Rancho Jamul
Encyclopedia
Rancho Jamul was a 8926 acres (36.1 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day San Diego County, California
given in 1831 by Governor Manuel Victoria
to Pío Pico
. The grant extended from present day Jamul
southeast to Dulzura
.
, ran the rancho 1836 to 1838. In 1837 the rancho was attacked by Indians, and the rancho abandoned.
In 1851, Pico's brother-in-law, John Forster
, claiming to be acting as Pico's agent, sold Rancho Jamul to Bonifacio Lopez, Philip Crosthwaite
(Lopez son-in-law), Richard Rust, and William E. Rust. However, it does not appear that anything was ever done in performance of the contract by anyone. But this was the cause latter of extensive litigation concerning ownership of Rancho Jamul.
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 two square leagues by Pío Pico for Rancho Jamul was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1852, but was rejected in 1855 on the grounds of insufficient documentation of the grant. Pico claimed his papers were lost in an Indian attack on the Rancho.
While stationed in San Diego, Captain Henry Stanton Burton
(–1869) of the First Regiment of New York Volunteers and his new wife, María Amparo Ruiz
(1833 –1895), occupied Rancho Jamul in 1854. According to an affidavit made by María Burton and filed in the United States district court in 1880, Burton purchased the interests of Lopez and Crosthwaite in 1853; and the interests of Richard and William E. Rust in 1854.
In 1867, nearly twelve years after the claim had been rejected, an appearance was entered in the United States district court on behalf of General Burton. In 1870, María Burton arranged for Pío Pico to declare that he had sold all his interest to Burton. In 1875, Nellie Burton, a daughter of Henry Stanton Burton and María Burton, married Miguél de Pedrorena (1844–1882). In 1876, the grant for Rancho Jamul was patented
to the heirs of Henry S. Burton (María A. Burton, and her son, Henry H. Burton and daughter, Nellie Burton Pedrorena).
The rancho was used as collateral for mortgages, and numerous claims were filed against the estate and the litigation continued for years. The estate of Henry S. Burton was not settled until 1891. The title changed hands repeatedly.
María Burton and her son, Henry Burton, founded the Jamul Portland Cement Manufacturing Company in 1889 but went bankrupt in 1892.
In 1915, John D. Spreckels
sold to Rancho Jamul to Louis J. Wilde
.
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 San Diego County, California
San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
given in 1831 by Governor Manuel Victoria
Manuel Victoria
Manuel Victoria was Governor of the Mexican territory of Alta California from January 1831 to 6 December 1831.The revolt leading to his twelve month abbreviated tenure and subsequent exile were due to his nullifying the order of his predecessor, José María de Echeandía, to secularize the missions...
to Pío Pico
Pío Pico
Pío de Jesús Pico was the last Governor of Alta California under Mexican rule.-Origins:...
. The grant extended from present day Jamul
Jamul, California
Jamul is a census-designated place in San Diego County, California. Jamul had a population of 6,163 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau Jamul is located at ....
southeast to Dulzura
Dulzura, California
Dulzura, California is an unincorporated community in San Diego County, California. It is located 25 miles ESE of the city of San Diego, about 10 miles north of the U.S.-Mexican border....
.
History
Pío Pico was given a provisional grant of one square league Governor Victoria in 1831. His brother, Andrés PicoAndrés Pico
Andrés Pico was a Californio who became a successful rancher, served as a military commander during the Mexican-American War; and was elected to the state assembly and senate after California became a state, when he was also commissioned as a brigadier general in the state militia.-Early...
, ran the rancho 1836 to 1838. In 1837 the rancho was attacked by Indians, and the rancho abandoned.
In 1851, Pico's brother-in-law, John Forster
John (Don Juan) Forster
John Forster was born in England; became a Mexican citizen of early California, and was one of the largest landowners in California.-Early life:...
, claiming to be acting as Pico's agent, sold Rancho Jamul to Bonifacio Lopez, Philip Crosthwaite
Philip Crosthwaite
Philip Crosthwaite was an early settler of San Diego, California and Rosarito, Baja California.-Early life:...
(Lopez son-in-law), Richard Rust, and William E. Rust. However, it does not appear that anything was ever done in performance of the contract by anyone. But this was the cause latter of extensive litigation concerning ownership of Rancho Jamul.
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 two square leagues by Pío Pico for Rancho Jamul 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, but was rejected in 1855 on the grounds of insufficient documentation of the grant. Pico claimed his papers were lost in an Indian attack on the Rancho.
While stationed in San Diego, Captain Henry Stanton Burton
Henry Stanton Burton
Henry Stanton Burton was a graduate of West Point, a career American Army officer who served in the Second Seminole War, Mexican American War and the American Civil War.- Early life :...
(–1869) of the First Regiment of New York Volunteers and his new wife, María Amparo Ruiz
Maria Ruiz de Burton
María Amparo Ruiz de Burton was the first female Mexican-American author to write in English. In her career she published two books: Who Would Have Thought It? , The Squatter and the Don , and one play: Don Quixote de la Mancha: A Comedy in Five Acts: Taken From Cervantes' Novel of That Name...
(1833 –1895), occupied Rancho Jamul in 1854. According to an affidavit made by María Burton and filed in the United States district court in 1880, Burton purchased the interests of Lopez and Crosthwaite in 1853; and the interests of Richard and William E. Rust in 1854.
In 1867, nearly twelve years after the claim had been rejected, an appearance was entered in the United States district court on behalf of General Burton. In 1870, María Burton arranged for Pío Pico to declare that he had sold all his interest to Burton. In 1875, Nellie Burton, a daughter of Henry Stanton Burton and María Burton, married Miguél de Pedrorena (1844–1882). In 1876, the grant for Rancho Jamul 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 the heirs of Henry S. Burton (María A. Burton, and her son, Henry H. Burton and daughter, Nellie Burton Pedrorena).
The rancho was used as collateral for mortgages, and numerous claims were filed against the estate and the litigation continued for years. The estate of Henry S. Burton was not settled until 1891. The title changed hands repeatedly.
María Burton and her son, Henry Burton, founded the Jamul Portland Cement Manufacturing Company in 1889 but went bankrupt in 1892.
In 1915, John D. Spreckels
John D. Spreckels
John Diedrich Spreckels , the son of German-American industrialist Claus Spreckels, founded a transportation and real estate empire in San Diego, California in the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
sold to Rancho Jamul to Louis J. Wilde
Louis J. Wilde
Louis J. Wilde was an American banker and Republican politician from California. Wilde was born in Iowa City, Iowa in 1865. After living in Rochester, NY, Philadelphia, and St...
.