Rancho San Pedro, Santa Margarita y Las Gallinas
Encyclopedia
Rancho San Pedro, Santa Margarita y Las Gallinas was a 21679 acres (87.7 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day Marin County, California
given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena
to Timothy Murphy (Timoteo Murphy). Las Gallinas means "the hens" in Spanish. The grant extended from east of Nicasio, California
, south east along the Lucas Valley, California
, then along Miller Creek to Las Gallinas
and the San Pablo Bay
.
, Ireland
worked at the Lima
branch of the of Hartnell and Company meatpacking house in 1828. He moved to Monterey
, but the local branch of Hartnell and Company closed shortly after he arrived. In 1837, Murphy was administrator of Mission San Rafael
, and later, served as alcalde
and juez de paz at San Rafael
. In 1844, Murphy was granted five square leagues in three adjoining ranchos: Rancho San Pedro, Rancho Santa Margarita and Rancho Las Gallinas. Timothy Murphy suffered a reversal of fortune in 1849, when he was swindled out of the proceeds from the sale of meat from his ranch, by John B. Steinberger. Thereafter, things continued to decline for him, until his death in 1853, of a burst appendix.
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, acclaim for Rancho San Pedro, Santa Margarita y Las Gallinas was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1852, and the grant was patented to Timothy Murphy in 1866.
Irishman, James Miller (-1890) and his wife, Mary Murphy, came overland to California in 1844 with the Stephens-Townsend-Murphy Party
and in 1846 he purchased 680 acres (2.8 km²) of the Rancho Las Gallinas purchased from Timoteo Murphy and operated it as a beef ranch and then as a dairy farm. Miller
and Miller Creek are named for James Miller.
Timothy Murphy never married, and when he died in 1853, his brother Matthew Murphy (who was shot while riding near San Quentin by a prison guard in 1852, and died in 1854) inherited present day McNear
, Peacock Gap, and China Camp
. His nephew, John Lucas, inherited the 7600 acres (30.8 km²) Santa Margarita ranch (present day Lucas Valley
and Terra Linda
). John Lucas (1826–) was born in County Wexford, Ireland, and came to California in 1852. He returned to Ireland in 1853, but came back to California in 1855. He married Maria Sweetman in 1855, and in 1856 moved to the ranch opposite the James Miller, where he built a home, and continued grazing cattle. He sold about 1200 acres (4.9 km²) of Rancho Santa Margarita to Manuel T. Freitas (1853-1923) in 1898.
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 Marin County, California
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...
given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena
Manuel Micheltorena
Manuel Micheltorena was a Brigadier General of the Mexican Army, Adjutant-General of the same, Governor, Commandant-General and Inspector of the Department of the California...
to Timothy Murphy (Timoteo Murphy). Las Gallinas means "the hens" in Spanish. The grant extended from east of Nicasio, California
Nicasio, California
Nicasio is a census-designated place in Marin County, California. It is located west-southwest of Novato, at an elevation of 194 feet . The population was 96 at the 2010 census....
, south east along the Lucas Valley, California
Lucas Valley, California
Lucas Valley is an unincorporated community in Marin County, California. It lies at an elevation of 108 feet . For census purposes, Lucas Valley is aggregated with Marinwood into the census-designated place Lucas Valley-Marinwood....
, then along Miller Creek to Las Gallinas
Las Gallinas, California
Las Gallinas is an unincorporated community in Marin County, California, south-southeast of Novato.At an elevation of 26 feet Las Gallinas is near the interchange of U.S...
and the San Pablo Bay
San Pablo Bay
San Pablo Bay is a tidal estuary that forms the northern extension of San Francisco Bay in northern California in the United States. Most of the Bay is shallow; however, there is a deep water channel approximately in mid bay, which allows access to Sacramento, Stockton, Benicia, Martinez, and...
.
History
Timothy Murphy (1800–1853 ) born in County WexfordCounty Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
worked at the Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
branch of the of Hartnell and Company meatpacking house in 1828. He moved to 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...
, but the local branch of Hartnell and Company closed shortly after he arrived. In 1837, Murphy was administrator of Mission San Rafael
Mission San Rafael Arcángel
Mission San Rafael Arcángel was founded in 1817 as a medical asistencia of the Mission San Francisco de Asís as a hospital to treat sick Native Americans of the Bay Area, making it Alta California's first sanitarium. The weather was much better in the North Bay than in San Francisco, and helped...
, and later, served as alcalde
Alcalde
Alcalde , or Alcalde ordinario, is the traditional Spanish municipal magistrate, who had both judicial and administrative functions. An alcalde was, in the absence of a corregidor, the presiding officer of the Castilian cabildo and judge of first instance of a town...
and juez de paz at San Rafael
San Rafael, California
San Rafael is a city and the county seat of Marin County, California, United States. The city is located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area...
. In 1844, Murphy was granted five square leagues in three adjoining ranchos: Rancho San Pedro, Rancho Santa Margarita and Rancho Las Gallinas. Timothy Murphy suffered a reversal of fortune in 1849, when he was swindled out of the proceeds from the sale of meat from his ranch, by John B. Steinberger. Thereafter, things continued to decline for him, until his death in 1853, of a burst appendix.
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, acclaim for Rancho San Pedro, Santa Margarita y Las Gallinas 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 to Timothy Murphy in 1866.
Irishman, James Miller (-1890) and his wife, Mary Murphy, came overland to California in 1844 with the Stephens-Townsend-Murphy Party
Stephens-Townsend-Murphy Party
The Stephens-Townsend-Murphy Party consisted of ten families who migrated from Iowa to California prior to the Mexican-American War or the California Gold Rush. The Stephens Party is significant in California history because they were the first wagon train to cross the Sierra Nevada during the...
and in 1846 he purchased 680 acres (2.8 km²) of the Rancho Las Gallinas purchased from Timoteo Murphy and operated it as a beef ranch and then as a dairy farm. Miller
Miller, California
Miller is a former settlement in Marin County, California. It was located on the Northwestern Pacific Railroad south-southeast of downtown Novato, at an elevation of 23 feet . Miller still appeared on maps as of 1914....
and Miller Creek are named for James Miller.
Timothy Murphy never married, and when he died in 1853, his brother Matthew Murphy (who was shot while riding near San Quentin by a prison guard in 1852, and died in 1854) inherited present day McNear
McNears Beach, California
McNears Beach is an unincorporated community in Marin County, California. It is located 0.5 miles north-northwest of Point San Pedro and 3.4 miles northeast of San Rafael, at an elevation of 10 feet...
, Peacock Gap, and China Camp
China Camp State Park
China Camp State Park is a state park of California, USA, surrounding a historic Chinese American shrimp-fishing village and a salt marsh. The park is located in San Rafael, California, on the shore of San Pablo Bay. It is known for its hiking and mountain biking trails, scenic views, and open...
. His nephew, John Lucas, inherited the 7600 acres (30.8 km²) Santa Margarita ranch (present day Lucas Valley
Lucas Valley-Marinwood, California
Lucas Valley-Marinwood is a census-designated place in Marin County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 6,094.-History:...
and Terra Linda
Terra Linda, San Rafael, California
Terra Linda is a former unincorporated community incorporated in San Rafael in Marin County, California. It lies at an elevation of 171 feet ....
). John Lucas (1826–) was born in County Wexford, Ireland, and came to California in 1852. He returned to Ireland in 1853, but came back to California in 1855. He married Maria Sweetman in 1855, and in 1856 moved to the ranch opposite the James Miller, where he built a home, and continued grazing cattle. He sold about 1200 acres (4.9 km²) of Rancho Santa Margarita to Manuel T. Freitas (1853-1923) in 1898.
Historic sites of the Rancho
- Dixie Schoolhouse. One-story, wood-frame Italianate shoolhouse built in 1864.