New Mexico Land Grant-Mercedes
PREFACE
It is the intent of this web-page to present historical and current relevant information and links to legal documents that best assist in a basic understanding of New Mexico’s Land Grant-Merced. In New Mexico, Merced is the Spanish term for Land Grant. More specifically, it means a grant of land made by the government of Spain or by the government of Mexico to a community, town, colony or pueblo or to a person for the purpose of founding or establishing a community, town, colony or pueblo. Demonstrating, Land Grants-Mercedes have existed well before New Mexico became a State in 1912. The information presented below represents a portion of New Mexico’s settlement history, and includes references to Indian and Pueblo Nations, Spain, Mexico and the United States rural land based communities. Many of these communities continue today, and are an integral part of New Mexico’s culture, heritage, values and stewardship. The validity of Spanish and Mexican land grant adjudications continues to be discussed and debated today as legal and equitable battles over land grant claims still remain.
While there are several collections of land grant materials that are available, the resources listed below are intended to strengthen research, teaching and a basic understanding of New Mexico’s Land Grants-Mercedes.
Included on this page is information on the 24 Land Grant-Mercedes who are currently recognized as political subdivisions of the state pursuant to Sections 49-1-1 through 49-1-18 NMSA 1978, the federal report issued by the U.S. Gov’t Accounting Office, GAO-04-59, Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo: Findings and Possible Options Regarding Longstanding Community Land Grant Claims in New Mexico (2004), as well as the U.S. Gov’t Accountability Office, GAO-01-951, Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo: Definition and List of Community Land Grants in New Mexico
(2001).
Additional resources that provide a helpful starting point for land grant research are listed below.
- “Briefing on Land Grant-Merced History and Current Legislation” New Mexico Land Grant Council – July 2018 (United States 115th Congress 2nd Session House of Representatives; House Bill 6487 introduced by Mr. Ben Rey Lujan “Land Grant and Acequía Traditional Use Recognition and Consultation Act” 2018)
- “Private Land Claims in the Southwest” )Selections from J.J. Bowden’s 2018)
- “Somos Indigena: Ethnic Politics and Land Tenure in New Mexico, 1694-1965” (Dr. Jacobo Baca, 2021)
- “Pueblo Sovereignty: Indian Land and Water in New Mexico and Texas” (Ebright, Hendricks, Hughes)
- Report to the New Mexico Attorney General – A Response to the GAO’s 2004 Report “Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo: Findings and Possible Options regarding Long Standing Community Land Grant Claims in New Mexico” (New Mexico Land Grant Council)
- 2003 NM Legislative INTERIM LAND GRANT COMMITTEE Sponsored by Rep. Miguel Garcia (link to NM Legislative Committees)
The Land Grant Committee was created with the signing of Laws 2003, Chapter 431. The committee is tasked with studying existing law regarding land grants; developing legislation to improve existing law; gathering testimony from land grant heirs, state agencies and other community groups from across New Mexico to understand the relationships among the different groups and the issues and concerns faced by the different groups; and working in conjunction with the Guadalupe Hidalgo task force. To carry out these tasks and statutory duties during the 2003 legislative interim, the Land Grant Committee will:
(1) review the existing law and determine the effect these laws have on land grant heirs and other groups throughout the state;
(2) hear testimony regarding the: a. history of land grants; b. relationship between land grants, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and the Protocol of Queretaro; c. current statutes and governance of community land grants; d. economic development of land grants; e. issues concerning land grants and Native Americans; and f. current legal status of land grants in New Mexico;
(3) conduct visits to various land grants to determine the conditions and specific problems facing the residents;
(4) work with the Guadalupe Hidalgo Treaty Division of the Office of the Attorney General to resolve state constitutional and statutory legal issues regarding land grants; and
(5) recommend necessary changes in current law or policy to the legislature.
Citations and Narratives J.D. Baca Research Historian, New Mexico Land Grant Council. New Mexico Land Grant and Acequia Historian. (“Somos Indígena: Ethnic Politics and Land Tenure in New Mexico, 1694-1965.” Ph.D. Dissertation. University of New Mexico, 2015.)
Land Grant Origins J. J. Bowden “Private Land Claims in the Southwest.” Masters of Laws Thesis. Southern Methodist University, 1969.
Political Subdivision Chapter 49 Status Approved/Pending C.A. Archuleta Program Manager, New Mexico Land Grant Council. “Land Grant-Merced & Partitions of Land Grants-Mercedes Governed by the Provisions of Chapter 49-1-1 through 49-1-18 NMSA 1978.”
OAG Treaty Division Logistics Novela Salazar AAG
(Titles provided; for complete document refer to *OAG Treaty Division Platform of Information)
New Mexico Land Grant-Merced/Political Subdivisions
(Approved or Pending Approval as of November 2022)
(Dates posted below, from J.J. Bowden, are to present the historical origins of respective land grant-merced.)
1692 Santa Cruz/Española TBD, President
Santa Cruz Land Grant
Origins Bowden page 91
Political Subdivision Chapter 49 Status Pending
OAG/Treaty Division Logistics
2021 Opinion Request – 73-2A-3(A) NMSA from OAG to NM Department of Agriculture/Chairman – Acequia & Community Ditch Fund
2019 House Memorial 38 – Facilitate-Incorporation-Examine-Report Santa Cruz de las Cañada as a municipality
2006 OAG Treaty Division Report – Santa Cruz de La Cañada HM 38 Report
2006 NM Land Grant Registry – Santa Cruz de La Cañada Grant – From Secretary of State NMSRCA
1710 Cristóbal Beverly Armijo, President
Cristóbal de la Serna Land Grant
Citation: Cristóbal de la Serna (1894 survey plat map)
1894 survey plat of the Cristobal de la Serna Grant (detail), John H. Walker, U.S. Deputy Surveyor. Court of Private Land Claims, Report No. 21. Spanish Archives of New Mexico Series I. National Archives Record Group 49: General Land Office Records.
Narrative: Cristóbal de la Serna Land Grant was granted by Spanish Governor Joseph Chacón Medina Salazar y Villaseñor to Cristóbal de la Serna, a veteran of the presidio in Santa Fe, in 1710. After his death in 1724, de la Serna’s heirs sold the grant to Diego Romero, whose family drew settlers from Pueblo Quemado (present day Córdova, NM) and settled several communities on the grant, including Talpa, Ranchos de Taos, and Llano Quemado, whose name they drew from their ancestral lands. In 1876, more than 300 heads of households petitioned for the confirmation of the Grant, which boasted a population of over 1,500 people. Despite an 1888 recommendation for approval from the Surveyor General, Congress took no action on the claim and the community petitioned the Court of Private Land Claims for confirmation in 1892. The grant was patented in 1903 for more than 22,000 acres but lost land when the Cristóbal de la Serna Grant faced taxation of their property, leading to plain table surveys that forced them to individualize the commons into parcels (called liñas or lineas). These liñas ran the entire length of the grant, from the Rio Grande del Rancho on the north to Picurís Peak on the south. This enabled the County to assess taxes to individuals, thus guaranteeing their payment or the loss of the land, but destroyed the common land by individualizing communal lands, which were subdivided into unusable tracts over the next one hundred years. (narrative by J.D. Baca)
Bowden, page 32
Political Subdivision Chapter 49 Status: Approved The Cristobal de la Serna land grant-merced, situated in Taos County, with a land patent issued on January 19, 1903, serial patent document number 1191903, and by the United States bureau of land management as “Serna Cristoval” serial number NMNMAA 0088014, but not confirmed by congress, shall be governed by the provisions of Chapter 49, Article 1, NMSA 1978.”
1739 Tomé Andrea Padilla, President
Town of Tomé Land Grant
Citation: Merced del Pueblo de Tomé – 1871 patent
1871 patent, Town of Tomé Land Grant, April 5, 1871. Courtesy of the Town of Tomé Land Grant, Tomé, NM.
Bowden, page 149
Political Subdivision Chapter 49 Status: Approved The Town of Tome land grant-merced, situated in Valencia County, confirmed by congress in 1858 and patented by the United States to the town of Tome, shall be governed by the provisions of Chapter 49-1-1 through 49-1-18 NMSA 1978.
1743 Santo Domingo Steve Vigil, President
Santo Domingo de Cundiyó Land Grant
Bowden, page 99
Political Subdivision Chapter 49 Status: Approved
1744 Abiquiú Victoria García, President
Merced del Pueblo Abiquiú
Citation: Merced de Pueblo Abiquiú (1909 patent map) (citation by J.D. Baca)
1909 patent map of Town of Abiquiú Land Grant Patent, Thomas B. Catron Collection, MSS 29, Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico.
Bowden, page 110
Political Subdivision Chapter 49 Status: Approved
1746 Cebolleta Kilino Marquez, President
Cebolleta Land Grant
Bowden, page 118
Political Subdivision Chapter 49 Status: Approved
1751 Las Trampas Alex J. López, President
Santo Tomás Apóstol del Río de las Trampas Land Grant
Citation: Las Trampas (1751 testimonio) (citation by J.D. Baca)
1751 testimonio, granting the Santo Tomás Apóstol del Río del Trampas Land Grant to petitioners, Surveyor General of New Mexico Records, Report No. 27. Spanish Archives of New Mexico Series I. National Archives Record Group 49: General Land Office Records.
Bowden, page 131
Political Subdivision Chapter 49 Status: Approved
1754 Truchas President
Nuestra Señora Del Rosario, San Fernando Y Santiago Del Río De Las Truchas Grant
Citation: Merced del Pueblo de Truchas Land Grant – survey map – 1895 (by J.D. Baca)
1895 survey plat of the Nuestra Señora del Rosario San Fernando y Santiago Grant, October 10-16, 1895, Albert F. Easley, U.S. Deputy Surveyor. General Land Office Records, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Office, Santa Fe.
Bowden, page 53
Political Subdivision Chapter 49 Status: Approved
1765 San Antonio Augustine Lucero, President
San Antonio de Las Huertas Land Grant
Citation: San Antonio de las Huertas – 1765 petition (citation by J.D. Baca)
1765 petition by Juan Gutiérrez, on behalf of himself and eight other families, to Governor Tomás Vélez Cachupín for the San Antonio de las Huertas Land Grant, Surveyor General of New Mexico Records, Report No. 144. Spanish Archives of New Mexico Series I. National Archives Record Group 49: General Land Office Records.
Citation: San Antonio de las Huertas – 1901 survey map (citation by J.D. Baca)
1901 survey map of the San Antonio de las Huertas Grant, December 21, 1900 to January 8, 1901, Levi S. Preston, U.S. Deputy Surveyor. General Land Office Records, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Office, Santa Fe.
Bowden, page 69
Political Subdivision Chapter 49 Status: Approved
1768 Atrisco Jerome Padilla, President
Merced del Pueblo de Atrisco
Citation: Merced del Pueblo de Atrisco – 1896 survey map (citation by J.D. Baca)
1896 survey of the Town of Atrisco Grant, October 8-26, 1896, George H. Pradt, U.S. Deputy Surveyor. General Land Office Records, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Office, Santa Fe.
Bowden, page 114
Political Subdivision Chapter 49 Status: Approved The Town of Atrisco land grant-merced, situated in Bernalillo County, confirmed by the court of private land claims in 1894 and patented by the United States to the town of Atrisco in 1905, shall be governed by the provisions of Chapter 49; 49-1-1 through 49-1-18 NMSA 1978. (Provided that the board of trustees shall not have regulatory jurisdiction over, and the provisions of Chapter 49, Article 1 NMSA 1978 shall not apply to or govern, any lands or interests in real property the title to which is held by any other person, including a public or private corporation, partnership or limited liability company.)
1790 Ojo Caliente President
Merced de Ojo Caliente
Citation: Merced de Ojo Caliente – 1895 survey plat (citation by J.D. Baca)
1895 survey plat of the Ojo Caliente Grant (detail), Sherrard Coleman, U.S. Deputy Surveyor. Court of Private Land Claims, Report No. 94. Spanish Archives of New Mexico Series I. National Archives Record Group 49: General Land Office Records.
Bowden, page 55
Political Subdivision Chapter 49 Status: Approved
1794 San Miguel Joe Benito Chávez, President
San Miguel del Bado Land Grant
San Miguel Del Vado Grant/San Miguel Del Bado Grant
Citation: San Miguel del Bado – survey map – 1879 (citation by J.D. Baca)
1879 survey plat of the Lorenzo Marquez Grant of the San Miguel del Bado Tract, November-December 1879, John Shaw, U.S. Deputy Surveyor, General Land Office Records, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Office, Santa Fe.
Bowden, page 78
Political Subdivision Chapter 49 Status: Approved
1796 Santa Bárbara Bonifacio Vásquez, President
Santa Bárbara Land Grant
Citation: Santa Barbara Land Grant – 1796 petition (citation by J.D. Baca)
1796 petition, granting and possession documents, Santa Bárbara Land Grant, January 1796, Surveyor General of New Mexico Records, Report No. 114. Spanish Archives of New Mexico Series I. National Archives Record Group 49: General Land Office Records.
Bowden, page 89
Political Subdivision Chapter 49 Status: Approved
1796 Taos Frank Trujillo, President
Don Fernando de Taos Land Grant
Citation: Don Fernando de Taos – survey map – 1901 (citation by J.D. Baca)
1901 plat survey plat of the Don Fernando de Taos Land Grant, June 8, 1901, Jay Turley, U.S. Deputy Surveyor. General Land Office Records, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Office, Santa Fe.
Bowden, page 35
Political Subdivision Chapter 49 Status: Approved
1806 San Joaquín Leonard Martínez, President
San Joaquín del Río de Chama Land Grant
Cañón De Chama Grant/San Joaquín Del Río De Chama Grant
Citation: San Joaquín del Río de Chama – (petition) (citation by J.D. Baca)
Original petition by Francisco Salazar, on behalf of twenty-eight other families, for the Cañón del Río Chama Grant, 1806, Surveyor General of New Mexico Records, Report No. 71. Spanish Archives of New Mexico Series I. National Archives Record Group 49: General Land Office Records.
Bowden, page 21
Political Subdivision Chapter 49 Status: Approved
1807 Baldez Higinia Gallegos, President
Juan Bautista Baldez Land Grant
Citation: Juan Bautista Valdez Grant/Juan Bautista Baldés Grant
Juan Bautista Baldes (1807 petition) (citation by J.D. Baca)
1807 petition for Juan Bautista Valdez Grant, Surveyor General of New Mexico Records, Report No. 113. Spanish Archives of New Mexico Series I. National Archives Record Group 49: General Land Office Records.
Bowden, page 39
Political Subdivision Chapter 49 Status: Approved
1818 Carnué J. J. Herrera, President
Cañon de Carnué Land Grant
Citation: Merced del Pueblo de Cañon de Carnue – 1903 patent (portion) February 2, 1903 (citation by J.D. Baca) First page of the patent for the Cañón de Carnué Land Grant, issued February 2, 1903, courtesy of the Cañón de Carnué Land Grant, Carnué, New Mexico.
Bowden, page 18
Political Subdivision Chapter 49 Status: Approved
1822 Anton Chico Stoney Jaramillo, President
Anton Chico Land Grant
Bowden, page 1
Political Subdivision Chapter 49 Status: Approved
1824 Tecolote Russell Pacheco, President
Tecolote Land Grant
Bowden, page 147
Political Subdivision Chapter 49 Status: Approved The Tecolote land grant-merced, also known as the town of Tecolote, situated in San Miguel County, confirmed by congress in 1858 and patented by the United States to the town of Tecolote in 1902, shall be governed by the provisions of Chapter 49, 49-1-1 through 49-1-18 NMSA 1978.
1829 Manzano Jason Quintana, President
Merced de Manzano
Citation: Merced del Pueblo de Manzano Grant (1907 patent) (citation by J.D. Baca)
1907 patent for the Town of Manzano Land Grant, February 8, 1907, General Land Office Records, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Office, Santa Fe.
Bowden, page 139
Political Subdivision Chapter 49 Status: Approved The Manzano land grant-merced, also known as la merced del Manzano land grant-merced, situated in Torrance County, confirmed by congress in 1860 and patented by the United States to the town of Manzano in 1907, shall be governed by the provisions of Chapter 49, Article 1 NMSA 1978.
1832 Tierra Amarilla Steve Polaco, President
Merced de los Pueblos de Tierra Amarilla
Citation: Merced de los Pueblos de Tierra Amarilla (1876 survey) (citation by J.D. Baca)
1876 survey map of Tierra Amarilla Land Grant by U.S. Deputy Surveyors Daniel Sawyer and William H. McBroom, New Mexico State Records Center and Archives, Santa Fe.
Bowden, page 107
Political Subdivision Chapter 49 Status: Approved
OAG/Treaty Division Logistics
1881 USA patent to Francisco Martinez
2018 US Rep Steven Pearce to Tierra Amarilla LG
2021 Al Frente de la Lucha Warranty Deed to Tierra Amarailla LG
1833 Cubero James Chávez, President
Cubero Land Grant
Citation: Merced del Pueblo de Cubero (1840 petition) (citation by J.D. Baca)
1840 letter, detailing justice of the peace Clemente Sarracino attesting to lands of the Cubero Land Grant, Surveyor General of New Mexico Records, Report No. 151. Spanish Archives of New Mexico Series I. National Archives Record Group 49: General Land Office Records.
Bowden, page 124
Political Subdivision Chapter 49 Status: Approved
1834 Tajique Andrew Gutiérrez, President
Tajique Land Grant
Citation: Merced del Pueblo de Tajique – 1877 survey map (citation by J.D. Baca)
1877 survey plat of the Town of Tajique Grant, February 1877, Daniel Sawyer and Stephen McElroy, U.S. Deputy Surveyors, General Land Office Records, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Office, Santa Fe.
Bowden, page 145
Political Subdivision Chapter 49 Status: Approved
1835 Mora President
Town Of Mora Grant/Santa Gertrudis Lo De Mora Grant
Bowden, page 142
Political Subdivision Chapter 49 Status:
1841 Chililí Juan Sánchez, President
Merced del Pueblo de Chililí
Citation: Merced del Pueblo de Chilili Land Grant – 1909 patent (citation by J.D. Baca)
1909 patent for the Town of Chililí Land Grant, January 18, 1909, General Land Office Records, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Office, Santa Fe.
Bowden, page 121
Political Subdivision Chapter 49 Status: Approved
1841 Torreón Senaida Anaya, President
Town of Torreón
Citation: Merced del Pueblo de Torreón (citation by J.D. Baca)
Bowden, page 151
Political Subdivision Chapter 49 Status: Approved
1842 Taos President
San Antonio del Rio Colorado
Bowden, page 75
Political Subdivision Chapter 49 Status: ApprovedThe San Antonio del Rio Colorado land grant-merced, situated in Taos County, which claim was recommended for confirmation by surveyor general James K. Proudfit in 1874 and again in 1886 by surveyor general George W. Julian, but not confirmed by congress, shall be governed by the provisions of Chapter 49, 49-1-1 through 49-1-18 NMSA 1978.
J.J. Bowden TABLE OF CONTENTS
Per J.J. Bowden, dates posted below present the historical origins of respective land grant-merced.
*Please click here and refer to the New Mexico Land Grant Mercedes Platform of Information
1598 – SEVILLETA GRANT/SEVILLETA DE LA JOYA GRANT page 103
1692 – SANTA CRUZ GRANT page 91
1702 – TOWN OF JACONA GRANT page 128
1703 – SEBASTIÁN MARTÍN GRANT page 101
1707 – BARTOLOMÉ SÁNCHEZ GRANT page 13
1710 – CRISTÓBAL DE LA SERNA GRANT page 32
1716 – ANTONIO MARTÍNEZ GRANT page 5
1724 – JUAN JOSÉ LOVATO GRANT/JUAN JOSÉ LOBATO GRANT page 43
1739 – TOWN OF TOMÉ GRANT page 149
1743 – SANTO DOMINGO DE CUNDIYÓ GRANT page 99
1744 – TOWN OF ABIQUIÚ GRANT/MERCED DEL PUEBLO DE ABIQUIÚ page 110
1746 – TOWN OF CEBOLLETA page 118
1751 – TOWN OF LAS TRAMPAS GRANT page 131
SANTO TOMAS APÓSTOL DEL RÍO DE LAS TRAMPAS GRANT
1754 – NUESTRA SEÑORA DEL ROSARIO, SAN FERNANDO Y SANTIAGO GRANT page 53
NUESTRA SEÑORA DEL ROSARIO, SAN FERNANDO Y SANTIAGO DEL RÍO DE LAS TRUCHAS GRANT
1760 – PIEDRA LUMBRE GRANT page 64
1765 – SAN ANTONIO DE LAS HUERTAS GRANT page 69
1768 – TOWN OF ATRISCO GRANT page 114
1782 – MESITA DE JUANA LÓPEZ GRANT page 49
1790 – OJO CALIENTE GRANT page 55
1794 – SAN MIGUEL DEL VADO GRANT/SAN MIGUEL DEL BADO GRANT page 78
1796 – DON FERNANDO DE TAOS GRANT page35
1796 – SANTA BÁRBARA GRANT page 89
1798 – CAÑÓN DE SAN DIEGO GRANT page 24
1806 – CAÑÓN DE CHAMA GRANT/SAN JOAQUÍN DEL RÍO DE CHAMA GRANT page 21
1807 – JUAN BAUTISTA VALDEZ GRANT/JUAN BAUTISTA BALDÉS GRANT page 39
1813 – ARROYO HONDO GRANT page 8
1813 – LOS TRIGOS GRANT page 46
1818 – CAÑÓN DE CARNUÉ GRANT page 18
1820 – SAN PEDRO GRANT page 82
1822 – ANTON CHICO GRANT page 1
1824 – TOWN OF TECOLOTE GRANT page 147
1829 – TOWN OF MANZANO GRANT page 139
1832 – TIERRA AMARILLA GRANT page 107
1833 – TOWN OF CUBERO GRANT page 124
1834 – TOWN OF TAJIQUE GRANT page 145
1835 – TOWN OF LAS VEGAS GRANT page 134
1835 – TOWN OF MORA GRANT/ SANTA GERTRUDIS LO DE MORA GRANT page 142
1836 – PETACA GRANT page 58
1836 – CAÑÓN DEL RÍO COLORADO page 28
1841 – TOWN OF CHILILÍ GRANT page 121
1841 – TOWN OF TORREÓN GRANT page 151
1842 – SAN ANTONIO DEL RÍO COLORADO GRANT page 75
1843 – SANGRE DE CRISTO GRANT page 85
1851 – PLAZA DE GUADALUPE GRANT page 67