Rancho San Gregorio
Encyclopedia
Rancho San Gregorio was a 17783 acres (72 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day San Mateo County, California
given in 1839 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Antonio Buelna. At the time, the grant was in Santa Cruz County
; an 1868 boundary adjustment gave the land to San Mateo County. The rancho extended from Tunitas Creek
in the north to the mouth of Pomponio Creek
and encompassed San Gregorio, California
, San Gregorio State Beach
and La Honda
) signed the demand that Governor Nicolás Gutiérrez
resign. In addition to the four square league Rancho San Gregorio grant, Alvarado granted Antonio Buelna Rancho San Francisquito in Santa Clara County
in 1839. Buelna built a road, known today as La Honda Road and Old La Honda Road, over the hills connecting his two ranchos.
Buelna in 1842, made a will by which he left to his wife, Maria Concepción Valencia, Juan Bautista Buelna, and three others, each an undivided one-fifth share of the rancho. After Antonio Buelna died in 1846, María Concepción Valencia married Francisco Rodriguez, a widower and grantee of Rancho Arroyo del Rodeo
. In 1849, María Concepción Valencia de Rodríguez sold a one square league of the eastern portion of Rancho San Gregorio to Salvador Castro.
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. Separate claims for Rancho San Gregorio, required by the Land Act of 1851, were presented by the widow of Buelna and Salvador Castro for their respective portions of Rancho San Gregorio.
A claim was filed for three square leagues by Encarnación Buelna de Rodríguez and heirs of María Concepción Valencia de Rodríguez with the Public Land Commission
in 1853, but was rejected on the grounds there was no proof that the Maria Concepcion Valencia Rodriguez, was the heir of the original grantee. On appeal, the District Court confirmed the grant and the San Gregorio (Rodriguez) grant was patented
to at 13344 acres (54 km²) in 1861.
A claim was filed by Salvador Castro for one square league with the Land Commission in 1852 and confirmed in 1856. However, the 1857 official survey of Castro's land gave him more than the Land Commission thought he should to have, the surplus being taken from the lands of the United States. Castro appealed his case to the US Supreme Court, but lost. The San Gregorio (Castro) grant was patented at 4439 acres (18 km²) in 1861.
Juan Bautista Buelna died in 1846 with two surviving children (Maria Louisa Buelna and Juan Baptiste Buelna). Maria Louisa Buelna and Juan Baptiste Buelna sold 4000 acres (16.2 km²) to Hugh Hamilton in 1866, and then sold their one fifth interest in the rancho to William Trenouth. A land title case was brought before the San Francisco Superior Court in 1872, and continued for another ten years.
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 Mateo County, California
San Mateo County, California
San Mateo County is a county located in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. It covers most of the San Francisco Peninsula just south of San Francisco, and north of Santa Clara County. San Francisco International Airport is located at the northern end of the county, and...
given in 1839 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Antonio Buelna. At the time, the grant was in Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County, California
Santa Cruz County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, on the California Central Coast. The county forms the northern coast of the Monterey Bay. . As of the 2010 U.S. Census, its population was 262,382. The county seat is Santa Cruz...
; an 1868 boundary adjustment gave the land to San Mateo County. The rancho extended from Tunitas Creek
Tunitas Creek
Tunitas Creek is a stream in San Mateo County, California. Tunitas is Spanish for "Little Prickly Pears". Historically the creek was also known as Arroyo de Las Tunitas....
in the north to the mouth of Pomponio Creek
Pomponio Creek
Pomponio Creek is a small river in San Mateo County, California.. It is named after José Pomponio Lupugeym....
and encompassed San Gregorio, California
San Gregorio, California
-History:Named after Pope Gregory I , San Gregorio was a booming town in the 1850s, when wealthy San Franciscans would travel to the San Gregorio House by stagecoach to enjoy fishing, hunting, sea bathing, and boat races. The building still stands, but is no longer a functioning hotel. However, the...
, San Gregorio State Beach
San Gregorio State Beach
San Gregorio State Beach is a beach near San Gregorio, California, USA, south of Half Moon Bay. Part of the California State Park System, the beach lies just west of the intersection of State Route 1 and State Route 84...
and La Honda
La Honda, California
La Honda is a census-designated place in southern San Mateo County, California, United States. The population was 928 at the 2010 census. It is located in the Santa Cruz Mountains between Silicon Valley and the Pacific coast of California...
History
Antonio Jose Buelna (1790–1846), son of José Antonio Buelna (1754–1821) married Maria Concepción Valencia (b.1798) in 1816. In 1836, José Castro, Juan Alvarado, Antonio Buelna, and José Antonio de la Guerra (son José de la Guerra y NoriegaJosé de la Guerra y Noriega
José Antonio de la Guerra y Noriega was a soldier and early settler of California.-Biography:José de la Guerra was born 1779 at Novales, Cantabria, Spain. As a boy he wished to be a friar...
) signed the demand that Governor Nicolás Gutiérrez
Nicolás Gutiérrez
Lieutenant Colonel Nicolás Gutiérrez was a twice acting governor of Alta California in 1836 from January to May and July to November.Gutierrez served two abbreviated terms in less than a year as acting governor of Alta California in 1836...
resign. In addition to the four square league Rancho San Gregorio grant, Alvarado granted Antonio Buelna Rancho San Francisquito in Santa Clara County
Santa Clara County, California
Santa Clara County is a county located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 it had a population of 1,781,642. The county seat is San Jose. The highly urbanized Santa Clara Valley within Santa Clara County is also known as Silicon Valley...
in 1839. Buelna built a road, known today as La Honda Road and Old La Honda Road, over the hills connecting his two ranchos.
Buelna in 1842, made a will by which he left to his wife, Maria Concepción Valencia, Juan Bautista Buelna, and three others, each an undivided one-fifth share of the rancho. After Antonio Buelna died in 1846, María Concepción Valencia married Francisco Rodriguez, a widower and grantee of Rancho Arroyo del Rodeo
Rancho Arroyo del Rodeo
Rancho Arroyo del Rodeo was a Mexican land grant in present day Santa Cruz County, California given in 1834 by Governor José Figueroa to Francisco Rodríguez...
. In 1849, María Concepción Valencia de Rodríguez sold a one square league of the eastern portion of Rancho San Gregorio to Salvador Castro.
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. Separate claims for Rancho San Gregorio, required by the Land Act of 1851, were presented by the widow of Buelna and Salvador Castro for their respective portions of Rancho San Gregorio.
A claim was filed for three square leagues by Encarnación Buelna de Rodríguez and heirs of María Concepción Valencia de Rodríguez 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, but was rejected on the grounds there was no proof that the Maria Concepcion Valencia Rodriguez, was the heir of the original grantee. On appeal, the District Court confirmed the grant and the San Gregorio (Rodriguez) 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 at 13344 acres (54 km²) in 1861.
A claim was filed by Salvador Castro for one square league with the Land Commission in 1852 and confirmed in 1856. However, the 1857 official survey of Castro's land gave him more than the Land Commission thought he should to have, the surplus being taken from the lands of the United States. Castro appealed his case to the US Supreme Court, but lost. The San Gregorio (Castro) grant was patented at 4439 acres (18 km²) in 1861.
Juan Bautista Buelna died in 1846 with two surviving children (Maria Louisa Buelna and Juan Baptiste Buelna). Maria Louisa Buelna and Juan Baptiste Buelna sold 4000 acres (16.2 km²) to Hugh Hamilton in 1866, and then sold their one fifth interest in the rancho to William Trenouth. A land title case was brought before the San Francisco Superior Court in 1872, and continued for another ten years.