Rancho Las Juntas
Encyclopedia
Rancho Las Juntas was a 13293 acres (53.8 km²) 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". The grant was located between Ygnacio Martinez’ Rancho El Pinole
and Salvio Pacheco’s Rancho Monte del Diablo
, and included northwestern Walnut Creek
, all of Pleasant Hill
, and the northeastern half of Martinez
.
, jumped ship in Northern California in 1821, and went to Los Angeles
. After two years, he went north to the Pueblo of San Jose
where he became a naturalized citizen (land case documents identify him as Guillermo Welch). He married in 1826, Maria Antonia Galindo, daughter of Juan Crisostomo Galindo of the Pueblo of San José. Her brother, Francisco Galindo married Maria Dolores Manuela Pacheco of Rancho Monte del Diablo
, and later became one of the founders of Concord
.
The three square league Rancho Las Juntas grant was made in 1844. About 1845 the Welch family decided to move permanently from San Jose to the Rancho. The oldest son was sent to build a home near the ruins of the adobe that had been burned by the Indians several years previously. But in 1846, before any improvements could be made, William Welch died. Welch's widow and children moved to the Rancho to join the oldest son.
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 Las Juntas was filed by James Swansen, administrator of Welch's estate, with the Public Land Commission
in 1852, and the grant was patented
to the heirs of William Welch in 1870.
In 1855 David and Martha Boss owned over 1000 acres (4 km²) in what is now Pleasant Hill. Judge F. M. Warmcastle had a farm of 300 acres (1.2 km²), Colonel Lathrop had 945 acres (3.8 km²) and Colonel Gift had 733 acres (3 km²). William Hook (1805-1882), a Martinez businessman, bought his first land in 1854 and continued to add to his holdings until, in 1879, he owned 1700 acres (6.9 km²).
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 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena
Manuel Micheltorena
Manuel Micheltorena was a Brigadier General of the Mexican Army, Adjutant-General of the same, Governor, Commandant-General and Inspector of the Department of the California...
to William Welch. The name Las Juntas translates as "the Crossroads". The grant was located between Ygnacio Martinez’ Rancho El Pinole
Rancho El Pinole
Rancho El Pinole was a Mexican land grant in present day Contra Costa County, California given in 1842 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Ygnacio Martinez...
and Salvio Pacheco’s Rancho Monte del Diablo
Rancho Monte del Diablo
Rancho Monte del Diablo was a Mexican land grant in present day Contra Costa County, California given in 1834 by Governor José Figueroa to Salvio Pacheco. The name "Monte del Diablo" means "thicket of the devil" in Spanish. The name was later incorrectly translated as Mount Diablo...
, and included northwestern Walnut Creek
Walnut Creek, California
Walnut Creek is an incorporated city located east of the city of Oakland. It lies in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. While not as large as neighboring Concord, Walnut Creek serves as the business and entertainment hub for the neighboring cities within central Contra Costa...
, all of Pleasant Hill
Pleasant Hill, California
Pleasant Hill is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States, in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 33,152 at the 2010 census. It was incorporated in 1961...
, and the northeastern half 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...
.
History
William Welch (1798–1846) was born in IrelandIreland
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...
, jumped ship in Northern California in 1821, and went to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. After two years, he went north to the Pueblo of San Jose
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
where he became a naturalized citizen (land case documents identify him as Guillermo Welch). He married in 1826, Maria Antonia Galindo, daughter of Juan Crisostomo Galindo of the Pueblo of San José. Her brother, Francisco Galindo married Maria Dolores Manuela Pacheco of Rancho Monte del Diablo
Rancho Monte del Diablo
Rancho Monte del Diablo was a Mexican land grant in present day Contra Costa County, California given in 1834 by Governor José Figueroa to Salvio Pacheco. The name "Monte del Diablo" means "thicket of the devil" in Spanish. The name was later incorrectly translated as Mount Diablo...
, and later became one of the founders of Concord
Concord, California
Concord is the largest city in Contra Costa County, California, USA. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 122,067. Originally founded in 1869 as the community of Todos Santos by Salvio Pacheco, the name was changed to Concord within months...
.
The three square league Rancho Las Juntas grant was made in 1844. About 1845 the Welch family decided to move permanently from San Jose to the Rancho. The oldest son was sent to build a home near the ruins of the adobe that had been burned by the Indians several years previously. But in 1846, before any improvements could be made, William Welch died. Welch's widow and children moved to the Rancho to join the oldest son.
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 Las Juntas was filed by James Swansen, administrator of Welch's estate, 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 the heirs of William Welch in 1870.
In 1855 David and Martha Boss owned over 1000 acres (4 km²) in what is now Pleasant Hill. Judge F. M. Warmcastle had a farm of 300 acres (1.2 km²), Colonel Lathrop had 945 acres (3.8 km²) and Colonel Gift had 733 acres (3 km²). William Hook (1805-1882), a Martinez businessman, bought his first land in 1854 and continued to add to his holdings until, in 1879, he owned 1700 acres (6.9 km²).