THE GREAT FRENCH NEW MEXICO TREASURE HUNT
CAN YOU HELP IN MY TREASURE HUNT?
FIND TREASURES AND TELL ME WHAT OTHERS LAY HIDDEN
FIND TREASURES AND TELL ME WHAT OTHERS LAY HIDDEN
Scroll down to see what has already been found.
Other items are more or less entered with the most recent first.
SAN MIGUEL STATUE
In the church in the village of San Miguel near Mesilla, according to Arizona Bishop Henry Granjon, in 1902 there was a statue of San Miguel imported from France. In 1883, the church burned and was rebuilt. The statue might have been moved to a museum in Texas but its precise location is unknown.
WHERE IS FRANCOIS MALLET’S SHOTGUN?
In 1879, John B. Lamy Jr., nephew of Archbishop Lamy, shot and killed François Mallet, architect working of the cathedral, because he believed his fellow Frenchman was involved in a relationship with his wife. Mallet’s estate included a double-barreled shotgun, which was given by Mallet’s parents to Captain Louis Felsenthal, a hero of the Civil War in New Mexico. I am trying to locate this gun.
WHERE IS FRANCOIS MALLET’S SHOTGUN?
In 1879, John B. Lamy Jr., nephew of Archbishop Lamy, shot and killed François Mallet, architect working of the cathedral, because he believed his fellow Frenchman was involved in a relationship with his wife. Mallet’s estate included a double-barreled shotgun, which was given by Mallet’s parents to Captain Louis Felsenthal, a hero of the Civil War in New Mexico. I am trying to locate this gun.
WHO WAS LOUIS BOUCHER?
The life of Louis Boucher is elusive. Little is known of his beginnings, and nothing of his final years. See the Boucher entry under the tab French of the Past/All Names.
The life of Louis Boucher is elusive. Little is known of his beginnings, and nothing of his final years. See the Boucher entry under the tab French of the Past/All Names.
WHAT HAPPENED TO CORSICAN PRIEST J.M. PAOLI?
The Paoli family of Corsica is legendary. Pascal Paoli is the Corsican Jefferson, he helped draft the US Constitution, and several US towns bear his name. Rev. James de Fouri, in his Historical Skectch of the Catholic Church in New Mexico, wrote:
“In May 1867, Bishop Lamy was returning from France where he had been recruiting priests. He sailed from Le Havre … accompanied by a cohort of young men, many of them were French: … Father J.M. Paoli, a priest from the island of Corsica …”.What happened to J.M. Paoli? I could not find his name in any record.FRENCH WIFE OF DIEGO DIONISIO DE PENALOSA
Not yet found.
In 1660, Diego Dionisio de Peñalosa had been appointed Spanish provincial governor of New Mexico. In the eyes of the Roman Catholic friars, his administration was treating too well the Pueblo Indians and their religious practices. Peñalosa was declared a heretic, had his property confiscated and was forced into exile in 1663. He ended up in France around 1673, and is said to have married a French wife. Who was this lady? He died in France in 1687.
The Paoli family of Corsica is legendary. Pascal Paoli is the Corsican Jefferson, he helped draft the US Constitution, and several US towns bear his name. Rev. James de Fouri, in his Historical Skectch of the Catholic Church in New Mexico, wrote:
“In May 1867, Bishop Lamy was returning from France where he had been recruiting priests. He sailed from Le Havre … accompanied by a cohort of young men, many of them were French: … Father J.M. Paoli, a priest from the island of Corsica …”.What happened to J.M. Paoli? I could not find his name in any record.FRENCH WIFE OF DIEGO DIONISIO DE PENALOSA
Not yet found.
In 1660, Diego Dionisio de Peñalosa had been appointed Spanish provincial governor of New Mexico. In the eyes of the Roman Catholic friars, his administration was treating too well the Pueblo Indians and their religious practices. Peñalosa was declared a heretic, had his property confiscated and was forced into exile in 1663. He ended up in France around 1673, and is said to have married a French wife. Who was this lady? He died in France in 1687.
BISHOP LAMY’S HAT
Not yet Found.
The hat was stolen a few years ago at Bishop’s Lodge during a party. No questions asked if you find it.
NAPOLEON’S PAINTING
Not yet Found, but getting closer.
This is a large painting of Napoleon which fell from a wagon during the civil war in New Mexico. It was reported to be for some time in San Miguel Church in Socorro. In 1887, it was hanging in the office of the El Paso newspaper, The Bullion, then in 1899 it was no longer there.
Historian Marc Simmons has the full story (but not the painting) which you can read at http://www.santafenewmexican.com/LocalNews/Napoleon-s-image-lands-on-Rio-Grande#disqus_thread
GOLDEN BULLETS FROM FRANCOIS AUBRY
Not yet found.
In one of his diaries (entry of August 27, 1853), François-Xavier Aubry, “the Skimmer of the Plains” states that “The Indians use gold bullets for their guns. They are of different sizes and each Indian has a pouch of them … They proposed exchanging them for lead …”.
PEDRO VIAL’S ORIGINAL DIARY
Not yet found.
Pedro Vial (from Lyons, France), is considered to be the founder of the Santa Fe Trail. His diary was copied and survived to our times, but the original has never been found.
SANTA FE CATHEDRAL’S CORNER STONE
Not yet Found.
The corner-stone was laid in 1869. The stone contained the names of the President of the United States, General Grant, of the Governor of the Territory, and other Territorial officers, together with some coins of gold, silver and copper, and also some documents and newspapers. Three days afterwards someone stole the corner-stone, with its contents, and
nothing has been heard of it since.
nothing has been heard of it since.
GARNIER CLOCK OF THE PARROQUIA
Not yet found.
The old Parroquia church in Santa Fe was replaced by the Cathedral. The old clock was removed and stored somewhere. It was made by Garnier, a famous French clockmaker whose clocks are still on the Gare de Lyons and the Supreme Court in Paris, and in Athens. There is a Garnier Clocks section in the Louvre.
FRENCH GOODS FROM THE SANTA FE TRAIL
Not yet found.
Tin Cans:
In 1859, Randolph B. Marcy, Captain U.S. Army published The Prairie Traveler as “the best-selling handbook for American pioneers”. This is a practical manual for safe travel across the prairies to the West. This book recommends canned vegetables from Chollet and Co. in Paris. Would anyone have saved some of these cans?
In 1859, Randolph B. Marcy, Captain U.S. Army published The Prairie Traveler as “the best-selling handbook for American pioneers”. This is a practical manual for safe travel across the prairies to the West. This book recommends canned vegetables from Chollet and Co. in Paris. Would anyone have saved some of these cans?
Cigars & Cigarettes:
Pierre Abraham Lorillard (1742-1776) emigrated from France to the US and founded a cigarette and cigar factory. Lorillard was a familiar brand on the Santa Fe Trail and in New Mexico. Lorillard (Greensboro, North Carolina) is America’s oldest tobacco company with over $5 billion sales in the US (in 2010).
Pierre Abraham Lorillard (1742-1776) emigrated from France to the US and founded a cigarette and cigar factory. Lorillard was a familiar brand on the Santa Fe Trail and in New Mexico. Lorillard (Greensboro, North Carolina) is America’s oldest tobacco company with over $5 billion sales in the US (in 2010).
LETTERS FROM FRENCH PRIESTS AND OTHER FRENCH TO FAMILIES IN FRANCE
Not yet found.
PELLO ETCHEVERRY’S BELT BUCKLE AND OTHER BELONGINGS
Not yet found.
Pello Etcheverry (1875-1964) was born in the Basque region of France. He was awarded one of the first Bronze Cowboy Awards in recognition of the distinction he brought the livestock and ranching industry. He died in Lovington July 20, 1964 at age 89. There is an exhibit about him at the Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame, Hobbs, New Mexico http://www.museumshobbsnm.org/lea-county-cowboy-hall-of-fame
FURNITURE AND TAPESTRIES OF FATHER FRANCOLON’S MOTHER
Not yet found.
Father Jean-Baptiste Francolon (1854-1922 ) arrived from France in 1878 at age 24 with his mother, as secretary to Bishop Lamy in Santa Fe. In 1892, he moved as a missionary priest to Manitou, Colorado, in hopes of restoring his failing health. His mother arrived in Manitou from New Mexico in July 1893, bringing four French-speaking servants, as well as furnishings, tapestries, oils, statuary, antique vestments and laces, and native artifacts, which were displayed in the gallery on the third level of what is now Miramont Castle. See story at http://miramontcastle.org/francolon.html
WHO KILLED CAPT. DUMAS PROVENCHER?
He was shot on November 6, 1888 in San Rafael near Socorro while supervising the tally of the elections. A $500 reward was offered but the culprits were never found. It is believed that he was victim of a conspiracy from Santa Fe. Descendents of the murderers, through family oral history, probably have the answer.
He was shot on November 6, 1888 in San Rafael near Socorro while supervising the tally of the elections. A $500 reward was offered but the culprits were never found. It is believed that he was victim of a conspiracy from Santa Fe. Descendents of the murderers, through family oral history, probably have the answer.
BISHOP LAMY’S UMBRELLA
Found!
Found!
It has an ivory handle with Lamy’s name carved on it. The “Fabrique de Parapluies François Frères”, established in 1882 ( http://www.parapluie-artisanal.com/) has examined detailed photographs and confirmed that this umbrella was most likely engraved for Bishop Lamy personally.
LUCIEN BONAPARTE MAXWELL’S PIANOS
Not yet found.
It turns out that the piano at the Girls Camp in Cimarroncita was made in 1878 came from the St. James Hotel (owned by Frenchman Henri Lambert) but not from Maxwell’s house in Cimarron.
Not yet found.
It turns out that the piano at the Girls Camp in Cimarroncita was made in 1878 came from the St. James Hotel (owned by Frenchman Henri Lambert) but not from Maxwell’s house in Cimarron.
PHOTOGRAPHS AND LETTERS OF THE GIRARD FAMILY (Of Albuquerque’s Girard Avenue)
Found!
Found!
Thank you to Nancy Tucker’s Postcard Collection for locating this extraordinary documents, a huge box of photos, letters and other stuff, some of it from France. The collection has been digitized. See upcoming article in the April 2013 issue of Nuestras Raices, the journal of the Genealogical Society of Hispanic America.