Padre Martinez - Will and Testament

Will and Testament

Administration of The Presbyter Don Antonio José Martínez

PART 1

Sworn Statement of the Administrator
Original Spanish Document located in Taos County, N.M. Records, Wills and Testaments B-4 (16693), pp. 272-274, New Mexico Records Center and Archives, Santa Fe, NM

Territory of NM}
County of Taos }

Santiago Valdez personally appeared before me, Pedro Sánchez, Probate Judge of the aforementioned County, requesting letters of administration over the Estate of the Presbyter Antonio José Martínez, deceased, lastly of the County of Taos. [Valdez] who had been duly sworn-in according to the law states: that there will be a complete Inventory of the property of said deceased, that said deceased wrote a will which shall be presented to the court for probation, [he] will faithfully and legally comply until [it] is completed by other means according to the law, and said will, and [he] shall give an account to the Probate Judge of his administration over such Estate until his appointment as administrator is concluded.

Santiago Valdez

Subscribed and sworn before me in my office in Don Fernando de Taos this 9th day of August of 1867.

Pedro Sánchez
Probate Judge

The Surety Bond follows:

Territory of New Mexico}
County of Taos }

May all men present know that we: Santiago Valdez as the principal, and _________________________________ as Guarantors are held and obliged firmly to the Territory of New Mexico in the sum of $______________________ dollars in United States Legal Tender, of which payment will be honestly and firmly made by us as obligated, [or] our heirs as executors and administrators, we sign jointly and separately as witnesses, and have placed our hands and seals in Don Fernando de Taos this 16th day of September of 1867. _________________________________________. It is a condition of the abovementioned obligation since the above stated Santiago Valdez has been named as Administrator of the Estate of the late Presbyter Antonio José Martínez lastly of said county, by the Probate court of the aforementioned County; now, if said Santiago Valdez, faithfully and legally fulfills his duties as administrator named by the referenced court, according to the law, and gives a written account of said administration, then the obligation will be null and to the contrary in all surety and value.

Santiago Valdez (seal)

Approved.
Pedro Sánchez
Probate Judge

The Credential Letters of Administration follow:

Territory of New Mexico}
County of Taos }

May all men know that by the letters present, that inasmuch, Santiago Valdez has made an application before the Hon. Pedro Sánchez, Probate Judge of the aforementioned County and Territory, to obtain letters of administration over the Estate of the Presbyter Antonio José Martinez, lastly of this county; and has since presented to the satisfaction of the Probate Court, that the abovementioned Santiago Valdez has formally presented the surety and sworn declaration in the Office of the Probate Court as required by law.

And now, before those present, Santiago Valdez is named and legitimately constituted as administrator of the Estate of the Presbyter Antonio José Martínez, deceased, and is authorized to discharge his legal duties and resume his post to the personal property, real estate, livestock, lawful debts and actions pertaining to said Estate as conservator and administrator as made and provided for by the law and statuettes in such cases, from now, and until such time he is discharged from such duties by means within due course of the law. As witness of this I hereby place my name and affix the seal of the Probate Court in my office in Don Fernando de Taos, today, September 16 of 1867.

Pedro Sánchez
Probate Judge

I certify that the fore written are exact and faithful copies of the sworn Sureties and letters of administration of the Estate of the Presbyter Antonio José Martínez.

I sign, as proof, today,
September 16, 1867 A.D.

Leandro Martínez Clerk

Part 1