Juan de Archuleta II (abt. 1626 - abt. 1684) Maria Lujan (abt. 1635 - abt. 1684) Juan de Archuleta II and his wife María Luján were the parents of Juan de Archuleta III [abt. 1652-before 1703]. We know this from the well-documented source, Origin of New Mexico Families, by Fray Angélico Chávez Juan II was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico about 1626.  He was the son of Juan de Archuleta I [abt. 1602-1643] and an unknown mother. Juan II grew up among the leaders of New Mexico.  He was the grandson of Asencio de Arechuleta and Ana Pérez de Bustillo and related to the Márquez family.  The Santa Fe Cabildo members [City Council] were mostly kin.  In the animosity between the governors of New Mexico and the Franciscan friars, the very religious Archuletas took the side of the friars.  This central issue in early New Mexico was a tragedy for Juan’s entire family.  In 1643, when Juan was about seventeen, he was forced to watch the beheadings of his father, uncles, and other family members for their roles in the murder of ex-Governor Rosas. His uncle, Antonio Baca’s head was nailed to the gallows. This event on July 21, 1643 was the largest number of Europeans beheaded by other Europeans in the history of the New World.  Eight captains met their ends. Juan II may already have been a soldier when he watched his father die.. If not, he became one soon afterward.  He was married to María Luján about 1650. María was the daughter of Juan Luis Luján [abt. 1601-1663] and an unknown Sosa. Her grandfather had come to New Mexico from Spain’s Canary Islands and had married an Indian woman, probably one who came with him from the interior of Mexico, then New Spain.  María was, therefore, at least a quarter Indian, a mestiza.             After his family’s decimation, Juan sided with the governors of New Mexico in the continuing feud between the friars and the civil government. [p. 110, Spain in the Southwest, by John L. Kessell]  Like his father, Juan was assigned to bring some of the Taos Indians who had fled from Taos Pueblo during his father’s time, back to New Mexico in 1662.  Juan was very close to Governor Peñalosa. [p. 222, Kiva, Cross, and Crown, by John L. Kessell]             In August of 1680 Juan and María fled from New Mexico during the Pueblo Revolt and settled near El Paso.  About 1684 they, along with their family who remained at home, were killed at Ojito by the Suma Indians.  We do not know the names of the other children of Juan II and María, but we are descended from their son, Juan de Archuleta III [abt. 1652-before 1703].  He was not living at home when the attack came.  He had already married Isabel Gonzales  [abt. 1664-1759] and was beginning a family of his own. Juan III and Isabel were among those who resettled New Mexico in 1693.  Submitted by Donald Rivara, June 23, 2009. Copyright © Genealogy Trails All Rights Reserved with Full Rights Reserved for Original Contributor