Board of Trustees of the Sevilleta Grant.

The Sevilleta Land Grant was a community land grant located in northern Socorro County. It was granted on the 29th of May 1819 by the governor of the province of New Mexico, Governor Melgares. On December 4, 1893 the U.S. Court of Private Land Claims ruled the Grant as a valid claim. The grant was confirmed, plat and survey approved by the Court on December 12, 1901 totaling about 272,000 acres. The unallotted portion of the grant was 216,000 acres, which remained in communal lands. After New Mexico became a state, county taxes were leveled against the Grant. By 1920 the tax delinquency amounted to $23,000. At a public sale on August 14, 1928, the land was sold to the County. In 1934 the County sold the land to the highest bidder Thomas Campbell, who bought it for $76,750. He acquired about 216,000 acres of the grant. Descendants of the original grantees retained land adjacent to the river. In 1973 the Nature Conservancy bought the 216,000 acres from the Campbell Family Foundation. The Conservancy deeded it to the U.S. Government as a wildlife refuge. Today it is known as the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge and has been declared a Long-term Ecological Research Site by the National Science Foundation and United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

From the description of Records, 1887-1939 (bulk 1910-1939). (University of New Mexico-Main Campus). WorldCat record id: 50499872

The Sevilleta Land Grant was a community land grant located in northern Socorro County. It was granted on the 29th of May 1819 by the governor of the province of New Mexico, Governor Melgares. Miguel Aragon, Chief Alcalde of the jurisdiction of Belen notified the 67 original petitioners "that in order to enjoy the benefits of this grant they shall keep arms and horses..."

On December 4, 1893 the U.S. Court of Private Land Claims ruled the Grant as a valid claim. The grant was confirmed, plat and survey approved by the Court on December 12, 1901 totaling about 272,000 acres. There was a conflict with the Belen Grant over the boundary so it was re-surveyed. A grant board, Cuerpo de Fediscomisarios de La Merced de La Joya de Sebilleta, was elected. This board also known as the Board of Trustees of the Sevilleta de La Joya Grant, set up rules and regulations for governing the affairs of the grant. The first step was to decide how much land the descendants of each grantee was entitled to. Anyone in the community was permitted to sell whatever share he could definitely prove individual title to. There was a considerable amount of conflict and litigation among the villagers themselves before the matter of allotment was entirely settled. The unallotted portion of the grant was 216,000 acres, which remained communal lands.

In 1838, the Mexican Congress passed a law that gave tax-exempt status to common land and non-productive land. After New Mexico became a state, county taxes were levied against the Grant. No arrangement was provided whereby the taxes levied against the commonly owned portion of the grant could be paid. By 1920 the tax delinquency amounted to $23,000. Taxes for 1914-1922 were voided by the Court but beginning in 1923 the Grant was required to pay taxes. A tax judgement was rendered and at a public sale on August 14, 1928, the Sheriff of Socorro County sold the land to the highest bidder, which was the County. In 1934 the District Court ordered a sale of the property by the County, which was done through sealed bids on May 29, 1936. The highest bidder was Thomas Campbell, who bought it for $76,750. He acquired about 216,000 acres of the grant. Descendants of the original grantees retained land adjacent to the river normally used for growing crops. After the courts validated the sale of the grant to Campbell the villagers petitioned President Roosevelt and New Mexico Congressional representatives to intervene and assist them with a loan with which they could redeem the grant.

In 1973 the Nature Conservancy bought the 216,000 acres from the Campbell Family Foundation. The Conservancy deeded it to the U.S. Government as a wildlife refuge. Today it is known as the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge and has been declared a long-term ecological research site by the National Science Foundation and United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

From the guide to the Board of Trustees of the Sevilleta Grant Records, 1887-1939, (University of New Mexico. Center for Southwest Research.)