Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-04-23
Captain Sebastian
Martin Claim in
Rio Arriba In
. volved.
ABOUT 1000 CLAIMANTS
Original Owner a Leading
Citizen Of the Province
Of New Mexico 200
Years Ago.

The suit to ascertain and quiet the
title to the Sebastian Martin land
grant is almost concluded after oc.
cupying more than three years.
The grant was originally made in
| I'LL by Spanish governor, to Captain
Sebastian Martin, who was the most
| important man in the north of the
| Territory, after the reconquest by
De Vargas and it embraced the Rio
Grande Valley on both sides of the
river, from the boundary of the San
Juan pueblo grant on the south, to the
end of La Joya on the north and east
as far as Las Trampas Plaza del AL
calde, Los Luceras, La Villlta and La
Joya are all within the original grant.
but Of course the occupied land is
not affected by the suit, which only
had to do with the common lands that
have never been reduced to actual
possession.
The grant contains over 10000 acres
Of which, perhaps, 10000 are occu.
pied, leaving from 10000 to $4,000 as
the subject of litigation. The suit was
begun by A. B. McMillen, of AlbuQuer-
que, representing considerable num-
Der Of the heirs and many others are
represented by Ex-Governor l.. B.
Prince, and other attorneys. AS near
ly two ceaturies have elapsed since
the grant was originally made, the
NUMBER of heirs is naturally verylarge.
and those best informed believe that
they really exceed thousand In mum
ber-about 600 have been proved In
the genealogy and the remainder are
so scattered from Colorado to Califor.
mia that they will probably never be
heard from
The evidence has been taken by E
A. Johnston as referee and he made
report some time ago. He has re.
Gently been taking more testimony to
bring the list Of heirs down to date.
Mr.. Catron has introduced claim on
behalf of the Sanchez famiyl, who al
lege that the whole grant was sold to
their ancestors by Sebastian Martin;
and also claim that large tract was
given by the children of Captain Sc
bastian Martin to Salvador Garcia,
who was famous man in his day, for
services for which they could not pay
in money.
A curious feature of the case was
the claim made by the Indians Of the
Pueblo of San Juan, who proved by
tradition that in consideration of the
services of the Indians in the building
of the first great acequia which runs
down the east side of the river Cap
tain Sebastian Martin gave them a
piece of land in the valley. which they
have ever since possessed. They are
represented by Judge A, J. Abbott.
Some of the families among the
heirs and especially the Luceros are
so numerous that their shares will be
very small, while others In which the
children have been few, will have
large fractions, Under the practice of
the court to give the plaintiff'S attor-
ney one-third Of all unrepresented in.
terest, Mr. McMillen will become a
large owner. Governor Prince has
bought considerable interests from
heirs in Mora, James s. Smith, of
Colorado and the Western Union Land
Company, an eastern corporation, also
have shares, which will appear among
those of the heirs in the final report.
There are few disputed questions
still to be disposed of by Judge Nc
Fie and then one more of the large
land grants, made by the Spanish
crown hundreds Of years ago in New
Mexico will have perfect title.