Juan Antonio Benavides
Santa Fe Presidio Soldier
and SAR Patriot

On 23 July 2003, the National Society Sons of the American Revolution admitted NMGS member Leroy Frank Martinez to their membership, based on descent from Juan Antonio Benavides, approved by the Registrar General under National Number 160748 and the California Society.

Juan Antonio Benavides assisted in establishing American Independence while acting in the capacity of soldier at the Santa Fe presidio during the American Revolution. He enlisted 1 July 1779, and was killed in a battle with Indians on 6 October 1796. The statement of descent is presented below to assist other researchers who may be able to prove descent to this patriot.

Leroy Frank Martinez, born 10 February 1945 at Globe, Arizona.

Son of Jose Leopoldo Felipe Martinez, born 18 August 1914 at San Pedro, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, and his wife, Guadalupe Sanchez, born 1 April 1922 at Miami, Gila County, Arizona. Married 31 July 1943 at Miami, Gila County, Arizona.

Grandson of Jose Nicasio Martinez, born 11 October 1893 at San Pedro, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, died 22 November 1918 at Santa Cruz, Santa Fe County, New Mexico, and Maria Vitalia Trujillo, born 4 April 1892 at San Ildefonso, Santa Fe County, New Mexico, died 16 March 1916 at Santa Cruz, Santa Fe County, New Mexico. Married 11 May 1914 at Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Great-grandson of Jose Apolinar Trujillo, born 22 July 1862 at Santa Cruz, Santa Fe County, New Mexico; died at San Ildefonso, Santa Fe County, New Mexico, and Basilia Garcia, born ca. 1866 in New Mexico, died at San Ildefonso, Santa Fe County, New Mexico. Married ca. 1887 at San Ildefonso, Santa Fe County, New Mexico.

Great-great grandson of Jose Sisto Trujillo, born 5 April 1839 at Pojoaque, Santa Fe County, New Mexico, and Maria Faustina Duran, born ca. 1842 at Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, New Mexico. Married 7 January 1861 at San Ildefonso, Santa Fe County, New Mexico.

Great-great-great grandson of Jose Dolores Trujillo, born 31 March 1811 at Santa Cruz, Santa Fe County, New Mexico, and Maria Estefana Quintana, born 4 July 1815 at Pojoaque, Santa Fe County, New Mexico. Married 7 March 1836 at Pojoaque, Santa Fe County, New Mexico.

Great-great-great-great grandson of Jose Antonio De Jesus Quintana, born 25 March 1778 at San Ildefonso, Santa Fe County, New Mexico, and Maria Juliana De Jesus Benavides, born 8 January 1786 at Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, New Mexico. Married 9 March 1801at Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, New Mexico.

Great-great-great-great-great grandson of Juan Antonio Benavides, born 20 February 1753 at San Juan De Los Caballeros, New Mexico, and died 6 October 1796 in New Mexico, and Maria Rosa Esquivel. Married 18 May 1777 at Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, New Mexico.

Members of California and New Mexico SAR and DAR at close of 2003.

California
1998 Peter David Hill. Ancestor: Jose Maximo Alanis, San Diego Presidio, California.
1998 Stephen Darrel Machado. Ancestor: Manuel Machado/Orchaga, Santa Barbara Presidio, California.
1998 John William Heaney. Ancestors: Captain Jose Ortega, Corporal Manuel R. Arellano, Corporal Jose M Ortega, and Francisco S. Lugo, all of California Presidios.
1998 Ted Felix Spriggs. Ancestor: Lt. Juan Pablo Grijalva, de Anza Expedition to California and San Francisco Presidio.
1999 Paul Edgar Trejo. Ancestor: Manuel Butron, Catalonian Bluecoat, Monterey Presidio, California.

New Mexico
1999 Charles Martinez y Vigil. Ancestor: Francisco Martin Torres, Soldado de Cuera.
2000 Jodi McGinnis Porter. Ancestor: Jose Antonio Ortiz, Alcalde Mayor.
2001 Jose T. Sanchez. Ancestor: Antonio Xavier Madrid, Soldado de Cuera.
2001 Joey R. Torrez. Ancestor: Antonio Xavier Madrid, Soldado de Cuera.
2002 Eva Torres Aschenbrener. Ancestor: Juan Luis de Herrera, Corporal.
2002 James A. Lovato. Ancestor: Juan Antonio de Urioste, Soldado de Cuera.
2002 Virginia Sanchez. Ancestor: Antonio Xavier Madrid, Soldado de Cuera.
2002 Eric A. Hernandez. Ancestor: Antonio Xavier Madrid, Soldado de Cuera.
2003 Henrietta M. Christmas. Ancestor: Antonio Xavier Madrid, Soldado de Cuera.
2003 Leroy F. Martinez. Ancestor: Juan Antonio Benavides, Santa Fe Presidio.

Qualifying for SAR Membership

Dates of Service: Spanish Patriot participation dates for acceptance are from 1779 to 1783.
In March 2003 the rules were expanded to include an ancestor who was a Spanish soldier anywhere in the world during those dates. See precise qualifications for membership below.

Qualifications:
(Source - Antonio Jose Esquibel, http://pages.prodigy.net/bluemountain1/sarqual.htm.)

"Any man shall be eligible for membership in this Society who, being of the age of eighteen years or over and a citizen of good repute in the community, is the lineal descendant of an ancestor who was at all times unfailing in loyalty to, and rendered active service in, the cause of American independence, either as an officer, soldier, seaman, marine, militiaman or Minuteman, in the armed forces of the Continental Congress, or of any one of the several Colonies or states; or as a Signer of the Declaration of Independence, or as a member of the Committee of Safety or Correspondence; or as a member of any Continental, Provincial, or Colonial Congress or Legislation; or as a recognized patriot who performed actual service by overt acts of resistance to the authority of Great Britain." In addition, the SAR defines as one aspect of acceptable services as 'Rendering material aid, such as furnishing supplies with or without remuneration; lending money to the Colonies, munition makers, and gunsmiths; or anything which furthered the Cause."

Questions regarding the SAR application can be directed to any of the following persons:

The man who helped bring Spanish Patriots of California to New Mexico as part of SAR, Dr. Grandville W. Hough, at gwhough@earthlink.net,

New Mexico State SAR President Charles Martinez y Vigil at granbelador@hotmail.com,

South Coast California Chapter Chancellor Leroy Martinez at leroymartinez1@cox.net or (949) 581-3270.

A list of Patriots from various Presidios (i.e. Santa Fe) who qualify for the Sons of the American Revolution under Spanish Soldiers can be found on the South Coast Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution website, http://www.southcoastsar.org/SantaFe.htm) or other named Presidios.

Jose Antonio Esquibel's website (http://pages.prodigy.net/bluemountain1/sar.htm)

DAR or SAR Membership

See (on this web site): DAR New Mexico Colonial Patriot Soldiers and Alcalde Mayores and American Battle Monuments Commission by NMGS member Virginia Sanchez.

She also maintains a highly informative web site at http://home.comcast.net/~virginia.sanchez/patriotfaq.htm . It contains guidelines and answers questions about both DAR and SAR applications. Virginia can be reached by email at virginia.sanchez@comcast.net.