Francisco Gomez

  General Notes:

"Francisco Gomez, born in "Coina," five leagues from Lisbon, was the son of Manuel Gomez and Ana Vicente, both of whom died when he was a child. Reared at first by his elder brother, Fray Alvaro Gomez, a Franciscan of Lisbon and Commissary of the Holy Offic, he passed on into the household of Don Alonso de Onate at the Court of Madrid. Onate bought him to Mexico City, and from there Francisco came to New Mexico to join the young colony of Don Alonso's brother, Don Juan de Onate. 1604 is probably the year in which Don Alonso sailed for the New World. Francisco Gomez became the most outstanding military official in New Mexico during his life-time, occupying every office of importance, including that of High Sheriff of the Holy Office. In 1641, Governor Flores on his deathbed appointed him as interim Governor, but he was not accepted by the hostile council of native New Mexicans. He was fifty-four at the time. Gomez died at the ripe old age of eighty and was buried in the Santa Fe parish church, sometime around the years 1656-7.
His name appears often. In 1616 and 1625 he was the leader of the Mexico City wagon-train escort; in the latter year he conducted Gov. Sotelo and Fray Alonso Benavides, and a statue of the Virgin which, as La Conquistadora, became forever famous in New Mexico through the initial efforts of his wife and children. Father Benavides showered him with praise and favors in the beginning, but later suspected him of too much attachment to an anti-religious Governor, Don Juan de Eulate. Gomez had always been a critic of certain friars in power, thus incurring their enmity and that of a local political faction." (Origins, p. 35)

"When Fancisco was appointed as interim governor, envious colonists accused him of being a "marrano" (secret Judaizer), and, after his demise, his eldest son, Francisco, had to defend his memory before the Inquisition in Mexico City.... The Judaic accusations against the junior Francisco's old father were that he always wore a cap (yarmulke) in the house, and on Fridays, read Jewish books to his family; also, the boys had "colitas", protruding tail-bones which the ignorant folks took as a sign of circumcision. To these charges he replied with humor, saying that the New Mexico mountain weather forced old men to wear caps at all times, and that his father taught his children letters lest they grow up as ignorant as other people; as for circumcision, he said, the old medic who examined him could see only a faint scar through his glasses!" (Chavez, p.13)

Francisco may well have been of Jewish extraction. (Origins, p.35)

Francisco married Ana Robledo Romero, daughter of Bartolome Romero and Luisa Lopez Robledo. (Ana Robledo Romero was born about 1604 in San Gabriel, New Mexico ³⁰⁵.)