<p>Both of his parents were born in Portugal and both died when Francisco was a child.  The family was most likely a noble family as is suggested by Francisco's later fate.  He was raised by his elder brother Fray Alvaro Gomez, a Franciscan in Lisbon, Portugal and the Commisary of the Holy Office of the Inquisition.  Later he was passed on to the household of Don Alonso de Onate at the Court of the ailing King Phillip II of Spain in Madrid.  Like he was in the Spanish court when the king died in 1598.  </p><p>It's believed he was well acquainted with the new Spanish King Phillip III.  Onate brought him to Mexico City with him in about 1604.  From there Francisco went to New Mexico with Onate and joined the colony of Governor Juan de Onate, Alonso Onate's brother.  Juan de Onate was the famous explorer and Conquistador of the Onate Expeditions.  </p><p>In 1616 and 1625 Francisco was the leader of the Mexico City wagon train escort and in the later year he conductd Governor Sotelo and Fray Alonso Benavides and a statue of the Virgin Mary, La Conquistadora, which became forever famous in NM through the initial efforts of his wife and children.  </p><p>Francisco held the office of High Sheriff of the Holy Office of the Inquistion.  IN 1641 he was appointed Interim Colonial Governor by the dying Gov Rosas of NM but Francisco was not accepted by the hostile Cabildo (council).  He held the office for a short time until 1641.  </p><p>Francisco's enemies accused him of practicing Judaism.  In fact they claimed he was born a Jew. There is no evidence of that, however, even though genetic studies show that several of our ancestral lines have Jewish or Moorish origins.  </p><p>Francisco was given a Royal Cedula (document) making him a Caballero Hidalgo, the lowest level of Spanish nobility.  Although all of the 1598 original colonists of NM had been promised this title aparently Francisco is the only peron to have received it AND he did NOT arrive in NM in 1598 either!  His wife Ana Robledo was granted a Coat of Arms after Francisco died by the Spanish King in honor of her husband.  Today tiles bearing this coat of arms are on the wall of the Angelico Chavez Library in the Palace of Governors in Santa Fe, NM.  </p><p>Ana spent her final years living in Taos Valley with the family of her daughter, Francisca Gomez Robledo.  The Pueblo Revolt began in 1680 and began at the Taos Pueblo.  The Indians attacked the rancho Ana was living on and killed Ana, Francisca, and 3 of Francisca's daughers.  Francisca's other children were either soldiers or married women who lived elsewhere.  More family members were also killed but they have not been identified as yet.</p><p> </p><p>SOURCE:</p><p>http://genealogytrails.com/newmex/santafe/bios2.html#valdes</p>