Wills and Testaments in the Spanish Colonial Southwest

This presentation uncovers the genealogical treasures hidden within Spanish colonial wills and testaments. Far more than simple legal documents, these records provide rare insights into family relationships, inheritance patterns, and extended kinship networks that shaped colonial communities. Detailed inventories of clothing, household goods, livestock, and personal possessions offer intimate glimpses into the daily lives of our colonial ancestors — revealing their values, cultural traditions, devotion to faith, and resilience on the far edges of the Spanish frontier. Attendees will also learn where to locate these records, how to analyze their contents, and effective strategies for integrating them into personal research to build richer, more accurate family histories.