Juan Páez Hurtado, Capitán general de Nuevo México

Ben M. Angel notes: It appears likely that there were up to three Juan Paez Hurtados that were born of the same family. The earliest Juan died in childhood. The second Juan was born on Dec. 14, 1668, and baptized eight days later, while the third Juan was born on Feb. 2, 1673, and also baptized eight days later. It seems likely that both the eldest two Juans died in childhood. However, academic publications and the tourist website for his birthtown (which lists its "illustrious residents") show him as being born in 1668. Herencia, the journal for the Hispanic Genealogy Research Center, cites the 1673 birth date instead.

From all this, it seems best to go with the 1673 birth date until it can be disproven in further examination of available documentation.

The death date is likewise given by the tourist website of his birthtown as May 5, 1724. The main conflict to this is that his name appears on Inscription Rock in El Morro National Monument, where it was inscribed "El Dia 14 de Jvlio de 1736 paso por aqui Gen Juan Paez Hurtado, Visitador" followed by "y en su compania el cabo Joseph Truxillo" (On the 14th of July 1736 passed here Gen. Juan Paez Hurtado, Inspector... and in his company Corporal Jose Trujillo). This appears to belong, however, to his son Juan Paez Hurtado. For that reason, the May 5, 1724, death date will be supported here.

---

From the Hispanic Genealogical Research Center of New Mexico's Great New Mexico Pedigree Database:

http://www.hgrc-nm.org/surnames/GNMPD.html/d0118/g0011866.html#I4717

Juan PAEZ HURTADO [3390] [3391] [3392]

• 2 FEB 1673 - ____
• BIRTH: 2 FEB 1673, Villa de Los Palacios y Villafranca de las Marismas, Andalucia, Espana
• BAPTISM: 10 FEB 1673, Villa de Los Palacios y Villafranca de las Marismas, Andalucia, Espana [3393] [3394]
• EVENT: Order for arrest and improsonment of Capitan Juan Páez Hurtado by Pedro Rodríguez Cubero, OCT 1697 [3395]
• EVENT: Declaration of Simona, mulatta of Zacatecas, against Capt. Juan Páez Hurtado, 21 OCT 1697 [3396] [3397]
• EVENT: Petition to Gov. Cuervo y ValdГ©s re, Juan Páez Hurtado's decision re trade with Apaches, 1 JUN 1705 [3398]
• EVENT: Duke of Albuquerque order to governor to instigate proceedings against Páez Hurtado for extortion, 7 JUL 1708 [3399] [3400]
• EVENT: Proceedings by Cabildo de Santa Fe on behalf of Juan Páez Hurtado, 4 APR 1710, Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, New Mexico [3401]
• EVENT: Petition to Viceroy by Juan, 8 DEC 1710 [3402]
• EVENT: Conveyance of land to Francisca de Gijosa, 1713, Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, New Mexico [3403] [3404]
• EVENT: Conveyed house and land by Vicente Ferrer Durán de Armijo, 1713, Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, New Mexico [3405] [3406]
• EVENT: Conveyed a house and land by Maria Palacios y Bolivar, 13 JAN 1716 [3407] [3408]
• EVENT: Issued bando directing public celebration of bethrothal of the King to the Princcess of Parma, 6 FEB 1717, Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, New Mexico [3409]
• EVENT: carved his name, JUL 1736, El Morro National Mounment, New Mexico
  • (Ben M. Angel notes: debatable as to whether the person named is this Juan Paez Hurtado)
• DEATH: Y
• Father: Domingo HURTADO VIZCAINO
• Mother: Ana Josefa RUBIO Y VASQUEZ

Family 1 : Pascuala Antonia LOPEZ VERA

• 1. Rosa Maria LOPEZ
• 2. Ana LOPEZ

Family 2 : Teodora GARCIA DE LA RIVA

• MARRIAGE: 30 JUN 1704
  • 1. +Gertrudis PAEZ HURTADO
  • 2. +Antonia PAEZ HURTADO
  • 3. Juan Domingo PAEZ HURTADO
  • 4. +Maria PAEZ

Footnotes:

• [3393] Padrinos: Francisco Benitez Bohorquez (only), Off. Juan Bautista Demetrio, presbyterio y Cura.
• [3390] [S14] The Juan Paez Hurtado Expedition of 1695--Colligan
• [3391] [S2] HERENCIA--Quarterly Journal of HGRC-NM, January 19
• [3392] [S75] By Force of Arms--Kessell, Hendricks
• [3394] [S4] HERENCIA--Quarterly Journal of HGRC-NM, PAGE: January 1994, pg. 4-5
• [3395] [S650] Spanish Archives of New Mexico II, PAGE: Reel 3 Frame 197 item 70
• [3396] Info by Yolanda Romero C
• [3397] [S650] Spanish Archives of New Mexico II, PAGE: Reel 3 Frame 199 Item: not listed
• [3398] [S650] Spanish Archives of New Mexico II, PAGE: Reel 3 Frame 1050 Item 117
• [3399] Info by Yolanda Romero C
• [3400] [S650] Spanish Archives of New Mexico II, PAGE: Reel 4 Frame 129 item 146
• [3401] [S650] Spanish Archives of New Mexico II, PAGE: Reel 4 Frame 199 Item 158
• [3402] [S650] Spanish Archives of New Mexico II, PAGE: Reel 4 Frame 297 Item 164
• [3403] Information by Yolanda Romero Chavez
• [3404] [S650] Spanish Archives of New Mexico II, PAGE: Reel 1 Frame 418 Item 258
• [3405] Information by Yolanda Romero Chavez
• [3406] [S614] Spanish Archives of New Mexico Series I, PAGE: Reel 3 Frame 085 Item 403
• [3407] Conveyed before Juan Garcia de la Riva, Alonzo Rael de Aguilar and Joseph Maria Giltomey
• [3408] [S650] Spanish Archives of New Mexico II
• [3409] [S650] Spanish Archives of New Mexico II, PAGE: Reel 5 Frame 678 item 282

---

English Wikipedia article highlighting alternate assertions made (without citation) by birthtown's local tourism website:

Juan Páez Hurtado (born December 22, 1668 – May 5, 1724) was Captain General, Governor and Mayor of Santa Fe de Nuevo Mexico.

Biography

Hurtado was born in Villafranca de las Marismas (Villafranca of the Marshes), in Seville (Andalusia, Spain). He was baptized in the parish of Santa María la Blanca on December 22, 1668. He was born into a humble family, so when he was a teenager he enlisted as a cabin boy in Seville. He sailed across the Atlantic Ocean heading to Mexican territory.

In Michoacán (in the present Mexico), he began his military career in the service of Don Diego de Vargas, who was then mayor. There, he married Pascuala López Vera, with whom he had a daughter in 1688. After the death of Vargas, he become senior Captain General, Governor and twice Mayor of the capital Santa Fe, between 1704 and 1705 and 1716 and 1717. He died on May 5, 1724. He is buried under the high altar of the basilica of Santa María, la conquistadora (In English: Saint Mary, the Conqueror), Patroness of New Mexico.[1]

References

• 1. http://www.lospalaciosyvillafranca.net/personajes-ilustres/juan-pae... Comunicamedia: Los Palacios y Villafranca (In English: the palaces and Villafranca), Juan Páez Hurtado. Consulted in May 1, 2012, to 2:20 pm.

34th Spanish governor of New Mexico

• In office 1704–1705
• Preceded by Diego de Vargas
• Succeeded by Francisco Cuervo y Valdés

40th Spanish governor of New Mexico

• In office: 1716–1717
• Preceded by Antonio Valverde y Cosío
• Succeeded by Antonio Valverde y Cosío

Personal details

• Born December 22, 1668 - Villafranca de las Marismas , in Seville (Andalusia, Spain)
• Died May 5, 1724 - New Mexico
• Profession Captain General, governor and mayor

---

Blood on the Boulders: The Journals of Don Diego de Vargas, likewise supports a 1668 birth date, citing John B. Colligan's "The Juan Paez Hurtado Expedition of 1695," published in 1995 through UNM Press, Albuquerque:

• 67. In a previous volume, we erred regarding Juan Paez Hurtado's date of birth by providing the information relating to his older brother of the same name, who died as a child. The Juan Paez Hurtado who came to New Mexico was born on 14 Dec. 1668 and baptized eight days later in Villafranca y los Palacios (Seville). John B. Colligan, the Juan Paez Hurtado Expedition of 1695 (Albuquerque, 1995), 3-4, BFA, 300 n3.

---

A Forgotten Kingdom: The Spanish Frontier in Colorado and New Mexico, 1540-1821, BLM Cultural Resources Series (Colorado: No. 29)

Excerpts of Chapter 2: The Reconquest of New Mexico, 1693-1704, relating to Juan Paez Hurtado:

After years of quarreling over who would go, Mexico City finally chose Diego de Vargas Zapata y Lujan Ponce de Leon as governor in 1688. A man of noble lineage, with nearly 20 years experience in New Spain including numerous government posts in northern Mexico, Vargas was perfect.

On July 13, 1692 Vargas was notified that the Junta General de Hacienda had approved his plans and in August of that year, having rallied a sufficient force, he set out toward New Mexico. On Aug. 16, Vargas, along with 40 soldiers, 10 residents of El Paso, 50 Indian allies, three Franciscans and two ox carts of food crossed the Rio Grande headed north. He camped along that river waiting for 50 men from Parral who were to reinforce him. The Parral soldiers had not arrived by Aug. 19, so impatient, he left for Ysleta, about four leagues from El Paso, placing Lieutenant Governor Luis Granillo in charge at El Paso. Juan Paez Hurtado, whom Vargas had chosen as his personal secretary, was given the task of taking the Parral volunteers directly to Santo Domingo, 30 miles north of present-day Albuquerque.

-

They reached Santo Domingo (on or just after Sept. 10) only to find it abandoned by the inhabitants who heard the Spanish were coming. At this point, Vargas linked up with Juan Paez Hurtado, who had come up river with the Parral volunteers faster than Vargas. From this pueblo, Vargas proceeded cautiously toward Santa Fe where he was expected.

Upon arriving at the former Spanish capital, Vargas attempted peace negotiations with the defenders of the city. Receiving no answer to his peace bid, he was forced to resort to force. By Sept. 12 a battle was the only clear solution. Vargas dispersed his men and placed his artillery where it could breach the walls. Domingo, a native leader, who came out to parley with Vargas, was told that if he did not submit, the water supply would be cut off. This was no idle threat, for the Indians did the same to the Spanish in 1680. The natives quickly sued for peace.

The next day Vargas made his entry. Accompanied by Juan Paez Hurtado, Roque Madrid, the three Franciscans, and 10 El Paso residents, he formally occupied the city with raised swords and he elevated the royal standard three times. [5]

-

The year 1695 saw 50 families prepared to move north to a new town. The basis for a new villa was in the refounding of the missions. The government felt that to help protect the Franciscans, another Spanish town would be needed. To this end, a proclamation of April 19 established the town of Villa Nueva de Santa Cruz de Españoles Mexicanos del Rey Nuestro Señor Carlos Segundo. This lengthy name was shortened to Santa Cruz de la Cañada. The site was located upriver about halfway between Santa Fe and Taos. It was founded for two reasons. First, the settlement was used to spread Spanish colonists along the upper Rio Grande and secondly it was planned that the city would be maintained for the defense of the many pueblos in this area.

The town was given a military government composed of an alcalde mayor (mayor), a captain of the militia, an alferez (second lieutenant), a sergeant, an alguacil (constable), and four military squad leaders. Each family was provided half afanega of seed along with implements for farming. On April 21, 1695, 66 families moved to Santa Cruz, the first new town established in New Mexico since 1610. [35]

That May 44 new families from New Spain arrived at Santa Fe under Juan Paez Hurtado. They were moved into the recently vacated quarters of the Santa Cruz settlers. The next winter brought starvation occasioned by drought during the previous summer, a plague of worms, and a severe lack of sufficient tools and new cattle. Petitions for more food came from both Santa Cruz and Santa Fe. Vargas had only enough maize to support 21 of the poorest families. The settlers soon bartered with the natives, exchanging clothing for food. Earlier trading with Indians was so substantial that on May 25 Vargas issued an order forbidding firearms trading with the pueblo Indians. [36]

Footnotes:

• 5. J. Manuel Espinosa, First Expedition of Vargas into New Mexico, 1692 (Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1940). Cited: Vargas Journal, at Santa Fe, September 14, 1692, in: Archivo General de la Nacion, Mexico City, Tomo 39, hereinafter cited AGN.
• 35. Vargas Journal, April 22, 1695, Historia, Tomo 39, in AGN.
• 36. Order of Don Diego de Vargas, May 31, 1695, at Santa Fe in SANM.

---

The Juan Páez Hurtado expedition of 1695: fraud in recruiting colonists for New Mexico, by John Borradaile Colligan, published University of New Mexico Press, 1995 - total pages: 159

---

Cases tried by Juan Páez Hurtado during his rule as governor of New Mexico:

• Juan Paez Hurtado (teniente). Proceedings against Tomas Mendez for wounding Cristobal Maese
• Torres, Cristobal to Paez Hurtado, Juan (teniente general). Letter notifying theft of horses by yutas.
• Juan Paez Hurtado (capitan y teniente of gobernador y capitan general). Record of proceedings concerning reported conspiracy of Apaches and yutas with pueblo Indians.
• Bueno de Bohorques y Corcuera, Francisco (capitan y alcalde mayor) to Paez Hurtado, Juan (teniente general). Petition for return of papers in case against capitan Nicolas Ortis.
• Josepha Serrano to Juan Paez Hurtado (teniente de gobernador y capitan general). Suit by Josepha Serrano against Maria Garcia for calumny.
• Paez Hurtado, Juan (alcalde mayor) to Mendoza, Gaspar Domingo de (gobernador). Proceedings in the complaint of Thadeo (indio) against Maria de Aragon (owner) and Antonio Ortega for mistreatment.