Rancho Nueva Flandria
Encyclopedia
Rancho Nueva Flandria was a Mexican land grant
in present day Yolo County, California
given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena
to Jan Lows de Swart (John Schwartz). The name means "New Flanders" in honor of Swart's native country. The grant extended along the west bank of the Sacramento River
, from present day Bryte
south to Merritt Island
, and encompassed present day West Sacramento
. The land claim was rejected as fraudulent in 1857.
, arrived at Sutter's Fort
with the Bartleson-Bidwell Party
in 1841. Swart, who came to be known as John Schwartz, was granted three square leagues - an area of land one mile wide and twenty miles long. Shortly after settling there, Jan, with the help of his brother George Swart, established a salmon fishery along the Sacramento River. They also engaged in raising livestock and cultivating vegetables.
In 1846, James McDowell bought 600 acres (2.4 km²) of Rancho Nueva Flandria from Jan Swart. In May of 1849, James McDowell was shot and killed in a barroom brawl. William W. Warner bought 4333 acres (17.5 km²). Jan Swart died in 1849 and his brother George Swart eventually lost title to Rancho Nueva Flandria.
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 three square leagues was filed by George Swat, brother and heir, with the Public Land Commission
in 1853 and was rejected. A claim for part of Rancho Nueva Flandria filed by W. W. Warner with the Land Commission in 1853 and was rejected.
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 Yolo County, California
Yolo County, California
Yolo County is a county located in the northern part of the U.S. state of California, bordered by the other counties of Sacramento, Solano, Napa, Lake, Colusa, and Sutter. The city of Woodland is its county seat, though Davis is its largest city....
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 Jan Lows de Swart (John Schwartz). The name means "New Flanders" in honor of Swart's native country. The grant extended along the west bank of the Sacramento River
Sacramento River
The Sacramento River is an important watercourse of Northern and Central California in the United States. The largest river in California, it rises on the eastern slopes of the Klamath Mountains, and after a journey south of over , empties into Suisun Bay, an arm of the San Francisco Bay, and...
, from present day Bryte
Bryte, California
Bryte is a former town in Yolo County, California, now forming part of West Sacramento. It is located just west of the Sacramento River in the eastern portion of the county. Bryte's ZIP Code is 95605 and its area code 916...
south to Merritt Island
Merritt Island AVA
The Merritt Island AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Yolo County, California. Part of the larger Clarksburg AVA, Merritt Island is a island in the Sacramento River Delta. The island is surrounded by Elk Slough, Sutter Slough, and the Sacramento River. The island soil is a very...
, and encompassed present day West Sacramento
West Sacramento, California
West Sacramento is a city in Yolo County, California. It is contiguous with Sacramento, but is separated by the Sacramento River which is also the county line, so West Sacramento is in a different county than Sacramento...
. The land claim was rejected as fraudulent in 1857.
History
Jan Lows de Swart (1849), born in FlandersFlanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, arrived at Sutter's Fort
Sutter's Fort
Sutter's Fort State Historic Park is a state-protected park in Sacramento, California which includes Sutter's Fort and the California State Indian Museum. Begun in 1839 and originally called "New Helvetia" by its builder, John Sutter, the fort was a 19th century agricultural and trade colony in...
with the Bartleson-Bidwell Party
Bartleson-Bidwell Party
In 1841, the Bartleson–Bidwell Party led by Captain John Bartleson and John Bidwell, became the first American emigrants to attempt a wagon crossing from Missouri to California.-The trail:...
in 1841. Swart, who came to be known as John Schwartz, was granted three square leagues - an area of land one mile wide and twenty miles long. Shortly after settling there, Jan, with the help of his brother George Swart, established a salmon fishery along the Sacramento River. They also engaged in raising livestock and cultivating vegetables.
In 1846, James McDowell bought 600 acres (2.4 km²) of Rancho Nueva Flandria from Jan Swart. In May of 1849, James McDowell was shot and killed in a barroom brawl. William W. Warner bought 4333 acres (17.5 km²). Jan Swart died in 1849 and his brother George Swart eventually lost title to Rancho Nueva Flandria.
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 three square leagues was filed by George Swat, brother and heir, 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 was rejected. A claim for part of Rancho Nueva Flandria filed by W. W. Warner with the Land Commission in 1853 and was rejected.