Francisco Gómez

  Noted events in his life were:

• Background Information. ²⁵²
Francisco Gómez was born in "Coina," five leagues from Lisbon and, was the son of Manuel Gómez and Ana Vicente, both of whom died when he was a child. He was reared at first by his elder brother, Fray Álvaro Gómez, a Franciscan of Lisbon and Commissary of the Holy Office, he passed on into the household of Don Alonso de Oñate at the Court of Madrid. Oñate brought 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 Oñate. 1604 is probably the year in which Don Alonso sailed for the New World. Francisco Gómez 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. Gómez died at the ripe old age of eighty and was buried in the Santa Fe parish church, sometime around the years 1656-1657.

Gómez's name appears often. In 1616 and 1625 he was the leader of the Mexico City wagon-train escort; in the latter year he conducted Governor 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. Gómez had always been a critic of certain friars in power, thus incurring their enmity and that of a local political faction. His Portuguese origin did not help, so that even after his death he was accused of being a Jew, not only by birth, but in secret practice. It is very possible that he was of Jewish extraction.

Gómez had married Ana Robledo, a native of San Gabriel del Yunque, and daughter of Bartolomé Romero and Luisa Robledo. A woman of spirit, she stood up for her husband and family. The precious dresses of La Conquistadora were in her care. She was still living in 1664 when she stated that she was sixty years old and a native of San Gabriel. They had seven children who were known under the compound name of Gómez Robledo. They were named as follows in 1663: Francisco, on trial by the Holy Office in Mexico City; Bartolomé, single, Regent and High Sheriff in Santa Fe; Juan, a young soldier, single, in Santa Fe; Andrés, twenty years old, a soldier of Santa Fe, still single; José, eighteen, and serving as an aide to a major official; Francisca, married to Pedro Lucero de Godoy; and Ana María, maiden, living with her mother in Santa Fe.

~ Origins of New Mexico Families: A Genealogy of the Spanish Colonial Period, Kindle Locations 1721-1756

• Web Reference: Francisco Gomes from Wikipedia.

Francisco married Ana Robledo Romero, daughter of Bartolomé Romero and Lucia López Robledo.²⁵² (Ana Robledo Romero was born about 1604 in San Gabriel del Yungue, Nuevo Méjico, Nuevo España ²⁵² and died after 1664 in Nuevo Méjico, Nueva España ²⁵².)