
• Juana, 4 year old Navajo in the household of Miguel Casias
• Dolores, 15 year old Navajo in the household of Juan Gabriel Chacon
• Juliana, 15 year old Navajo in the household of Juan Bautista Chacon
• Antonia Rosa, 16 year old Ute in the household of Rafael Chavez
• Guadalupe, 4 year old Ute in the household of Antonio Jose Chavez
• Maria Rosalia, 4 year old Navajo in the household of Antonio Jose Chavez
• Guadalupe, 16 year old PahUte in the household of JM Chavez
• Librada, 4 year old Navajo in the household of JM Chavez
• Maria J. de Gracia, 60 year old Navajo in the household of V. Chavez
• Juan, 7 year old Navajo in the household of Jesus Maria Cordova
• Ramon, 13 year old Navajo in the household of Domingo Diego Antonio
• Maria Mta, 12 year old Navajo in the household of Jose Victor Garcia
• Maria Gertrudes, 8 year old Navajo in the household of Jose Victor Garcia
• Jose Antonio, 10 year old Ute in the household of Jose Victor Garcia
• Guadalupe, 8 year old Navajo in the household of Pedro Garcia
• Rita, 9 year old Navajo in the household of Jose Serafin Garcia
• Jose Antonio, 4 year old Navajo in the household of Juan Gomez
• Maria Cuaran, 7 year old Navajo in the household of J.L. Jacon
• Maria Reyes, 15 year old Pah Ute in the household of Jose Maria Jaquez
• Cayetano, 4 year old Ute in the household of Jose Maria Jaquez
• Ramon, 12 year old Navajo in the household of J. Francisco Jaramillo
• Guadalupe, 15 year old Navajo in the household of A.J. Lobato
• Polito, 9 year old Ute in the household of A.J. Lobato
• Catalina, 7 year old Navajo in the household of Jose Policarpio Lobato
• Jose Maria, 5 year old Ute in the household of Ramon Lopez
• Miguel, 7 year old Navajo in the household of Manuel Lucero
• Guadalupe, 38 year old PaiUte in the household of Antonio Domingo Lucero
• Dolores, 12 year old Navajo in the household of Delos Lucero
• Refugio, 18 year old Navajo in the household of Gabriel Lucero
• Guadalupe, 6 year old Navajo in the household of Juan Lucero
• Maria Guadalupe, 5 year old Navajo in the household of Maria Encarnacion Lucero
• Jose Rafael, a 3 year old Ute in the household of Jose Fr. Lucero
• Maria Benina, 15 year old Ute in the household of Jose Maria Lucero
• Ana Maria, 14 year old Ute in the household of Juan Ysidro Lucero
• Maria Escolastica, 16 year old Navajo in the household of Juan Ysidro Lucero
• Juliana, 12 year old Apache in the household of Felipe Martin
• Dolores,10 year old Navajo in the household of Miguel Antonio Martin
• Rita, 45 year old Navajo in the household of J.M. Martin
• Maria Antonia, 16 year old Ute in the household of Joseviano Martinez
• Estefana, 11 year old Ute in the household of Joseviano Martinez
• Margarita, 18 year old Navajo in the household of J.G. Martinez
• Serafina, 28 year old Navajo in the household of Querino Maes
• Gregorio, 18 year old Navajo in the household of Querino Maes
• Jose, 15 year old Navajo in the household of Querino Maes
• Rafael, 15 year old Navajo in the household of Q. Maes
• Guadalupe, 11 year old Navajo in the household of N. Montoya
• Catalina, 35 year old Navajo in the household of Guadalupe Olguin
• Guadalupe, 20 year old Navajo in the household of Martin de Jesus Rodriguez
• Ma. Guadalupe, 10 year old Ute in the household of Ml. Romero
• Rosalia, 19 year old Navajo in the household of Ml. Romero
• Rosaila, 6 year old Navajo in the household of G. Ruiz
• Lorenza, 9 year old Navajo in the household of Salvador Salazar
• Juan, 7 year old Navajo in the household of Salvador Salazar
• Trinidad, 10 year old Navajo in the household of Miguel A. Salazar
• Guadalupe, 17 year old Navajo in the household of Francisco Salazar
• Juana, 5 year old Navajo, in the household of Francisco Salazar
• Guadalupe, 25 year old Navajo in the household of Cresencio Sisneros
• Jose Maria, 8 year old Navajo in the household of Chepito Sisneros
• Jose Sino, 5 year old Pah Ute in the household of Antonio Sisneros
• Encarnacion, 16 year old Navajo in the household of M.M. Sisneros
• Juan, 11 year old Navajo in the household of Manuel Trujillo
• Gertrudes, 8 year old Navajo in the household of Jose Trujillo
• Maria Guadalupe, 52 year old California in the household of S. Trujillo
• Felimena, 14 year old Navajo in the household of S. Trujillo
• Nestor, 12 year old Navajo in the household of S. Trujillo
• Gertrudes, 24 year old Pah Ute in the household of Seldonio Valdez
• Paula, 11 year old Pah Ute in the household of Seledonio Valdez
• Luis, 9 year old Half Breed in the household of Seledonio Valdez
• Rafaela, 10 year old Navajo in the household of J.M. Valdez
• Ma. Antonia, 12 year old Navajo in the household of Jesus Valdez
• Catalina, 24 year old Navajo in the household of J.Ma. Velasquez
• Vicente, 4 year old Ute in the household of J.T. Vigil
• Lucas, 4 year old Ute in the household of J de J Vigil
• Maria Rosalia, 5 year old Navajo in the household of F. Vigil
• Juliana, 22 year old Navajo in the household of J. Maria Vigil
• Lucas, 18 year old Navajo in the household of J. Maria Vigil
• Catalina, 19 year old Ute in the household of James B. Woodson
• Gabriel, 12 year old Navajo in the household of James B. Woodson
• Andres, 10 year old Navajo in the household of James B. Woodson

This list was consciously left incomplete by the enumerator at the time, since he too was complicit in the practice.

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There are many more lives that I have researched in the region, but I thought I would start here with these glimpses. So while I have talked to some of you over the many years, others may have new stories, memories and more that you would be willing to share.
Thank you.

30 Comments

Carol Pastore

10/25/2018 06:03:37 pm

Can I have your contact information?

Monica Suarez

11/24/2018 05:18:59 pm

Descendent of Andres Woodson

Jerry Lucas link

11/26/2018 11:58:07 am

I am a Colorado notary, notary training instructor and notary historian. I have written many articles on notary history in my Colorado Notary Blog. There have been notaries and scribes for 5,000 years. Their records are valuable to historians.

Starting with Columbus, the Spanish explorers and conquistadors had royal notaries on their expeditions to keep records.

Southern Colorado was part of Taos County, New Mexico Territory, before Colorado Territory was formed in 1861. Old Taos County notary records, if available, may contain useful information.

John M. Francisco, was the sutler (civilian supplier) at Fort Massachusetts (Certificate of Appointment: 11/4/1856) and Fort Garland until 1862.

He was elected to the First Colorado Territorial Legislature as a member of the Council, 8th and 9th Council Districts, 9/2/1861. He was a Colorado Territorial Notary for Costilla County, appointed 1/25/1862 by the first Governor, William Gilpin, who was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln.

Francisco and his trading partner, Henry Daigre, a French Canadian from Quebec, built Francisco Plaza in 1862, now the Francisco Fort museum in La Veta. Since he was a notary, his notary records, if available, may contain valuable historic information from that era.

I wrote a blog article about him at https://abclegaldocs.com/blog-Colorado-Notary/fort-massachusetts-fort-garland-john-m-francisco-1852/

I have also written an article about the Ute Indians being the first tribe to acquire horses from the Spanish.

I am a landowner on Wild Horse Mesa in Costilla County.

Rodney Ribali link

2/3/2019 01:45:08 pm

I see the Name piedad..10 year old native American. is that a boy or Girl? it's in the Trujillo Family.. as a servant. could be related to vitalita Harmes. if it's a girl she could have married a Harmes and her daughter could be Vitalita Quintana Harmes. Hope to hear back from you.

Rosalie Michelle Leon

12/10/2019 04:16:24 pm

can you share more information on • Maria Rosalia, 4 year old Navajo (birth year 1859 )in the household of Antonio Jose Chavez..My familily comes from a long line of Navajo slaves from Northern New Mexico.....
My sister and I are currently at a brick wall trying to find our maternal 3rd grandmother Maria Rosalia Armijo-Salazar

Paula

7/8/2020 05:09:32 pm

Antonio Jose Chavez and Maria de Jesus Olquin were my 4x great-grandparents.We received the information about Maria Rosalia from the Abiquiu Library in November 2018.My aunt remembers seeing Rosalina when my aunt was very young. My aunt is still living is 93 years, also has a brother that is 91.We were researching to see what we could find out about Rosalia and came across this website - Museums of San Luis Valley of Colorado.

Paula link

7/14/2020 05:20:29 pm

Attn: Rosalie Michelle Leon,
Please contact me: antpaula1982@gmail.com
Thank you.

Rosalie Michelle Leon

5/6/2021 06:00:57 pm

Hi Paula i emailed you with no response. Could you please give me the link to the information you found on Rosalia

Paula link

9/1/2021 02:01:00 pm

Hello Michelle,
I just saw that you responded to the note I posted last year. I did not see your email, please try again. Hope to hear from you soon.

P Sciortino link

9/5/2021 12:57:36 pm

Hello Michelle,
Hope you received my prior message. I was thinking the maybe the email you sent me ended up in my SPAM. Could you post your email address and I will try emailing you. Thank you.

Deidre Haab

2/18/2020 09:39:08 pm

My grandmother Jennie Rojas born 1901, was a Navajo Indian who worked as a servant child in Arizona, or possibly Texas. The family ranch was owned by the
Patterson’s family. Jennie
remained a servant to this family until her young adulthood. Do you have any addditional information? May be a needle in a haystack.

Kat

2/23/2020 07:18:06 pm

Deidre,

Here are a couple of items that might help:

https://www.museumtrail.org/news/native-american-captivity-slavery-identity

https://nmgs.nmt.edu/publications/guidebooks/downloads/22/22_p0243_p0245.pdf

https://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/refuges/documents/San%20Luis%20Valley%20Complex%20-%20Cultural%20History.pdf

a book: The Wandering Gene and the Indian Princess; Race, Religion and DNA
by Jeff Wheelwright

See the Borderlands info & Lafayette Head - https://www.museumtrail.org/news/fort-garland-museum-newsletter-june-1st-2019

Kat

rebecca roth

4/6/2020 12:42:31 pm

can you send me your email information. Been researching my ancestry and have a question regarding my great grandmother christened Juanita, Juana Salazar from Chamita Rio Arriba

Rodney L Ribali

4/6/2020 12:48:42 pm

replying

Justin Romero

7/22/2020 01:42:56 pm

"• Rosalia, 19 year old Navajo in the household of Ml. Romero"

This may very well be my great grandfather's mother. I can't even tell you how I ended up on this page but that line gave me goosebumps. If you have any more information as to where you got this, I'd greatly appreciate it.

I'm also willing to discuss my reasoning and known lineage.

Thanks!

Paula link

7/22/2020 06:44:31 pm

Maria Rosalia,4 year old Navajo (born in 1860) was in the household of Antonio Jose Chavez. Justin - Do you feel that your great-great grandmother was in the household of the Antonio Chavez and Maria de Jesus Olguin (my 4x great-grandparents)?
Where is your family from? You may want to look at the list again, there are several Rosalia's on the list.

Justin Romero

7/22/2020 07:05:10 pm

@Paula — No ma'am. The Rosalia I'm looking for would have specifically been in the household of Juan Manuel Romero, which may very well be, Ml. Romero. Her age (19) is also important because it's noted that the info comes from 1865 and my great grandfather was born in 1869.

Paula link

7/22/2020 07:22:59 pm

Justin,
Thank you for your quick response. I'm not having any luck regarding my Maria Rosalia either. Hope you find a connection. I originally obtained my info at the Abiquiu Library in New Mexico, you might try there.

Leona Ballinger

8/7/2020 08:11:57 pm

Hello, I’m trying to find out about my Great Grandmother, Juanita Gonzales. She was in the household of Manuel Gonzales and Maria Rosa Gomez Gonzales in 1880 Census. She is Navajo and was born in Colorado. I can’t find anything more about her beyond the 1880 census.

James Bear

8/20/2020 12:53:13 am

I have family that lists in this very timeline and would love some more information. Juan Antonio Vigil born June 1859. He is my Great-great Grandfather. I believe he is the 6 year-old Navajo boy in the household Vallejos. his birthplace is listed as Conejos County. Looking to confirm.

Lucinda Crespin

10/15/2020 10:40:57 pm

I found my great grandmother at the age of 1 year old, taken from the Navajo Indian Territory. Her name is Gertrude Garcia, she was in the home of Probate Judge Juan Garcia in New Mexico. They have her as an adopted daughter for baptism but as she gets older I found her in additional census records as a servant in different Garcia households with her nationality as white.

Lucinda S Crespin link

5/6/2021 10:29:33 pm

I found my grandmother on a list of Santa Ana Pueblo Indians. She was taken from Navajo Indian Territory in 1860's. The list I found her on was from early 1900's.

April Dunbar

11/23/2020 12:06:49 pm

I would like to speak with you. I have been talking about the slavery of my great great grandmother for years now and I wish I knew who could help me and would listen to my grandmothers story. yes there are stories of her but not told my her family. MY great great grandmother was Rosario Romero

Lucinda Crespin link

6/3/2021 10:13:14 pm

I just read your post. Please feel free to contact me. I would like to hear the story of your grandmother. I am still conducting research on my great grandmother. I have found some records that say she was Indian (Native America) and when she is older she is classified as white.

Julie Bell link

3/10/2021 09:50:02 am

Can you provide me with any other information about Maria, Maria Rosario, and Jose Antonio, all living in the household of Maria Dolores Vallejos? Thanks so much, Julie

MSLVSC

3/11/2021 09:37:41 am

Julie, We will forward your question to Mr. Estevan who wrote the article you are referring to and see if he can answer your question. I'll forward your email to him so he can respond.

Did you also check some of the local resources we are listed under: https://www.museumtrail.org/research.html

Lucinda S Crespin link

4/13/2021 02:48:39 pm

My great grandmother, Gertrude aka Gertrudes Garcia. I found her on an 1860 census record and can no longer locate it. She was 1 year old and it says she is indian from Navajo Indian Territory. She was in the household of Juan Garcia and Antonio Garcia. I remember in 1 census record they have her as Indian, adopted daughter but when she is older she is listed as a servant in the Juan Garcia's residence and in Antonio Garcia's residence. Please help me if you can to locate the records or give me any information you find during your searches in New Mexico. crespinl1@coyote.csusb.edu. Your assistance in appreciated.

Amie Campbell

6/3/2021 04:03:44 pm

How do I get a hold of you? I am looking for more information on Lorenza possible last name Romero, Trujillo, or DeHerrrera. Born about 1832

6/3/2021 11:06:48 pm

Following

Veronica Garcia

9/2/2021 10:55:59 pm

We have ancestors from the Aguilar, San Luis Valley and we think Taos/Northern New Mexico areas. We’ve been told that our ancestors are Navajo who “lost everything” but we are only able to trace back so far without the tribal affiliations. We are told that someone in our lineage was adopted by a Spaniard and that is how we obtained the Garcia name but we do not know…my Great Grandfather is Anastacio Garcia and apparently he spoke the Navajo language…in addition to Spanish and English. His mother is Teodorita Martinez who, it appears, parents are Guadalupe Martinez and Francisca Salazar. In your listing there is a Guadalupe Martinez, 18-year-old Navajo in the household of Antonio J. Martinez and Maria Sefarina Martinez…I’m wondering if there is any connection. However, some records say he was born in 1844 so he would have been closer to 21 at the time of this census I believe. Then there’s my Great Grandma Celia or Cecilia Garcia. I’ll have to research her maiden name. It’s been said that she and my Great Grandpa Anastacio we’re both at least part Navajo and were setup in an arranged marriage. My Great Grandma used to say that she was part Navajo and French. I just wonder if there is a way we could trace and/or learn more and more closely determine a missing part of the history or link all the stories we’ve heard together and to any tribal affiliations…she was from Aguilar…well they both were really. We’ve even been told that someone in our history had the native last name of “Tronke” or something of that nature but I don’t know the spelling and I’ve never come across that name. How do we learn more?

NATIVE AMERICAN CAPTIVITY, SLAVERY & IDENTITY

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