first the placer

[Ron]

Joe,

There were in fact claims filed in Mesilla , New Mexico before Arizona became a state , and in fact before it became a territory. As stated in the book, titled , " Spanish and Mexican Records of the American Southwest, " by Henry Beers, on page314," In 1851,that part of Arizona north of the Gila had been placed , for administrative purposes,under the territory of New Mexico, and after the United States acquired the strip south of the river,it was made part of Dona Ana County, in the territory of New Mexico. An act of Congress of February 24, 1863, created the Arizona teritory, and included in its boundaries the western portion of the Gadsden purchase."

For some years after, claims in Arizona territory were still filed in Mesilla , New Mexico, which was the county seat of Dona Ana County.

[Joe Ribaudo]

Ron,

You have been gone longer than you realized. It would appear that you are creating a new topic each time you post, instead of posting a reply.
It is not a huge problem and will only require a few days of retraining by a competent medical professional.

You are miles outside my limited knowledge, with this New Mexico stuff. The tenured forum professors will have to chime in here.

Joe