A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
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 Captain Juan Luján was a son of Juan Luján II.
The elder Luján, Juan Luján II, also held the rank of captain, and in 1661 gave his age as 60, 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 October 29th of that year as part of the investigation of the Inquisition regarding Governor don Bernardo López de Mendizábal. The younger Luján declared he was 42 years of age, indicating he was born circa 1619.
On May 15, 1661, testifying at the Pueblo de Senecú in the case against Governor don Bernardo López de Mendizábal, Fray Antonio de Tavares, age 32, mentioned the name of Captain Juan Luján, but it is unclear whether he was referring to the elder or the younger Luján. In his testimony, Tavares described Captain Juan Luján as “mestizo amulatado” and identified him as Alcalde Mayor of the Picuris area. During his tenure as governor of New Mexico (1659-1661), don Bernardo López de Mendizábal appointed Captain 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 Gov. 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 Cháves 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 October 5, 1601.
Captain Juan Luján, the younger, may very well be the same man known as Captain Juan Luis Luján (ONMF: 62) who was married with Isabel López del Castillo.This couple had a daughter, Ana María Luján, that was born circa 1660, and a son, Pedro Luján, that was born circa 1669. In 1681, Captain 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 70-80 (1619-29). Additional research is needed to confirm if he is indeed the same person as Captain Juan Luján, son of the elder Juan Luján.
Researcher: José Antonio Esquibel. Sources: AGN, Galería, 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 Angélicoo 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.
On 12 August 1662, Juan Luján, el viejo (ONMF: 63), "vecino y Alcalde Mayor de La Cañada," gave his age as 60, indicating he was born circa 1602. Researcher: José Antonio Esquibel. Sources: AGN, México, Galeria, Concursos de Peñalosa, Vol. I, f. 95a & 211. Microfilm copy of rolls #1-3 (Vols. I-III) of the "Concursos de Peñalosa" located at the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.
A Research Guide to the Genealogy of the Barnum/Barnam/Barnham Family Worldwide
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