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.
