Luján Family of 17th-century New Mexico: Part 1
There hasn't been an update to the Lujan family history and genealogy of 17th-century New Mexico based on research into primary record probably since the work of Fray Angélico Chávez published in his book, "Origins of New Mexico Families (1954).
With a little bit of time given to research and patient compilation of information from a variety of sources, a revised and updated family history and genealogy can be generated.
Here is some information on Juan Luján II and Juan Luján III that goes "Beyond Origins" that did not get transferred to the New Mexico History Web page along with other entries from the original "Beyond Origins of New Mexico Families" Web site.
Fray Angélico Chávez mentioned that Juan Luján II was referred to as El Viejo in relation to another Juan Luján (ONMF: 63). Chávez suggested the two were father and son, but did not have documentation to confirm this relationship. In May 1663, while providing testimony to authorities of the Office of the Inquisition, Diego Romero mentioned “dos hermanos” named Capitán Juan Luján and Juan de Archuleta. Juan de Archuleta was married with María Luján (ONMF: 6), daughter of Juan Luján II. As such, the brotherly relationship referred to by Romero was that of brothers-in-law, confirming that Capitán Juan Luján was a son of Juan Luján II.
The elder Luján, Juan Luján II, also held the rank of Capitán and in 1661 gave his age as sixty, indicating he was born circa 1601. In February 1659, he was described as a vecino of the jurisdiction of La Cañada. The younger Juan Luján was alcalde mayor of the jurisdiction of La Cañada in 1661 and provided testimony on 29 October of that year as part of the investigation of the Inquisition regarding Governor don Bernardo López de Mendizábal. The younger Luján declared he was forty-two years of age, indicating he was born circa 1619.
On 15 May 1661, testifying at the Pueblo de Senecú in the case against Governor don Bernardo López de Mendizábal, fray Antonio de Tavares, age thirty-two, mentioned the name of Capitán Juan Luján, but it is unclear whether he was referring to the elder or the younger Luján. In his testimony, Tavares described Capitán Juan Luján as “mestizo amulatado” and identified him as alcalde mayor of the Picurís area. During his tenure as governor of New Mexico (1659-1661), don Bernardo López de Mendizábal appointed Capitán Juan Luján as alcalde mayor del los Teguas, which referred to the jurisdiction of La Cañada. It is unclear whether the elder or younger Luján was appointed to the position.
In the same case, Miguel de Noriega, a vecino of Mexico City living in Santa Fe (former secretary of Governor López de Mendizábal) referred to “Juan Luján, mestizo, vecino de la Cañada.” Again, it is unclear if the reference is to the elder or younger Luján.
The references to Juan Luján as mestizo support other references found by fray Angélico Chaves indicating that either the first Juan Luján, who came from the Canary Islands to New Mexico in 1600, or his son, married an Indian. The first Juan Luján settled in La Cañada by October 1601, according to his own testimony given at the Pueblo de San Gabriel on 5 October 1601.
Capitán Juan Luján, the younger, may very well be the same man known as Capitán Juan Luis Luján (ONMF: 62) who was married with Isabel López del Castillo. This couple had a daughter, Ana María Luján, who was born circa 1660, and a son, Pedro Luján, that was born circa 1669. In 1681, Capitán Juan Luis Luján provided information that gives his estimated year of birth as sometime between 1615-1621, and in 1689 he gave his age as seventy to eighty (1619-29). Additional research is needed to confirm if he is indeed the same person as Capitán Juan Luján, son of the elder Juan Luján
Researcher: José Antonio Esquibel
Sources: AGN, Real Audiencia, Concurso de Peñalosa, Tomo I, ff. 141 & 211, and Tomo III, Leg. 1, no. 1, f. 95 and Leg. 1. no. 2, f. 6; AGN, Inquisition, t. 593, ff. 46 & 96; Hammond and Rey, Vol. II, 733-34; Fray Angélico Chávez, “New Mexico Roots,” 1101 (DM 1689, Oct. 22 (no. 4). El Paso del Norte for Pedro Luján and Francisca de Salazar, and 1379, DM 1660, May 30 (no. 8), El Paso del Norte for Juan López Olguín and Ana María Luján.
With a little bit of time given to research and patient compilation of information from a variety of sources, a revised and updated family history and genealogy can be generated.
Here is some information on Juan Luján II and Juan Luján III that goes "Beyond Origins" that did not get transferred to the New Mexico History Web page along with other entries from the original "Beyond Origins of New Mexico Families" Web site.
Fray Angélico Chávez mentioned that Juan Luján II was referred to as El Viejo in relation to another Juan Luján (ONMF: 63). Chávez suggested the two were father and son, but did not have documentation to confirm this relationship. In May 1663, while providing testimony to authorities of the Office of the Inquisition, Diego Romero mentioned “dos hermanos” named Capitán Juan Luján and Juan de Archuleta. Juan de Archuleta was married with María Luján (ONMF: 6), daughter of Juan Luján II. As such, the brotherly relationship referred to by Romero was that of brothers-in-law, confirming that Capitán Juan Luján was a son of Juan Luján II.
The elder Luján, Juan Luján II, also held the rank of Capitán and in 1661 gave his age as sixty, indicating he was born circa 1601. In February 1659, he was described as a vecino of the jurisdiction of La Cañada. The younger Juan Luján was alcalde mayor of the jurisdiction of La Cañada in 1661 and provided testimony on 29 October of that year as part of the investigation of the Inquisition regarding Governor don Bernardo López de Mendizábal. The younger Luján declared he was forty-two years of age, indicating he was born circa 1619.
On 15 May 1661, testifying at the Pueblo de Senecú in the case against Governor don Bernardo López de Mendizábal, fray Antonio de Tavares, age thirty-two, mentioned the name of Capitán Juan Luján, but it is unclear whether he was referring to the elder or the younger Luján. In his testimony, Tavares described Capitán Juan Luján as “mestizo amulatado” and identified him as alcalde mayor of the Picurís area. During his tenure as governor of New Mexico (1659-1661), don Bernardo López de Mendizábal appointed Capitán Juan Luján as alcalde mayor del los Teguas, which referred to the jurisdiction of La Cañada. It is unclear whether the elder or younger Luján was appointed to the position.
In the same case, Miguel de Noriega, a vecino of Mexico City living in Santa Fe (former secretary of Governor López de Mendizábal) referred to “Juan Luján, mestizo, vecino de la Cañada.” Again, it is unclear if the reference is to the elder or younger Luján.
The references to Juan Luján as mestizo support other references found by fray Angélico Chaves indicating that either the first Juan Luján, who came from the Canary Islands to New Mexico in 1600, or his son, married an Indian. The first Juan Luján settled in La Cañada by October 1601, according to his own testimony given at the Pueblo de San Gabriel on 5 October 1601.
Capitán Juan Luján, the younger, may very well be the same man known as Capitán Juan Luis Luján (ONMF: 62) who was married with Isabel López del Castillo. This couple had a daughter, Ana María Luján, who was born circa 1660, and a son, Pedro Luján, that was born circa 1669. In 1681, Capitán Juan Luis Luján provided information that gives his estimated year of birth as sometime between 1615-1621, and in 1689 he gave his age as seventy to eighty (1619-29). Additional research is needed to confirm if he is indeed the same person as Capitán Juan Luján, son of the elder Juan Luján
Researcher: José Antonio Esquibel
Sources: AGN, Real Audiencia, Concurso de Peñalosa, Tomo I, ff. 141 & 211, and Tomo III, Leg. 1, no. 1, f. 95 and Leg. 1. no. 2, f. 6; AGN, Inquisition, t. 593, ff. 46 & 96; Hammond and Rey, Vol. II, 733-34; Fray Angélico Chávez, “New Mexico Roots,” 1101 (DM 1689, Oct. 22 (no. 4). El Paso del Norte for Pedro Luján and Francisca de Salazar, and 1379, DM 1660, May 30 (no. 8), El Paso del Norte for Juan López Olguín and Ana María Luján.
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Jose, how do you want this information sent to you or fashioned in a genealogy report. I have some good DNA for some Lujans (not mine). There seem to be more loose ends than concrete with this family. Although my one good line is that of Juana Lujan's father, Matias. He is the son of Juan Luis Lujan and Ysabel Lopez del Castillo. Then I end there also.
All, I am a Gonzales and have traced my line back to Andres Gonzales. Recently I found a DM in which Andres states that Pedro Lujan is his cousin (DM 16 JAN 1690 #4). I know Pedro's parents were Juan Luis Lujan and Ysabel Lopez del Castillo. I also know that Juan' parents were CPT Juan Luis and Maria Lujan and Ysabel's were Esteban Lopez and Maria las Nieves (DM 14 APR 1689 #1). I am looking for the connection to Andres. If you have anything, please share.
Augie, I have some information somewhere in my notes because I looked at the copy ofthe original DM. As we move forward on the Luján project, look for updates. If I find something specific on Andrés Ginzález, I'll post it and let you know.
Jose, Thanks. I saw that Elinore Barrett had some information in her new book from you about an Esteban Lopez and his widow Antonia Gonzales. Would love to know more when you have an opportunity.
How's the Lujan Project coming along? Haven't heard about it for awhile....
I am stuck on a Lujan in my research on Esquibel line. Joseph Lujan married Isabel Martin Serrano in Santa Clara on 26 October 1761. Anyone have information on parents that might link to the original Lujanes in New Mexico?
I'm part of the Lujan Family, and so far I have found many connections pretty much from 1555 on.
Hello, I am part of the Lujan family in NM. My great grandfather was Andres Serefino Lujan, and I have been unable to find the connection in the line of Lujan's here. I was told our family came from the Canary Islands and we've been here in NM for many years...
I traced the Fajardos back to Alonso Fajardo, b. about 1656 (popularly accepted date, but with no specific documentation that I can find) in New Mexico. Alonso married Magdalena Lujan (b. about 1660 in NM, d. 1693) in Santa Fe, the marriage supposedly occuring in 1681, which would have been a wild time to marry, considering the pueblo revolt. (Matias was either her brother or uncle or they both might have been named Matias). Alonso and Magdalena then apparently fled to El Paso with the other colonists, where they had son Cayetano Fajardo. Cayetano shows up in the Diligencias Matrimonias in Santa Cruz de Canada, being randy with the neighbor girls. I suspect, from my records, that the Fajardos lived in Santa Cruz before the revolt and returned there afterwards. Miguel Fajardo was an officer with De Vargas and accompanied him to reclaim Santa Cruz de Canada after the revolt.
Anyway, after amassing a large New Mexico Fajardo family tree with supporting documentation, a Fajardo male did DNA testing and he matched the Lujan line, coming from the Canary Islands. That would mean the Fajardos are descended from Juan Lujan, b. 1573 in Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, d. 1632 in Taos. I don't know where the paternal line was broken, however I do know that Magdalena's Lujan relativos also headed to El Paso with the revolt. There may have been some mixing, if you know what I mean, or an informal adoption. I am very interested in what others can discover about the Lujans and/or the Fajardos.
Lujan DNA has been collected in the New Mexico DNA project and also the Iberian peninsula project on www.familytreedna.com. I don't believe the Lujan from New Mexico/Canary Islands matched the one from Spain.