New Mexico Colonial Records

Online Records

 * 1695-1842- Miscellaneous archives relating to New Mexico land grants. Images only.

History
In 1598 the San Juan de los Caballeros colony was established by the Spaniards and became the first permanent European settlement in present-day New Mexico. Santa Fe was established in 1608. Following the Pueblo Revolt, the Spaniards were driven out of the New Mexico area from 1680-1692. Claims for New Mexico were passed to the new independent Mexico in 1821 after the Mexican War of Independence. In 1836 the Republic of Texas claimed land east of the Rio Grande. At the end of the 18th century, France claimed land in northeastern New Mexico, which they sold to the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase. This land was part of the Louisiana Territory and then the Missouri Territory. After the Mexican-American War, the New Mexico territory was ceded to the United States in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.