New Mexico's Stormy History: True Stories of Early Spanish Colonial Settlers and the Mestas/Maestas Families

Conquistador General Don Diego de Vargas led hundreds of Spanish pioneers to resettle New Mexico after the 1680 Indian Revolt. This little-known colonial period brought peace and prosperity to settlers and Native Americans in what later became northern New Mexico and parts of surrounding states. Spanish Royalty awarded many faithful soldiers and settlers with grants of land to establish farms, ranches, and ultimately to populate villas that became cities such as Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Taos.

U.S. Navy Master Chief of 30 years, Elmer Eugene Maestas set sail on a serious study of his family's roots after his late brother's trip through Spain years earlier had failed to turn up even one Maestas. Learning his Maestas surname was originally spelled Mestas, Elmer found his ancestors had come from Spain with General de Vargas -- and that he was a 10^th generation Spanish descendant whose forefathers had been awarded not one, but two land grants He and his family knew nothing about them and, not much more about New Mexico's "stormy" history.

Could your family have a fascinating history or maybe a land grant or two? Answer these questions:

• Does your surname sound Spanish?
• Do you have relatives in northern New Mexico, southern Colorado and beyond?
• Does someone you care about have these family traits?
• Do you know about New Mexico's "stormy" history?

This book takes you on a trip through the ages in the Land of Enchantment, and reveals the names of many early Spanish settlers and soldiers. Even if you don't discover your land grant (which you might wish you hadn't), you will learn much about the fascinating history of the great state of New Mexico.

Author: Elmer Eugene Maestas
Publisher: Elmer Eugene Maestas
Published: 02/03/2016
Pages: 270
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.04lbs
Size: 10.00h x 7.00w x 0.57d
ISBN: 9780986160431

About the Author
Maestas, Elmer Eugene: - Elmer Eugene Maestas worked diligently to become an accomplished chronicler in Spanish Colonial history. Earlier investigations on American military history had provided scant background as he researched his family history. That done, he added a broad collection of fascinating family facts about the Spanish Colonial and American Occupation periods, culminating in a five-year research project that resulted in this book, New Mexico's Stormy History. Maestas holds Bachelor and Master Degrees from Southern Illinois University and University of New Mexico respectively, and is a 30-year U. S. Naval veteran, having earned the highest enlisted rank of Master Chief. Notable military assignments were in intelligence on board the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Constellation during Vietnam military operations, and later as advisor with the U.S. Military Assistance Groups/U.S. Embassies in Peru and Ecuador, South America. Notable civilian work included U.S. Census management of census operations during the decennials of 1990, 2000 and 2010. He also worked with Catholic Charities as a Refugee Resettlement Programs case manager, and served on the Board of the Kirtland AFB Federal Credit Union in Albuquerque.Herrington, Peggy: - A Native New Mexican, Peggy holds a BA in music from the University of New Mexico and was a technical journalist from 1984 to 1991. Peggy then joined General Electric as editor of the GEnie information service magazine after which she worked at Microsoft Corp in Redmond, WA as Multimedia Forum manager and MSN Money producer. She served as associate editor for an ABQ arts magazine from 2007 to 2013. Owner of a full service small press, Peggy provides editorial services from writer coaching to editing, publishing, publicity. She helps them write, publish and sell their books. She offers full-service publishing support which includes everything from revising, editing and preparing manuscripts for publication, book and cover design, social media and publicity campaigns.