Spanish Colonial Lives

On their return to New Mexico after the 1680 Pueblo Revolt, the New Mexican settlers confronted continuous raids by hostile Indians, disease, and an inhospitable landscape.  In spite of this, the colonists went about their lives as best they could, as shown in the fifty-four documents transcribed and translated in Spanish Colonial Lives.  These documents show them making trading deals, traveling on the Camino Real, sending petitions to the governor complaining about each other, and planning for the future of their children.  They are also shown interacting with the presidio soldiers, the Franciscan friars and Inquisition officials, merchants from Chihuahua, and their Pueblo Indians allies. The documents were selected for their description of Spanish Colonial life, their interest to the many descendants of the people that appear in them, and because they tell a good story.

This book, the result of over six years of preparation, includes a summary of each document, editor’s notes, biographical sketches, and an extensive index including the names of all the participants. This book can be considered a companion, in part, to Ralph Emerson Twitchell’s Spanish Archives of New Mexico. 

Approximately 694 pages, 7 x 10, 10 illustrations, 5 maps, appendix, notes, bibliography, index.