Rancho Ex-Mission Soledad
Encyclopedia
Rancho Ex-Mission Soledad was a 8900 acres (36 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day Monterey County, California
given in 1845 by Governor Pío Pico
to Feliciano Soberanes. The grant derives its name from the secularized Mission Soledad
, but was called ex-Mission because of a division made of the lands held in the name of the Mission — the church retaining the grounds immediately around, and all of the lands outside of this are called ex-Mission lands. The grant was adjacent Mission Soledad, west of the Salinas River
and Soledad
.
to San Francisco Bay in 1769. Soberanes married Maria Josefa Castro (1759-1822) and received Rancho Buena Vista
. Soberanes sons, Feliciano Soberanes (1788-1868) and Mariano Soberanes (1794-1859), were granted Rancho El Alisal
in 1833.
Feliciano Soberanes (1788-1868) was born in Monterey
where he spent his whole life. He was regidor in l829 and 1830, and then alcade at Monterey in 1838-1839. He married Maria Antonia Rodriguez (1795-1883) in 1810. Feliciano Soberanes was granted Rancho San Lorenzo
in 1841. Feliciano's daughter, Maria Josefa Soberanes, was granted Rancho Los Coches
in 1841. Feliciano's son, Francisco Maria Soberanes (1818-1887), was granted Rancho Sanjon de Santa Rita
in 1841. Feliciano became administrator of Mission Soledad lands and received the two square league Rancho Ex-Mission Soledad in 1845.
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 Ex-Mission Soledad was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1853, and the grant was patented to Feliciano Soberanes in 1874.
When Feliciano died in 1868, his son, Francisco Soberanes, acquired Rancho Ex-Mission Soledad, and later purchased the adjoining Rancho Paraje de Sanchez
. Francisco Soberanes married Ysabel Boronda, daughter of José Manuel Boronda, grantee of Rancho Los Laureles
. When Francisco Soberanes died in 1887, he left half of his estate to his widow, Ysabel Boronda Soberanes and the other half to his six surviving children. Shortly after the distribution of the estate under the will, the widow, Ysabel Bornoda Soberanes, transferred her entire share of the property to one son, Abel Soberanes, to the exclusion of the other five heirs. In 1891, Benito Soberanes, one of the other sons, petitioned to have the mother declared incompetent.
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 1845 by Governor Pío Pico
Pío Pico
Pío de Jesús Pico was the last Governor of Alta California under Mexican rule.-Origins:...
to Feliciano Soberanes. The grant derives its name from the secularized 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...
, but was called ex-Mission because of a division made of the lands held in the name of the Mission — the church retaining the grounds immediately around, and all of the lands outside of this are called ex-Mission lands. The grant was adjacent Mission Soledad, west 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...
and Soledad
Soledad, California
Soledad, meaning "solitude" and "loneliness" in Spanish, is a city in Monterey County, California, United States. Soledad is located southeast of Salinas, at an elevation of 190 feet...
.
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 San Francisco Bay 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 (1788-1868) and Mariano Soberanes (1794-1859), were granted Rancho El Alisal
Rancho El Alisal
Rancho El Alisal was a 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 in spanish...
in 1833.
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 and 1830, and then alcade at Monterey in 1838-1839. He married Maria Antonia Rodriguez (1795-1883) in 1810. Feliciano Soberanes was granted 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's daughter, Maria Josefa Soberanes, 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. Feliciano's son, Francisco Maria Soberanes (1818-1887), 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. Feliciano became administrator of Mission Soledad lands and received the two square league Rancho Ex-Mission Soledad in 1845.
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 Ex-Mission Soledad 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 to Feliciano Soberanes in 1874.
When Feliciano died in 1868, his son, Francisco Soberanes, acquired Rancho Ex-Mission Soledad, and later purchased the adjoining Rancho Paraje de Sanchez
Rancho Paraje de Sanchez
Rancho Paraje de Sanchez was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1839 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to Francisco Lugo. The grant extended between the Sierra de Salinas mountains and the south bank of the Salinas River, across from the Rancho Rincon de la...
. Francisco Soberanes married Ysabel Boronda, daughter of José Manuel Boronda, grantee of 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...
. When Francisco Soberanes died in 1887, he left half of his estate to his widow, Ysabel Boronda Soberanes and the other half to his six surviving children. Shortly after the distribution of the estate under the will, the widow, Ysabel Bornoda Soberanes, transferred her entire share of the property to one son, Abel Soberanes, to the exclusion of the other five heirs. In 1891, Benito Soberanes, one of the other sons, petitioned to have the mother declared incompetent.