The Massacre of José Manuel Martín,Jr., José Basilio Martín, _Juan Manuel Salazar_, Antonia María Archuleta, J. María Martín, Francisco Costilla, and José Blas near Abiquiú, New Mexico, on January 3, 1850
by LeRoy D. Moloney, Boulder, Colorado 2001 (not published)
Through family oral history I learned that my great grandfather, Juan Manuel Salazar, had been massacred by Ute Indians. I also was told that his wife, Margarita Martínez, the daughter of Manuel Antonio Martínez and Gertrudis Martín, was widowed prior to her marriage to Juan Manuel Salazar; her first husband, Antonio López, had also been killed by Indians. At the time of Juan Manuel Salazar's death my grandfather, Arcadio Antonio Salazar (dob: 12 January 1848) was two years old.
Prior to undergoing bypass cardiac surgery in 1989, I decided to work on my family's genealogy during my recuperation. In 1990, a cousin, David Carpenter, gave me a copy of notes written by his mother, Belinda Salazar Carpenter, after or during her conversations with her father, Arcadio Antonio Salazar. Since he was only two years old at the time of his father's death, I realized that the basis of the notes could have been hearsay.
While attending a genealogical Elderhostel at Brigham Young University, I found F. Stanley's booklet, The Abiquiú, New Mexico, Story, in which I found the first documentation of my great grandfather ‘s death. I was really excited on finding this information, but I was not satisfied. On what did he base his narrative of the massacre? There were too many names and numbers included in the booklet to assume that he had taken license with facts. After further investigation I found the document, The Official Correspondence of James S. Calhoun, While Agent at Santa Fe and Superintendent of Indian Affairs in New Mexico, on which, I assume, F. Stanley based his narrative. In the latter study, Spanish names were spelled in phonetic English by Cyrus Choice, Acting Assistant Indian Agent.
Needless to say, I am now satisfied how and when my great grandfather met his untimely death.
Perhaps this article may help those who are making searches for the documentation of the deaths of their forebears, viz. José Manuel Martín, Jr., José Basilio Martín, Antonia María Archuleta, J. María Martín, Francisco Costilla, and José Blas. I have not established any relationship to the Martíns or others.
The following are extractions from the works from which I was able to document my great grandfather's death:
Belinda Salazar Carpenter, Vida de mi Padre, Antonio Arcadio Salazar, (San Luis, Colorado, n. pub., before 1926), photocopy in the posession of the writer:
Mi madre Margarita Martin nació en Abiqui (sic), Nuevo Mejico en el año 1824. En 1839 se casó con Antonio López. A este matrimonio nacieron dos hijos, Manuel y José María Lopez y Francisco. En este tiempo estaban teniendo muchas batellas con los Indios en Santa Fe. Los Utas matarón a Antonio Lopez en Abiqui (sic) entre la Puente y la Tierra Azul. En 1846 se casó mi madre con Juan Manuel Salazar, tuvieron dos hijos, Arcadio Antonio Salazar y a mi hermana Juanita. Arcadio nacio el dia 12 de enero de 1848 y Juanita nacio en 1850. Ese mismo año, 1850, enero 6, mató un Uta a mi padre, Juan Manuel Salazar, en los cañones circa de Abiqui (sic) donde vivia. Mi padre entiendia y hablaba la lengua uta y no tenía enemigos entre los indios que el conocía, pero en enero de 1850 le mató un indio pensando que mi padre era un vaquero que había matado a un Indio ---?--- de un argumento que existia entre el indio y el vaquero.
F. Stanley (Stanley Francis Louis Crocchiola), The Abiquiu, New Mexico, Story (n.p., n. pub., circa 1960), pp 26-27:
What brought about the trouble between the Utes and the people of Abiquiu after the treaty is easily explained. J. Maria Garcia went a few miles north of Abiquiu in quest of wood, for the month was January, and the weather was cold. As he was cutting wood, Paga-ga-ait, a Ute, chanced by on horseback, and took of Garcia his hat and handkerchief. Coming back to possibly take his serape, Garcia grabbed his bridle and told the Indian that not only was he not going to take anything else from him, but he was going to return his hat and his handkerchief. The Indian drew his bow and got ready an arrow. Garcia seized the bow and told him it would be fair exchange for the hat and handkerchief. The Indian jumped from his horse, drew his knife and made for Garcia. Garcia ran in the direction of Antonio Garduna, also cutting wood, still retaining the bow and the ax he had for cutting wood. Realizing the the Indian would get to him before he reached his compadre, Garcia turned and laid the Indian low, the ax making a clean cut through the temple. Garcia returned to Abiquiu and reported the happening to his patron. The Utes promptly forgot the treaty and raided Abiquiu and adjacent areas. They killed Jose Manuel Martin, Jr., Jose Basilio Martin, Juan Manuel Salazar , Antonia Maria Archuleta, J. Maria Martin, Francisco Costilla, Jose Blas, took Antonia Salazar prisoner, ran off eighteen sheep belonging to Alcalde Jose Antonio Salazar; took 1360 sheep, 80 goats, one horse, a rifle, a brass kettle, a copper kettle, two blankets, a buffalo robe,three blankets, a sack of flour from Padre Salazar; 225 sheep, an axe, a brass kettle , three blankets, a sack of flour from Juan Cristobal Martin; 200 sheep, 100 goats, a blanket, a shotgun, a burro from Dona Dolores Lopez; an ox from Encarnacion Valverde; the oxen from Jose Miguel Salazar; 300 sheep, 90 goats, eighteen cows, a burro, a sack of flour, a saddle and a copper kettle from Jose L. Jago; and other such items from his wife, his son, Tranquilino, Jose M. Martin, M.A. Martin, Julian Valdez, J.R. Ribali, Jose M. Trujillo, Juliana Montoya, Solidad Martin, Francisco A. Trujillo, J.S. Zamora, Juan A. Quintana, Vicente Velarde, W. Valdez, J. Salizar, Lupe Salazar. None of the property was recovered. The names are interesting because it shows the influx of new settlers since the days of the Genizaros and the pilgrims from Chihuahua and Durango. The Utes later admitted that they did not consider the Abiquiu as binding since Chico Velezquez, the chief who spoke for the others, actually spoke for himself without consulting the others. The native New Mexicans soon forgot these sorrows and, on July 27, 1850, thirty American traders went to General Choice for permission to trade with the Utes. They left Abiquiu and headed north. Several days later they located the Utes who asked for guns and ammunition. When they saw that the Americans had none to trade they detained them as prisoners but did permit them to trade with the women "For," as they said, "they had nothing for the men." The traders sent to Abiquiu for two New Mexicans who knew the Ute tongue and told them to explain to the Indians why they were not permitted to trade for arms and ammunition. The Utes eventually received powder and lead and released the prisoners.
Annie Heloise Abel, ed., Office of Indian Affairs, The Official Correspondence of James S. Calhoun, While Indian Agent at Santa Fe and Superintendent of Indian Affairs in New Mexico, (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1915), pp 142 - 144:
Choice to Calhoun:
(Copy) Indian Agency
Albuiquin, New Mexico
Feby 5, 1850
Col James S. Calhoun
Sir
I arrived here on Friday evening last and upon examination of my papers, I find that I have not the letter that Governor Munroe wrote you in reply to yours authorizing the Qr Master at this post, to furnish me with provisions &c. You will please forward it to me by the first opportunity, so that I may satisfy him that I am acting in conformity with orders from proper authority.
I suggest for your consideration the propriety of your sending a suitable person among the Utahs, and have them brought in. I have been informed by the Prefect of this place, that a number of them have been to Taos, since your departure to see Col. Beall, petitioning for peace.
The name of the Indian that was killed, is Pagagaait. Assus Maria Garcia was cutting wood for coal when the Utah Indian came up to him, without any cause; took forcibly from him his hat and handkerchief and made off with them, he returned immediately, and Assus Maria Garcia, says he caught hold of his bridle, and demanded of him his hat and handkerchief. The Indian drew his bow and was drawing an arrow, when he seized hold of the bow, and got possession of it, told the Indian that if he did not give up his hat and handkerchief, he would keep his bow. The Indian dismounted, drew his knife and made towards him, he ran in the direction of Antoina Gardoonia with the bow, and an axe, and saw that the Indian was close behind him, he turned and gave him a blow with the axe, striking him on the temple, which caused almost instant death, he saw no other Indian, or Indians; came immediately to Albiquin and informed his master what had taken place.
Antonia Gardoonia says, he was going where Assus Maria Garcia was, when he got in sight he halloeed to him, saw no Indian, had to cross a hollow, and when he saw him again Assus Maria Garcia was running towards him with an axe and a bow, that the Indian was close behind him with his knife drawn, crying out "Carrajo" [Cawajo?], he immediately turned and gave him a blow with the axe on the temple, he came directly up and saw him expiring.
This took place on the 3d of January about 11 O'clock A.M. at Allumas Lavonarrianna, about ten miles from Albiquin.
Thomas Jaconi says the Indian left his house on the morning of the 3d of January, and knows what the Indian had, that he found his horse in the Mountains, with all of his trappings, with the exception of two small loaves of bread and a small bunch of powder tied up in a rag, that he saw the body of the deceased and that his bow and arrow were laying close to it.
The names of those that were killed by the Utah Indians, are José Manuel Martim Jr., José Vacilia Martim, Juan Manuel Solisar , Antonia Maria Archeletto, Jesus Maria Martim, Francisco Cossair, José Blass, and Antonia Solisar was taken prisoner.
The following is a list of those who had their property taken off by the Utahs.
José Antonia Mansanaris, Prefect, eighteen sheep; Padro Salasar, thirten hundred and sixty sheep, eighty goats, one horse, one rifle, one brass kettle, one copper kettle, two blankets, one buffaloe robe, one sack of flour; Juan Christo Martim, two hundred and twenty five sheep, one axe, one brass kettle, three blankets, one sack of flour; Dona Doloris Lopiz (a woman), two hundred sheep, one hundred goats, one blanket, one shot gun, one buro; Encumacion Valardar, one ox; José Miguel Solasar, three oxen; José Larlusa Giago, three hundred sheep, ninty goats, eighteen cows, one buro, one sack of flour, three empty sacks, one copper kettle, one saddle; Maria Barborn Giago (a woman), two hundred sheep, sixty goats one buro, one copper kettle; Frankaluna Giago, sixteen cows; José Manuel Martim, nine cows, thirty goats; Martino Arsons Martinne, eighty goats, sixty sheep; Julian Valdez, sixty sheep, one ox; Francisco Martim; five oxen; José Maguil Riville, one shot gun, one ox, half sack of flour, two blankets, two sheep, one brass kettle; José Maria Truillo, two horses, one mule, one rifle, one ox, one rifle, one axe, one sack of flour; Julianna Montoya (woman), two oxen; Solada Martim, two sheep; Francisco Antonia Truxillo, twenty four goats; Juan Santas Samora, eighteen goats; Juan Andres Kintana, twenty six goats; Vacinta Varlarda, five oxen; Wanocila Valdez, ten oxen; Juan Salisar, ten goats; Guadiloup Quintanna, one ox, half sack of flour.
You will please suggest the propriety to Gov. Munroe, of furnishing this post with an Interpreter; Lieut. Tyler has written to Capt. Reynolds in relation to it, one would answer the purpose of both. I have given you a statement of all the facts which I have been enabled to collect.
I am Sir Your obt Svt CYRUS CHOICE Actg. Asst. Ind. Agt
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