Selections from J.J. Bowden’s “Private Land Claims in the Southwest” Published by The New Mexico Land Grant Council Juan Sánchez – Chair Rita Padilla-Gutiérrez– Vice Chair Macario Griego – Council Member Leonard Martínez – Council Member 2018 Foreword to this publication of J.J. Bowden’s “Private Land Claims in the Southwest” The New Mexico Land Grant Council presents this abridged volume of the late Jocelyn Jean (J. J.) Bowden’s 1969 Southern Methodist University thesis, “Private Land Claims in the Southwest.” The essays contained herein derive from Volumes Two through Six of Part Two of Mr. Bowden’s original 2,000 page, six volume thesis. In his own words, Mr. Bowden (1927- 2010) wrote “an historical account of each of the Southwestern private land claims. While source material was gathered from coast to coast, a majority of such data was obtained from the microfilm records of the Surveyor General's office and Court of Private Land Claims, which are contained in the Bureau of Land Management, Santa Fe, New Mexico.” (from the Abstract from 1969 thesis) The sections published herein include Mr. Bowden’s essays on forty-four land grants / mercedes that are active or have been active in the recent past. Spanish accents have been added where appropriate. Also included as appendices to this volume are land grant maps by county from Bowden’s thesis, as well as the laws establishing the Office of the Surveyor General of New Mexico (July 22, 1854) and the Court of Private Land Claims (March 3, 1891). The New Mexico Land Grant Council presents this volume free of charge to land grant boards of trustees to help them retain their history and better understand the processes that adjudicated land grant claims made under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (February 2, 1848). Preferred Citation J. J. Bowden, “Private Land Claims in the Southwest.” Masters of Laws Thesis. Southern Methodist University, 1969. TABLE OF CONTENTS ANTON CHICO GRANT...................................................................................................................... 1 ANTONIO MARTÍNEZ GRANT ....................................................................................................... 5 ARROYO HONDO GRANT ................................................................................................................ 8 BARTOLOMÉ SÁNCHEZ GRANT ................................................................................................13 CAÑÓN DE CARNUÉ GRANT ........................................................................................................18 CAÑÓN DE CHAMA GRANT ..........................................................................................................21 SAN JOAQUÍN DEL RÍO DE CHAMA GRANT CAÑÓN DE SAN DIEGO GRANT ..................................................................................................24 CAÑÓN DEL RÍO COLORADO ......................................................................................................28 CRISTÓBAL DE LA SERNA GRANT ...........................................................................................32 DON FERNANDO DE TAOS GRANT ...........................................................................................35 JUAN BAUTISTA VALDEZ GRANT ............................................................................................39 JUAN BAUTISTA BALDÉS GRANT JUAN JOSÉ LOVATO GRANT ........................................................................................................43 JUAN JOSÉ LOBATO GRANT LOS TRIGOS GRANT ..........................................................................................................................46 MESITA DE JUANA LÓPEZ GRANT ...........................................................................................49 NUESTRA SEÑORA DEL ROSARIO, SAN FERNANDO Y SANTIAGO GRANT .....53 NUESTRA SEÑORA DEL ROSARIO, SAN FERNANDO Y SANTIAGO DEL RÍO DE LAS TRUCHAS GRANT OJO CALIENTE GRANT ....................................................................................................................55 PETACA GRANT ...................................................................................................................................58 PIEDRA LUMBRE GRANT ...............................................................................................................64 PLAZA DE GUADALUPE GRANT ...............................................................................................67 SAN ANTONIO DE LAS HUERTAS GRANT ............................................................................69 SAN ANTONIO DEL RÍO COLORADO GRANT .....................................................................75 SAN MIGUEL DEL VADO GRANT ...............................................................................................78 SAN MIGUEL DEL BADO GRANT SAN PEDRO GRANT ...........................................................................................................................82 SANGRE DE CRISTO GRANT.........................................................................................................85 SANTA BÁRBARA GRANT .............................................................................................................89 SANTA CRUZ GRANT .......................................................................................................................91 SANTO DOMINGO DE CUNDIYÓ GRANT ..............................................................................99 SEBASTIÁN MARTÍN GRANT .....................................................................................................101 SEVILLETA GRANT ..........................................................................................................................103 SEVILLETA DE LA JOYA GRANT TIERRA AMARILLA GRANT ........................................................................................................107 TOWN OF ABIQUIÚ GRANT ........................................................................................................110 MERCED DEL PUEBLO DE ABIQUIÚ TOWN OF ATRISCO GRANT ........................................................................................................114 TOWN OF CEBOLLETA .................................................................................................................118 TOWN OF CHILILÍ GRANT ...........................................................................................................121 TOWN OF CUBERO GRANT .........................................................................................................124 TOWN OF JACONA GRANT ..........................................................................................................128 TOWN OF LAS TRAMPAS GRANT ............................................................................................131 SANTO TOMAS APÓSTOL DEL RÍO DE LAS TRAMPAS GRANT TOWN OF LAS VEGAS GRANT ..................................................................................................134 TOWN OF MANZANO GRANT ....................................................................................................139 TOWN OF MORA GRANT ..............................................................................................................142 SANTA GERTRUDIS LO DE MORA GRANT TOWN OF TAJIQUE GRANT .........................................................................................................145 TOWN OF TECOLOTE GRANT ....................................................................................................147 TOWN OF TOMÉ GRANT ...............................................................................................................149 TOWN OF TORREÓN GRANT .....................................................................................................151 APPENDICES SELECTED MAPS FROM J.J. BOWDEN’S THESIS .............................................................153 10 STAT. 308. - “AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE OFFICES OF SURVEYOR- GENERAL OF NEW MEXICO, KANSAS, AND NEBRASKA, TO GRANT DONATIONS TO ACTUAL SETTLERS THEREIN, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.” JULY 22, 1854 ..........................................................................................................167 26 STAT. 854. - “AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A COURT OF PRIVATE LAND CLAIMS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF PRIVATE LAND CLAIMS IN CERTAIN STATES AND TERRITORIES.” MARCH 3, 1891...................170 ANTON CHICO GRANT Manuel Rivera, on behalf of himself and thirty-six others, petitioned the Ayuntamiento of San Miguel del Vado for a grant covering a tract of land situated about 30 miles south of San Miguel del Vado on the Pecos River, which was known as Anton Chico. The President of the Ayuntamiento, Manuel Baca, notified the petitioners that the Ayuntamiento did not have authority to issue the grant since the requested lands were located beyond its jurisdiction, but he had referred the matter to the Provincial Deputation of New Mexico for further action. The Provincial Deputation apparently approved the request and referred the matter to Governor Facundo Melgares for his consent. On May 2, 1822, Melgares granted the land to petitioners and directed Baca, who was also an Alcalde, to place them in possession of the grant. In compliance with the Governor’s instruction, Baca immediately went to the town of Anton Chico and proceeded to survey the grant which was described as being bounded: On the north, by the Antonio Ortiz Grant; on the east, by the Salino Spring, with the Alto