Rancho Tequepis
Encyclopedia
Rancho Tequepis was a 8919 acres (36.1 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day Santa Barbara County, California
given in 1845 by Governor Pio Pico
to Joaquin Villa. The grant extended along both sides of the Santa Ynez River
at the mouth of Cachuma Creek east of present day Santa Ynez
. Much of the grant is now under the waters of Lake Cachuma
which was formed in 1953.
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 Tequepis was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1852, and the grant was patented
to Joaquin Villa's son, Antonio Maria Villa (1829–1899) in 1869.
William Pierce acquired Rancho Tequepis from Villa’s heirs in 1868. Pierce also owned the adjoining Rancho San Marcos
and Rancho Nojoqui
.
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 Santa Barbara County, California
Santa Barbara County, California
Santa Barbara County is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California, on the Pacific coast. As of 2010 the county had a population of 423,895. The county seat is Santa Barbara and the largest city is Santa Maria.-History:...
given in 1845 by Governor Pio Pico
Pío Pico
Pío de Jesús Pico was the last Governor of Alta California under Mexican rule.-Origins:...
to Joaquin Villa. The grant extended along both sides of the Santa Ynez River
Santa Ynez River
The Santa Ynez River is one of the largest rivers on the Central Coast of California. It is long, flowing from east to west through the Santa Ynez Valley, reaching the Pacific Ocean at Surf, near Vandenberg Air Force Base and the city of Lompoc....
at the mouth of Cachuma Creek east of present day Santa Ynez
Santa Ynez, California
Santa Ynez is a census-designated place in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. The town of Santa Ynez is one of the communities that make up the Santa Ynez Valley, and features the Santa Ynez Airport for general aviation with a paved 2804 x 75 foot runway. The population was 4,418...
. Much of the grant is now under the waters of Lake Cachuma
Lake Cachuma
Lake Cachuma is an artificial lake located in the Santa Ynez Valley of central Santa Barbara County, California on the Santa Ynez River adjoining the north side of California State Route 154. The reservoir was created by the construction of Bradbury Dam, a earth-fill structure built by the U.S....
which was formed in 1953.
History
With the cessionMexican 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 Tequepis 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 Joaquin Villa's son, Antonio Maria Villa (1829–1899) in 1869.
William Pierce acquired Rancho Tequepis from Villa’s heirs in 1868. Pierce also owned the adjoining Rancho San Marcos
Rancho San Marcos
Rancho San Marcos was a Mexican land grant in present day Santa Barbara County, California given in 1846 by Governor Pio Pico to Nicolas A. Den and Richard S. Den. The grant in the Santa Ynez Valley extended between the San Rafael Mountains and the Santa Ynez River.-History:The former Santa...
and Rancho Nojoqui
Rancho Nojoqui
Rancho Nojoqui was a Mexican land grant in present day Santa Barbara County, California given in 1843 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Raimundo Carrillo...
.