The Genealogy of Francisca de Narváez
28 Oct 1654 - 4 Apr 1739
Doña Francisca de Narvaez was the matriarch of the Sanchez de la Mejorada line, of Sierra de Pinos: even though she never married, from her descend all families, using that surname, born in and around Pinos after 1698. The fact that she never married, makes her a challenge to research, because of the lack of marriage records, and the lack of baptism records for legitimate children. But, with the discovery of the San Luis Potosi padrones, as well as another group of documents, I believe I’ve established the origin of Francisca de Narvaez.
First, some background:
Francisca de Narvaez had at least 4 natural children, all who were born in SLP, and who would raise their families in Sierra de Pinos:
1. Capitan Francisco Sanchez de la Mejorada Narvaez, m1. Ysabel Ruiz de Villaseñor, m2. Margarita de Cuevas, 25 Jan 1720, San Matias, Pinos, Zac.
2. Antonia de Narvaez, b. 26 Jul 1682, Sagrario SLP; m. Miguel Mendez de Sotomayor
3. Antonio Sanchez Narvaez, b. 01 Sep 1692, Sagrario SLP; m. Gregoria Mendez de Sotomayor, m. 31 Jan 1720, San Matias, Pinos, Zac. Carpintero de oficio.
4. Luis Sanchez de la Mejorada Narvaez, m. Antonia Gomez, 04 Feb 1722, San Matias, Pinos, Zac.
According to their marriage records, Francisco Sanchez and Antonio Sanchez were hijos naturales of Francisca de Narvaez and of Cristobal Sanchez, Español. I've been unable to locate Cristobal Sanchez; he might be the same who was married to Simona Torres, and who baptized Angela, 27 Mar 1674, Sagrario SLP, but I've been unable to establish any link. Those 2 drop off the map. Whoever he was, Cristobal Sanchez and Francisca de Narvaez apparently continued their relationship over a long period of time, since Francisco and Antonio Sanchez were born 18 years apart.
On his marriage record, Luis Sanchez is hijo natural of Francisca de Narvaez and father- unknown, yet he and his descendants would use the "Sanchez de la Mejorada" surname. From a dispensa, we know that Antonia de Narvaez is his sister. She also used “Sanchez” on one occasion, so they might also be natural children of Cristobal Sanchez.
All families using the "Sanchez de la Mejorada" surname in Sierra de Pinos descend from Francisco Sanchez and Luis Sanchez. "Sanchez de la Mejorada" nor “Mejorada” appear whatsoever in the Sag SLP Parish archives, nor in the SLP Protocolos, so the surname originated elsewhere. See http://www.nuestrosranchos.org/node/21848
FRANCISCA DE NARVAEZ IN SIERRA DE PINOS
The first of Francisca’s children to appear in the San Matias parish archives was her oldest, Francisco Sanchez, who baptized Josefa, 18 Apr 1698, born on Puesto de Salitre.
Francisca makes her first appearance on 10 Nov 1701, when she was madrina for the baptism of Francisca Xaviela, of unknown parents, “expuesta” in the home of Maria Gomez, also on Salitre. The padrino on the same baptism was Nicolas Gomez de Sotomayor, brother of Maria Gomez, both children of Blas Gomez de Ruelas and Maria de Avila, neighbors on Salitre. Francisca apparently had a very close relationship with this family, as she appeared as madrina on various baptisms for and with their children:
On 29 Oct 1716, with her son, Antonio Sanchez, she was madrina for the baptism of Lucas, son of Bernabe Montañez and Gertrudis Gomez Avila, on Salitre;
On 03 Oct 1722, she was madrina with Juan Antonio Gomez Avila, for her grandson, Miguel Fermin, born on Santa Rita, son of Luis Sanchez and Antonia Gomez. Francisca was likely living on Santa Rita, by this time, which was owned by the aforementioned Nicolas Gomez de Sotomayor (father of her daughter-in-law, Antonia Gomez);
On 31 Aug 1724, with Bernabe Montañez, she was madrina for the baptism of Luis, son of Juan Antonio Gomez Avila and Nicolasa Mendez de Sotomayor, on Puesto de Santa Rita.
Francisca de Narvaez, Española, originaria de la Ciudad de San Luis Potosí, died and was buried 4 Apr 1739, in San Matias, Pinos, Zac. Her partida says she was a widow, and had been living on Puesto de Santa Rita. She received the Sacraments, and was given a modest burial.
FRANCISCA DE NARVAEZ IN SAGRARIO SAN LUIS POTOSI
Combing the Sagrario SLP parish archives, only one woman, named "Francisca de Narvaez," appears during the 1600's. I was able to locate the baptism records of her children, Antonia (26 Jul 1682) and Antonio (01 Sep 1692), which do name her, but otherwise, she appears nowhere else. On Antonia's partida, is the only time we see Francisca categorized as Mestiza. Otherwise, she’s always Española.
No one named "Narvaez," father nor mother, baptized a "Francisca" in Sagrario SLP, during the mid-1600's, when ours would have been born. She might have been baptized elsewhere, or the surname "skipped" a generation, or, most likely, she was an "hija de la Yglesia."
CATALINA DE LA CRUZ
I was left in the dark, until I located the padrones for San Luis Potosi. Francisca de Narvaez appears in three:
1668: Casa de Catalina de la Cruz + Nicolasa Narvaez + Francisca Narvaez - Madalena - Felipa de Jesus -
1681: Rancho de Francisco Carrion Esp + Francisca Narvaez, Española +
1684: Casa de Catalina de la Cruz, Mestiza+ Maria de San Joaquin+ Francisca Narvaez + Nicolas Martinez Conf Juan Martinez + Teresa de Jesus + Joseph Martinez +
There’s an apparent relationship with Catalina de la Cruz: in 1668, Francisca hadn't yet received Communion, so she was still a child, possibly 5-8 years-old. She's likely daughter of Catalina de la Cruz, as are the other girls.
