Fernán Páez [Pérez]

Brief Biography

Although the expeditionary Fernán Páez was present at the 1540 muster under that name, it is clear from the documentary record that he was also referred to as Pérez. Unfortunately, the name Fernán or Hernán Pérez was rather common in New Spain, making it difficult to distinguish the expeditionary from others with the same name. What is known of the expeditionary, whether it is Páez or Pérez, is that he was a native of Villafranca in Portugal and that he accompanied Viceroy Mendoza to New Spain in 1535 as a member of Mendoza's personal guard. After the return of the Expedition from Tierra Nueva he remained in Mexico City and did not accompany the viceroy to Peru.

Gender
Male
Title (Y/N)
No
Date of Birth
ca. 1515
AGE-1540
25
Age Set
25-35
Country of Origin
Portugal
Place of Birth (City/Town)
Villafranca
Place of Birth (modern province/state/region)
Bragança
Died on the Expedition?
No
Last Known Location
Mexico City
European Social Status
Commoner
Position on Expedition
Horseman
Within Viceroy Mendoza's Sphere
Yes
Pre-Expedition Occupation
Mendoza Guard
Residence After Expedition
Mexico City
Married
Yes
Name of Spouse
María López
Ability to sign name
Yes
References-Documentary

1530-1540:

?Millares Carlo y Montecón, Indice y extractos, II:1885 [Aug. 22, 1536, alguacil of Mexico City]

AGI, Justicia, 258, pieza 1, “Relación de los salarios” [fol. 798v: Nov. 1539, a hernand Páez...c pesos];

1540-1550:

1540, Feb: Muster in Flint & Flint, Documents, Document 12 [2 horses, native arms]

AGI, Justicia, 259, pieza 2 [Mendoza's personal guard, horseman: 6 Sept 1538, fol. 51r-51v, 4 Jan 1539, fol. 51v-52r, 10 May 1539, fol. 52v, 19 Sept 1539, fol. 53r, 11 Jan 1540, fol. 53v, 3 Sept 1543, fol. 59r, 6 May 1544, fol. 60v-61r; as Hernán Pérez: horseman, 4 Sept. 1537, fol. 49r-49v, 2 Jan. 1538, fol. 49v-50r), 13 June 1538, fol. 50v, 3 Dec 1543 [42], fol. 58r-58v]

AGI, Justicia, 258, pieza 1, “Relación de los salarios” [fol. 827r: a Hernán Páez...May 23, 1545...cxx pesos];

AGI, Justicia, 1021, N.2, Pieza 5, “Relación sacada de la probanza, 1551” [witness: México, end of 1547 and early 1548 (por parte)] [Páez, vecino de México, natural of Villafranca, Portugal, about 33 years old] [could sign his name (no signature on copy)];

1550-1560:

?APSM, “Bautismos de Españoles, 1536-1746”  [fol.14r: 18 Mar 1553 Hernán Páez and Mari López padrinos for son of Antonio Gutiérrez];

?AGI, Contaduría, 663B [Payments en quitas: to Hernán Páez, 200 pesos as a grant for ayuda de sustentación for the year ending in January 1556 atento al tiempo que habia estaba en esta tierra and he is married];

AGI, Contaduría, 664, 1557 [Other grants: Hernán Páez, 133+ pesos, 28 Mar 1556-28 Nov 1556, sustenance; and, 66+ pesos, 28 Nov 1556-28 Mar 1557];

1560-1570:

AGI, México, 206, N.35 [for Cristóbal de Escobar] [age 40+ in 1561; vecino of México; has seen Escobar in Nueva España for 23 years; signed and read his testimony (no signature on copy)];

Catálogo, Resumen e Índices [1565, Hernán Páez, vecino, otorga poder general a María López, su mujer, ausente. Firmó. Testigos: Nicolás de Morales, Jerónimo López y Antonio Esteban, vecinos y estantes];

1570-1580:

Catálogo, Resumen e Índices [México, 28 agosto 1577, María de Salinas, viuda de Francisco Gómez, sastre, vecina, otorga nombramiento a Isabel Ramírez, su hija, mujer de Juan de Artiaga, vecina, para que después de la vida de su madre, goce por los días de su vida del arrendamiento que le hizo Francisca de Orduña, viuda de Gutiérrez de Badajoz, vecina, de unas casas pequeñas [...]  No firmó. Testigos: Baltasar de Montoya, Hernán Páez y Pedro Hernández, vecinos y estantes];

AGI, México, 214, N.24\1 [García is asking for a prebenda or canongia; a witness says Velasco gave him a corregimiento; speaks the Mexican language well witness:  9 Feb 1579 Gabriel López, vecino in los altos de Tacuba; known García since 1538; knows he was living in the house of Rodrigo de Albornoz, contador; saw García serve in Cibola and suffer; after returning García became a clerigo in the Tasco mines; age 59+, signed and his rubric (no signature on copy); witness: 11 March 1579, Mexico City, Miguel de Fuenterrabia, vecino;  known García for more than 35 years, age 55+, signed (no signature on copy) witness: 13 March 1579, Mexico City, Hernán Páez, vecino, saw him serve in Cibola, García return broken and in debt, became a clerigo, serving both the Spanish and Indians of the mines of Tasco, 57+, signed and rubric (not present in copy); witness: 13 March 1579, Mexico City, Juan de Fioz, vecino, known García for 40 years, returned roto y desnudos y destroçados y gastados de todo, Mendoza gave him a corregimiento, because he was good with the native language he was ordained and made a clerigo, 60+, signed (no signature); witness: 13 March 1579, don Rodrigo Maldonado, vecino, is sick at home and can't appear, so the next day they sent the scribe to his houses (las casas de la morada); known García 39 years, that he worked in the Contaduría for Albornoz; 36 or 37 years ago he saw García go to Cibola,  age 60+, signed it (no signature on copy)];

1580-1590:

AGI, Patronato, 77, N.1, R.2\2 [fol.4, 1582, Mexico City, witness: Hernán Páez, vecino, more than 65, he didn't sign because he was gravely ill and suffers from tremors in his hand so that he can't write];

AGI, Patronato, 79, N.1, R.2 [1586, probanza presented by Gaspar de Salamanca, vecino de México] [witness, Hernán Pérez, vecino de México, more than 66 years old: Vino a ella (Nueva España) con don Antonio de mendoza] [en la Jornada de Cíbola: porque este testigo (Pérez) fue y se hallo y Vido ser y pasar lo contenido] [Pérez could not sign his name because his hand shook badly]

Other info: Logic for age: in late 1547 or early 1548 he says he is 33 (pretty specific), so born probably 1515; in 1561 says more than 40 (he would be 46); in 1579 more than 57 (he would be 64); in 1582 more than 65 (he would be 67); in 1586 more than 66 (he would be 71)

Relatives?: ?AGI, Mexico, 22 [1590, Alcaldes Mayores: Melchor Páez, son and grandson of pobladores, lieutenant, Tescuco]

         Hernán Pérez:

1540-1550:

?AGI, Justicia, 259, pieza 2 [17 Nov. 1541; after Mixton War, branded 1 slave]

?Actas de Cabildo, Tomo IV, p.318 [November 21, 1542: an Hernán Pérez, vecino de México, is granted a solar "donde tiene unas casillas do al presente vive"];

?AGN, Instituciones Coloniales, GD72, Real Audiencia, Mercedes, vol.2, exp. 71, 1543 [frame 65: a Juan de Sandoval is sent again to inspect four estancias near the terminos del pueblo de Xilotepque that belong to García de Morón, Francisco López, Hernán Pérez, Lorenzo Xuárez, and Francisco Verdugo, who were ordered to vacate them; Sandoval is again to report to the viceroy about the impact of the estancias on the neighboring Indian communities, México, January 30, 1543];

?González-Leal, Relación Secreta  [p. 57-67: Pobladores sin indios: includes an Hernán Pérez, followed by Diego Martín];

?APSM, “Bautismos de Españoles, 1536-1746” [fol.140v: 6 Oct 1544, Bernal, portugues and Leonor de Alfaro baptized Francisca, padrinos were Alonso de Paz and his wife Ana de Albarragan and Hernán Pérez and his wife];

?APSM, “Bautismos de Españoles, 1536-1746”  [fol.146r: 17 Feb. 1545 Hernán Pérez and his wife baptized Gerónimo, padrinos Diego Díaz and his wife];

?AGI, Contratación, 197, N.21, R.1 [24 March 1545, witnesses to a will, Hernán 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)];

?APSM, “Bautismos de Españoles, 1536-1746” [fol. 170v: 30 May 1546 Alonso Sánchez, Maestre Anton, Hernán Péres padrinos for son of Hernán Gutiérrez];

?APSM, “Bautismos de Españoles, 1536-1746” [fol. 165r: 24 Jan 1546 Juan Gallego and Hernán Péres and their wives padrinos for son of Lorenzo Montoya];

?Actas de Cabildo, Tomo V, p.163 [December 23, 1546: an Hernán Pérez becomes a vecino de México];

?Actas de Cabildo, Tomo V, p.225 [August 9, 1548: a second solar is granted to a Juan Gómez, cortidor y vecino, "en el barrio de San Sebastián" bordered by a solar belonging to an Hernán Pérez, surridor];

?AGI, Contaduría, N.3 [1547 Payments: Hernán Pérez, 30 pesos por 30 hierros de lanza que del se compraron para probeimiento de la guerra];

?AGI, Contaduría, 1784, N.3 [1547, Cuentas del contador in Lima, Juan de Cáceres de lo que recibio para socorro de los soldados que acompanaron Gasca: Payments: Hernán Pérez, soldado de la compania de Miguel de la Serna 50 pesos de socorro]

1550-1560:

?AGI, Contaduría, 676, N.3 [Mexico, 2 Oct. 1550- the Audiencia will report on the expenses to Peru in 1547, Payments made: Hernán Pérez, cordonero, 34 pesos for making maços]

?AGI, Justicia, 153, N.5, Pieza 1 [1554, El Governador y Principales de Yndios de la Provincia de Metestitan Contra don Diego de Guevara, sobre la mitad de la encomienda de la dicha provincia, Vallidolid, Spain 7 Aug 1555, Pueblo of Meztislan, 20 Dec . 1553, through the interpreter of the Mexican language Hernán Pérez presents a poder from the principales of the pueblo, requesting a moderation of the pueblo's tributes, held by don Alonso de Mérida, don Diego de Guevara, Miguel Diez de Aux; tributes too high and there are mistreatments of the natives];

?Catálogo, Resumen e Índices, AA80/1 [fol. 833/833v (139/140): México, 14 diciembre 1557, Arrendamiento, El licenciado Nicolás Alemán, vecino, arrienda a Ambrosio Bullón, platero, vecino, unas casas que tiene en México, [...] Firmaron. Testigos: Hernán Pérez, Juan de Ojeda y Alonso de Alcohola, vecinos y estantes; fol. 834/835 (141/143): México, 14 diciembre 1557, Declaración, Francisco Hernández, mercader, vecino de México, dice que, por cuanto Josepe Boniver, vecino, envió a las minas de los Zacatecas, 4 pipas de vino y otras mercaderías para que lo vendiese y beneficiase Francisco Pérez Orenday, [...]  Firmó. Testigos: Juan de Ojeda, Hernán Pérez y Gaspar Caler, estantes];

?Catálogo, Resumen e Índices, 2623, AA81 [fol.101-101v: Mexico  28 Jan 1558, Poder General, Melchor de Valdés, vecino -como albacea de Pedro Boniver, difunto, como parece en el testamento que hizo ante Diego Pérez, escribano de Su Majestad- otorga poder general a Juan Rodríguez Zambrano, procurador de causas. Firmó. Testigos: Miguel de Écija, Juan de Villanueva y Hernán Pérez, vecinos y estantes];

?AGI, Contaduría, 664, 1559 [Misc. payments: Hernán Pérez, 133 pesos];

?AGI, Contaduría, 664, 1559 [monies spent on explorations: 29+ pesos to Hernán Pérez for 30,082 libras of hilo para las çeladas];

?Catálogo, Resumen e Índices [5 Feb 1561, Juana de Villanueva -viuda de Martín Sánchez, sastre, que murió en la ciudad de la Veracruz-, estante en México, otorga poder general a Pedro Hernández, maestre, estante en México. [...]  No firmó. Testigos: Hernán Pérez, Juan de Puerta y Josepe López, vecinos y estantes en México];

?AGI, Contaduría, 664, 1558 [Misc. grants: Hernán Pérez, 55 pesos, for serving as escribano in the visita made by Juan del hierro in Octustla and Mochitlan for 55 days]

1560-1570:

?AGI, Contaduría, 667A [diezmos de plata, 1562: in April an Hernán Pérez diezmo 369 marcos de plata];

?AGI, Contaduría, 667A [diezmos de plata, 1563: an Hernán Pérez diezmo 73 marcos de plata]

?Catálogo, Resumen e Índices, AA26/1 [fol. 20v/22: México, 15 abril 1562, Obligación de pago, Luis Mexía, vecino, se obliga a pagar a Teresa Mexía, viuda de Rodrigo Donís, su madre, 1 000 pesos de oro común, que son por razón: [...] - 241 pesos que le prestó en reales para pagar a Gaspar de Garnica de resto de un caballo y para comprar una cama de grana que compró de Hernán Pérez y para gastos de su casa; Firmó. Testigos: Jerónimo Ferrer, Juan Alonso de Abrego y Pedro Serrano de Granada, vecinos y estantes];

?AGI, Contaduría, 419, N.1 [1572, Certificaciones de Pablo de Melgosa en 1572 de la partidas de registro en plata, oro y otros efectos que vinieron de Indias (Nueva España) y de las que se cobraron la averías [register includes 250 pesos of gold for an Hernán Pérez, 1562];

?AGI, Contratación, 576, L.6 [frame 12r-13:1566-68, Hernán Pérez 889 maravedis;116v-debe por caxa 3000 maravedis que se dieron a Francisco de Salinas, vecino de Sevilla en nobre de los herederos; 120r-debe 34,000 maravedis que se dieron a Francisco Pérez en nombre de Teresa Redonda y Francisco y Hernán Pérez y otros sus hermanos herederos];

?AGNEP, Notaría 3, Caja 3, 1560, Carpeta 1.4 [30 September 1560, Juan de Lucas and Sebastian Flores are forming a company, a store, assets are: Antón García owes 7 pesos, 2 tomines; don Jorge de Alvarado owes 67 pesos and 3 tomines; Antonio Martín, calero, owes 15 pesos; Juan Ruíz, procurador, owes 62 pesos and 6 tomines; Hernán Pérez, zurridor, owes 7 pesos; Bartolomé Sánchez, carpintero, owes 5 pesos and 4 tomines; Simon García es tribiente/escribiente for 1 pesos, 4 tomines; Alonso Hernández, sastre, 2 pesos and 4 tomines; don Felipe de Arellano 48 pesos and 4 tomines; Pero González, bordador, 173 pesos; Francisco de Vargas, alguacil mayor, 167 pesos and 7 tomines; Alonso Hernández, odrero, 21 pesos]

?Catálogo, Resumen e Índices [10 Nov 1563, Mexico, Hernán Pérez, sastre, vecino, otorga poder general a Juan de la Cueva, solicitador de causas, vecino. Firmó. Testigos: Juan Martínez, Juan Delgado y Nicolás de Morales, vecinos]

1570-1580:

?Catálogo, Resumen e Índices  [29 Nov 1576, Mexico, Pedro Velázquez, arriero, vecino, otorga poder general a Hernán Pérez, vecino. No firmó. Testigos: Juan López, Llorente López y Cristóbal Martín, vecinos y estantes];

?Catálogo, Resumen e Índices [1576, Melchor de la Serna, cajero, deudor, y Andrés Núñez, jubetero, como su fiador, vecinos, de mancomún, se obligan a pagar a Alonso Jiménez, vecino, 97 pesos de oro común, por 4 cargas de cacao de la costa, contado, por precio de 24 pesos y 2 tomines carga. Plazo: para el 15 de enero de 1577, en reales. Firmaron. Testigos: Francisco Sánchez, Juan Ruíz y Hernán Pérez, vecinos y estantes];

?AGN, Instituciones Coloniales, GD110, Real Audiencia, Tierras, vol.39, primera parte, exp.2, 1578 [fol. 89: México, Magdalena Ramírez contra Hernán Pérez por una casa y solar];

?Enciso Contreras, Testamentos [p.276: reference- AGI, Contratación, 221, N.1, R.6, will of Alonso Díaz de la Pedrera, 11 Feb 1578, among the papers of Baltasar Cornejo, alguacil, had was a poder Hernán Pérez gave to Mateo Gómez]