Rancho San Lorenzo (Randall)
Encyclopedia
Rancho San Lorenzo was a 22264 acres (90.1 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day Monterey County, California
given in 1842 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Francisco Rico. The grant extended along San Lorenzo Creek in Peach Tree Valley.
. In addition to Rancho San Lorenzo he was the claimant for Rancho Cañada de la Segunda
in Monterey County; and Rancho Punta de los Reyes
and Rancho Punta de los Reyes Sobrante
in Marin County
; and Rancho Aguas Frias
in Butte County
- a little over 110000 acres (445 km²). However he had stretched his credit to the limit, and Randall could not or would not pay immediately. Joseph Hetherington a creditor undertook to force payment by hounding him on every occasion with insults and threats. Hetherington fatally shot Randall in a San Francisco hotel on July 24, 1856, and the Committee of Vigilance hanged Hetherington July 29, 1856.
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 was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1853, and the grant was patented
to Andrew Randall in 1870.
with his father, Vicente Rico, in 1831. Francisco Rico, was the grantee of Rancho San Lorenzo in 1842, and Rancho Del Rio Estanislao
in 1843. In 1845 he was appointed by the Mexican Government second officer of the port of Monterey, under Pablo de la Guerra
, and held the captaincy of a company of the Monterey cavalry. Rico was active with José María Flores
on the Mexican side in the Mexican–American War
. He was the leader of the escort of the captured Thomas O. Larkin
. Flores dispatched Rico to retake San Diego, but he was recalled back to Los Angeles. Rico and José Antonio Carrillo
revolted against Flores. Flores was placed under arrest, but quickly was restored to power. Rico and Carrillo were jailed for the revolt, but released shortly afterwards. Rico married Tomasa Sepulveda (–1870) in 1847. After the Mexican–American War, Rico was extensively engaged in the cattle business in Monterey County. In 1849, he turned his attention to gold mining and merchandising, in partnership with Thomas O. Larkin. In 1855, Francisco Rico bought all of Rancho San Bernardo
. The droughts of 1863 and 1864 resulted in heavy losses of stock, which finally proved a financial calamity to him.
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 Monterey County, California
Monterey County, California
Monterey County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, its northwestern section forming the southern half of Monterey Bay. The northern half of the bay is in Santa Cruz County. As of 2010, the population was 415,057. The county seat and largest city is Salinas...
given in 1842 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Francisco Rico. The grant extended along San Lorenzo Creek in Peach Tree Valley.
History
Andrew Randall (1819–1856), a native of Rhode Island, came to California on the U.S.S. Portsmouth in 1846. Randall was a geologist with medical training. He founded, and was elected chairman of the California Academy of SciencesCalifornia Academy of Sciences
The California Academy of Sciences is among the largest museums of natural history in the world. The academy began in 1853 as a learned society and still carries out a large amount of original research, with exhibits and education becoming significant endeavors of the museum during the twentieth...
. In addition to Rancho San Lorenzo he was the claimant for Rancho Cañada de la Segunda
Rancho Cañada de la Segunda
Rancho Cañada de la Segunda was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1839 by Governor José Castro to Lazaro Soto...
in Monterey County; and Rancho Punta de los Reyes
Rancho Punta de los Reyes (Randall)
Rancho Punta de los Reyes was a Mexican land grant in present day West Marin County, California given in 1836 by Governor Nicolás Gutiérrez to James Richard Berry, and re-granted in 1838 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to Joseph Snook...
and Rancho Punta de los Reyes Sobrante
Rancho Punta de los Reyes Sobrante
Rancho Punta de los Reyes Sobrante was a Mexican land grant in present day West Marin County, California given by Governor Manuel Micheltorena in 1843 to Antonio Maria Osio. The name means "Leftover of Point Reyes Ranch"...
in Marin County
Marin County, California
Marin County is a county located in the North San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. As of 2010, the population was 252,409. The county seat is San Rafael and the largest employer is the county government. Marin County is well...
; and Rancho Aguas Frias
Rancho Aguas Frias
Rancho Aguas Frias was a Mexican land grant in present day Butte County, California given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Antonio Maria Osio and his son Salvador Osio. Aguas Frias means "cold water" in Spanish. The grant, located south of present day Chico, extended along the west...
in Butte County
Butte County, California
Butte County is a county located in the Central Valley of the US state of California, north of the state capital of Sacramento. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 220,000. The county seat is Oroville. Butte County is the "Land of Natural Wealth and Beauty."Butte County is watered by the...
- a little over 110000 acres (445 km²). However he had stretched his credit to the limit, and Randall could not or would not pay immediately. Joseph Hetherington a creditor undertook to force payment by hounding him on every occasion with insults and threats. Hetherington fatally shot Randall in a San Francisco hotel on July 24, 1856, and the Committee of Vigilance hanged Hetherington July 29, 1856.
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 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 1853, 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 Andrew Randall in 1870.
Francisco Rico
Francisco Rico (1826–) was born Mexico and came to MontereyMonterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
with his father, Vicente Rico, in 1831. Francisco Rico, was the grantee of Rancho San Lorenzo in 1842, and Rancho Del Rio Estanislao
Rancho Del Rio Estanislao
Rancho del Río Estanislao was a Mexican land grant in present day Stanislaus County and Calaveras County, California given in 1843 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Francisco Rico and José Castro...
in 1843. In 1845 he was appointed by the Mexican Government second officer of the port of Monterey, under Pablo de la Guerra
Pablo de la Guerra
Pablo de la Guerra , from the de la Guerra family of Santa Barbara, California, was the Acting Lieutenant Governor of California, 1861-1862...
, and held the captaincy of a company of the Monterey cavalry. Rico was active with José María Flores
José Mariá Flores
General José María Flores was an officer in the Mexican Army and was a member of la otra banda. He was appointed Governor and Comandante General pro tem of Alta California from 1846 to 1847.-Mexican-America War:...
on the Mexican side in the Mexican–American War
Mexican–American War
The Mexican–American War, also known as the First American Intervention, the Mexican War, or the U.S.–Mexican War, was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S...
. He was the leader of the escort of the captured Thomas O. Larkin
Thomas O. Larkin
Thomas Oliver Larkin was an early American emigrant to Alta California and a signer of the original California Constitution. He was the United States' first and only consul to the California Republic.-Early years:...
. Flores dispatched Rico to retake San Diego, but he was recalled back to Los Angeles. Rico and José Antonio Carrillo
José Antonio Carrillo
Captain José Antonio Ezequiel Carrillo was a Californio rancher, officer, and politician in the early years of Mexican Alta California and U.S...
revolted against Flores. Flores was placed under arrest, but quickly was restored to power. Rico and Carrillo were jailed for the revolt, but released shortly afterwards. Rico married Tomasa Sepulveda (–1870) in 1847. After the Mexican–American War, Rico was extensively engaged in the cattle business in Monterey County. In 1849, he turned his attention to gold mining and merchandising, in partnership with Thomas O. Larkin. In 1855, Francisco Rico bought all of Rancho San Bernardo
Rancho San Bernardo (Soberanes)
Rancho San Bernardo was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1841 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Mariano de Jesus Soberanes and Juan Soberanes. The grant extended along the west bank of the Salinas River...
. The droughts of 1863 and 1864 resulted in heavy losses of stock, which finally proved a financial calamity to him.