Rancho San Geronimo (Villavicencio)
Encyclopedia
Rancho San Geronimo was a 8893 acres (36 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day San Luis Obispo County, California
given in 1842 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Rafael Villavicencio. The granted extended along the Pacific coast from south of present day Harmony to north of Cayucos
. Villa Creek, which retains the Villavicencio name, runs through the center of the grant.
) and Maria Ildefonsa Berges. His brother, José María Villavicencio was the grantee of Rancho Corral de Piedra
. Rafael Villavicencio married Maria Ramona Louisa Armas in 1829. In 1842 Rafael received the two square league Rancho San Geronimo. Rafael, Ramona and five children moved to Rancho San Geronimo, and Rafael built a large adobe house.
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 San Geronimo was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1852, and the grant was patented
to Rafael Villavicencio in 1876.
After the death of Rafael, Roberto (1835–1917) who was their third child, inherited most of San Geronimo. Roberto married Maria Guadalupe Higuera in 1843. Roberto shortened the family name to Villa. In 1865, the rancho was sold to Wesley Burnett (1818–1905) from Indiana
. In 1880, James H. Blackburn (1820–1888) of Rancho Paso de Robles
bought the rancho.
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 Luis Obispo County, California
San Luis Obispo County, California
San Luis Obispo County is a county located along the Pacific Ocean in the Central Coast of the U.S. state of California, between Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census its population was 269,637, up from 246,681 at the 2000 census...
given in 1842 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Rafael Villavicencio. The granted extended along the Pacific coast from south of present day Harmony to north of Cayucos
Cayucos, California
Cayucos is a census-designated place located on the coast in San Luis Obispo County, California along California State Route 1 between Cambria to the north and Morro Bay to the south...
. Villa Creek, which retains the Villavicencio name, runs through the center of the grant.
History
Rafael Jose Serapio Villavicencio (1803–) was the fourth son of Rafael de Jesus Villavicencio (a soldier and member of 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...
) and Maria Ildefonsa Berges. His brother, José María Villavicencio was the grantee of Rancho Corral de Piedra
Rancho Corral de Piedra
Rancho Corral de Piedra was a Mexican land grant in present day San Luis Obispo County, California consisting of two square leagues given in 1841 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to José María Villavicencio, with an extension of five square leagues given in 1846, by Governor Pio Pico...
. Rafael Villavicencio married Maria Ramona Louisa Armas in 1829. In 1842 Rafael received the two square league Rancho San Geronimo. Rafael, Ramona and five children moved to Rancho San Geronimo, and Rafael built a large adobe house.
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 San Geronimo 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 Rafael Villavicencio in 1876.
After the death of Rafael, Roberto (1835–1917) who was their third child, inherited most of San Geronimo. Roberto married Maria Guadalupe Higuera in 1843. Roberto shortened the family name to Villa. In 1865, the rancho was sold to Wesley Burnett (1818–1905) from Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. In 1880, James H. Blackburn (1820–1888) of Rancho Paso de Robles
Rancho Paso de Robles
Rancho Paso de Robles was a Mexican land grant in present day San Luis Obispo County, California given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to José Pedro Narváez. The name means "Pass of the Oaks"...
bought the rancho.