USING NEW MEXICO AS AN EXAMPLE : THE HISTORIC STATE : NATIVE AMERICANS - SPAIN - MEXICO - U.S. TERRITORY : STATE CENSUS ADVENTURE #6

 I found New Mexico confusing, so I hope to unconfuse you... !!!

What if your ancestor lived in what was a territory rather than a state?

As most of my readers know, the United States began on the Atlantic coast,  and then there was "expansion."

When Lewis and Clark began their expedition to find out what was West of the Alleghenies in May 1804, specifically to explore the Louisiana Territory, Purchased in 1803, they officially began in Missouri and the Missouri River, but actually, to get to the Missouri River they left what is the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, using the Ohio River to get to that official starting point.  (Pittsburgh was almost the Wild Wild West!) Louisiana Territory was previously owned by France, but what of Spanish America and Mexican America? 

The twists and turns of history affected what's available as does who conducted the census. The acquisition of territory came first, then statehood.  What country owned that land? Who took the census? Was it Federal, State, Territorial, special?

First, research the history of the state. Spain first claimed land in what became New Mexico.  Then Mexico did. Spain did a census in 1790. Mexico did in1823 and then 1845.

In 1850, New Mexico became a Territory of the United States. From that point on the territory was included in what we call the U.S. Federal Census, though it was not a state. Statehood for New Mexico as a state of the United States of America - "joined the Union" was 1912. Which means that we are looking for resources from various countries.

Take a look at this list from NEW MEXICO STATE LIBRARY - GUIDE TO CENSUS (Genealogy) THERE WERE MANY CENSUS including some specific to Native Americans, it's a wonder...

Excerpt: Spanish and Mexican Census Records :

1845, 1830, 1827, 1826, 1823, 1822, 1816, 1802, 1790, and 1750-- Mexican and Spanish colonial censuses exist. The colonial censuses include the wife's maiden name. These censuses are incomplete and do not include all families in New Mexico.***

Though the United States first started taking a national (I call that a FEDERAL) census in 1790 (OF STATES THAT WERE ACTUALLY STATES), New Mexico did not appear until the 1850 census (7th). The New Mexico State Library has microfilm of the dicennial Federal Census of New Mexico for the years: 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, and then the New Mexico Territory Census of 1885!

*** No census has ever been totally complete, inclusive of every resident, for various reasons.  In New Mexico's example we should consider California, another state that was claimed by Spain and then Mexico. When populations were sparse or a great deal of travel was necessary, lots of people who lived there were not counted.

In the case of French America or Spanish America, Church records can be especially helpful.

And a reminder : STATE LIBRARIES are often separate of STATE ARCHIVES.

Whew!

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The TAG for this series is  "STATE CENSUS ADVENTURE"

NEW MEXICO GENEALOGY - NATIVE AMERICAN - SPANISH - MEXICAN - APACHE ? WHAT TRIBE MAY BE THE BEST QUESTION TO START WITH!

A friend's son in law comes from New Mexico and says he has heritage that is in part Apache.  He is not a card carrying member of a tribe.  So I watched some videos from the New Mexico genealogy society and I learned that DNA is proving Native Americans strongly on the maternal (mother's side) of New Mexico's people.  It's estimated that 40% of those whose roots are in New Mexico have Native American ancestry.

NEW MEXICO GENEALOGY SOCIETY

You can find their educational videos on YouTube.

I have yet been asked to do any research considered to be "Hispanic" but I understand records in Spanish go way back into Spanish America and that some people are traveling to Mexico City to do research.  I don't speak Spanish, but then I don't speak German or Latin or any other language, but I find that it's not so difficult to translate, especially not with all the Internet translators available.

As for his particular Apache tribe, there's more than one possibility. 

MESCALERO APACHE TRIBE   South Central New Mexico

KRQE : FOX : THREE APACHE TRIBES OF NEW MEXICO 

This article focuses on where they lived, what they are famous for and where they live now - it's brief.  EXCERPT: "There are three Native American Apache tribes in New Mexico: the JICARILLA  APACHE, located in northern N.M near the Colorado Border; the MESCALERO APACHE, located near Ruidoso, and the FORT SILL APACHE near Deming.

If I remember correctly, the NAVAJO are also an Apache nation.

I find that Los Angeles Public Library - History/Genealogy at Central Library - has an extensive collection of books about the tribal people of what is now the United States.

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A LOCAL HISTORICAL SUMMER VACATION! SPANISH AMERICAN HISTORY

I've been visiting historical sites. But I have to tell you that when I first moved to Southern California and met people who were born and raised here (people who seem to be in the minority) they told me that there was NO HISTORY HERE. 

How could that be?

Hadn't they been taught some American History or some local history in school?

So I set out to learn the history of California, of the South West, and of my local area on my own.  I toured adobe houses, missions,  museums, and learned about what had been torn down via books.  Now I revisit some of these places.

First there is the history of Spanish Mission building.  There is also the history of Native American Tribes: California had so many natural resources that it was an area of diverse tribal cultures.  Then there was the Rancherio period; Spanish Land Grants which were later divied up.

One of the most interesting things I learned was that during the Spanish Land Grant and Rancherio period, before there was that surge of immigration from the east coast west, a few explorers and adventurers made their way west.  Most of these people were men, they were often Scottish, and when they MARRIED INTO SPANISH FAMILIES THEY BECAME CATHOLIC AND SPANISHIFIED THEIR SURNAMES.

Over the next couple posts, I urge you to learn your local history, especially as it becomes your family history at one point or another!