Rancho Cañada de la Segunda
Encyclopedia
Rancho Cañada de la Segunda was a 4367 acres (17.7 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day Monterey County, California
given in 1839 by Governor José Castro to Lazaro Soto. The grant extended along the north bank of the Carmel River
, from the Pacific coast and present day Carmel-by-the-Sea
up into the Carmel Valley.
. Lazaro Soto was also a soldier in the Mexican army of California. Lazaro Soto received the one square league grant in Carmel Valley in 1839. Lazaro Soto married Felicita Cantua and he and his family resided in Monterey
. Lazaro Soto was the officer in charge of horses and munitions at the Battle of Natividad
.
Lazaro Soto sold Rancho Canada de la Segunda to Andrew Randall. Andrew Randall (1819–1856), a native of Rhode Island
, came to California on the U.S.S. Portsmouth in 1846. Randall was a geologist with medical training. He founded, and was elected chairman of the California Academy of Sciences
. In addition to Rancho Cañada de la Segunda, he was the claimant for Rancho San Lorenzo
in Monterey County; Rancho Punta de los Reyes
and Rancho Punta de los Reyes Sobrante
in Marin County
; and Rancho Aguas Frias
in Butte County
- a little over 110000 acres (445 km²). However Randall had stretched his credit to the limit, and he could not, or would not pay immediately. Joseph Hetherington, a creditor, undertook to force payment by hounding him on every occasion with insults and threats. Hetherington fatally shot Randall in a San Francisco hotel on July 24, 1856. Hetherington was allowed to have an interview with his attorney Fletcher Mathews Haight
, and the Committee of Vigilance hanged Hetherington July 29, 1856.
Fletcher M. Haight (1799–1866), a prominent San Francisco lawyer, acquired the property from the Randall estate.
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 Cañada de la Segunda was filed by Andrew Randall with the Public Land Commission
in 1853, and the grant was patented
to Fletcher M. Haight in 1859.
Faxon Dean Atherton
(1815–1877)acquired the rancho in 1869. Will Hatton (1849–1894), born in Ireland
and married to Kate Harney, came to California in 1870. Hatton managed Rancho Los Laureles
for the Pacific Improvement Company. In 1888, Hatton became the manager of the widowed Dominga de Atherton's Rancho Cañada de la Segunda, and by 1892, Hatton had purchased the Rancho.
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 1839 by Governor José Castro to Lazaro Soto. The grant extended along the north bank of the Carmel River
Carmel River
The Carmel River is a river on the Central Coast of California in Monterey County that originates in the Santa Lucia Mountains. The river flows northwest through the Carmel Valley with its mouth at the Pacific Ocean south of Carmel-by-the-Sea. It is often considered the northern boundary of Big Sur...
, from the Pacific coast and present day Carmel-by-the-Sea
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Carmel-by-the-Sea, often called simply Carmel, is a small city in Monterey County, California, United States, founded in 1902 and incorporated in 1916. Situated on the Monterey Peninsula, the town is known for its natural scenery and rich artistic history...
up into the Carmel Valley.
History
Lazaro Soto's grandfather, Ygnacio Soto, came to California with the De Anza Expedition. His father, Ysidoro Soto, was an officer in the Mexican army at MontereyMonterey, 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...
. Lazaro Soto was also a soldier in the Mexican army of California. Lazaro Soto received the one square league grant in Carmel Valley in 1839. Lazaro Soto married Felicita Cantua and he and his family resided 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...
. Lazaro Soto was the officer in charge of horses and munitions at the Battle of Natividad
Battle of Natividad
The Battle of the Natividad took place on November 16, 1846 in the Salinas Valley, in present day Monterey County, California, during the California Campaign of the Mexican-American War, between United States organized California militia and loyalist Mexican militia.-Battle:San Juan Bautista was...
.
Lazaro Soto sold Rancho Canada de la Segunda to Andrew Randall. Andrew Randall (1819–1856), a native of Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, came to California on the U.S.S. Portsmouth in 1846. Randall was a geologist with medical training. He founded, and was elected chairman of the California Academy of Sciences
California Academy of Sciences
The California Academy of Sciences is among the largest museums of natural history in the world. The academy began in 1853 as a learned society and still carries out a large amount of original research, with exhibits and education becoming significant endeavors of the museum during the twentieth...
. In addition to Rancho Cañada de la Segunda, he was the claimant for Rancho San Lorenzo
Rancho San Lorenzo (Randall)
Rancho San Lorenzo was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1842 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Francisco Rico. The grant extended along San Lorenzo Creek in Peach Tree Valley.-History:...
in Monterey County; Rancho Punta de los Reyes
Rancho Punta de los Reyes (Randall)
Rancho Punta de los Reyes was a Mexican land grant in present day West Marin County, California given in 1836 by Governor Nicolás Gutiérrez to James Richard Berry, and re-granted in 1838 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to Joseph Snook...
and Rancho Punta de los Reyes Sobrante
Rancho Punta de los Reyes Sobrante
Rancho Punta de los Reyes Sobrante was a Mexican land grant in present day West Marin County, California given by Governor Manuel Micheltorena in 1843 to Antonio Maria Osio. The name means "Leftover of Point Reyes Ranch"...
in Marin County
Marin County, California
Marin County is a county located in the North San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. As of 2010, the population was 252,409. The county seat is San Rafael and the largest employer is the county government. Marin County is well...
; and Rancho Aguas Frias
Rancho Aguas Frias
Rancho Aguas Frias was a Mexican land grant in present day Butte County, California given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Antonio Maria Osio and his son Salvador Osio. Aguas Frias means "cold water" in Spanish. The grant, located south of present day Chico, extended along the west...
in Butte County
Butte County, California
Butte County is a county located in the Central Valley of the US state of California, north of the state capital of Sacramento. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 220,000. The county seat is Oroville. Butte County is the "Land of Natural Wealth and Beauty."Butte County is watered by the...
- a little over 110000 acres (445 km²). However Randall had stretched his credit to the limit, and he could not, or would not pay immediately. Joseph Hetherington, a creditor, undertook to force payment by hounding him on every occasion with insults and threats. Hetherington fatally shot Randall in a San Francisco hotel on July 24, 1856. Hetherington was allowed to have an interview with his attorney Fletcher Mathews Haight
Fletcher Mathews Haight
Fletcher Mathews Haight was a United States federal judge.Born in Elmira, New York, Haight read law to enter the bar in 1820. He was in private practice in Bath, New York from 1820 to the present. Private practice, Rochester, New York, -1834. He was a President, City Bank of Rochester from 1834 to...
, and the Committee of Vigilance hanged Hetherington July 29, 1856.
Fletcher M. Haight (1799–1866), a prominent San Francisco lawyer, acquired the property from the Randall estate.
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 Cañada de la Segunda was filed by Andrew Randall 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 1853, 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 Fletcher M. Haight in 1859.
Faxon Dean Atherton
Faxon Atherton
Faxon Dean Atherton was an American businessman and landowner, and was a prominent citizen of San Mateo County, California. He is the namesake of Atherton, California.-Early life:...
(1815–1877)acquired the rancho in 1869. Will Hatton (1849–1894), born in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and married to Kate Harney, came to California in 1870. Hatton managed Rancho Los Laureles
Rancho Los Laureles
Rancho Los Laureles was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1839 by Governor Juan Alvarado to José M. Boronda and Vicente Blas Martínez. Los Laureles refers to the California Bay Laurel tree...
for the Pacific Improvement Company. In 1888, Hatton became the manager of the widowed Dominga de Atherton's Rancho Cañada de la Segunda, and by 1892, Hatton had purchased the Rancho.