Rancho San Miguel (Olivas)
Encyclopedia
Rancho San Miguel was a 4694 acres (19 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day Ventura County, California
given in 1841 by Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado
to Felipe Lorenzana and Raymundo Olivas. The grant encompassed the area of present day City of Ventura
not within Rancho Ex-Mission San Buenaventura
, with the Santa Clara River
marking its southern boundary.
. Raymundo married Teodora Lopez in Santa Barbara in 1832. They had 21 children - eight girls and thirteen boys. In return for their army service, Raymundo Olivas and Felipe Lorenzana, were granted one and a half square leagues in 1841.
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 Miguel was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1852, and the grant was patented
to Raymundo Olivas and Felipe Lorenzana in 1873.
In 1864, Felipe Lorenzana sold his half of the Rancho to Dixie W. Thompson. Raymundo Olivas died in 1879, and his half of the Rancho was divided amongst his heirs.
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 Ventura County, California
Ventura County, California
Ventura County is a county in the southern part of the U.S. state of California. It is located on California's Pacific coast. It is often referred to as the Gold Coast, and has a reputation of being one of the safest populated places and one of the most affluent places in the country...
given in 1841 by Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado
Juan Bautista Alvarado
Juan Bautista Valentín Alvarado y Vallejo was a Californio and twice Governor of Alta California from 1836 to 1837, and 1838 to 1842.-Early years:...
to Felipe Lorenzana and Raymundo Olivas. The grant encompassed the area of present day City of Ventura
Ventura, California
Ventura is the county seat of Ventura County, California, United States, incorporated in 1866. The population was 106,433 at the 2010 census, up from 100,916 at the 2000 census. Ventura is accessible via U.S...
not within Rancho Ex-Mission San Buenaventura
Rancho Ex-Mission San Buenaventura
Rancho Ex-Mission San Buenaventura was a Mexican land grant in present day Ventura County, California given in 1846 by Governor Pio Pico to José de Arnaz...
, with the Santa Clara River
Santa Clara River (California)
The Santa Clara River is approximately long, located in southern California in the United States. It drains an area of the coastal mountains north of Los Angeles. The Santa Clara is one of the largest river systems along the coast of Southern California and one of only a few remaining river...
marking its southern boundary.
History
Felipe Lorenzana was one of the orphans who traveled from Mexico City to California 1799–1800. Felipe Lorenzana married Maria de Natividad Ruiz. Raymundo Olivas (1801-1879), born in Los Angeles, joined the Mexican Army at the age of 16 and was assigned to the Presidio of Santa BarbaraPresidio of Santa Barbara
The El Presidio Real de Santa Bárbara, also known as the Royal Presidio of Santa Barbara, was a military installation in Santa Barbara, California. It was built by Spain in 1782, with the mission of defending the Second Military District in California...
. Raymundo married Teodora Lopez in Santa Barbara in 1832. They had 21 children - eight girls and thirteen boys. In return for their army service, Raymundo Olivas and Felipe Lorenzana, were granted one and a half square leagues in 1841.
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 Miguel 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 Raymundo Olivas and Felipe Lorenzana in 1873.
In 1864, Felipe Lorenzana sold his half of the Rancho to Dixie W. Thompson. Raymundo Olivas died in 1879, and his half of the Rancho was divided amongst his heirs.