Sargento Mayor Cristobal Nevares y Heredia - His Legacy
A young man, Cristobal Nevares y Heredia, of about 25 years
old arrived at Santiago Papasquiaro from Parral Chihuahua to take position as ‘Sargento
Mayor’ or main sargent of the Presidio of Tepehuanes. He was the first person in
Durango named Nevares or Nevarez, the latter being the present spelling of the
surname. He took ownership of the
Hacienda previously owned by Juan de Herrera Mojarras who was moved to Cerro
Gordo to be under General Juan de Barraza.
The start of the colonization of Nueva Viscaya was stalled
by the Tepehuan
Revolt of 1616. But after 1621, the municipality of Santiago Papasquiaro
and later Tepehuanes was recolonized with the effort of several leaders whose
history is not well known even to the present population of Durango. After 1621
a few men headed the campaign to colonize Santiago Papasquiaro and
Tepehuanes. These leaders were military
men and they were the “first” persons that brought the surnames that are well
known in this area.
Along with a handful of Spanish families, early in the 1600’s
the Nevares blended with other families named Herrera, Del Corral, Rodrigues and Sanches. These families were some of the first Spanish families in the region.
Santiago Papasquiaro was a town where many different native
Indian tribes had taken residence. The native Indians were described by the Españoles
as “Indios del Pueblo’ or if not resident in the towns, they were referred to as
“Indios enemigos”, or enemy Indians.
The various historical conflicts emerged because of the two
diverging groups that lived in this area. The Spanish sought to take over land,
find gold in the various mines and slave the local population in a system of encomienda
for the Indians and outright slavement for Africans and Mulatoes. The tribes
that lived in Santiago and surrounding areas were the Conchos, Xiximes,
Acaxees, Apaches, Tepehuanos and Tarumaharas (also called Raramuri). The native Indians sustained themselves with
farming, hunting and fishing but with the arrival of the Europeans, the land
was lost and the freedom to hunt and fish was restricted by the encomienda
system.
Estancia de Cristobal De Nevares Y
Heredia
The Nevares hacienda in San Nicolas was a center of that town’s activity. They were responsible for getting the daily necessities of the family but also the necessities of their servants and slave families. They had Indian and African slave labor at their disposal, but also the responsibility of being the main providers. They also mingled with other Spanish families, who were expected to be business partners but also provide marriage possibilities to the unmarried. In San Nicolas, they were not the only Spanish Estancia. San Nicolas was also the place of another important early Estancia. This Estancia was The Estancia de General Juan Garcia Mayor de Castilla.
The Nevares lived during the time of pacification of this territory. It was not an easy task to maintain the peace and lead the soldiers. The head of the family, Sargento Mayor Christobal reported to General Juan de Barraza who was responsible for Santiago Papasquiaro and the northern territory of Tepehuanes. Juan de Barraza was also given the responsibility of El Presidio De Cerro Gordo and eventually, Tepehuanes and Santiago was granted to Cristobal Sr. He held this title until he died in 1671.
During his lifetime, Cristobal was involved in a number of rebellions of the local tribes.
The Relacion de Diego Medrano is an important document in the history of Cristobal Nevarez y Heredia. Diego Medrano was one of the first natives of Durango and had access to education. He was made priest in Guadalajara in 1639 and became parish priest in Durango in 1647. He gained position in in archdiocese of Durango – along with other notaries such as Juan Navarro Gasque, Mateo de Barraza and Francisco de Rojas y Ayora.
There were many rebellions during the early 17th century, about 400 years ago, Nueva Vizcaya experienced rebellions that involved the military in Durango:
The Medrano relation describes the following tribes
rebelling:
2. Xixime during the time of Francisco de Urdiñola (1603-1612)
3. Tepehuan during the time of Gaspar de Alvear (1612-1624). During the years of Mateo de Vezga [1620-1626] and the Marqués de Salinas [1626-1630], the Tobosos and the outlaw Tepehuanes rebelled.
4. The Masames rose up under Gonzalo Gómez de Cervantes Casaus [1631-1633].
5. During the subsequent administration, that of Luis de Monsalve [1633-1638], a brief spark of discord surfaced among the Tepehuanes of San Pablo, but it was easily extinguished.
6. The Salineros and Conchos rebelled during the government of Luis de Valdés [1641, 1642-1648], as did the Tarahumaras during the latter part of his term.
7. Diego Guajardo Fajardo [1648- 1653], his successor, finding some of the Tarahumaras had risen up, remained in Parral only fifteen days before launching a campaign of reduction and punishment.
8. In early in 1649. The Tarahumaras became increasingly bolder in 1650, 1651, 1652, and through the spring of 1653. The Salineros, Tobosos, Cabezas, and their allies
The Salinero Rebellion (1640s)
‘The governor marched into the interior in search of the
enemy. Captain Cristóbal de Nevares skirmished with them and killed twenty-five
to thirty of the rebels. The remaining body of Indians fled in search of
Maestro de Campo Francisco Montaño de la Cueva. They found him with fifty men
and a number of allies guarding the roads at Los Nogales, which lies between
Cerrogordo and the back side of the Sierra de Canutillo’
The Tarahumara Rebellion (1649-1654)
Today, we have very little knowledge of the type of person
were our ancestors. One
relation during the time of the Tarahumara Revolt tells us about Cristobal
Nevares y Heredia.
‘The Tarahumara are distinguished by their courtesy and quick intelligence. Since they form a commonwealth and are a people who toil and labor to feed and clothe themselves, we should contact them through zealous and capable persons, proposing that they settle in the villages which are contemplated. These emissaries would promise them land, water, oxen, and whatever implements are needed as well as assure them that they will be free of vexations from Spaniards and free to choose the religious order they prefer for their missionaries. The entire nation should be administered by one group in order to avoid the squabbles between ecclesiastical representatives which can prejudice the extension of the faith. The missionaries will receive a sufficient stipend from his majesty to ensure that they will need neither to use Indian lands nor force the sale and distribution of goods upon the Indians, but rather allow them to participate freely in the market. This is important, for the Tarahumaras are a sensitive as well as diligent people. I really can see no reason why this plan would not work with the Tarahumaras. Captain Cristóbal de Nevares, who has made various expeditions into their lands, has told me that the Tarahumaras themselves have proposed that, if they were supplied with land and water and treated well, they would settle in villages. As an example, they have already done this in the missions of San Felipe and Bocas, which formerly were populated only by Tepehuanes. In fact, Bocas is located on the road twelve leagues this side of Parral. In these missions not only did no difficulties result from the settlement by Tarahumaras, but few expenses were incurred, a point which corroborates the efficacy of using Tarahumaras rather than Sonora and Sinaloa Indians in establishing the new villages’
Christobal Nevares y Heredia Origins
In our family studies, eventually a dead end is found and no
further evidence is found to determine previous generations. For Nevares, it
ends at Cristobal born around 1600 in Valle de San Bartolome, now known as
Hidalgo de Parral Chihuahua.
PARENTS
His mother was Isabel Munoz and this is accepted as certain
and proven but we can never know what the real story of his ancestry. His
father is an uncertainty. Most sites now
lists Juan de Leyva as his father but this does not make sense given the
unknowns. It does not explain his
connection to a Nevares or Heredia family. So there is no explanation to how
Cristobal was bestowed the privilege of a prestigious position in the military
in Durango even though he was residing in San Bartolome, close to Parral.
NEVARES SURNAME
Before Cristobal, there is no source anywhere that lists a
birth or baptism of anyone named Nevares in New Spain. The only known person
was Alonso Ordóñez de Nevares, governor of Yucatán
from 1593 - 1595. Given that Cristobal
was born around 1600, it is unlikely there is a connection to Yucatán. Nevares
is known to be more common in the Caribbean, most specific Puerto Rico. But in
Mexico, Cristobal seems to be first in Nueva Vizcaya. Nevares originated in
Austuria Spain. It is an uncommon surname but often, residents of the region
were given the name “De Nevares” to
indicate the origin of their family.
LEYVA SURNAME
In one of his son’s marriage. Nicolas Nevares y Heredia
married his cousin Josepha De Leyva. In the declaration for his marriage, he
declares the name of his maternal grandparents as Juan Martin and Maria Gadea.
He declares Josepha is a daughter of Maria Leyva, his father’s sister. This
impediment declares it was second decree, which tells me that Christobal and
Maria Leyva were likely half brothers and sister.
Their impediment required them to get dispensation from
Durango. Here you can see that the reason shown is that Josepha was already
pregnant and they were poor. I know they were likely owners of large land areas
but were likely cash poor. But the reason of poverty was most common of that
era for marriage dispositions.
Cristobal’s mother married Juan De Leyva. Juan’s origin has
not been proven. This Leyva is linked to
the early New Mexico families. A Pedro Leyva born around 1613 took his family
to New Mexico. This lineage can be found here: Pedro
Leyva Many historians claim Pedro was Cristobal’s son but I believe he was
a brother of Cristobal. His accepted birth year was 1613 and Cristobal was too
young to be his father. Interesting to
note is that Pedro’s children started using the Leyva-Nevares surname. This
combination was unique to New Mexico. In Durango the surname combination was
Nevares-Heredia.
HEREDIA SURNAME
Much speculation has been discussed about his Cristobal’s
father. I have heard historians state his father was Juan de Leyva. I have also
seen write ups that indicate Juan Heredia as being the father. But the question of the origin of
the name Nevares y Heredia has not been resolved.
Juan de Heredia is listed as one of the prominent founders
of the city of Durango. Several historians speculate that he is the father of
Cristobal. But Juan de Heredia died before 1585. There is a will and testament
issue being resolved in Durango in 1585. So Juan he was not around in 1600 when
Cristobal was born.
An interesting story about Juan de Heredia. When his mother
in Law Ana de Leyva, wife of Alonso Pacheco died, Juan de Heredia was offended
by the distance between the buried site and the altar. Ana de Leyva was wife of
the founder of Durango Alonso Pacheco and she was the first Spanish lady to
live in Durango. Her burial should have been to the most “altura” given by the
parish. That meant that the distance from the altar had to be very close. Juan
de Heredia had the body disinterred and re buried close to the altar. This family united Leyva and Heredia, two
surnames connected to the Nevares in Santiago Papasquiaro.
The father also could had been Juan de Heredia’s younger
brother named Cristobal Heredia.
It was written that Cristobal Heredia owned land along with
Cristobal de Ontiveros near Durango. In a document named Habitantes
del Valle Guadiana, he is mentioned on page 53.
Cristobal’s descendants clearly valued the ‘Cristobal’ name.
Most families in the region of Tepehuanes and Santiago Papasquiaro descent from
the six Cristobals.
1.
Sargento Mayor Cristobal de Nevares y Heredia
Munoz (1600)
2.
General Cristobal de Nevares y Heredia Martin
(1638)
3.
Captain Cristobal Nevares y Heredia Ontiveros
(1666)
4.
Cristobal Vicente Nevares y Heredia Hurtado
(1713)
5.
Cristobal Vicente Nevares y Carrera (1758)
6.
Jose Cristobal Vicente Nevares Saucedo (1786)
Cristobal Heredia and Cristobal Martin were early explorers
of New Mexico. An Ill-fated campaign to reach the Pecos Territory is documented
in
KIVA, CROSS and CROWN The Pecos Indians and New Mexico. Cristobal Heredia served in early campaigns
for Spain and was listed as Maestre de Campo. There is also record of a request
for payment from the King for expenses incurred in the pacification of Indian
territories. Its possible that the Sargento Mayor assignment of Cristobal
Nevares y Heredia was payment for the debt owned by the king. Cristobal Heredia and Cristobal Nevares y
Heredia lived similar lives, waging military campaigns, leading military troops
and trying to pacify Indian tribes in Nueva Vizcaya. It
was also documented that in 1591, he owned land by Santiago, just north of
Durango and eventually sold the land to Cristobal de Ontiveros.
HIS CAMPAIGN of 1651
Sargento Mayor Cristobal Nevares y Heredia took many trips visiting his towns and he was called to take note of all population and find out the condition of such towns. In 1651, he traveled though the main towns and noted the families and conditions of the town. His record of such trip tells us a lot about the life in 17th century colonial towns.
The trip started in San Diego de Canatlan then visited Pueblo de Las Bocas. I think Las Bocas name does not exist anymore. The details of the trip are stored in a document available HERE on this link.
Whole document can be found in the Hispanic Heritage Project website under Milicia y Guerra.
In 1671, it was written that he was killed while visiting the towns he was to protect. It was noted that he died during an attack of the rebel native Indians.
Cristobal Sr, his wife Ana Martin and his daughter Juana, wife of Diego Lopez, died together in 1671 and they were buried in the church of Santiago Papasquiaro. After the death of Cristobal Sr, the responsibility for the municipality of Santiago and Tepehuanes was granted to his son who also had the same name but only the title of Captain. Captain Cristobal Nevares y Heredia Martin became the head of the military army in Santiago Papasquiaro.
A land dispute in 1703 with the local population between
Ignacia de Ontiveros widow of General Cristobal de Nevares y Heredia Martin was
posted in this link. This dispute was filed by the local Indian Governor of San
Nicolas, named Bernabe. The Indians were trying to build a church in land owned
by the Nevares. The claim was being defended by Joseph Carrasco Nevares and
Ignacia. The lengthy dispute was documented
in 10 pages.
The priest Francisco Medrano Ibarra, most likely related
to the original founders of Durango noted that “Pueblo of San Nicolas, three
leagues of distance from Santiago, which named town was founded by the river,
down from the hacienda of labor that belonged to Captain Juan Garcia Mayor de
Castilla and heard it belongs to the Nevares”
In 1725 a similar land dispute was documented. If you’re interested in researching it, click on this link. Melchor De Los Reyes, Governor of the town of San Nicolas, in name of all children of the town, against Cristobal De Nevares, for possession of land belonging to them.
PERSONAL LEGACY
Many people nowadays have developed great interest in their personal genealogical history. Before I started researching the history of my family and my town, I had no idea who was Cristobal Nevares y Heredia. He was part of the legacy of my family but also legacy of the majority of the families in Santiago and Tepehuanes. Since the start of the research, I have found about six family branches that connect my family to the Nevares. Even though the first Cristobal is my eight grandpa, having many connections means his DNA plays a significant role in my family profile.
The Nevares migrated to Tepehuanes during the time of Cristobal Vicente Nevares y Heredia Hurtado born in 1703. There are many Nevares migrating around Durango but Cristobal married into the Carrera family of Tepehuanes. The Carreras never lived in Santiago, and this family migrated once the Nevares-Carrera marriage took place.
The Nevares had numerous marriages in Tepehuanes and migration
into the towns around there eventually connected to the families of Carreras,
Presidios, EL Rincon, San Jose de La Boca, and Purisima.
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