Rancho Soulajule
Encyclopedia
Rancho Soulajule was a 10898 acres (44.1 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day Marin County, California
given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena
to José Ramón Mesa. The grant extended along Walker Creek. The southern boundary was defined as Rancho Corte Madera de Novato
.
In 1849, Mesa sold 2366 acres (9.6 km²)of the rancho to Lewis D. Watkins and George N. Cornwell. In 1850, Mesa sold the rest of the rancho: 2266 acres (9.2 km²) to Martin F. Gomley, and 6266 acres (25.4 km²) to William M. Fuller. Fuller sold his land to Joshua J. Brackett and Pedro J. Vasquez. Pedro José Vasquez was a brother of José Tiburcio Vasquez, grantee of Rancho Corral de Tierra
.
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, five claims for Rancho Soulajule were filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1852 and the grant was patented
in 1879.
Although Mesa had sold all of the rancho, in 1855 he sold to Walter Skidmore, an area of land that Mesa considered to be a part of the grant, but which was not confirmed by the Land Commission. The US Supreme Court ruled he did not own this land.
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 José Ramón Mesa. The grant extended along Walker Creek. The southern boundary was defined as Rancho Corte Madera de Novato
Rancho Corte Madera de Novato
Rancho Corte Madera de Novato was a Mexican land grant in present day Marin County, California given in 1839 by Governor Juan Alvarado to John Martin. The name means the "lumber mill of Novato"...
.
History
From 1834 to 1842, Ramón Mesa (1816 - 1885) was soldier at the San Francisco Presidio, and was granted three square league Rancho Soulajulle in 1844.In 1849, Mesa sold 2366 acres (9.6 km²)of the rancho to Lewis D. Watkins and George N. Cornwell. In 1850, Mesa sold the rest of the rancho: 2266 acres (9.2 km²) to Martin F. Gomley, and 6266 acres (25.4 km²) to William M. Fuller. Fuller sold his land to Joshua J. Brackett and Pedro J. Vasquez. Pedro José Vasquez was a brother of José Tiburcio Vasquez, grantee of Rancho Corral de Tierra
Rancho Corral de Tierra (Vasquez)
Rancho Corral de Tierra was a Mexican land grant in present day San Mateo County, California given in 1839 by Governor Pro-Tem Manuel Jimeno to José Tiburcio Vásquez. The name means “earthen corral” in Spanish. Jimeno granted Vasquez the smaller southern part of Rancho Corral de Tierra and...
.
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, five claims for Rancho Soulajule were 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...
in 1879.
| Land Case No. | Claimant | Patented area | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 328 ND | George N. Cornwell | 919 acres (3.7 km²) | |
| 329 ND | Joshua S.Brackett | 2492 acres (10.1 km²) | |
| 331 ND | Pedro J.Vasquez | 3774 acres (15.3 km²) | |
| 334 ND | Martin F.Gormley | 2266 acres (9.2 km²) | |
| 352 ND | Louisa D. Watkins | 1447 acres (5.9 km²) | |
| 336 ND | William M. Fuller | rejected |
Although Mesa had sold all of the rancho, in 1855 he sold to Walter Skidmore, an area of land that Mesa considered to be a part of the grant, but which was not confirmed by the Land Commission. The US Supreme Court ruled he did not own this land.