Manuscripts
The chronologically-arranged documents demonstrate the range of legal, administrative, ecclesiastical, military, and genealogical records initiated by government representatives, lawyers, litigants, clerics, and laypersons from the late sixteenth century to the middle of the nineteenth century. The bulk of the records are legal and contractual, including wills, testimonies, inheritance cases, power of attorney contracts, and financial agreements between individuals and/or institutions. Administrative and ecclesiastical records mostly include appoiintments to secular and religious offices as well as some Inquisition and genealogical documents. Military records document pensions, compensations, and other payments made by the Royal Treasury to former military officers. Prominent persons and places of colonial and national Mexico and Guatemala are represented in the collection, such as Juan Francisco de Güemes y Horcasitas, first count of Revillagigedo and viceroy of New Spain from 1746-1755; Juan Nazario Peimbert, lawyer who proposed the formation of an Indian army in the event of a French invasion in 1809; and Juan Antonio de Vizarrón, Archbishop of Mexico and Viceroy of New Spain from 1734-1740.
HM 71147
