Rancho San Lorenzo (Soberanes)
Encyclopedia
Rancho San Lorenzo was a 21884 acres (88.6 km²) Mexican land grant
in the southern Salinas Valley
, in present day Monterey County, California
given in 1841 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Feliciano Soberanes. The grant extended along the east bank of the Salinas River
, bounded on the south by San Lorenzo Creek, and encompassed present day King City, California
.
to San Francisco Bay in 1769. Soberanes married Maria Josefa Castro (1759-1822) and received Rancho Buena Vista
. Soberanes sons, Feliciano Soberanes and Mariano Soberanes (1794-1859), were granted Rancho El Alisal
in 1833.
Feliciano Soberanes (1788-1868) was born in Monterey
where he spent his whole life. He married Maria Antonia Rodriguez (1795-1883) in 1810. He was regidor in l829 and 1830, and then alcade at Monterey in 1838-1839. Feliciano became administrator of Mission Soledad
lands and received Rancho Ex-Mission Soledad
in 1845. Feliciano's daughter, Maria Josefa Soberanes, was granted Rancho Los Coches
in 1841. Feliciano's son, Francisco Maria Soberanes (1818-1887), was granted Rancho Sanjon de Santa Rita
in 1841.
Feliciano Soberanes was granted the five square league Rancho San Lorenzo in 1841. The sons of Feliciano, with Panfilo Soberanes in charge, worked Rancho San Lorenzo for many years.
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 Lorenzo was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1852, and the grant was patented
to Feliciano Soberanes in 1866.
In 1856, Eugene Sherwood, an Etonian and former British Army captain, came to San Francisco and bought Rancho San Lorenzo. Sherwood began shifting his attention to Rancho Sausal
which he had purchased from Jacob P. Leese
in 1860. About 1865, Carlisle S. Abbott, born in Quebec, Canada, purchased about 12000 acres (49 km²) of Rancho San Lorenzo. In the mid-1870s, Abbott joined with David Jacks
to build the narrow gauge Monterey & Salinas Valley Railroad. When the railroad went bankrupt, Abbott lost everything. In 1884, Charles H. King, founder of King City, bought 13000 acres (53 km²) of Rancho San Lorenzo from the estate of Solomon Bailey Boswell.
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 the southern Salinas Valley
Salinas Valley
The Salinas Valley lies south of San Francisco, California.The word "salina" is spanish for salt marsh, salt lake or salt pan.-Geography:The Salinas Valley runs approximately south-east from Salinas towards King City. The valley lends its name to the geologic province in which it's located, the...
, 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 1841 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Feliciano Soberanes. The grant extended along the east bank of the Salinas River
Salinas River (California)
The Salinas River is the largest river of the central coast of California, running and draining 4,160 square miles. It flows north-northwest and drains the Salinas Valley that slices through the Coast Range south from Monterey Bay...
, bounded on the south by San Lorenzo Creek, and encompassed present day King City, California
King City, California
King City is a city in Monterey County, California, United States. King City is located on the Salinas River southeast of Salinas, at an elevation of 335 feet . It lies along U.S. Route 101 in the Salinas Valley of the Central Coast of California. King City is a member of the Association of...
.
History
The Soberanes family partiarch, José Maria Soberanes (1753-1803) accompanied 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...
to San Francisco Bay in 1769. Soberanes married Maria Josefa Castro (1759-1822) and received Rancho Buena Vista
Rancho Buena Vista (Soberanes)
Rancho Buena Vista was a Spanish land concession in the Salinas Valley, in present day Monterey County, California given in 1795 to Jose Maria Soberanes and Joaquin Castro. The grant was just south of Spreckels.-History:...
. Soberanes sons, Feliciano Soberanes and Mariano Soberanes (1794-1859), were granted Rancho El Alisal
Rancho El Alisal
Rancho El Alisal was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1833 by Governor José Figueroa to brothers Feliciano and Mariano Soberanes and to William Edward Petty Hartnell. Alisal means Alder tree in spanish...
in 1833.
Feliciano Soberanes (1788-1868) was born in Monterey
Monterey, 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...
where he spent his whole life. He married Maria Antonia Rodriguez (1795-1883) in 1810. He was regidor in l829 and 1830, and then alcade at Monterey in 1838-1839. Feliciano became administrator of Mission Soledad
Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad
Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad is in the Salinas Valley near Soledad, in central Monterey County, California. The mission was founded on October 9, 1791 for the increasing settlement of upper Las Californias Province of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, and for the Indian Reductions to convert...
lands and received Rancho Ex-Mission Soledad
Rancho Ex-Mission Soledad
Rancho Ex-Mission Soledad was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1845 by Governor Pío Pico to Feliciano Soberanes...
in 1845. Feliciano's daughter, Maria Josefa Soberanes, was granted Rancho Los Coches
Rancho Los Coches (Soberanes)
Rancho Los Coches was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1841 by Governor Juan Alvarado to María Josefa Soberanes. The name means "the pigs". The grant was south of Soledad and extended along the Arroyo Seco.-History:...
in 1841. Feliciano's son, Francisco Maria Soberanes (1818-1887), was granted Rancho Sanjon de Santa Rita
Rancho Sanjon de Santa Rita
Rancho Sanjon de Santa Rita was a Mexican land grant mostly in present day Merced County, California and also a small part in Fresno County, California given in 1841 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Francisco Maria Soberanes. Sanjon is Spanish for ditch or deep slough...
in 1841.
Feliciano Soberanes was granted the five square league Rancho San Lorenzo in 1841. The sons of Feliciano, with Panfilo Soberanes in charge, worked Rancho San Lorenzo for many years.
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 Lorenzo 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 Feliciano Soberanes in 1866.
In 1856, Eugene Sherwood, an Etonian and former British Army captain, came to San Francisco and bought Rancho San Lorenzo. Sherwood began shifting his attention to Rancho Sausal
Rancho Sausal
Rancho Sausal was a Mexican land grant in the Salinas Valley, in present day Monterey County, California given in 1834 by Governor José Figueroa to José Tibúrcio Castro. An additional grant was made by Governor Pío Pico in 1845. The name is Spanish for "willow grove"...
which he had purchased from Jacob P. Leese
Jacob P. Leese
Jacob Primer Leese was a San Francisco pioneer, who built the first permanent house in San Francisco...
in 1860. About 1865, Carlisle S. Abbott, born in Quebec, Canada, purchased about 12000 acres (49 km²) of Rancho San Lorenzo. In the mid-1870s, Abbott joined with David Jacks
David Jack (businessman)
David Jack , also known as David Jacks, was a powerful Californian landowner, developer, and businessman. Born in Scotland, he emigrated to California during the 1849 Gold Rush, and soon acquired several thousand acres in and around Monterey, shaping the history of Monterey County in the first...
to build the narrow gauge Monterey & Salinas Valley Railroad. When the railroad went bankrupt, Abbott lost everything. In 1884, Charles H. King, founder of King City, bought 13000 acres (53 km²) of Rancho San Lorenzo from the estate of Solomon Bailey Boswell.