Rancho Arroyo Seco (Torre)
Encyclopedia
Rancho Arroyo Seco was a 16523 acres (66.9 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day Monterey County, California
given in 1840 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to Joaquín de la Torre. The grant extended along the west bank of the Salinas River
at Arroyo Seco Creek, and encompassed present day Greenfield
.
in Monterey
, and afterwards secretary to Governor Pablo Vicente de Solá
. Torre married Maria Los Angeles Cota (1790–1877) in 1803. Torre was granted the two square league Rancho Bolsa del Potrero y Moro Cojo
in 1822 Governor Sola, and the four square league Rancho Arroyo Seco in 1840 by Governor Alvarado. In 1845, Joaquin de la Torre and a detachment of fifty-six armed and mounted volunteers, was sent by Alvarado to capture Los Angeles. The raid upon the unsuspecting pueblo was accomplished quickly and the Pico brothers
, along with José Antonio Carrillo
, were taken into custody. Joaquín de la Torre commanded José Castro's troops at the Battle of Olompali
in 1846.
With the cession
of California to the United States following the Mexican-American War, the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
provided that the land grants would be honored. As required by the Land Act of 1851, a claim for Rancho Arroyo Seco was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1852, and the grant was patented
to Joaquín de la Torre in 1859.
John S. Clark founded the California Home Extension Association which in 1902, purchased of 4000 acres (16 km²) of Rancho Arroyo Seco. The colony grew and became known as Clark City, and eventually as Greenfield.
Ranchos of California
The Spanish, and later the Méxican government encouraged settlement of territory now known as California by the establishment of large land grants called ranchos, from which the English ranch is derived. Devoted to raising cattle and sheep, the owners of the ranchos attempted to pattern themselves...
in present day Monterey County, California
Monterey County, California
Monterey County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, its northwestern section forming the southern half of Monterey Bay. The northern half of the bay is in Santa Cruz County. As of 2010, the population was 415,057. The county seat and largest city is Salinas...
given in 1840 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to Joaquín de la Torre. The grant extended along the west bank of the Salinas River
Salinas River (California)
The Salinas River is the largest river of the central coast of California, running and draining 4,160 square miles. It flows north-northwest and drains the Salinas Valley that slices through the Coast Range south from Monterey Bay...
at Arroyo Seco Creek, and encompassed present day Greenfield
Greenfield, California
Greenfield is a city in Monterey County, California, United States. Greenfield is located southeast of Salinas, at an elevation of 289 feet . The city was the fastest growing in the county during the 2000s, the population was 12,583 in 2000, increasing to 16,330 in the 2010 census. Its most...
.
History
José Joaquín de la Torre was a soldier who was alcaldeAlcalde
Alcalde , or Alcalde ordinario, is the traditional Spanish municipal magistrate, who had both judicial and administrative functions. An alcalde was, in the absence of a corregidor, the presiding officer of the Castilian cabildo and judge of first instance of a town...
in Monterey
Monterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
, and afterwards secretary to Governor Pablo Vicente de Solá
Pablo Vicente de Solá
Pablo Vicente de Solá , the last Spanish governor of Alta California from 1815-1822....
. Torre married Maria Los Angeles Cota (1790–1877) in 1803. Torre was granted the two square league Rancho Bolsa del Potrero y Moro Cojo
Rancho Bolsa del Potrero y Moro Cojo
Rancho Bolsa del Potrero y Moro Cojo was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1822 by Governor Pablo Vicente de Solá to Joaquín de la Torre...
in 1822 Governor Sola, and the four square league Rancho Arroyo Seco in 1840 by Governor Alvarado. In 1845, Joaquin de la Torre and a detachment of fifty-six armed and mounted volunteers, was sent by Alvarado to capture Los Angeles. The raid upon the unsuspecting pueblo was accomplished quickly and the Pico brothers
Pío Pico
Pío de Jesús Pico was the last Governor of Alta California under Mexican rule.-Origins:...
, along with José Antonio Carrillo
José Antonio Carrillo
Captain José Antonio Ezequiel Carrillo was a Californio rancher, officer, and politician in the early years of Mexican Alta California and U.S...
, were taken into custody. Joaquín de la Torre commanded José Castro's troops at the Battle of Olompali
Battle of Olompali
The Battle of Olómpali was fought on June 24, 1846 in present day Marin County, California. It was the first battle of the Mexican-American War fought in California.-Background:...
in 1846.
With the cession
Mexican Cession
The Mexican Cession of 1848 is a historical name in the United States for the region of the present day southwestern United States that Mexico ceded to the U.S...
of California to the United States following the Mexican-American War, the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is the peace treaty, largely dictated by the United States to the interim government of a militarily occupied Mexico City, that ended the Mexican-American War on February 2, 1848...
provided that the land grants would be honored. As required by the Land Act of 1851, a claim for Rancho Arroyo Seco was filed with the Public Land Commission
Public Land Commission
The Public Land Commission, a former agency of the United States government, was created following the admission of California as a state in 1850 . The Commission's purpose was to determine the validity of prior Spanish and Mexican land grants in California.California Senator William M...
in 1852, and the grant was patented
Land patent
A land patent is a land grant made patent by the sovereign lord over the land in question. To make a such a grant “patent”, such a sovereign lord must document the land grant, securely sign and seal the document and openly publish the same to the public for all to see...
to Joaquín de la Torre in 1859.
John S. Clark founded the California Home Extension Association which in 1902, purchased of 4000 acres (16 km²) of Rancho Arroyo Seco. The colony grew and became known as Clark City, and eventually as Greenfield.