Published Articles and Family Histories

 

Here is some information about articles and family histories I have had published. My family histories are cataloged in libraries in Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming.

Virginia Sanchez

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Last updated:
February 23, 2009

Published Articles:

  • Early History of the Baca Ditch
    Colorado Water, Newsletter of the Water Center of Colorado State University, "Colorado Water History," January/February 2009, Vol 26, Issue 1

    Colorado Water History article that discusses early acequias in southern Colorado and provides a history of the Baca Ditch, which was named for Felipe de Jesus Baca of Trinidad, Colorado fame. Online issue.

  • Colorado Indian Acquisitions
    Colorado Hispanic Genealogist, Volume 5, No. 3, Fall 2008

    A brief history of captivity and a compiled list of the two reports for Conejos and Costilla counties submitted in 1865 by Colorado Indian Agent Lafayette Head.

  • Hispano Owners of Indian Captives in Cucharas, Colorado
    Colorado Hispanic Genealogist, Volume 5, No. 3, Fall 2008

    A compiled list of Indian captives not recorded in 1865 by Colorado Indian Agent Lafayette Head.

  • Cucharas, Colorado: School Days and Spiritual Life in Huerfano County
    Colorado Heritage, Winter 2007

    A featured article published by the Colorado Historical Society about the schools, the San Antonio Catholic Church, and penitente moradas in Cucharas, Huerfano County, Colorado.

  • A Family of Huerfano County Teachers, 1860-1945
    Colorado Hispanic Genealogist, Summer 2005, Vol 2, No 2.

    An article about the daughters of Jesus Maria Cisneros and Maria Romualda Martinez who taught in southern Colorado and the sacrifices their older daughters made so the younger ones could attend college.

  • The Church That Time Forgot
    New Mexico Magazine, May 2005,

    This story is about my trip to Harding County and why I submitted El Carrizo Church to the "2005 Most Endangered Places List" issued by the New Mexico Preservation Alliance. The church was built in 1920 and was abandoned by 1960.

  • Historical Perspective: Las Cucharas
    BlueSky Quarterly, April 2005,

    Do not confuse the Colorado settlement of Cucharas with the 1906 camp near La Veta. Cucharas was settled in 1866 and had a long, proud history. Sadly today, of the many adobe structures that at one time dotted Cucharas, only a few partially remain.

  • The Vallejos Ditch in San Pablo, Costilla County, Colorado
    Colorado Hispanic Genealogist, Mar. 2004, Vol 1, No 1.

    An article about an acequia that ran and continues to run in the San Luis Valley of southern Colorado. The article includes the water decrees for this acequia, lists the names and signatures of the parciantes who used the acequia to irrigate their fields, and provides a historical account of this acequia and Colorado's water rights.

  • The Vallejos Family and the Ballejos Ditch in Huerfano County, Colorado
    Colorado Hispanic Genealogist, Mar. 2004, Vol 1, No 1.

    An article about an acequia that ran in Huerfano County in southern Colorado. The article includes the water decree for this acequia, lists the names of the parciantes who used the acequia to irrigate their fields, and provides a brief genealogy of the Vallejos family.

  • World War I Military Cousins
    New Mexico Genealogist, Dec. 2003, Vol 42, No 4.

    A genealogy of Rafael Branch and his first cousin Alejandro Leopoldo Martinez who were among the men from northern New Mexico who answered the call to serve in the military. Also included are group photos of WWI recruits, doughboys and sailors from northern NM.

  • DAR New Mexico Colonial Patriot Soldiers and Alcalde Mayores
    New Mexico Genealogist, Dec. 2003, Vol 42, No 4.

    A listing of NM Patriots and alcalde mayores who qualify for DAR patriot status.

  • Wills of a Father and Son and a Contribution to the American Revolution
    published in
  • A Sailor's Christmas Return, featured article in La Herencia, Volume XXXVI, Winter 2002

    "At the end of World War II, dad boarded a train headed for New Mexico to make his way to Ledoux to visit his future bride, my mother. Even as a child, I always enjoyed hearing this romantic part of the story. What makes it even more memorable is how, after the war, two cousins who grew up as brothers and served in different units of the Armed Forces, unexpectedly run into each other..."

  • Some Descendants of Pablo Albino Abeyta
    Raíces y Ramas, Spring 2002 Vol 4 No 1

    A genealogy that includes four generations of Pablo Albino Abeyta and María Antonia Martinez. Headstone photos are included.

  • Descendants of José de la Cruz Crespín
    Herencia, Jan. 2002 Vol 10 Issue 1

    A genealogy that includes four generations of José de la Cruz Crespín and Antonia Gertrudis Rael. Some photos are included.

  • Wills of a Father and Son, Cristobal Madrid and Antonio Xavier Madrid (Parts I and II)
    New Mexico Genealogist, Sep. 2001 Vol 39 No 3 and Dec. 2000 Vol 39 No 4.

    The wills of a father and son, written in 1765 and 1813, are translated, transcribed, and analyzed. We discuss what we learned about their lives, their possessions, and four family generations. Also see Speaking Engagements.

  • A Brief History of Spain's Involvement in the American Revolution
    Raíces y Ramas, Spring 2001 Vol 3 No 1

    This article explains how the Spanish soldiers from Colonial New Mexico contributed toward the cause of the American Independence. Also see Speaking Engagements.

  • Antonio Xavier Madrid: New Mexico Colonial Patriot
    Raíces y Ramas, Spring 2001 Vol 3 No 1

    Antonio Xavier Madrid served in the Spanish military in Colonial New Mexico between 1779 and 1783, during the time when the American colonists were at war with England. This article includes his genealogy and lists the military items he left in his will. (Antonio Xavier Madrid was recently recognized by the Sons of the American Revolution and Daughters of the American Revolution as one of the Santa Fe Presidio soldiers who contributed funds toward the cause of the American Independence.) Also see Speaking Engagements.

  • Four Brothers, Four Patriots
    Raíces y Ramas, Spring 2001 Vol 3 No 1

    This article introduces four brothers from the Montes Vigil family who served in the Spanish military in Colonial New Mexico during the time when the American colonists were at war with England. These brothers, Christóbal Faustin, Juan Christóbal, Francisco/Salvador, and Joseph, were the sons of Alcalde Mayor of Santa Cruz de la Cañada Juan Cristóbal Montes Vigil and Teodora Medina.

Published Family Histories:

  • Matias Lujan and Francisca Romero

    A six-generation booklet, co-authored with Henrietta Christmas, covers more than 300 names originating from the San Ildefonso area of New Mexico. Familiar names from the early 1700's include: Lujan, Gomes del Castillo, Garcia de Noriega, Sanchez de Inigo, and Quintana.

  • Our Romero Family History - 1563 - 1916

    This family history begins with Bartolome Romero II and Luisa Lopez Robledo (1563) and continues to the family of Pedro Romero and Maria Juana Estefanita Vigil (1916).

  • Ancestors and Descendants of Jose Estevan Vigil and Maria Isabel Manzanares through 1921

    This pictoral and genealogical family history.

  • Madrid, Crespin, and Sanchez Family History - 1700 - 1922

    This genealogical family history.

What people are saying:

I am delighted to see your work come to the American public. As a descendant of [a New Mexican Colonial Patriot] I'm proud to see your work on [our] soldados.

Michael S. Perez
 January 2003

Good job. Get the word out there. We have a lot of history that a lot of people are not aware of.

Manuel Lopez
Spanish Colonial and Cibolero Re-Enactor
Rancho de Las Golondrinas
 August 2002

I found your article ["Wills of a Father and Son and A Contribution to the American Revolution"] of so much interest to historical interpreters that I added it to our open directory.

Francisco Martinez IV-
Spanish Colonial
Re-Enactor
August 2002

I found your Family history and contribu- tions to the United States [Wills of a Father and Son] both interesting and gratifying.... Few in the U.S. understand the many generations of individual and family contributions to the betterment of our Nation. For your work I am grateful.

Major Ralph Ramirez
Calif. Military History Education Project
June, 2002

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