FRANCISCA DE NARVAEZ & the Sanchez de la Mejorada of Sierra de Pinos

The Genealogy of Francisca de Narváez
28 Oct 1654 - 4 Apr 1739

Doña Francisca de Narvaez was the matriarch of the Sanchez de la Mejorada line, of Sierra de Pinos: even though she never married, from her descend all families, using that surname, born in and around Pinos after 1698. The fact that she never married, makes her a challenge to research, because of the lack of marriage records, and the lack of baptism records for legitimate children. But, with the discovery of the San Luis Potosi padrones, as well as another group of documents, I believe I’ve established the origin of Francisca de Narvaez.

First, some background:

Francisca de Narvaez had at least 4 natural children, all who were born in SLP, and who would raise their families in Sierra de Pinos:

1. Capitan Francisco Sanchez de la Mejorada Narvaez, m1. Ysabel Ruiz de Villaseñor, m2. Margarita de Cuevas, 25 Jan 1720, San Matias, Pinos, Zac.
2. Antonia de Narvaez, b. 26 Jul 1682, Sagrario SLP; m. Miguel Mendez de Sotomayor
3. Antonio Sanchez Narvaez, b. 01 Sep 1692, Sagrario SLP; m. Gregoria Mendez de Sotomayor, m. 31 Jan 1720, San Matias, Pinos, Zac. Carpintero de oficio.
4. Luis Sanchez de la Mejorada Narvaez, m. Antonia Gomez, 04 Feb 1722, San Matias, Pinos, Zac.

According to their marriage records, Francisco Sanchez and Antonio Sanchez were hijos naturales of Francisca de Narvaez and of Cristobal Sanchez, Español. I've been unable to locate Cristobal Sanchez; he might be the same who was married to Simona Torres, and who baptized Angela, 27 Mar 1674, Sagrario SLP, but I've been unable to establish any link. Those 2 drop off the map. Whoever he was, Cristobal Sanchez and Francisca de Narvaez apparently continued their relationship over a long period of time, since Francisco and Antonio Sanchez were born 18 years apart.

On his marriage record, Luis Sanchez is hijo natural of Francisca de Narvaez and father- unknown, yet he and his descendants would use the "Sanchez de la Mejorada" surname. From a dispensa, we know that Antonia de Narvaez is his sister. She also used “Sanchez” on one occasion, so they might also be natural children of Cristobal Sanchez.

All families using the "Sanchez de la Mejorada" surname in Sierra de Pinos descend from Francisco Sanchez and Luis Sanchez. "Sanchez de la Mejorada" nor “Mejorada” appear whatsoever in the Sag SLP Parish archives, nor in the SLP Protocolos, so the surname originated elsewhere. See http://www.nuestrosranchos.com/en/node/21848

FRANCISCA DE NARVAEZ IN SIERRA DE PINOS

The first of Francisca’s children to appear in the San Matias parish archives was her oldest, Francisco Sanchez, who baptized Josefa, 18 Apr 1698, born on Puesto de Salitre.

Francisca makes her first appearance on 10 Nov 1701, when she was madrina for the baptism of Francisca Xaviela, of unknown parents, “expuesta” in the home of Maria Gomez, also on Salitre. The padrino on the same baptism was Nicolas Gomez de Sotomayor, brother of Maria Gomez, both children of Blas Gomez de Ruelas and Maria de Avila, neighbors on Salitre. Francisca apparently had a very close relationship with this family, as she appeared as madrina on various baptisms for and with their children:

On 29 Oct 1716, with her son, Antonio Sanchez, she was madrina for the baptism of Lucas, son of Bernabe Montañez and Gertrudis Gomez Avila, on Salitre;

On 03 Oct 1722, she was madrina with Juan Antonio Gomez Avila, for her grandson, Miguel Fermin, born on Santa Rita, son of Luis Sanchez and Antonia Gomez. Francisca was likely living on Santa Rita, by this time, which was owned by the aforementioned Nicolas Gomez de Sotomayor (father of her daughter-in-law, Antonia Gomez);

On 31 Aug 1724, with Bernabe Montañez, she was madrina for the baptism of Luis, son of Juan Antonio Gomez Avila and Nicolasa Mendez de Sotomayor, on Puesto de Santa Rita.

Francisca de Narvaez, Española, originaria de la Ciudad de San Luis Potosí, died and was buried 4 Apr 1739, in San Matias, Pinos, Zac. Her partida says she was a widow, and had been living on Puesto de Santa Rita. She received the Sacraments, and was given a modest burial.

FRANCISCA DE NARVAEZ IN SAGRARIO SAN LUIS POTOSI

Combing the Sagrario SLP parish archives, only one woman, named "Francisca de Narvaez," appears during the 1600's. I was able to locate the baptism records of her children, Antonia (26 Jul 1682) and Antonio (01 Sep 1692), which do name her, but otherwise, she appears nowhere else. On Antonia's partida, is the only time we see Francisca categorized as Mestiza. Otherwise, she’s always Española.

No one named "Narvaez," father nor mother, baptized a "Francisca" in Sagrario SLP, during the mid-1600's, when ours would have been born. She might have been baptized elsewhere, or the surname "skipped" a generation, or, most likely, she was an "hija de la Yglesia."

CATALINA DE LA CRUZ

I was left in the dark, until I located the padrones for San Luis Potosi. Francisca de Narvaez appears in three:

1668: Casa de Catalina de la Cruz + Nicolasa Narvaez + Francisca Narvaez - Madalena - Felipa de Jesus -
1681: Rancho de Francisco Carrion Esp + Francisca Narvaez, Española +
1684: Casa de Catalina de la Cruz, Mestiza+ Maria de San Joaquin+ Francisca Narvaez + Nicolas Martinez Conf Juan Martinez + Teresa de Jesus + Joseph Martinez +

There’s an apparent relationship with Catalina de la Cruz: in 1668, Francisca hadn't yet received Communion, so she was still a child, possibly 5-8 years-old. She's likely daughter of Catalina de la Cruz, as are the other girls.

In 1681, I can't find Catalina nor Nicolasa, so they may have temporarily moved out of the jurisdiction. Francisca was living on Francisco Carrion's rancho in 1681. I don't know what their relationship was; she might have been lodging with him, she might have worked for him, or they might have had a fling (though risky, since living together while unmarried was forbidden). She did give birth to Antonia in 1682, probably on his rancho. Antonia used "Carrion" on one occasion, so perhaps he's her father (though she also used "Sanchez," on another occasion, so their use could be "honorific"). Francisco Carrion died 26 May 1683, Sag SLP, having never married. He was son of Tomas Carrion. His mother’s not named, but she was likely Catalina de Avalos y Quesada.

In 1684, Francisca's back at Catalina de la Cruz's house, and Nicolasa de Narvaez is living in the house, next door, with a Lorenza Cardenas. Felipa Narvaez is living on another street, with a child named Petronila Ramirez, age 5.

My guess is that Nicolasa, Francisca, Magdalena and Felipa Narvaez are hijas naturales of Catalina de la Cruz, Mestiza, and of a man named "Narvaez," since I've located no baptism records for legitimate children with these names:

1. Nicolasa de Narvaez, Mestiza, Soltera, baptized Josepha, 25 Aug 1682, de padre no conocido.
2. Francisca de Narvaez, Soltera, baptized Antonia (Mestiza) on 26 Jul 1682, and Antonio (Español), on 01 Sep 1692, ambos de padre no conocido.
3. Magdalena, confessed in 1668 (age 5-7).
4. Felipa Narvaez, Mestiza, Soltera, baptized Luis on 24 Sep 1696, de padre no conocido.

At this point, I put this family group on the back-burner, unable to go any further. There were 3 families named Narvaez in early SLP, and connecting Catalina de la Cruz to one of them, would take a miracle.

FRANCISCO DE NARBÁIS

I found this document a year ago: Testamento de Francisco de Narbais (how he signed his name), 6 Sep 1661, San Luis Potosi.

I hadn’t yet linked Francisca de Narvaez to anyone in SLP, so I couldn’t make a connection, but I logged it - just in case. Then I forgot about it. Having just “shelved” Francisca, I was looking through some misc notes from 2015, and I saw the entry for this testamento. I read my description, and I laughed my ass off, because, here was my “miracle”!

Francisco de Narbais, Maestro de Carpintero, natural de la Ciudad de Granada en los Reynos de Castilla, vecino de la Ciudad de San Luis Potosi; hijo legitimo de Pedro de Narbais y de Francisca de Bustillo. He was the widower of Leonor Garcia Camacho, of Cadiz, and they were married for 15 years, before she died. They had no children (this would partially explain why I never saw them in the Sag SLP archives).

Francisco de Narbais was not a wealthy man: he owned a couple of houses in SLP, one that he mentions in particular, which he bought from Simon Diaz, having paid for it in cash, and in exchange for work. This was the house he lived in, and he wanted to make sure the papers were in order - apparently, Simon Diaz hadn’t yet handed over the title. He also gives a complete inventory of his carpentry tools (which is really cool!).

On the second page, he includes a clause, regarding the aforementioned house: he declares that he wishes to leave it to CATALINA DE LA CRUZ, mujer soltera, "to live in, for the rest of her days, for the good that she has served me" (she was his “criada.” Ahem). He adds, that, upon her death, he wishes that “said house be for Juan de Narvais, and NICOLASA, Baltasara, FRANCISCA, MADALENA and FELIPA NARBAIS, doncellas, children of the aforementioned Catalina de la Cruz, who were born in my house, and whom I raised as my own, and for the good that they have served me." In addition, as he had no legitimate children nor heirs, he names the same six children, as his heirs. Since there were so many of them, and very little inheritance, he wished that the money be spent on clothing for the girls, to be made at the hands of his executor (Pedro de Herrera Escudero, Maestro Sastre / Master Dressmaker).

Wow. Either Francisco de Narbais was an extremely generous and altruistic soul, who was just lonely for company (and with an apparent "San Jose complex": carpenter & step-father!), or, Catalina de la Cruz was his woman, and those are their natural children. He does give them all his surname, but he stops short of legitimizing them. Though it wasn't unusual for lower-caste criados and dependent families to take the surname of their employers, I just can't imagine a lower-income carpenter, supporting a servant, who was continuously bringing home babies, and then, supporting and raising them, as his own - even giving them his name. It just isn't likely. In my opinion, he was their biological father. Apparently, I'm not the only one who thinks so, which I'll get back to, in a minute.

One thing that is clear, is that this is the same Catalina de la Cruz who appears in the 1668 and 1684 SLP padrones. The names of her children coincide with the four that appear, living with her, in the 1668 padron. Their names are listed in the same order, in nearly all documents, so it's likely their birth order. Using the testamento and the padrones, I approximated their birth years. A quick look through Sag SLP archives:

1. Juan Narvaez Cruz, m. Josepha de Leon, 04 Apr 1663, Sagrario, SLP. Criado en casa de Francisco Narbais difunto. Possibly Juan, Español, hijo de la Yglesia, b. 20 May 1643, Sagrario, SLP. Padrinos Pedro de Herrera y su mujer, Magdalena Morales, Españoles.
2. Nicolasa Narvaez Cruz, b. 10 Dec 1650, Sagrario, SLP. Nicolasa, Española, al parecer; Hija de la Yglesia. Padrino Juan de Aleman carpintero y Maria de Dixuenses su mujer.
3. Baltasara Narvaez Cruz, b. 14 Jan 1652, Sagrario, SLP. Mestiza, hija de Catalina de la Cruz Mestiza Soltera. Madrina Luisa Flores Mestiza, criada de Simon Diaz.
4. Francisca Narvaez Cruz, b. 28 Oct 1654, Sagrario, SLP. Francisca, Española al parecer; Hija de la Yglesia. Madrina Luisa Flores Mestiza.
5. Maria Magdalena Narvaez Cruz, 04 Aug 1655, Sagrario, SLP. Mestiza, hija de Catalina de la Cruz Mestiza Soltera. Madrina Maria de Vargas.
6. Felipa Narvaez Cruz, b. 05 Mar 1658,  San Luis Potosi. Mestiza, hija de Catalina de la Cruz Mestiza Soltera. Padrino Pedro de Herrera Español.

I can’t be sure about Juan “hijo de la Yglesia” (hdly), but Nicolasa and Francisca are definitely Catalina’s children, since there are no other hdly’s christened with those names during the possible time-line. Also, Nicolasa’s padrino was Juan Aleman carpintero (Francisco Narbais was maestro carpintero), and Francisca’s was Luisa Flores, who was also madrina for Baltasara, who we know was Catalina’s daughter. Luisa Flores also figures in, later in our story. Juan hdly’s padrino was Pedro de Herrera, who we already know was a compadre of this family. There were 6-7 years, between the births of Juan and Nicolasa, so there might have been other children, who died as infants, or, Juan was born before Catalina and Francisco met, and had a different father.

Note: while looking at these baptism records, I noticed something interesting: for only the children categorized as “Mestizos,” was Catalina’s name included on the partida, while for her “Spanish” children, it wasn’t. I think this might have been intentional: if she included her name, she would have had to include her caste, which, I imagine, might have influenced what her child’s caste would be. She probably didn’t even go to the christening. That's just an observation, but perhaps this is a peek into the realities that these people had to deal with, and how they worked the system, to ensure that their children were given the best opportunities.

“HEREDEROS” O “HIJOS”?

After looking at the rest of the film roll, I discovered that the Testamento was part of a bigger folder, and was being used as evidence in a lawsuit. As it turns out, things took a turn for the worse, for Catalina de la Cruz and her children, almost immediately after the death of their benefactor & protector. The lawsuit is regarding ownership of the house & lot, that Francisco de Narbais left for them, which is being contested by the aforementioned Luisa Flores (supposedly as part of a vendetta against Catalina). The suit takes up the entire roll of film, with 68 2-sided pages on 129 images, and the parties contradict each other, so it's a hard read. It doesn't help that it's written in 17th Century Spanish legalese. I’ll try to compile a summary, when I get a chance. Suffice to say, that Catalina and the children lost the house, since she couldn’t produce the title.

At the opening of the lawsuit, Catalina’s children are referred to as "los herederos menores del dicho Francisco de Narbais difunto" ("the minor heirs of Francisco de Narbais, deceased"). As early as page 16, up to the final sentencing, they are referred to as “los hijos menores del dicho Francisco de Narbais difunto” ("the minor children of Francisco de Narbais").

Is this a notary's error? Or was it generally accepted that the father of the children of Catalina de la Cruz was Francisco de Narbais? One of those "unspoken things"? This was the time of the Inquisition, after all: living together, without being married by the Church ("vivir amancebados"), was forbidden, and couples who did this, could be arrested and thrown in jail, and were threatened with expulsion and excommunication. If Francisco and Catalina were live-in lovers, they would have had to "fly under the radar." Hence, she was his “criada.” Now that he was gone, there was no risk of persecution, and pretensions could be dropped. This is just speculation, of course, based on what I’ve seen in the archives, and on what little I know about the history of Colonial Mexico.

Whatever the case, we now have a court document, that names the children of Catalina de la Cruz, as the children of Francisco de Narbais.

THE RUNAWAY GROOM

While digging further through my 2015 notes, I discovered this causa criminal, dated 23 Oct 1647, in San Luis Potosi: Francisco de Narbais, maestro de carpintero, “preso en la carcel publica, por causa de ser casado en los Reynos de Castilla y no haber ido a hacer vida maridable.” 

The document is very difficult to decipher. Apparently, Leonor Garcia Camacho did not pass to Indies with Francisco (something about “enfermadades grandes”), and she wanted him back in Spain. He was ordered to return, 2 months previous, and had gone to Veracruz, to catch a ship, but for some reason, didn't go. So, they threw him in jail. I don’t know the outcome.

I think it says he and his wife had been married for 13 years (m. 1634); in his Testamento, he says they were married for 15 years, so she might have died around 1649. It might have been years, before he learned of her death.

This occurred in 1647, before the birth of Catalina’s daughters (the first, in 1650). Juan Narbais was born in 1643, so Francisco and Catalina might have already been together, or, Juan wasn’t his son.

CONCLUSION

Francisca de Narvaez was baptized 28 Oct 1654, in Sagrario, SLP, as, Francisca, Española al parecer; Hija de la Yglesia. Her madrina was Luisa Flores, Mestiza. From the 1661 Testamento of Francisco de Narbais, Maestro de Carpintero, and the ensuing lawsuit, we know that Francisca de Narvaez is the natural daughter of Francisco de Narbais and his criada, Catalina de la Cruz, Mestiza, soltera.

Her father died when she was 6 (1661), and shortly after, Francisca, and her mother and sisters, were dispossessed of and evicted from the house in which she was likely born. She appears in the 1668 and 1684 SLP padrones, living in the home of her mother, and in the 1681 padron, living on the rancho of Francisco Carrion, just outside the city of San Luis Potosi.

Francisca’s first child was Francisco Sanchez de la Mejorada, whose natural father was Cristobal Sanchez, Español. From IM’s on which he was a testigo, we know that Francisco Sanchez was born in the early 1670‘s; on 25 Apr 1674, baptized was "Francisco, Español (al parecer) Hijo de la Yglesia, criado en casa de Catalina de la Cruz, Mestiza. Fue su padrino Joseph de Alarcon."

There is little doubt in my mind, that this is the baptism record of Capitan Francisco Sanchez de la Mejorada, owner of Hacienda de Guadalupe de Los Pozos, in Sierra de Pinos, from 1708-1748.

Si se puede!

Saludos!
Manny Diez Hermosillo