Rancho San Lucas
Encyclopedia
Rancho San Lucas was a 8875 acres (35.9 km²) Mexican land grant
in the Salinas Valley
, in present day Monterey County, California
given in 1842 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to Rafael Estrada. The grant extended along the west bank of the Salinas River
south of present day San Lucas
.
Estrada sold Rancho San Lucas to James McKinley. Captain James McKinley, a Scottish sailor, arrived at Monterey
in the 1820s and became a successful trader. In 1843, he was involved in a trading business partnership with Captain John Paty and Henry D. Fitch
. He served as an agent for both Thomas O. Larkin
and his half brother, Captain John B.R. Cooper
. McKinley married Carmen Amesti, daughter of José Amesti, who was the grantee of Rancho Los Corralitos
. McKinley was also the patentee of Rancho Moro y Cayucos
.
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 Lucas was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1853, and the grant was patented
to James McKinley in 1882.
McKinley sold the Rancho San Lucas in 1862 to Alberto Trescony. Alberto Trescony (1814–1892), born in Italy
, drove sheep from Texas into Mexico, and came overland to Los Angeles
in 1844, and went to Monterey shortly afterwards. A tin smith, he became wealthy manufacturing gold pans for the miners.
With the purchase of part of Rancho San Bernardo
and all of Rancho San Benito
, Alberto Trescony consolidated his San Lucas holdings into a ranch of about 20000 acres (81 km²). Trescony also acquired Rancho Tularcitos
. Drought in 1871–1872 killed large numbers of Trescony's sheep. In 1876, Trescony moved to Santa Cruz
, and turned over the operation of the rancho to his son, Julius A. Trescony.
Alberto Trescony died in 1892 and his property was distributed to his three children: a one-third interest to his son Julius A. Trescony; a one-third interest to his daughter, the wife of Robert F. Johnson of El Paso, Texas
; and a one-third interest to the two minor children (Anita Christal and her brother Leo Christal) of his deceased daughter, wife of J.F. Christal.
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 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 1842 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to Rafael Estrada. The grant extended along the west 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...
south of present day San Lucas
San Lucas, California
San Lucas is a census-designated place in Monterey County, California, United States. San Lucas is located on the Salinas River southeast of King City, at an elevation of 410 feet...
.
History
José Rafael Estrada, son of José Raymundo Estrada and Josefa Maria Vallejo de Alvarado, received the grant of the San Lucas for two square leagues in 1842. Rafael Estrada was a half brother of Governor Juan Alvarado.Estrada sold Rancho San Lucas to James McKinley. Captain James McKinley, a Scottish sailor, arrived at 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...
in the 1820s and became a successful trader. In 1843, he was involved in a trading business partnership with Captain John Paty and Henry D. Fitch
Henry D. Fitch
Henry Delano Fitch was an early settler of San Diego, California.-Life:Henry D. Fitch was born 1799 in New Bedford, Massachusetts. He was a sea captain and trader...
. He served as an agent for both 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:...
and his half brother, Captain John B.R. Cooper
John B.R. Cooper
John Bautista Rogers Cooper was born in England and raised in Massachusetts. He came to California as master of the ship Rover, and was a pre-gold rush pioneer of Monterey, California...
. McKinley married Carmen Amesti, daughter of José Amesti, who was the grantee of Rancho Los Corralitos
Rancho Los Corralitos
Rancho Los Corralitos was a Mexican land grant in present day Santa Cruz County, California given in 1823 by Governor Luis Antonio Argüello, with a confirmatory grant in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to José Amesti. "Los Corralitos" means "the little corrals" in Spanish...
. McKinley was also the patentee of Rancho Moro y Cayucos
Rancho Moro y Cayucos
Rancho Moro y Cayucos was a Mexican land grant in present day San Luis Obispo County, California given in 1842 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to Martin Olivera and Vicente Feliz...
.
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 Lucas 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 James McKinley in 1882.
McKinley sold the Rancho San Lucas in 1862 to Alberto Trescony. Alberto Trescony (1814–1892), born in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, drove sheep from Texas into Mexico, and came overland to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 1844, and went to Monterey shortly afterwards. A tin smith, he became wealthy manufacturing gold pans for the miners.
With the purchase of part 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...
and all of Rancho San Benito
Rancho San Benito
Rancho San Benito was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1842 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to Francisco Garcia. The grant extended along the Salinas River south of Rancho San Bernardo...
, Alberto Trescony consolidated his San Lucas holdings into a ranch of about 20000 acres (81 km²). Trescony also acquired Rancho Tularcitos
Rancho Tularcitos (Gomez)
Rancho Tularcitos was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1834 by Governor José Figueroa to Rafael Gomez. Tularcitos means "place of the little Tule thickets"...
. Drought in 1871–1872 killed large numbers of Trescony's sheep. In 1876, Trescony moved to Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
, and turned over the operation of the rancho to his son, Julius A. Trescony.
Alberto Trescony died in 1892 and his property was distributed to his three children: a one-third interest to his son Julius A. Trescony; a one-third interest to his daughter, the wife of Robert F. Johnson of El Paso, Texas
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
; and a one-third interest to the two minor children (Anita Christal and her brother Leo Christal) of his deceased daughter, wife of J.F. Christal.