Sargento mayor Pedro Durán y Cháves

Information provided by Joseph H. Sanchez, 7th grandson

From Linealist / New Mexican History and archive project, dated October 12, 2015

After the Pueblo Revolt : Negotiating a New Life in the Land of the Tarahumara

In about 1684, Pedro Duran y Chaves ll and his extended family moved to the valley of Coyachic in the region inhabited by the Alta Tarahumara and other indigenous groups. This move into the region by the Duran y Chaves family and other families of New Mexico required deft negotiation with Spanish colonial authorities and local indigenous groups.

Years earlier, certain indigenous groups near and in the valley of Coyachic killed several Jesuit missionaries and devastated some of the indigenous pueblos administrated by the Jesuits. More importantly, in May of 1684, Sumas, Mansos and other indigenous groups attacked the mostly New Mexican community at Janos and Casas Grandes. Reports of the attacks quickly circulated in northern Nueva Espana . The extended Duran y Chavez families and their friends would have been particularly sensitive to such reports as they were violently displaced and still traumatized by the Pueblo Revolt in New Mexico in 1680 and 1681. Peace was paramount.

In about 1685 Pedro Duran y Chaves ll purchased acquired land in San Nicolas de Carretas from the "naturales" ( the indigenous ) with the help of the "protector" of the Tarahumars. In 1688 Pedro requested that this land in Carretas be officially recognized as his on the grounds that, he had served his Majesty, and after three years he had taken care of this land. He described himself as a resident of the jurisdiction of Coyachi. His request was apparently granted as the back side of this request, dated August 17, 1688, reflects the signature of Juan Ysidro de Pardinas Villar de Francos, Governor of Nueva Viscaya.

At the time he moved to the Valley of Coyachic, Pedro ll was an elderly man. The move to the region was not easy. However , Pedro ll and his fellow New Mexicans had the skill necessary to overcome difficult conditions. Together the helped lay the groundwork for the foundation of San Francisco de Cuellar, later the city of Chihuahua, which became one of the most important cities in Neuva Espana.

For a more information see the original publication.

So this part of the Duran y Chaves family never returned to New Mexico and remained in Northern Nueva Espana. It was his son Fernando ll that returned and helped to recapture Santa Fe and the other towns in 1690. It would be interesting to know why Fernando ll choose not to stay with his father, but instead separate and return with his family to New Mexico. Fernando Duran y Chaves ll was granted the Atrisco Land Grant in 1698 and from this place became the patriarch of all those with this surname in New Mexico.

This report shows that Pedro ll had a daughter named Maria and a son named Thomas also settled land near their father. It also lists more of the Duran y Chavez clan but does not make it clear as to how these other family members are related.