Antonio Mesa

Brief Biography

Antonio Mesa was not present at the 1540 muster, but attested that he had participated and lost an arm due to poison in a conflict with Natives of Señora. It is possible that the Antonio Mesa in the Pasajero record is the expeditionary. If so, then he was a native of Almadén de los Azogues (Ciudad Real province), the son of Juan Ruíz Bracho and Magdalena Rodríguez, and obtained his license for New Spain on September 17, 1538.

Gender
Male
Title (Y/N)
No
Country of Origin
Spain
Place of Birth (City/Town)
?Almadén de los Azogues
Place of Birth (modern province/state/region)
Ciudad Real
View Birthplace on Map
Click to View on Map
Died on the Expedition?
No
Last Known Location
Tepic, Mexico (Muster)
European Social Status
Commoner
Injured on Expedition
Yes
Within Viceroy Mendoza's Sphere
No
Ability to sign name
Yes
Relatives
?father:Juan Ruiz Bracho; ?mother: Magdalena Rodríguez
References-Documentary

1530-1540:

?AGI, Pasajeros, L.2, E.5095 = Boyd-Bowman, Indice geobiográfico, II:3562 [September 17, 1538, Antonio de Mesa, hijo de Juan Ruíz Bracho y de Magdalena Rodríguez, vecino de Almadén de los Azogues, a Nueva España]

1540-1550:

Castañeda in Flint & Flint, Documents, Document 28  [fol. 143v: wounded, probably lost an arm from poison, near Señora]

AGI, Patronato, 56, N.3, R.2 [November 21, 1542, méritos y servicios de Pedro Jerónimo, tierra nueva] [Antonio de Mesa is a witness] [estante in México] [fue en la dicha armada] [Mesa could sign his name-no signature on copy);

AGI, Justicia, 258, pieza 1, “Relación de los salarios” [fol. 805r: a antonio de messa...Nov. 28, 1542...maintenance for one year...c pesos];

AGN, Instituciones Coloniales, GD72, Real Audiencia, Mercedes, vol.1, exp. 445, 1542 [fol. 208v – 209r (frames 432 – 433: November 1542, grant of 100 pesos to Antonio de Mesa, México; “porque antonio de mesa ha servido a su magestad en lo que sea ofreçido y en la guerra de nueva galicia y estando en ella le hirieron e estanco [paralyzed] que estado e no tiene con que se curar le mando lybrar e por la presente le lybro en las dichas quytas e vacaciones de los dichos corregimientos.. deys y pagueis al dicho antonio de mesa…cient pesos de oro comund para ayuda a su sustentación”]

After 1590:

?AGN, Instituciones Coloniales, GD72, Real Audiencia, Mercedes, vol.24, 1599 [fol. 6:Una solar a Antonio Mesa, Veracruz (doubtful)]

Relatives?: ?AHAG, Gobierno, Secretaria, Fabrica General de la Diocesis, 1584-1620, Caja 1 [1595-padre Diego de Mesa, vecino of Zacatecas, descendant?];

?Chevalier, Land and Society [p.168:a Diego de Mesa];

?AGI, México, 91 [31 March 1607 (s/fol.)-witness was a Antonio de Mesa, escribano,  45+ (descendant?)]