Rancho Rio de Jesus Maria
Encyclopedia
Rancho Rio de Jesus Maria was a 26637 acres (107.8 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day Yolo County, California
given in 1843 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena
to Thomas M. Hardy. The name refers to Rio de Jesús María, now known as Cache Creek. The grant, north of Woodland
, extended along Cache Creek, from Rancho Quesesoni
on the east to the Sacramento River
.
, arrived in VeraCruz
, Mexico
in 1825, and was in the service of Mexico at the Battle of San Jacinto
in 1836. For his service, he was considered a naturalized citizen of Mexico. Hardy was in California as early as 1843 when he was granted the six square league Rancho Rio de Jesus Maria. He drowned, under strange circumstances, in Suisun Bay
near Benicia
in 1848. His estate was sold by a public administrator to James M. Harbin. Harbin came to California in 1846, and co-discovered Harbin Springs, California
in 1852.
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 Rio de Jesus Maria was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1852, and the grant was patented
to James M. Harbin 1858.
In 1859, lawyers James Ben Ali Haggin
(1822–1914) and Lloyd Tevis
(1824–1899) foreclosed on Rancho Rio de Jesus Maria.
In 1865, a John Hardy from Canada
, claimed that he was the son and heir of Thomas M. Hardy. This claim rejected by the US Supreme Court in 1874.
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 1843 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 Thomas M. Hardy. The name refers to Rio de Jesús María, now known as Cache Creek. The grant, north of Woodland
Woodland, California
Woodland is the county seat of Yolo County, California, located approximately northwest of Sacramento, and is a part of the Sacramento - Arden-Arcade - Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 55,468 at the 2010 census.Woodland's origins trace back to 1850 when California...
, extended along Cache Creek, from Rancho Quesesoni
Rancho Quesesoni
Rancho Quesesoni was a Mexican land grant in present day Yolo County, California given in 1843 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to William Gordon. The grant, west of Woodland, extended 2 leagues along both sides of Rio de Jesús María, now known as Cache Creek...
on the east to 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...
.
History
Thomas M. Hardy, a native of EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, arrived in VeraCruz
Veracruz, Veracruz
Veracruz, officially known as Heroica Veracruz, is a major port city and municipality on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The city is located in the central part of the state. It is located along Federal Highway 140 from the state capital Xalapa, and is the state's most...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
in 1825, and was in the service of Mexico at the Battle of San Jacinto
Battle of San Jacinto
The Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21, 1836, in present-day Harris County, Texas, was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. Led by General Sam Houston, the Texian Army engaged and defeated General Antonio López de Santa Anna's Mexican forces in a fight that lasted just eighteen...
in 1836. For his service, he was considered a naturalized citizen of Mexico. Hardy was in California as early as 1843 when he was granted the six square league Rancho Rio de Jesus Maria. He drowned, under strange circumstances, in Suisun Bay
Suisun Bay
Suisun Bay is a shallow tidal estuary at in northern California, USA. It lies at the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, forming the entrance to the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, an inverted river delta...
near Benicia
Benicia, California
Benicia is a waterside city in Solano County, California, United States. It was the first city in California to be founded by Anglo-Americans, and served as the state capital for nearly thirteen months from 1853 to 1854. The population was 26,997 at the 2010 census. The city is located in the San...
in 1848. His estate was sold by a public administrator to James M. Harbin. Harbin came to California in 1846, and co-discovered Harbin Springs, California
Harbin Springs, California
Harbin Springs is an unincorporated community in Lake County, California. It is located east-southeast of Whispering Pines, at an elevation of 1555 feet . Harbin Springs is probably best known as the site of the Harbin Hot Springs.James M. Harbin came to California in 1846 and co-discovered the...
in 1852.
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 Rio de Jesus Maria 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 James M. Harbin 1858.
In 1859, lawyers James Ben Ali Haggin
James Ben Ali Haggin
James Ben Ali Haggin was an Turkish Americanattorney, rancher, investor and a major owner/breeder in the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing...
(1822–1914) and Lloyd Tevis
Lloyd Tevis
Lloyd Tevis was a banker and capitalist who served as president of Wells Fargo & Company from 1872 to 1892.-Early life:...
(1824–1899) foreclosed on Rancho Rio de Jesus Maria.
In 1865, a John Hardy from Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, claimed that he was the son and heir of Thomas M. Hardy. This claim rejected by the US Supreme Court in 1874.