Rancho El Alisal
Encyclopedia
Rancho El Alisal was a 8912 acres (36.1 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day Monterey County, California
given in 1833 by Governor José Figueroa
to brothers Feliciano and Mariano Soberanes and to William Edward Petty Hartnell
. Alisal means Alder tree (sycamore) in spanish. The grant was located approximately four miles southeast of present day Salinas
.
to the San Francisco Bay
in 1769. Soberanes married Maria Josefa Castro (1759-1822) and received Rancho Buena Vista
. Soberanes sons, Feliciano Soberanes and Mariano Soberanes, received several land grants in Monterey County.
Feliciano Soberanes (1788-1868) was born in Monterey
where he spent his whole life. He was regidor in l829-1830, and then alcade at Monterey in 1838-1839. He married Maria Antonia Rodriguez (1795-1883) in 1810. Feliciano was the grantee of Rancho San Lorenzo
in 1841. Feliciano became administrator of Mission Soledad
lands and received the Rancho Ex-Mission Soledad
grant in 1845. Maria Josefa Soberanes, daughter of Feliciano, was granted Rancho Los Coches
in 1841. Francisco Maria Soberanes (1818-1887), son of Feliciano, was granted Rancho Sanjon de Santa Rita
in 1841.
Mariano de Jesus Soberanes (1794-1859) was a soldier and also held the office of alcade in Monterey. Mariano Soberanes married María Isidora Vallejo (1791-1830), sister of General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo
. Their daughter, Maria Ygnacia Soberanes, married Dr. Edward Turner Bale
grantee of Rancho Carne Humana
. Mariano de Jesus Soberanes was granted Rancho San Bernardo
and Rancho Los Ojitos
in 1842.
In 1833, the brothers, Feliciano and Mariano Soberanes, went into a partnership with Hartnell.
, moved to his Rancho El Alisal.
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 one square league was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1853, and the grant was patented
at 5941 acres (24 km²) to Bruno Bernal in 1866.
A claim was filed for two-thirds of a square league with the Public Land Commission in 1852, and the grant was patented at 2971 acres (12 km²) to Hartnell's wife, Maria Teresa de la Guerra, in 1882.
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 1833 by Governor José Figueroa
José Figueroa
General José Figueroa , was a General and the Mexican territorial Governor of Alta California from 1833 to 1835.Figueroa oversaw the initial secularization of the missions of upper California, which included the expulsion of the Spanish Franciscan mission officials.This also involved the issuing of...
to brothers Feliciano and Mariano Soberanes and to William Edward Petty Hartnell
William Edward Petty Hartnell
William Edward Petty Hartnell, a.k.a. Don Guillermo Arnel was a prominent early immigrant to Alta California who played a vital role in the history of Monterey County, California as well as the history of California.-Early life:William Hartnell was born in Backbarrow, Lancashire, England, and...
. Alisal means Alder tree (sycamore) in spanish. The grant was located approximately four miles southeast of present day Salinas
Salinas, California
Salinas is the county seat and the largest municipality of Monterey County, California. Salinas is located east-southeast of the mouth of the Salinas River, at an elevation of about 52 feet above sea level. The population was 150,441 at the 2010 census...
.
History
The Soberanes family partiarch, José Maria Soberanes (1753-1803) accompanied the Portola expeditionPortola expedition
250px|right|Point of San Francisco Bay DiscoveryThe Portolá Expedition was led by Gaspar de Portolá from July 14, 1769 to January 24, 1770. It was the first recorded Spanish land entry and exploration of present day California, United States...
to the San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay is a shallow, productive estuary through which water draining from approximately forty percent of California, flowing in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers from the Sierra Nevada mountains, enters the Pacific Ocean...
in 1769. Soberanes married Maria Josefa Castro (1759-1822) and received Rancho Buena Vista
Rancho Buena Vista (Soberanes)
Rancho Buena Vista was a Spanish land concession in the Salinas Valley, in present day Monterey County, California given in 1795 to Jose Maria Soberanes and Joaquin Castro. The grant was just south of Spreckels.-History:...
. Soberanes sons, Feliciano Soberanes and Mariano Soberanes, received several land grants in Monterey County.
Feliciano Soberanes (1788-1868) was born 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...
where he spent his whole life. He was regidor in l829-1830, and then alcade at Monterey in 1838-1839. He married Maria Antonia Rodriguez (1795-1883) in 1810. Feliciano was the grantee of Rancho San Lorenzo
Rancho San Lorenzo (Soberanes)
Rancho San Lorenzo was a Mexican land grant in the southern Salinas Valley, in present day Monterey County, California given in 1841 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Feliciano Soberanes...
in 1841. Feliciano became administrator of Mission Soledad
Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad
Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad is in the Salinas Valley near Soledad, in central Monterey County, California. The mission was founded on October 9, 1791 for the increasing settlement of upper Las Californias Province of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, and for the Indian Reductions to convert...
lands and received the Rancho Ex-Mission Soledad
Rancho Ex-Mission Soledad
Rancho Ex-Mission Soledad was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1845 by Governor Pío Pico to Feliciano Soberanes...
grant in 1845. Maria Josefa Soberanes, daughter of Feliciano, was granted Rancho Los Coches
Rancho Los Coches (Soberanes)
Rancho Los Coches was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1841 by Governor Juan Alvarado to María Josefa Soberanes. The name means "the pigs". The grant was south of Soledad and extended along the Arroyo Seco.-History:...
in 1841. Francisco Maria Soberanes (1818-1887), son of Feliciano, was granted Rancho Sanjon de Santa Rita
Rancho Sanjon de Santa Rita
Rancho Sanjon de Santa Rita was a Mexican land grant mostly in present day Merced County, California and also a small part in Fresno County, California given in 1841 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Francisco Maria Soberanes. Sanjon is Spanish for ditch or deep slough...
in 1841.
Mariano de Jesus Soberanes (1794-1859) was a soldier and also held the office of alcade in Monterey. Mariano Soberanes married María Isidora Vallejo (1791-1830), sister of General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo
Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo
Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo was a Californian military commander, politician, and rancher. He was born a subject of Spain, performed his military duties as an officer of Mexico, and shaped the transition of California from a Mexican district to an American state...
. Their daughter, Maria Ygnacia Soberanes, married Dr. Edward Turner Bale
Edward Turner Bale
Edward Turner Bale was an English immigrant physician who built the Bale Grist Mill in Napa County, California.-Life:...
grantee of Rancho Carne Humana
Rancho Carne Humana
Rancho Carne Humana was a Mexican land grant in present day Napa County, California given in 1841 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Edward Turner Bale. The name means "human flesh" in Spanish. There is speculation as to why the name was chosen. The grant was originally called "Huilic Noma" and also...
. Mariano de Jesus Soberanes was granted Rancho San Bernardo
Rancho San Bernardo (Soberanes)
Rancho San Bernardo was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1841 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Mariano de Jesus Soberanes and Juan Soberanes. The grant extended along the west bank of the Salinas River...
and Rancho Los Ojitos
Rancho Los Ojitos
Rancho Los Ojitos was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1842 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Mariano de Jesus Soberanes...
in 1842.
In 1833, the brothers, Feliciano and Mariano Soberanes, went into a partnership with Hartnell.
Rancho El Alisal (Bernal)
The Soberanes portion of Rancho El Alisal was purchased by the Bernal family. In 1855, Bruno Bernal (1799-1863), son of Jose Joaquin Bernal, grantee of Rancho Santa TeresaRancho Santa Teresa
Rancho Santa Teresa was a Mexican land grant in present day Santa Clara County, California given in 1834 by Governor José Figueroa to José Joaquín Bernal...
, moved to his Rancho El Alisal.
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 one square league 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 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...
at 5941 acres (24 km²) to Bruno Bernal in 1866.
Rancho El Alisal (Hartnell)
Hartnell (1798 – 1854) named his new property El Patrocinio de San Jose (the patronage of Saint Joseph). Hartnell sold Rancho El Alisal to his former pupil Juan Alvarado in 1841.A claim was filed for two-thirds of a square league with the Public Land Commission in 1852, and the grant was patented at 2971 acres (12 km²) to Hartnell's wife, Maria Teresa de la Guerra, in 1882.