María Josefa Salazar (bef. 1754)

Born before 11 Feb 1754 in San Juan, Nuevo México, Nueva España [uncertain]

Ancestors

Wife of Francisco Xavier Mestas — married 6 May 1784 in Santa Clara Pueblo, Rio Arriba, New Mexico, United States

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Biography

Maria Josefa was born in 1754 to Juan Antonio Salazar and María Barbara de San Juan Luna.^[1] In 1784 she married Francisco Xavier Mestas^[2] and they had five children, with three dying when they were babies:

1. Juan Simon, born in 1786
2. Juan Christóbal, born about 1787-88, died 1788 (see research note)
3. Teresa de Jesus, born in 1789
4. José, born in 1792, died same year
5. Bentura, born 1802, died 1803 (see research note)

Research Notes

1. The burial record for Juan Christóbal lists his parents as Francisco Xavier Mestas and Maria Paula Salazar.^[3] They liked to repeat names among cousins in Santa Clara in the 1700s so it is possible this is a different couple. It is just as likely that the the priest made an error in recording María Josefa's name. This needs research.
2. Bentura's baptism record^[4] and burial record^[5] list his mother as María Jusepa Salazar. The fact that the spelling is consistent with seven months between the document dates makes it more possible that this is a different couple with similar names (see other note). This also needs research.

Sources

1. ↑ "New Mexico Births and Christenings, 1726-1918", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HW6B-WRPZ : 20 January 2020), Maria Josepha Salazar, baptized 11 Feb 1754, San Juan Pueblo, New Mexico; FHL microfilm 16,975, image .
2. ↑ "New Mexico Marriages, 1751-1918", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9DX-DRJ?i=364&cc=2341907 : 20 January 2020), Xabier Mestas and María Josefa Salazar, Santa Clara, New Mexico; FHL microfilm 16,975, image 365.
3. ↑ "New Mexico Deaths and Burials, 1788-1798; 1838-1955", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FDP3-H8C : 20 January 2020), Maria Paula Salazar in entry for Juan Christobal Mestas, buried 6 Apr 1788 in Santa Clara, New Mexico.
4. ↑ "New Mexico Births and Christenings, 1726-1918", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HWDK-QFW2 : 20 January 2020), Jusepa Salazar in entry for Bentura Mestas, baptized 16 May 1802, Santa Clara, New Mexico.
5. ↑ "New Mexico Deaths and Burials, 1788-1798; 1838-1955", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HWF7-5DW2 : 20 January 2020), Maria Jusepa Salazar in entry for Bentura Mestas, buried 20 Jan 1803 in Santa Clara, New Mexico.