Taos County, New Mexico
Las Trampas Land Grant
This page contributed and copyrighted by Karen Mitchell.
Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre
Following is some information on SANTO THOMAS APOSTAL DEL RIO DE LAS
TRAMPAS also known as LAS TRAMPAS Land Grant in the Southern part of
what is now Taos County.
Las Trampas was settled 15 July 1751, under a
grant made by Governor Tomas Velez Cachupin. Possession was given by
Juan Joseph Lovato, Alcalde Mayor Y Capitan de Guerra de la Villa
Nueva De Santa Cruz.
Spanish Archives of New Mexico, Series I, Surveyor General (SG) Case
File 27 Microfilm Roll NO.16.Frame 254.
Land was granted to the following 12 heads of the 12 Families "Doze
Familias."
They are listed in the same manner and order as entered in
the possession granted documents.
1-Juan de Arguello,
2-Melchor Rodriguez,
3-Antonio Dominguez,
4-Pedro
Phelipe Rodriguez,
5-Eusebio Leiva,
6-Luis de Leiva,
7-Juan Joseph de
Arguello,
8-Juan Garcia,
9-Salvador Vaca,
10-Ygnacio Vargas,
11-Vicente
Lucero,
12 Joseph de Aragon.
It is said that almost all were related to Juan de Arguello either
through blood or marriage, Former residents of the Barrio de Analco
district in Santa Fe. Most can be found in the Santa Fe 1750 Spanish
Census.
Juan Joseph de Arguello listed as NO.7 above was the son of The
Leader Juan de Arguello.
Eusebio Leiba NO.5 was married to Maria
Manuela Arguello.
Luis de Leiba NO.6 appears to have been Eusebio and
Maria Manuela's son.
Melchor Rodriguez listed as NO.2 above was the
son of Sebastian Rodriguez, Diego de Vargas Black Drummer and Herald
(Official Pregonero).
Pedro Phelipe Rodriguez NO.4 was the son of
Melchor Rodriguez.His (Melchor's) daughter Joaquina was the wife of
Juan Garcia listed as NO.8.
Additional information obtained from the following books:
1- Arguello,Jerol A.-A Pioneering Community;A Tribute To Juan De
Arguello And The Original Twelve Families Who Settled The Santo
Thomas Del Rio De Las Trampas Land Grant.Self Published May 1994.
2-deBuys,William.-Enchantment and Exploitation.The Life and Hard
Times of a New Mexico Mountain Range.Published By University of New
Mexico Press 1985.
3-Ebright,Malcolm.-Land Grants and Lawsuits in Northern New
Mexico.Published By University of New Mexico Press 1994.
4-Olmsted,Virginia Langham.Spanish And Mexican Censuses of New
Mexico:1750-1830.
Published By The New Mexico Genealogical Socity,Inc.1981.
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© Karen Mitchell