1719 Archivo Historico De La Arquidiócesis de Guadalajara - Geronimo de Carabajal y Maria Zapopa Menchaca
Translation of the June 1719 ecclesiastical inquiry and dispensation of Geronimo de Carabajal and Maria Zapopa de Menchaca:
In the town of Santiago de la Monclova, head town of this province, Gerónimo de Carvajal, soldier of the Royal Presidio of Béxar, legitimate son of Cristobal de Carvajal and Josefa Guerra, appeared before me in due legal form. He stated that, to better serve God our Lord and save his soul, he intends to contract marriage according to Holy Mother Church with María Zapopa Menchaca, the legitimate daughter of Joseph Menchaca and Antonia Ximénez, resident of this town. For this purpose an inquiry into her freedom to marry is to be made. He asked that the matter proceed as he has requested, and that, if no dispensation is needed, it be granted in justice. He swore to Our Lord Jesus Christ upon the sign of the Holy Cross that there is no impediment to this marriage, and granted power of attorney to José Joaquín de Ecay y Múzquiz to sign on his behalf.
On 5 June 1719, I, Don Joseph Flores, acting parish priest by His Majesty’s authority, vicar and ecclesiastical judge and commissioner of the Holy Office of the Inquisition for this jurisdiction, having seen the petition of Gerónimo de Carvajal, soldier of the Presidio of Béxar, ordered that an inquiry into freedom to marry be received; and that, if no impediment nor need of dispensation appears, it be done as requested. I so determined, ordered, and signed before the undersigned notary.
On 18 June 1719, for the purpose of said inquiry, a woman was made to appear. Being present, she took an oath, swearing by God our Lord and the sign of the Holy Cross before me, under which she promised to tell the truth. She said her name is María Zapopa Menchaca, legitimate daughter of Joseph de Menchaca and Antonia Ximénez, residents of this town; that of her free and spontaneous will she wishes to marry Gerónimo de Carvajal, legitimate son of Cristobal Carvajal and Josefa Guerra; that she has not been forced or intimidated by any person; that she has not given her word to marry another nor taken vows of chastity or religion; that there is no relationship between them of consanguinity, affinity, or spiritual kinship, nor any other impediment that would hinder or annul the marriage. This is the truth of what she knows. She was warned under oath, under which she affirmed and ratified. She declared her age to be twenty-one years, more or less. She did not sign because she did not know how; the vicar signed on her behalf. I certify.
For the same inquiry a man was made to appear. Being present, he took an oath to tell the truth. He said his name is Gerónimo de Carvajal, son of Cristobal de Carvajal and Josefa Guerra; that of his free and spontaneous will he wishes to marry María Zapopa Menchaca, legitimate daughter of Joseph Menchaca and Antonia Ximénez; that neither party has been forced or intimidated; that he has not pledged himself to another marriage nor taken vows of chastity or religion; that there is no relationship of consanguinity, affinity, or spiritual kinship between them, nor any other impediment that would hinder or annul the marriage. This is the truth of what he knows. He was warned under oath and affirmed and ratified. He declared his age to be twenty years, more or less. He signed together with the vicar. I certify.
Witness: Juan Domingo de Castro, soldier of the town of Béxar, appeared and swore to tell the truth. He said he knows Gerónimo de Carvajal, legitimate son of Cristobal de Carvajal and Josefa Guerra; and knows that he wishes to marry María Zapopa Menchaca, legitimate daughter of Joseph Menchaca and Antonia Ximénez; that it is of their free will without force or fear; that they have not pledged themselves to another marriage nor taken vows; that there is no consanguinity, affinity, or spiritual kinship between them, nor any other impediment. This is the truth of what he knows. He affirmed and ratified; declared his age to be forty-odd years, more or less; and signed with the vicar. I certify.
Witness: Antonio Maldonado, soldier of the Royal Presidio, appeared and swore to tell the truth. He said he knows Gerónimo de Carvajal, legitimate son of Cristobal de Carvajal and Josefa Guerra; and knows that he wishes to marry María Zapopa Menchaca, legitimate daughter of Joseph Menchaca and Antonia Ximénez; freely and without coercion; with no prior pledge or vows; and that he knows of no impediment. This is the truth of what he knows. He declared his age to be forty-odd years, more or less, and signed with the vicar. I certify.
On 18 June 1719 the vicar, having reviewed the inquiry made at the request of Gerónimo de Carvajal and María Zapopa Menchaca, declared it sufficient and ordered that the banns be announced in this parish church on three feast days, during the solemnities of the Mass, as prescribed by the Council of Trent; and that if no impediment results from the three proclamations it be certified to the competent judge for provision. He ordered and signed. I certify.
It is recorded that the first bann was read on the eighth, and the second on the eleventh of said month. Captain Pedro Valdés, Spaniard and resident of this town, appeared and stated that from what he heard in the proclamation and from what it contained, the parties could not marry because they are related by consanguinity. In view of this the vicar suspended the proclamations and ordered that a summary denunciation be taken to learn whether there are persons who know of the matter; and that, if affirmed, a dispensation be requested in the case. He provided, ordered, and signed. I certify.
Denunciant Witness: Captain Pedro Valdés. He promised to tell the truth and said it is true that for many years he has known that the parties have an impediment of consanguinity in the third degree. He denounces it because Cristobal de Carvajal is the natural (illegitimate) son of Diego Flores de Valdés, which was very public in the town of Saltillo; thus the parties are related within the third degree, since Diego Flores de Valdés and Antonia Flores de Valdés were brother and sister. From Diego Flores there was the natural son Cristobal de Carvajal, whom he raised; from that Cristobal is the legitimate father of Gerónimo de Carvajal. On the woman’s side, Antonia Flores de Valdés is mother of Antonia Ximénez, who is mother of María Zapopa Menchaca. He adds that she is a poor, sheltered young woman; neither party is being forced; there is no expectation of another future marriage; and as to other impediments he knows nothing to the contrary. This is the truth of what he knows. He was warned under oath, affirmed and ratified; declared his age to be sixty-five years, more or less; and, being unable to sign, the vicar signed for him. I certify.
Additional Witness: Captain Thomas (Tomás) Flores. He swore to tell the truth and said he has often heard from his spiritual sister, an elderly woman, that Cristobal de Carvajal is the natural son of Diego Flores de Valdés; therefore the impediment results thus: Diego Flores de Valdés was the natural father of Cristobal de Carvajal; from that Cristobal is the legitimate father of Gerónimo de Carvajal. On the bride’s side, Antonia Flores de Valdés, sister of Diego, is mother of Antonia Ximénez, who is mother of María Zapopa Menchaca, the petitioner. The petitioner seeks a dispensation; she is poor, a sheltered unmarried woman, living in a place with no commerce, of war or robbery; she has no expectation of any other future marriage; he knows of no other impediments. This is the truth under the oath he has taken; he affirmed and ratified; declared his age to be forty-something years, more or less; and, being unable to sign, the vicar signed for him. I certify.
On 15 June 1719 the vicar, having reviewed the information about the impediment of third-degree consanguinity between Gerónimo de Carvajal and María Zapopa Menchaca, ordered that a supplementary inquiry (“sobre-información”) be dispatched to the Provisor and Vicar General, and that the parish clergy promptly conclude what is most fitting so that the matter proceed according to justice. He provided, ordered, and signed. I certify.
In the city of Guadalajara, 4 July 1719. The Reverend Master Friar Manuel de Mímbela, Provisor and Vicar General of the bishopric of Guadalajara in New Galicia and of His Majesty’s Council, having reviewed these proceedings and the information concerning the marriage of Gerónimo de Carvajal, soldier of the presidio of Béxar, and María Zapopa Menchaca, legitimate daughter of Joseph Menchaca and Antonia Ximénez, residents of the town of Monclova, and the impediment of consanguinity in the third degree existing between them, and the causes they present for a dispensation together with the information taken—he declares the information sufficient and that the petitioners have proceeded as required. Using the power of the faculties granted by the Holy Roman and Universal Inquisition (General Congregation held at the Palace of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome, 14 February 1715, under Pope Clement XI) to the Bishop of Guadalajara for a term of ten years within his diocese, he dispenses the said Gerónimo de Carvajal and María Zapopa Menchaca from the impediment of third-degree consanguinity in which they are found, so that they may licitly and validly contract the marriage they intend, with the usual clauses.
He further declares the children born within the marriage to be legitimate, and orders that a proper warrant be sent to the beneficed parish priest of the town of Santiago de la Monclova, so that he may have the couple proclaimed by banns in that parish church during the solemnities of the Mass, as prescribed by the Council of Trent and the Roman Ritual; that he provide what else is fitting for the celebration according to his office; that the marriage be celebrated in due form of Holy Mother Church; that if any impediment arises from the banns, he is to suspend them and report with the proceedings. Thus he provides, orders, and signs.
Before me — Manuel González de Rosas (secretary/notary).
Summary of the ecclesiastical inquiry and dispensation:
What it was
An Inquisition-jurisdiction marriage investigation and dispensation for Gerónimo de Carvajal (soldier, Presidio of Béxar) and María Zapopa Menchaca of Santiago de la Monclova, dated June–July 1719.
Why it happened
Their marriage faced a canonical impediment of consanguinity in the third degree. In plain terms they were close blood relatives. The kin chain stated by witnesses:
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Diego Flores de Valdés and Antonia Flores de Valdés were siblings.
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Diego’s natural son Cristobal de Carvajal was the father of Gerónimo de Carvajal.
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Antonia’s daughter Antonia Ximénez was the mother of María Zapopa Menchaca.
Result: Gerónimo and María were second cousins in civil terms, third degree in canon law.
The process
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5 Jun 1719: Vicar Joseph Flores at Monclova opened the inquiry after Gerónimo’s petition.
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18 Jun 1719: Sworn statements
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María Zapopa Menchaca (29) declared free consent, no vows, no coercion.
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Gerónimo de Carvajal (34) declared the same.
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Witnesses Juan Domingo de Castro and Antonio Maldonado confirmed free consent and no known impediments.
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Banns read on 8 and 11 June, then suspended when Captain Pedro Valdés denounced consanguinity.
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Valdés detailed the family links. Captain Thomas Flores independently confirmed the same lineage and added that María was poor, sheltered, and unlikely to have another match.
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15 Jun 1719: Vicar ordered a supplementary report to the diocesan authority.
The decision
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4 Jul 1719, Guadalajara: Fray Manuel de Mímbela, Provisor and Vicar General of the Bishopric of Guadalajara, reviewed the file. Using Inquisition faculties granted in Rome on 14 Feb 1715 under Pope Clement XI, he:
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Dispensed Gerónimo and María from the third-degree consanguinity.
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Authorized them to marry licitly and validly.
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Legitimated any children born of the marriage.
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Ordered the parish priest of Monclova to publish the remaining banns during Mass as per the Council of Trent and the Roman Ritual, celebrate the wedding in form, and report any further impediments.
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Key takeaways
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The couple were related through the Flores de Valdés siblings, which triggered a third-degree consanguinity impediment.
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The local Inquisition apparatus in New Spain handled frontier marriages with standard Tridentine procedure: petitions, sworn testimonies, banns, denunciation, and documentary proof.
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Final authority rested with the diocesan Provisor using standing Inquisition faculties.
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Outcome: dispensation granted and marriage cleared to proceed, with recordkeeping and banns instructions issued.
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