Rancho El Pinole
Encyclopedia
Rancho El Pinole was a 17761 acres (71.9 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day Contra Costa County, California
given in 1842 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Ygnacio Martinez. Rancho El Pinole extended over land that today includes most of the Franklin Ridge, Crockett
, Hercules
, Martinez, Oleum, Pinole, Rodeo, Selby and Tormey.
from 1822–1827, and again from 1828–1832, and was a member of the town council in 1824 and 1827. Martinez retired in 1831. Martinez represented to the Mexican authorities in 1834, that in consideration of his military service, Governor Luís Antonio Argüello
in 1823 gave him title to a tract of land known as Pinole y Canada del Hambre. Martinez stated that he had lost his title papers. Record evidence was not found to support his claim, and he was required to petition anew, which he did in 1837. While proceedings were pending upon the Martinez petition, Felipe Briones in 1839, also petitioned for a grant of El Pinole. In 1842, Governor Alvarado, made a four square league grant of Rancho El Pinole to Ygnacio Martinez, and a three square league grant of Rancho Boca de la Canada del Pinole
to Briones.
Martínez did not move his family to the rancho until 1836, living until that time at the Pueblo of San José. To fulfill the requirements upon which grants were made by the government, he proceeded to build a home and other homes of adobe in the valley of Pinole about two and half miles from San Pablo Bay
. Martinez occupied and cultivated a large portion of the land, and set out a vineyard and fruit orchards. Ygnacio Martinez died in 1848, and his eleven children inherited his property.Ygnacio Martinez’s daughter, Maria A. Martinez, was married to William A. Richardson. Martinez’s daughter Susana, was married to Colonel William M. Smith.
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 was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1852, and the grant was patented
to María Antonia Martínez de Richardson et al. in 1868.
In 1849 William M. Smith established the town site of Martinez
on 120 acre (0.4856232 km²). Later the heirs of William Welch of the adjacent Rancho Las Juntas
, who owned the property on the east side of Arroyo del Hambre (Alhambra Creek
), contributed another 500 acres (2 km²) to be included in the new town.
In 1865, John Tormey purchased 2000 acres (8.1 km²) of the Rancho El Pinole from some of the Martinez heirs. And in 1867, John Tormey and his brother Patrick purchased an additional 7000 acres (28.3 km²) from the Martinez heirs. The Tormey brothers divided their purchase into two portions. John Tormey took the western half, which encompassed Pinole
and additional parts of the Pinole and Briones Valley
s. Patrick Tormey's share to the north and east, included the Rodeo Valley and what would eventually become the towns of Rodeo
, Oleum
, Selby
and Tormey
.
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 Contra Costa County, California
Contra Costa County, California
Contra Costa County is a primarily suburban county in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 1,049,025...
given in 1842 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Ygnacio Martinez. Rancho El Pinole extended over land that today includes most of the Franklin Ridge, Crockett
Crockett, California
Crockett is a census-designated place in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 3,094 at the 2010 census...
, Hercules
Hercules, California
Hercules is a city in western Contra Costa County, California. Situated along the coast of San Pablo Bay, it is located in the eastern region of the San Francisco Bay Area, about northeast of San Francisco. The city has a 2010 population of 24,060 according to the U.S...
, Martinez, Oleum, Pinole, Rodeo, Selby and Tormey.
History
Ygnacio Martínez (1774–1848) was commandant of the Presidio of San FranciscoPresidio of San Francisco
The Presidio of San Francisco is a park on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula in San Francisco, California, within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area...
from 1822–1827, and again from 1828–1832, and was a member of the town council in 1824 and 1827. Martinez retired in 1831. Martinez represented to the Mexican authorities in 1834, that in consideration of his military service, Governor Luís Antonio Argüello
Luis Antonio Argüello
Luis Antonio Argüello was the first native governor of Alta California from 1822 to 1825, during the period California was under Mexican rule, twelfth overall. He was the only governor to serve under the Mexican empire, and the first native Californian to hold that office...
in 1823 gave him title to a tract of land known as Pinole y Canada del Hambre. Martinez stated that he had lost his title papers. Record evidence was not found to support his claim, and he was required to petition anew, which he did in 1837. While proceedings were pending upon the Martinez petition, Felipe Briones in 1839, also petitioned for a grant of El Pinole. In 1842, Governor Alvarado, made a four square league grant of Rancho El Pinole to Ygnacio Martinez, and a three square league grant of Rancho Boca de la Canada del Pinole
Rancho Boca de la Cañada del Pinole
Rancho Boca de la Cañada del Pinole was a Mexican land grant in present day Contra Costa County, California given in 1842 by Governor Juan Alvarado to María Manuela Valencia. The name means "Mouth of the Pinole Valley" in Spanish...
to Briones.
Martínez did not move his family to the rancho until 1836, living until that time at the Pueblo of San José. To fulfill the requirements upon which grants were made by the government, he proceeded to build a home and other homes of adobe in the valley of Pinole about two and half miles from San Pablo Bay
San Pablo Bay
San Pablo Bay is a tidal estuary that forms the northern extension of San Francisco Bay in northern California in the United States. Most of the Bay is shallow; however, there is a deep water channel approximately in mid bay, which allows access to Sacramento, Stockton, Benicia, Martinez, and...
. Martinez occupied and cultivated a large portion of the land, and set out a vineyard and fruit orchards. Ygnacio Martinez died in 1848, and his eleven children inherited his property.Ygnacio Martinez’s daughter, Maria A. Martinez, was married to William A. Richardson. Martinez’s daughter Susana, was married to Colonel William M. Smith.
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 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 María Antonia Martínez de Richardson et al. in 1868.
In 1849 William M. Smith established the town site of Martinez
Martinez, California
Martinez is a city and the county seat of Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 35,824 at the 2010 census. The downtown is notable for its large number of preserved old buildings...
on 120 acre (0.4856232 km²). Later the heirs of William Welch of the adjacent Rancho Las Juntas
Rancho Las Juntas
Rancho Las Juntas was a Mexican land grant in present day Contra Costa County, California given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to William Welch. The name Las Juntas translates as "the Crossroads"...
, who owned the property on the east side of Arroyo del Hambre (Alhambra Creek
Alhambra Creek
Alhambra Creek is a stream in Contra Costa County, California in Northern California which drains into the Carquinez Strait by way of the historical Arroyo del Hambre. Alhambra Creek and its valley take their name from Cañada del Hambre, Spanish for "valley of hunger", apparently because of some...
), contributed another 500 acres (2 km²) to be included in the new town.
In 1865, John Tormey purchased 2000 acres (8.1 km²) of the Rancho El Pinole from some of the Martinez heirs. And in 1867, John Tormey and his brother Patrick purchased an additional 7000 acres (28.3 km²) from the Martinez heirs. The Tormey brothers divided their purchase into two portions. John Tormey took the western half, which encompassed Pinole
Pinole, California
Pinole is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 18,390 at the 2010 census. It is one of many small “bedroom communities” along the I-80 corridor in Western Contra Costa County. It is located about northeast of San Francisco, and approximately a half-hour...
and additional parts of the Pinole and Briones Valley
Briones Valley
The Briones Valley is a major geological feature of Contra Costa County, California and runs between Mount Diablo and the county seat of Martinez. Also it is the seat of many riparian watersheds, especially of Alhambra Creek....
s. Patrick Tormey's share to the north and east, included the Rodeo Valley and what would eventually become the towns of Rodeo
Rodeo, California
Rodeo is a census-designated place located in Contra Costa County, California on the shore of San Pablo Bay. The population was 8,679 at the 2010 census. The town is named for the livestock roundups common in the late 19th century...
, Oleum
Oleum, California
Oleum is an unincorporated community in Contra Costa County, California. It is located on the Southern Pacific Railroad east-southeast of Point Pinole, at an elevation of 203 feet . An oil refinery is located at Oleum, hence the name from "petroleum"....
, Selby
Selby, California
Selby is an unincorporated community in Contra Costa County, California next to Rodeo. It is located on the Southern Pacific Railroad west-northwest of Martinez, at an elevation of 20 feet...
and Tormey
Tormey, California
Tormey is an unincorporated community in Contra Costa County, California between Rodeo and Crockett on the edge of the Tosco oil refinery in Rodeo. It is west-northwest of Martinez, at an elevation of 20 feet . The community is home to several dozen homes and the former offices of the John Swett...
.
Historic sites of the Rancho
- Vicente Martinez Adobe. A two-story adobe ranch house built in 1849 by Ygnacio Martinez's son Vicente J. Martínez. In 1853, Vicente sold the adobe to Edward Franklin, after whom Franklin Canyon in which the adobe was located was named, and the adobe was known as the Franklin Canyon Adobe.
- Fernandez Mansion. During the 1850s Bernardo Fernandez, a Portuguese immigrant, started a trading facility on the shores of San Pablo Bay and eventually built the historic Fernandez Mansion.
- Samuel Tennent House. The 1851 home of early Anglo-American settler in Contra Costa County, Dr. Samuel J. Tennent, who married Ygnacio Martinez’s daughter Rafaela. Tennent, through his wife Rafaela, owned much of the land in the area.