Rancho Vega del Rio del Pajaro
Encyclopedia
Rancho Vega del Rio del Pajaro was a 4310 acres (17.4 km²) Spanish land concession
in present day Monterey County, California
given in 1821 by Pablo Vicente de Solá
to Antonio Maria Castro. The grant was confirmed by Mexican Governor José Figueroa
in 1833. The name means "a meadow along the Pajaro River". The rancho lands bordered the Pajaro River
and include the present day Vega
and Watsonville
.
Maria Antonia Castro married Juan Miguel Anzar (grantee of Rancho Los Aromitas y Agua Caliente
and Rancho Santa Ana y Quien Sabe
). Anzar died and his widow, Maria Antonia Castro de Anzar married Frederick A. McDougal, a doctor from Scotland
.
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, Maria Antonia Castro filed a claim for Rancho Vega del Rio del Pajaro with the Public Land Commission
in 1852. Maria Antonia Castro de Anzar de McDougal died in 1855, leaving McDougal and her children as heirs when the grant was patented
to Juan Miguel Anzar in 1864.
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 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 1821 by Pablo Vicente de Solá
Pablo Vicente de Solá
Pablo Vicente de Solá , the last Spanish governor of Alta California from 1815-1822....
to Antonio Maria Castro. The grant was confirmed by Mexican Governor José Figueroa
José Figueroa
General José Figueroa , was a General and the Mexican territorial Governor of Alta California from 1833 to 1835.Figueroa oversaw the initial secularization of the missions of upper California, which included the expulsion of the Spanish Franciscan mission officials.This also involved the issuing of...
in 1833. The name means "a meadow along the Pajaro River". The rancho lands bordered the Pajaro River
Pajaro River
The Pajaro River is a river in Northern California, forming part of the border between Santa Cruz County and Monterey County and between San Benito County and Santa Clara County.-History:...
and include the present day Vega
Vega, Monterey County, California
Vega is a former settlement in Monterey County, California. It was located on the Southern Pacific Railroad west-northwest of Aromas, at an elevation of 62 feet . Vega still appeared on USGS maps as of 1917....
and Watsonville
Watsonville, California
Watsonville is a city in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. The population was 51,199 according to the 2010 census.Located on the central coast of California, the economy centers predominantly around the farming industry. It is known for growing strawberries, apples, lettuce and a host...
.
History
Antonio Maria Castro was a soldier who retired in 1809.Maria Antonia Castro married Juan Miguel Anzar (grantee of Rancho Los Aromitas y Agua Caliente
Rancho Los Aromitas y Agua Caliente
Rancho Los Aromitas y Agua Caliente was a Mexican land grant in present day San Benito County, California given in 1835 by Governor José Castro to Juan Miguel Anzar. The name means "little perfumes and hot spring" and refers to nearby sulfur springs...
and Rancho Santa Ana y Quien Sabe
Rancho Santa Ana y Quien Sabe
Rancho Santa Ana y Quien Sabe was a Mexican land grant in present day San Benito County, California given in 1839 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to Manuel Larios and Juan M. Anzar...
). Anzar died and his widow, Maria Antonia Castro de Anzar married Frederick A. McDougal, a doctor from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
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, Maria Antonia Castro filed a claim for Rancho Vega del Rio del Pajaro 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. Maria Antonia Castro de Anzar de McDougal died in 1855, leaving McDougal and her children as heirs when 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 Juan Miguel Anzar in 1864.