Juan Ruiz (1)

Brief Biography

There were three expeditionaries with the name Juan Ruiz. We have arbitrarily assigned (1) to the expeditionary from Hispañola, (2) to the expeditionary from Agudo, and (3) to the expeditionary who settled in Chiametla and was illiterate. Juan (1) was not present at the 1540 muster, but he did state in 1547 that he participated in the Expedition. After the return of the Expedition Juan took up residence in Guadalajara.

Gender
Male
Title (Y/N)
No
Date of Birth
before 1532
Country of Origin
Dominican Republic
Place of Birth (modern province/state/region)
Hispaniola
Died on the Expedition?
No
Last Known Location
Guadalajara, Mexico
Position on Expedition
Unknown
Within Viceroy Mendoza's Sphere
No
Pre-Expedition Occupation
Blacksmith-Veterinarian
Post Expedition Occupation
Blacksmith-Veterinarian
Residence After Expedition
Guadalajara (Mexico)
Married
Yes
Name of Spouse
Isabel Ruiz
Ability to sign name
Yes
Relatives
father: Juan Ruyz; son-in-law of Bartolomé Sánchez
References-Documentary

1530-1540:

?Boyd-Bowman, Indice geobiográfico, II:3391 (ref. Los Judíos en la Nueva España [in México 1539];

1540-1550:

AGI, México, 1064, L.1\1, “Informes” [fol.258v] = Icaza, Diccionario, #1213 [natural de la Isla de Hispaniola; to Nueva España, 1536] =  [vecino of Guadalajara; native of Hispañola; son of Juan Ruyz, native of Carmona; 11 years in Nueva España; went with Vázquez de Coronado to Cíbola; married with a daughter of Bartolomé Sánchez, conquistador of Nueva Galicia; had Indians in the villa of Espiritu Santo which was depopulated; in want; casa poblada] [encomendero through his wife and father-in-law who had Cotastan, Cempoala, Pechucalco- reference: Gerhard, Historical Geography, p.139]

AHAG, Gobierno, Escrituras, General, 1579-1735, Tierras y Molinos de Santa Ynés, 1690 [fol. 3r: Summary of properties includes "otro título y merced hecha por los dichos alcaldes y regidores de dos suertes de huerta a Pedro de Ledezma, made July 26, 1546; an actual title to "dos suertes de tierra para huertas en los ejidos desta ciudad de aquella parte del molino de Romero" to a Juan Ruiz, herrador, vecino de Guadalajara, 1540s?];

?Leal, Fundadores [p.13: Listed in the Padrón de Tetlán, 1541];

?González-Leal, Relación Secreta  [p. 57-67: Pobladores sin indios: includes a Juan Ruiz, vecino of Colima; p. 78-81: Xalisco: Juan Ruiz, tiene indios];

?González-Leal, Relación Secreta  [p. 78-81: Xalisco: a Juan Ruiz, vecino of Compostela; pp. 88-90: Pobladores vecinos de Guadalajara que tiene indios: Juan Ruiz es herrador, es casado y muy pobre; pp. 90-92: Vecinos de Compostela: Juan Ruiz];

?AGI, Contaduría, 1784, N.3 [1542-47, Cuentas del contador in Lima, Juan de Caceres de lo que recibio para socorro de los soldados que acompanaron Gasca: cargo de 150 pesos que rescibio e cobro de Juan Ruiz que hizo de prestido and Payments: Juan Ruiz 200 pesos de socorro]

?AGI, Contratación, 197, N.21, R.19 [1546, Pánuco, "Relación  de los pesos de oro que el Dr. Castañeda enbio cobrado de Pánuco bienes de Francisco de Villegas y otros difuntos;" document is prepared in the ciudad de México; Antonio de Villadiego, vecino of Pánuco reported in 1546 in Mexico City, that Dr. Castañeda asked him to deliver gold, money and letters concerning the bienes difuntos in Pánuco that the Dr. had collected from doña Catalina de Mexía, widow of Francisco Barrón  [nothing in AGI search], now wife of Pedro de Trejo; this is the report Mexía gave him; in Santiago de los Valles, 20 Abril 1546, reported by Gonzalo Bernaldo; on 20 Abril Mexía is ordered to deliver whatever gold, money and letters she has regarding the bienes de difuntos of Francisco de Villegas, Juan Rodríguez, and anyone else; the juez de residencia informs Tello de Sandoval that there are many cases of bienes de difuntos from Santiago and the provincia; 28 May 1545 Tello de Sandoval demands that those handling these bienes report in person to him in Mexico City; 22 June 1545, Santistevan, del puerto de la provincia de Pánuco, it was publicly proclaimed that information regarding the bienes de difuntos will be collected and any frauds or negligence corrected; 1 Oct 1545, that Mexía, as wife of Francisco Barrón and vecina of Santistevan must produce info and pay 1000 pesos that belong to the estate of Francisco Villegas, in Compostela and Santisteban; Mexía reports she is doing the best  she can, since she is only the wife, and that her husband also dealt with Tonala and Jalisco; all the items in a chest she delivers, the cofre es de flandes de dos palmos mas o menos; items seem to pertain to Villegas, Francisco Guillén, francés (whose albacea was Juan Rodríguez who is evidently dead), but also IOUs, wills and cartas de pago; gold de Jalisco; she reports also bienes from Francisco Guillén Francés; her late husband was the albacea for Francisco Guillén and delivers an inventory of Guillén's effects; has an inventory taken in Compostela; among her late husband's papers she has 2 conocimientos against Cristóbal de Oñate; un mandamiento de Francisco Vázquez Coronado contra Francisco de Villegas de contia de 200+ pesos de oro apedimiento de Francisco Pilo acesonario de Pedro de Sosa; carta de pago de Hernando Bermejo-7 tomines; una carta from Juan Pastor; mandamiento contra Melchior Díaz; there are 2 inventories of goods of Francisco de Villegas: one in Santistevan (more pages) and the other in Compostela; a poder from Diego Rodríguez to a Pero Martín; 2 conocimientos from Juan Pérez; carta de pago from Miguel Sánchez; conocimiento from Juan Gallego, escribano; carta de pago from Lope de Samaniego [therefore have to be before early 1540];  carta de pago from Juan Gallegos; conocimiento contra Francisco Cornejo con un poder; 2 cartas de pago and a poder from an Alonso Martín; quenta de Francisco Cornejo; desembargo y mando de Cristóbal de Oñate; poder from Juan Rodríguez para el Francés [probably meaning Guillén]; from Juan Rodríguez 2 petitions, a letter; another letter from Juan Ruiz ; conocimiento from Pedro de Najara; carta from Francisco Pilo; a conocimiento from Maese Miguel; an embargo by Francisco Vázquez de Coronado against the goods of Francisco de Villegas; the delivery was witnessed and signed by Juan de Gallegos in Santisteban; 11 Feb 1547 Mexía's husband makes a probanza in Mexico City regarding the bienes de difuntos of Francisco de Villegas, Francisco Guillén, Francés and Juan Rodríguez, all deceased and her deceased 1st husband; Barrón lived in Santiago de los Valles; witnesses included: Francisco de Godoy, 30+, native of Ubeda, vecino of Mexico City, saw Barrón collect the bienes of Guillén in Nueva Galicia, signed (no signature); February 1547 statement of Pedro de Trexo, current husband of Catalina Mexía"por razón de las costas e gastos e menoscabos de la hacienda del dicho Francisco Barrón que por su ausencia hubo y por su salario que de derecho le viene se retuvieron en ???? poder dozientos pesos de oro que corre para ayuda a lo dicho aunque es mucho mas lo que gasto e perdio en la dicha jornada [to travel from México to Nueva Galicia]" he presents an interrogatorio in which the first question asks if the witnesses are aware that Francisco Barrón collected bienes de difuntos in Nueva Galicia (Guadalajara y Compostela); he resided in Santiago de los Valles (Oxitipán) "que esta desta ciudad [México] ochenta leguas and "partió y fue con [los recaudos y escrituras] a la dicha Nueva Galicia;" he spent more than six months there collecting bienes; Francisco Guillén had gone to Nueva Galicia to collect bienes, but "estar la tierra alzada y de guerra...murió el dicho Francisco Guillén y dexo por su albacea a Francisco Barrón;"]

1550-1560:

?AGI, Contaduría, 664, 1557 [Other grants: Juan Ruiz, 66+ pesos, 7 Aug 1556-7 April 1557]; 

1560-1570:

BPE, “Bienes de difuntos,” Folder C1-4-4, 1566 [fol. 74r: Bienes de Difuntos de Gerónimo de Horozco, September 2, 1566, Guadalajara, an Ysabel Ruíz, muger de Juan Ruiz, herrador and vecino de Guadalajara, completes a receipt for 100 pesos paid to her from the estate of Gerónimo de Horozco];

?AGI, Contratación, 202B, N.23 [Sancho Jiménez, deceased; Zacatecas 2 May 1564, witnesses:  Martín Alonso and Juan Fernández, estantes; in Guadalajara: Juan Ruiz, Juan Rodríguez, Francisco Rodríguez, Francisco, carpintero buy property at auction];

?Enciso Contreras, José  Testamentos [p.183: reference- AGI, Contratación, 202B, N.24 and AGI, Contratación, 203, N.1, R.4, Goods of Hernán Rodríguez de Loarca, killed by Chichimecas on the road from Zacatecas, Guadalajara, Jan. 1565, 23 Oct. 1564, Guadalajara, Juan Ruiz, witness];

?AGI, Contaduría, 667A [diezmos de plata, 1561: a Juan Ruiz diezmo 61 marcos de plata in February];

?AGI, Contaduría, 667A [diezmos de plata, 1562: a Juan Ruiz diezmo 5 marcos de plata in August];

?AGI, Contaduría, 667A [diezmos de plata, 1563: a Juan Ruiz diezmo 9 marcos de plata, plus 18 marcos]

1570-1580:

?AGI, Contaduría, 679 [in January 1579, a Juan Ruiz pays quintos on 12 marcos de plata]

1580-1590:

AGI, Patronato, 77, N.1, R.13\1 [1582, 10 March, Guadalajara, doña Leonor de Saavedra, widow; married 1st-Juan de Villareal, then 2)don Lorenzo de Cárdenas; father was Hernando Arias de Savedra; uncle was conde del Castellar; her father was a caballero hidalgo who served the Rey de Romanos-don Fernando, in the wars in Germany and other places; he came 50 years ago(1532) to serve with Cortés in the jornada del Cardon; then on Cíbola jornada where he remained as justicia mayor in Culiacán; served as alcalde mayores in Puebla and Oaxaca and other places; her husband Juan de Villareal was alférez on the Cíbola jornada and then served in the rebellion of the reyno (Mixtón) and on the frontera de Yçatlan; Juan served as factor and proveedor for those who went to the Islas del Poniente; granted Teguila, but escheated; at the time of his death they had had a son; her second husband went to Florida for 5 years; at the time of Lorenzo's death she also had a daughter with him; witness Antonio de Aguayo states he served in Pueblos de Avalos; witness Antonio del Rincon states Hernando was alcalde mayor in the mines of Tasco, she married Villareal 28 years ago, Cárdenas went to Florida with Gov. Soto, she has 2 sons and 1 daughter; witness Alonso Martín, 80 years old, Hernando was alcalde mayor of Çapotlan and Mula, Juan helped Luis de Castilla pacify Jalisco and arrest Guzmán; witness Juan Ruiz, herrador, vecino, knows Villareal very well, age 50+, saw Hernando serve on the Cíbola entrada, saw Villareal served on the Cíbola entrada as alférez of the Governor, she has grown sons and an eligible daughter (could sign)]

After 1590:

?Palomino y Cañedo, Protocolos de Rodrigo Hernández Cordero, Appendix 1, #2 (k) [fols. 20r-20v; Documentos relativos a la testamentaría de Gaspar de Contreras, canónigo de la catedral, Guadalajara; 3 Oct 1591, witness: Juan Ruiz; #12 (c) [fols. 545r-551v: Testamento y codicilo de Pedro de Céspedes, Guadalajara; 20 Feb. 1590, witness to pregon: Juan Ruiz];

?Palomino y Cañedo, Protocolos de Rodrigo Hernández Cordero, Appendix 2, #34 [fols. 448r-450v: Will of Diego de Espinosa, Guadalajara; 29 Jan. 1590; Espinosa owes Juan Ruiz, compañero of Pedro Álvarez, merchant, 20 pesos plata for a horse Ruíz sold him; owes Pedro Álvarez, merchant, 12 pesos];

?Palomino y Cañedo, Protocolos de Rodrigo Hernández Cordero, Appendix 2, #36 [fols. 456r-458v: will of Martín Pérez; 31 Jan. 1590; witness: Juan Ruiz];

?Palomino y Cañedo, Protocolos de Rodrigo Hernández Cordero, Appendix 2, #48 [fols. 580r-582v, p.139: Will of Hernando Espino; 17 April 1590; Espino owes Juan Ruiz, compañero of Pedro Álvarez, por una cedula reconocida 114 pesos y 7 tomines];

?Palomino y Cañedo, Protocolos de Rodrigo Hernández Cordero, Appendix 2, #51 [fols. 664r-665v, p.148: will of Sebastian Macarro; 16 June 1590; witness: Juan Ruiz, vecino];

?Palomino y Cañedo, Protocolos de Rodrigo Hernández Cordero, Appendix 2, #53 [fols. 689r-690r, p.151: will of Ana Flores; 15 Dec. 1590; witness: Juan Ruiz, vecino];

?AHJ, Escribanos, No.1, Rodrigo Hernández Cordero, 1583-1590, v.2 1589-1590 [Hernando Espino de Figueroa; debe a Juan Ruiz compañero of a Pedro Álvarez 114 pesos 7 tomines, fol.580v];

?AHJ, Escribanos, No.1, Rodrigo Hernández Cordero, 1583-1590, v.2 1589-1590 [fol.458v: a Juan Ruiz, 1590, witness for will of Martín Pérez (signed)]

?AHZ, Poder Judicial, Civil, Caja1, Exp.21, Real Provisión de un pleito sobre azogue entre María Piloi y Alonso de Llerena y los oficiales reales de Zacatecas [fol. 2r: November 15, 1591, Guadalajara, a witness is a Juan Ruiz, residente en Guadalajara];

Other info

Romero de Solís, Andariegos  [1539, came to Mexico with Isabel Ruiz la vieja and their children, son of Juan Ruiz and Leonor Sánchez, native of Sevilla, reference- Icaza, Diccionario, #726; 1556, accused of blaphesmy; 1557, regidor; children: Ana, Beatriz Catalina, Isabel, Leonor, María Ruiz, Juan Ruiz de Ribera, Pedro Ruiz de Ribera, padre Diego Ruiz, fray Antonio de Ribera, Martín Ruiz] [some information may be mixed up];