Posted on: Costilla County, Co Query Forum Board URL: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/genbbs.cgi/USA/Co/Costilla?read=48 Surname: chavez ------------------------- have you searched earlier than 1880 in The Precinct of Culebra, Territory of NM? Chavez were very early settlers here, especially descendants of Juan Nepomuceno Duran y Chavez and Maria Clara Sanchez. Clara was the daughter of Pascuala de la Luz Montes Vigil. The couple had at least nine children that I know of and most migrated to San Luis de la Culebra from Taos during the early days of the founding of the area. Later they migrated to Plaza de Los Chaves, which no longer exists, near Gardner. Only a few families stayed here.