Juan de Cepeda

Brief Biography

Juan de Cepeda was born around 1511 in Toledo (Toledo) to Pedro de Çepeda and Catalina de Álvares. He was approximately twenty-nine years old when he went on the Coronado Expedition, where he served under don Rodrigo Maldonado. Sometime before 1537 he and his brother left Spain for Cartagena (Colombia) where his brother died and afterwards made his way to New Spain to serve on the Expedition. In 1547, historical records indicate that Juan de Cepeda was not married.

Gender
Male
Title (Y/N)
No
Date of Birth
ca. 1511
Age Set
25-35
Country of Origin
Spain
Place of Birth (City/Town)
Toledo
Place of Birth (modern province/state/region)
Toledo
Died on the Expedition?
No
Last Known Location
Mexico City
European Social Status
Commoner
Position on Expedition
Horseman
Within Viceroy Mendoza's Sphere
No
Residence After Expedition
Mexico City
Ability to sign name
Yes
Relatives
father: Pedro de Çepeda; mother: Catalina Álvares; brother went with him to Cartagena
References-Documentary

1540-1550:

1540, Feb: Muster in Flint & Flint, Documents, Document 12 [horse, native arms, served under don Rodrigo Maldonado, just Çepeda in Muster]

?González-Leal, Relación Secreta  [p.73-78: long list of persons of mixed residence: includes a Juan de Cepeda]

?AGI, Contratación, 197, N.21, R.1 [24 March 1545, witnesses to a will, Hernan Pérez; Mexico City, purchased items by Juan de Cepeda, Pedro Márquez; also goods of Alonso de Castro, 1545, Mexico City, tutor and curador for the mestizo children of Castro is Francisco Gómez, merchant and vecino, signed (no signature on copy)]

AGI, México, 204, N.21, Méritos y servicios de Diego de Madrid, [México, June 1, 1546: mi padre, Diego de Madrid; mi madre, Çecilia de la Fuente; they lived together in matrimony in Toledo; has a casa poblada in México; married and has children by 1546; was entrusted by Mendoza with "la guarda de la casa de moneda de México;" witness Francisco del Rincón answers to question 4, "a visto que el dicho diego de madrid a ydo en el descubrimiento de la tierra nueva," in 1546 is corregidor of an unnamed pueblo; discharges the office of "balançario de la casa de la moneda"; witness Juan de Cepeda, native of Toledo, is about 35 years old; this witness stated that "he went with Madrid to Cíbola."

AGI, México, 1064, L.1\1\, “Informes,” = Boyd-Bowman, Indice geobiográfico, II:11239 = Icaza, Diccionario, #1321 [fol.273r: Juan de Çepeda; native of Toledo; son of Pedro de Çepeda and Catalina Álvares; at the time of the discovery of Peru, he and one of his brothers sold a hacienda that they had from their patrimony and came to Tierra Firme; in the name of God they were in the pacification of some revolting blacks, but his brother was killed; served in Cartagena, Santa Marta, some entradas; it will be 10 years in Nueva España; went in the armada of Cíbola to Cuyuacán where he remained sick; he went with dispatches for the viceroy which they sent from Cíbola; 2 horses were killed on the jornada; does not hold an office; always has his armas and horses at the ready; he is trying to marry but doesn't have the wherewithal; he is in debt]

1550-1560:
?AGI, Justicia, 1029, N.6 [those who fought against the king's officers in Peru), Información recibida en la Audiencia de México contra Juan Cepeda (who is never mentioned) y Alonso Hidalgo (who is throughout) sobre delitos que cometieron; refers to a Juan Zapata que en los reinos del Perú se llamava Juan de Herrera;" Pedro de Requena is the escribano; in May 1554 a witness is Alonso Hidalgo, who was subjected to the rack, testifies that it might have been 18 or 20 days previous to the fiesta de San Marcos [but he doesn't say in what year--elsewhere it is proximo pasado], he met with a group including "García Méndez de Sotomayor...que fue paje del señor visorey don Antonio de Mendoza que es casado con una india en Yzmilquipan" and also "un mozo redondo de unas calzas amarillas criado del factor Juan Velázquez de Salazar o de don Pedro de Tovar," along with other criados of important men in Nueva España; they arrived at the casa de Cristóbal de Oñate; the group reached the size of 300 to 400 armed men "Peruleros," who planned to attack the viceroy's house at midnight and kill him and two of the oidores, and they would steal the gold and silver from the royal coffer, "y tomar por capitanes a los dichos don Pedro de Tovar e Juan Velázquez e Alonso Carrillo e don Juan Carrillo y esperar respuesta de Guatemala porque habian escrito a Guatemala y sus comarcas;" but the mozo redondo informed on them]

?AGI, Contaduría, 664, 1557 [corregidores: Juan de Cepeda, lieutenant corregidor of Guatinchan, 80 pesos, 10 April 1557-9 Dec. 1557];

?AGNEP, Notaría 3, Caja 3, 1557, Carpeta 1.1 [30 December 1557, Juan de Cepeda is witness to poder];

?AGI, Contaduría, 664, 1558 [Payments to alcaldes mayores, corregidores y tenientes: Juan de Cepeda, lieutenant corregidor of Guatinchan, 40 pesos, 9 Dec. 1557-9 April 1558];

?AGI, Contaduría, 664, 1559 [Payments to alcaldes mayores, corregidores y tenientes: Juan de Cepeda, lieutenant corregidor of Guatinchan, 120 pesos, 5 Sept 1558-5 Sept 1559]

1560-1570

?AGNEP, Notaría 4, Caja 2, 1564, Carpeta 1.2 [9 February 1564, Juan de Çepeda, vecino of Puebla, gives a poder to Francisco de Albornoz, to represent him in cases; signature same as Caja 4, Carpeta 1.2, Diego Anzures, 1569];

?AHMP, Actas, Vol. 10, Document 98, Asunto 4 [fol.70f:December 12, 1569, Vecindad to Juan de Zepeda];

?AGNEP, Notaría 3, Caja 4, 1569, Carpeta 1.2 [3 December 1569, Gaspar Castelao, como principal deudor e Juan de Cepeda, como su fiador, they owe Ynes de Oliveros 2862 arrobas de lana blanca, sig. copied];

?López de Villaseñor, Cartilla Vieja [p. 283-301: “Lista de los vecinos que recibieron para poblar la ciudad a quienes se les mercedaron solares, huertas, suertes y caballerías tierras, según sus calidades…;” p. 295: Libro 10: 1569, includes: Juan de Cepeda];

1570-1580:

?AGNEP, Notaría 4, Caja 8, 1571, Carpeta 1.7 [October 1571, Lease, a Juan Ruíz, curtidor, rents houses in Puebla de los Ángeles that border the “casas de Cepeda” to Juan de la Rosa];

?AGNEP, Notaría 4, Caja 7, 1570, Carpeta 1.1  [9 May 1570, Juan de Cepeda, vecino of Puebla, digo que por quanto Francisco de Vargas, alguazil mayor, en la sesma parte de los diezmos del ganado menor obejuno deste obispado de Tlaxcala sobre ello qual sobre lo qual por la parte que dello el pertenece e a de aver por via de confirmadad soy convenido e concertado con el Vargas en tal manera que por la dicha su sesma parte del dicho ganado ovejuno le tengo de dar 3,300 cabecas de ganador menor, sig. same as Not. 4, 1.15, 1582];

?AGI, Mexico 101, R.1 [1577, Probanza of Bartolomé Méxia, vecino of Mexico City, in the Mixton War; witness: Alonso González, age-50+, vecino, signed-no signature on copy;  Juan de Cepeda, vecino, age-70 +/-, signed (no signature on copy)]

?AHAG, Gobierno, Escrituras, General, 1579-1735, Tierras y Molinos de Santa Ynés, 1690 [fol. 43r: May 1, 1576, a Juan de Cepeda, vecino of Guadalajara, is a witness];

?Enciso Contreras, Testamentos [source-AGI, Contratación, 231, R.8: heirs of Luis Ponce de Esquivel, Vicario of the mines of Nuestra Señora de Las Nieves, 1578; p.379- cedula against Juan de Cepeda in favor of Juan de Lorenzana, for 27 pesos, held in estate of Esquivel];

?AGNEP, Notaría 3, Caja 4, 1573, Carpeta, 1.4 [Poder, from Gaspar Castelan and Francisco Conquero to a Juan de Cepeda, vecino of Puebla de los Ángeles, especially for the purpose of appearing before the audiencia de México and Martín Enríquez, visorey, February 1573];

1580-1590:

?AGNEP, Notaría 3, Caja 5, 1580, Carpeta 1.4 [fol. 922 [10 July 1580, Juan de Çepeda gives a general poder to Diego Gómez, merchant; signature same as Caja 4, Carpeta 1.2, Diego Anzures, 1569];

?AGNEP, Notaría 4, Caja 1, 1582, Carpeta 1.15 [September 1582, Poder from Juan de Cepeda, vecino of Puebla de los Ángeles, to Antonio de Nafarmendi Cepeda signs (much cruder than Guadalajara signature];

?AGNEP, Notaría 4, Caja 1, 1582, Carpeta 1.16 [December 1582, Arrendamienta, a Juan de Cepeda, the elder, vecino of Puebla de los Ángeles, leases to Juan de Lucas una casa que yo tengo en esta dicha ciudad en la calle que va de la plazuela del monasterio del señor San Agustín hacia el barrio de San Pablo for life Cepeda signs; same signature as in AGNEP, Notaría 4, Caja 1, Carpeta 1.15];

?Acuña, Relaciones Geográficas: Michoacán [Motines: 1580; Alimanzi, Cuzcaquauhtla, Epatlan: witnesses: Juan Muñoz (p.155), Cristóbal de Vergara, Juan de Cepeda (p.155), estantes in Maquili, all had rubricas]

?AHMP, Actas, Vol. 11, Document 139, Asunto 4 [fol.122f: September 3, 1582, Licencia par venta de vino a favor de Juan de Zepeda se hará frente a las casas que hábita en el barrio de San Agustín];

?AHMP, Actas, Vol. 11, Document 143, Asunto 3 [fol.125v:October 12, 1582, Licencia para la venta de vino otorgada a Diego Jiménez en la tienda de su morada ubicada junto a las casas de Juan de Zepeda, frente con esquina de Diego López];

?Hillerkuss, Diccionario Biográfico, vol.1  = Hernández Cordero, p.2 [1586, married to Angela de Contreras, Angela was living in Puebla maybe with her husband, p.255];

?Palomino y Cañedo, Protocolos de Rodrigo Hernández Cordero, #20 [II, fols. 339r-343v: Documentos relativos a la testamentaría de Miguel de Rivera, Guadalajara; (e), 17 October 1589, Juan de Zepeda buys an antepuerta de tapicería de flandes];

?Palomino y Cañedo, Protocolos de Rodrigo Hernández Cordero, #24 [I, fols. 391r-395v: Documentos relativos a la testamentaría de Pero López de Olivares, Guadalajara; (e), 24 October 1589, Juan de Cepeda buys something at auction];

?AHJ, Escribanos, No.1, Rodrigo Hernández Cordero, v.1 [fol. 392r: October 24, 1589, during another auction of goods in Guadalajara, a Juan de Cepeda, purchases "tres botillas viejas;" fol. 394v: October 25, 1589, during another auction of goods in Guadalajara, a Juan de Cepeda, purchases "diez y ocho cañones para escribir"];

after 1590:

?AHJ, Escribanos, No.1, Rodrigo Hernández Cordero, v.2 [fol.441v: Melchor Méndez de Sotomayor: a Juan de Çepeda, 19 Feb. 1590, bought at auction un sayo y capa de paño negro de la tierra, 8 pesos, 6 tomines; 2 hankies, 4 tomines; 8 towels, 2 sheets, 2 pillows, 1 old coverlet, 12 pesos];

?Palomino y Cañedo, Protocolos de Rodrigo Hernández Cordero, #37 [II, fols. 507r-510v: Documentos relativos a la testamentaría de Gaspar Vaca de Ayala, Guadalajara; (c) 20 Feb. 1590, Juan de Cepeda buys una delantera vieja de rraso blanca en florián palomyno for 4 pesos];

?AHJ, Escribanos, No.1, Rodrigo Hernández Cordero, v.2 [fol.639r: Almoneda of Bishop Domingo de Alçola, 11 Abril 1590: Yten se remato otro colchon de lienço lleno de lana viejo en a Juan de Çepeda, 7 pesos; una silla - 11 pesos 4 tomines; fol. 639v; and then in May buys some silver plate; at the end of May is a witness];

?AHMP, Actas, Vol. 12, Document 313, Asunto 2 [fol.277v:January 15, 1594, Orden para alargar la traza para instalar tabernas de la esquina de las casas de Antonio de Huerta a la calle de San Agustin hasta la esquina de las casas de Juan de Zepeda]

?AHJ, Escribanos, No.1, Rodrigo Hernández Cordero, v.2 [fol.508v: Will of Gaspar Baca de Ayala, son of Luis Vaca and doña Isabel de Ayala: a Juan de Çepeda a shirt of new ruan with cuello de olanda guarnescida 17 1/2 pesos];

?AHAG, Gobierno, Secretaria, Fabrica General de la Diocesis, 1584-1620, Caja 1 [Guadalajara, 1599-16 April signature (probably not our expeditionary)]

Other Info:

?Hillerkuss, Diccionario Biográfico, vol.1 [posibilities:1)to Cíbola; 2)1580, informant for the relacion geografica de Alimani; this person goes to 1608 [probably not];

?Romero de Solís, Andariegos  [the Sevilla del Rio entry has wrong parents; same as Hillerkuss #2; 1581, 85 and 91, a scribe in Motines]

Relatives:

?BPE, “Bienes de difuntos,” Folder C287-52-3189, 1616 [don Vicente de Zaldivar Mendoza, maese de Campo, vecino y minero in Zacatecas; a Juan de Cepeda, vecino of Guadalajara, heir to Elvira Rodríguez, widow wife of Francisco Rodríguez Ronquillo, sold him the estancia of La Senegilla, that was Ronquillo's, 4 leagues from the city];

?AHAG, Justicia, Provisorato, 1562-1616, Caja 1 [Herónimo Xuárez in the name of Juan de Çepeda, descendant?, mayordomo of the Hospital de la Santa Vera Cruz, Guadalajara, 1617];

?AHAG, Justicia, Capellanías, 1593-1620, Caja 1 [Founder: Pedro de la Plaza, regidor, 1620-1768, Doña Yseo de Arçiniega vecina de esta ciudad patrona que soi de la capellania de 3000 pesos de principal que hacen 150 de rrenta en cada un año que funde sobre la haciendas de don Juan de Zaldivar por muerte de Pedro de la Plaza, mi marido que la mando inponer, daughter is doña Micaela de Ayala, wife of Juan de Çepeda, descendant?]