Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Sales catalogue 625: Maggs Bros. Source: Wellcome Collection.
40/68 page 38
![A CoNoUERER AND GOVERNOR OF New Mexico. [160] MARTINEZ DE MONTOYA (Juan de). Collection of ten Spanish Manuscripts, referring to Captain Juan de Martinez and his services to the Spanish Crown in New Mexico. (Together) 100 pp. Folio. Half mottled calf. 1785 to 1835. : 180 These manuscripts are a record of the splendid service rendered in New Mexico by one of its Governors in the early days of the Conquest; whose life-work was associated with Juan de Onate the conqueror, but whose name does not often appear upon the pages of the history which he helped to make. ; The documents are mostly certified transcripts of the original decrees and other official papers issued from the year 1600, in which a formal acknowledgement is made of his services, and of the privileges granted to him by the King of Spain. From the first document, it appears that Juan Martinez de Montoya was born at Nabalagamella, a village near the Escorial in Spain circa 1556. He had served Philip HI in the conquest of New Mexico in 1600, under the command of the first Governor, Don Juan de Onate; and had spent more than five thousand pesos of his private money in the conquest, having equipped and maintained his troops at his own expense, while he had rendered his own services without pay. He had been one of the “ discoverers” of the American Pacific, and had brought “ secret information’ concerning mines and other treasures inland; and equipped small expeditions into the neighbouring unknown country. Onate described his personal appearance in 1606, as “‘a man of fine physique; somewhat dark complexion; with a scar above his right temple; apparently about fifty years of age.” He led the Spanish troops against the Apaches in 1608, and helped to establish the mining camp in Santa Fé and San Buenaventura where valuable mines had been discovered. He was one of the founders of San Gabriel; and had distinguished himself during the war with the Xumanas, when he had defended the Church and camp at Santa Fé. In connection with the earliest history of New Mexico, to which these records belong, it is interesting to note what the Encyclopaedia Britannica has to say on the subject, as it indirectly refers to Martinez de Montoya’s deeds: “The next expedition of note (after that of Nunez Cabeza de Vaca and Coronado in the early sixteenth century) was that of Onate, towards the close of the century, which carried a large number of additional colonists into the territory. “From this time, the Spanish eas increased rapidly, and mining was extensively engaged in, the natives being reduced to a virtual condition of slavery in the mines.” No mention is made of Martinez de Montoya’s treatment of the natives in these papers; but, in return for his services to his King, he was nominated to the Governorship of New Mexico, in succession to Onate; granted the rank of hijodalgo (nobleman) for himself and descendants, in accordance with the terms of special privilege given by the King, to those pioneers who had served in the pacification and conquest of the country and had done valuable work in the foundation of the new colony for fee years after the conquest. He was also granted a town called Santiago, for a period of three generations. The following is a detailed list of the documents contained in this volume: 1. Notarial transcript, given in Madrid by the King’s scribe, of (a) a petition lodged at Mexico in 1609 by Juan Martinez de Montoya, asking for transcripts of papers acknowledging his ser- vices to the Crown, etc.; (b) royal decree issued by Philip III at San Lorenzo on the 8th July, 1602, acknowledging Juan Martinez de Montoya’s services and confirming a previous decree given by Philip II, by which he granted the rank of hijodalgo to the Spanish founders of New Mexico who had spent five years in colonizing the country; (c) edict given by the Viceroy of New Spain, Don Luis de Velasco, in Mexico, 8th January 1608, referring to Onate’s resignation, and ordering that his successor should not be appointed until the King had been consulted; (d) document appointing Jean Martinez de Montoya to the Governorship of New Mexico in succession to Onate; given at Mexico, on behalf of the King, 27th February, 1608; (e) testimonial from Don Juan de Onate as Governor of New Mexico, recording in full the services of Martinez de Montoya, dated San Gabriel, New Mexico, 6th October, 1606 (f) verbatim report of a personal application made by Martinez de Montoya in Santo Domingo, New Mexico, roth August, 1608, for an acknowledgment of further services rendered after the foregoing documents had been issued; (g) testimonial given by the Real Audiencia of Mexico, 11th December, 1608, with reference to the further services. [ 38] ee](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b3181539x_0040.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
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