María Pascuala Catalina Bernal

She came to New Mexico with the Oñate Party of 1598.

The village of Bernalillo was named after Pascuala Bernal.

There is a story about her that took place north of Bernalillo in the Pueblo of San Juan. In January of 1599, there was word that a hostile Native Americans approaching the Pueblo. Pascuala and about 24 armed women went to the roof tops to defend the Pueblo.

When it was asked, who is ready to defend San Juan, a fellow female comrade, Eufemia, stood and said they were ready to defend the Pueblo. Oñate showed pride for the women, and they all stood up & fired into the air.

Pascuala married Juan de Griego who traveled from Greece to New Spain. They came to New Mexico in 1598 with their children who were all identified as mestizo. Pascuala was a native from the Valley of Mexico, and one of her adult sons, also named Juan Griego spoke the Aztec's language, Náhuatl. He also served as an interpreter of the Tewa language as well as receiving an encomienda in New Mexico.

~Parientes, La Herencia, Spring 2006

1. DEATH: BEF 1626 [3292]
2. EVENT: member 98 Oñate: 18 AUG 1598 [3293]

[3292] [S2200] ORIGINS OF NM FAMILIES

   * PAGE: pg. 41

[3293] [S2200] ORIGINS OF NM FAMILIES

   * PAGE: pg. 41