James was the husband of Petra (Gutierrez) Giddings

They were married in 1842 in Santa Fe, New Mexico



He was the son of George W Giddings and Frances Tandy Giddings

James Giddings was one of the first Americanos to come to New Mexico. He showed up in New Mexico perhaps as a trader a few years before the 1846 U.S. invasion of Mexico and take over of Santa Fe. A resident of Santa Fe he married Petra Gutierrez on 6 May, 1842 at the Saint Francis Church. The marriage record notes that he was from the United States of North America. His parents were George Giddings (written as Girens) and Francisca Jandy. Her parents were Gabriel Gutierrez (written Butieres) and Dolores Sisneros. Her parents were from old Rio Abajo families. Perhaps Giddings ended up purchasing part of the Agua Negra grant because of his status (he was the Clerk of Santa Fe Circuit Court) or possible connections to the Sandoval owners of the Agua Negra land grant who lived in the Rio Abajo.


1850 fed census, Santa Fe, Santa Fe co., New Mexico Territory

James Giddings age 39 born Kentucky
Petra Giddings age 29 born NM
Frances Tandy giddings age 7 born NM
George Giddings age 5 born NM
Elizabeth Giddings age 1 born NM



1870 Fed Census, township of Agua Negra, San Miguel Co., New Mexico

James M Giddings age 59 born Kentucky
Petra Giddings age 46 born New Mexico (wife)
William Giddings age 18 born NM (son)
Refugio age 14 born NM (Dau)
Juan Giddings age12 born NM (son)
Santiago Giddings age 9 born NM (son)
Tandy Giddings age7 born NM (son)
Albert Giddings age 5 born NM (son)



1880 Fed Census, Santa Rosa, San Miguel Co., NM

J.M. Giddings age 69 born Kentucky
B. William Giddings age 29 born NM (son)
John Giddings age 22 born NM (son)
B. Tandy Giddings age 17 born NM (son)
Sofia Bazan age 5 born NM (Grandau)
Maria Greigo age 24 born NM (other)
Romulo Griego age 10 (other)
Albert Giddings age 15 born NM (son)
Jesus Jaramillo age 24 born NM (other)
Petra Giddings age 56 born NM (wife)