Alameda County, CA History

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Past and Present of Alameda County California
Joseph Baker, Editor, Volume I, Illustrated
Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company 1914 
 
CHAPTER II
SPANISH AND MEXICAN LAND GRANTS
 
        All the tract of country bordering on the bay of San Francisco and on 
San Pablo bay was divided in 1841 into five great ranches: San Antonio, San 
Pablo, El Pinole, La Boca de la Canada de Pinole and Acalanes bordering on the 
Straits of Carquinez. North of Rancho El Pinole was a strip of land known as the 
northern part of the Canada del Hambre las Polsas Rancho and directly south was 
the Rancho de los Palos Colorados, embracing all the land between what became 
known as San Leandro creek on the south and San Pablo bay on the north and the 
bay of San Francisco on the west and the Cuchilla de los Trampas or Coast Range 
on the east, being the greater part of what is now Alameda county and the 
northwestern portion of Contra Costa county. Encircled by the five ranchos named 
above was an unclaimed or surplus tract (sobrante) which the Castros wished as 
grazing ground for their vast herds of cattle. Governor Alvarado gave them only 
a provisional grant to this tract, because the forms of law had not been wholly 
complied with. In 1852 the Castros employed H. W. Carpentier and John Wilson to 
perfect their claim to this tract. The board of land commissioners decided that 
the grant was valid. This decree was issued in 1855 and stood until 1863 when 
Mr. Carpentier inserted in the decree after the word "between" (the ranchos) the 
words "or within the exterior boundaries of" (the ranchos above named). This 
insertion vastly increased the lands of the grants from about 20,000 acres in 
the sobrante proper to about 75,000 acres and involved the title to the Contra 
Costa Water Company's water sheds. Many suits and contentions grew out of this 
case. In August, 1879, the surveyor general decided that the lands applied for 
by the Castros and provisionally granted by Alvarado and finally confirmed to 
them by the board of land commissioners was a piece of vacant land between the 
five ranchos above named. The del Hambre claimants appealed on the ground that 
the land granted was the surplus which should result from all the five ranchos 
on the final determination of their boundaries, whether lying between them or 
some of them, or entirely outside of their respective finally ascertained limits 
and within the exterior boundaries. In February, 1881, the commissioner of the 
general land office decided in favor of the del Hambre claimants.
        This decision gave the confirmees land granted by Mexico and patented to 
other parties, absorbing about 69,000 acres of the public lands, besides lands 
listed to the state, portions of which were patented to third parties. There was 
great resistance to this decision of the commissioner. In February, 1882, 
Secretary Kirkwood decided the case so that the sobrante was confined to about 
20,000 acres between the five ranchos. About this time Judge Crane in the case 
of Leroy, et al., vs. Hebard, et al., decided that the title of settlers to 
2,200 acres in the marsh on the Alameda Encinal was not good, the land having 
been previously sold by Antoine M. Peralta to Chipman and Ougenbaugh.
        Most of the grantees were sons of soldiers and had served in the 
presidial companies themselves. Among the most noted ranchos connected with the 
history of the county, besides the San Antonio, were Las Pocitas, San Lorenzo, 
San Pablo, San Leandro, and San Ramon, Valle de San Jose, Las Positas, Canada de 
los Vaqueros, Santa Rita, Arroyo de la Alameda, El Sobrante. The valleys in the 
southern portion of Alameda county, including Washington and Murray townships, 
are now known under the general name of Valley of San Jose, after the mission to 
which they had belonged as grazing grounds.
        The first two ranches granted within Alameda county were the San 
Antonio, upon which Oakland and other towns stand, and Los Tularcitos, situated 
partly in Alameda county and partly in Santa Clara county, which was given to 
the Ex-Sergeant Jose Higuera on the 4th of October, 1821, by the first Mexican 
governor, Captain Luis Antonio Arguello. No more grants were made in the region 
known as La Contra Costa until 1833, from which year until the end of the 
Mexican domination, some twenty-seven ranches were founded.
        On October 18, 1820, Governor Don Pablo Vicente de Sola granted to Don 
Luis Maria Peralta, a native of Jubec, Sonora, as a reward for distinguished 
services, a tract of land extending five leagues along the eastern shore of the 
bay from San Leandro creek to the northwestern line of Alameda county including 
the present site of Alameda, Oakland, Berkeley and their suburbs and extending 
back to the hills. The whole rancho was called San Antonio, but later the term 
Temescal was applied to what is now Oakland. Peralta married Maria Lolereto 
Alviso and by her had five sons (one of whom apparently died in infancy) and 
five daughters: Ygnacio, Jose Domingo, Antonio, Maria, Vicente, boys, and 
Teodora, Trinidad, Josefa, Guadalupe and Maria Luisa, girls. Teodora married 
Mariano Duarte, Trinidad married Mariano Castro and Maria Luisa married 
Guillermo Castro. The father did not reside in Alameda county, but spent his 
time on another rancho in Contra Costa county. At a later date a fine family 
mansion was built near the foothills of the Contra Costa range on San Leandro 
creek, which was occupied in common by his sons until 1842, when the estate was 
divided into four as nearly equal parts as practicable with imaginary but more 
or less defined lines running from the bay eastwardly to the hills. To Jose 
Domingo was given the northern tract embracing what is now Berkeley; to Vicente 
was given the next division to the southward including the present city of 
Oakland, then called the Encinal de Temescal with its fine grove of oaks. To 
Antonio Maria was presented the third division further south embracing East 
Oakland and Alameda; Ygnacio was given the most southerly division on which 
stood the old homestead that had been long occupied by all in common and there 
he continued to reside for many years. All this large extent of wild country was 
occupied alone by the Peralta family for a long period of years. They possessed 
large herds of cattle and horses, raised grain and fruit, but had for neighbors 
only the few inhabitants of Yerba Buena (San Francisco) across the bay.
        In 1851 Don Luis Peralta, the father, died at the great age of 
ninety-three years leaving a will which made the following provisions concerning 
his children and his estate: "I leave the house, my residence, in the town of 
San Jose Guadalupe, with the orchard and fruit trees, all the land which 
appertains to and belongs to said orchard and all the rest of the land 
contiguous to the said house, together with the appurtenances of this property, 
in favor of my two daughters, Maria Josefa Peralta and Maria Guadalupo Peralta, 
in full ownership and dominion and I encharge these daughters to remain always 
together in peace and union, enjoying this estate mutually as absolute owners 
thereof, whereof I declare particularly that everything that is in this house is 
my property, and as such I leave it to my above mentioned daughters. The picture 
of St. Joseph and Our Lady Guadalupe being for my said daughter Guadalupe, and 
the Crucifix and Our Lady of Dolores for my daughter Maria Josefa. I command 
these two daughters to remain in peace, enjoying the property that I leave 
herein; but if by marriage or other motive either one of them should wish to 
separate from the other, then the two may make such agreement as they shall deem 
fit for this and for any other arrangement of their domestic affairs, or of 
their property of which they remain the owners and mistresses and without being 
disturbed by any person and may they remain always together, the one saving the 
other as her Guardian Angel, that God our Lord may preserve them from the storms 
of this world and from all ill-inclined persons.
        "As regards the cattle belonging to me, that is to say, horned cattle, I 
declare that on the marriage of my children, Maria Teodora, Ygnacio, Domingo and 
Trinidad, to each one were given two cows and calves, by reason of having just 
commenced the rearing of my cattle, but afterwards they received in gift more 
cattle as they themselves can say, as they know to speak the truth; also in the 
year 1831 there were delivered to William Castro two hundred and thirty head of 
horned cattle, which were the marriage portion of his wife Maria Luisa Peralta, 
my daughter. Also I repeat again that there have been given to my daughters 
Maria Teodora and Maria Trinidad, two hundred head of horned cattle and to my 
son Ygnacio three hundred head of cattle and over and above those which have 
already been given to my son Domingo, I command that there be given to him one 
hundred head of cattle; I likewise command that out of the cattle in San Antonio 
and Temescal that shall be found to belong to me there shall be given two 
hundred head to each of my daughters Maria Josefa and Maria Guadalupe and the 
remainder in Temescal shall belong to my son Vicente and the remainder in San 
Antonio shall belong to my son Antonio Maria and these two brothers shall take 
charge of the cattle of these two sisters Maria Josefa and Maria Guadalupe. 
Inasmuch as I have already portioned out to my sons their respective lands, I 
declare that these lands comprehend all my property of the Rancho San Antonio 
the title of these concessions and possession are in the hands of my son Ygnacio 
and which lands I have already divided amongst my sons as a donation inter vivos 
to their entire satisfaction and which donations by these presents I hereby 
ratify.
        "I declare that I owe no man and that Nazared Berryeza owes me Fifteen 
Dollars. I name as first executor of this my will my son Ygnacio Peralta and
my son Antonio Maria Peralta as second executor, that they, aided by the rest, 
may fulfill all that I have ordained. I command all my children that they may 
remain in peace, succoring each other in your necessities, eschewing all 
avaricious ambition, without entering into foolish differences for one or two 
calves, for the cows bring them forth every year; and inasmuch as the land is 
narrow, it is indispensable that the cattle should become mixed up, for which 
reason I command my sons to be friendly and united. I command all my children, 
sons and daughters, to educate and bring up their children in the holy fear of 
God, showing them good examples and keeping them from all bad company, in order 
that our Lord may shower upon them his blessings, the same which I leave to you, 
in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost. I declare that this is 
my last will and testament dictated by me and written in my presence, read and 
signed by myself, and by these presents I revoke and annul all and every other 
will or wills, codicil or codicils, that I may have executed. I declare it or 
them null and of no value in law or otherwise. In testimony whereof I have 
hereunto placed my hand this 29th day of April, 1851, in the City of San Jose 
and in the presence of witnesses that I have called to serve as witnesses of 
this my last will.
James Alex Forbes,      
Podre Juan Nobile,       Witnesses.
Demo Damco,  
Luis Ma. Peralta. (Seal)"
 
        The revolution of 1822 when Mexico threw off Spanish dominion produced 
not a ripple in California. Everybody yielded obedience to the new power. Manuel 
Victoria was governor of the territory in 1831-32. He caused a commotion by 
trying to restrain wrong doing. He was overcome and superceded by Portilla. Upon 
his defeat and return to Mexico the Californians denounced the authority of 
Mexico and appointed Pio Pico as governor, but he was not recognized in the 
northern part of the state and his control was of short duration. He was 
succeded by Jose Figueroa. While Manuel Micheltorena was governor in 1842. 
Commodore Jones ran up the American flag and took possession of Monterey, but 
was forced to yield when he learned his mistake. Pio Pico succeeded Micheltorena 
and was the last Mexican governor.
        The first white settlement made within the boundaries of Brooklyn 
township was by the two brothers Ygnacio and Antonio Maria Peralta, who resided 
in an adobe house on the banks of the San Leandro creek, but when this residence 
was constructed is not certainly known, although it may be right to conjecture 
that it was about the years 1821 to 1825. The lands of this powerful family 
extended from the above-named stream on the south to San Pablo on the north, and 
at the foot of the hills the two sons dwelt until the year 1842, when the 
magnificent estate was parceled out between them, Antonio Maria taking up his 
residence in Fruit Vale, and Ygnacio continuing in the old homestead.
        The Peraltas pastured about 5,000 head of cattle on Rancho San Antonio, 
worth about one dollar a head, but advancing to twenty-five dollars or thirty 
dollars per head when the beef-loving Americans arrived. Vicente occupied a 
large adobe dwelling about three and one-half miles north on Telegraph Road—the 
main road leading to Contra Costa county. Several small adobe houses were near 
covered with untanned hides and there the vaqueros lived. About the only 
visitors were mounted caballeros who exchanged horses at the corrals. At the San 
Antonio rancho in East Oakland was a bull ring where fights took place on 
Sundays, attended by the padres and laity after the church services. An 
enclosure with a high fence and with the circle for the raging bull and his 
tormentors, seats for spectators, pits for bulls and bears and numerous 
picadores, matadores, banderilleros, etc., on horseback and afoot—marked these 
early and memorable proceedings. These fights were practiced until 1854 when the 
Legislature made them unlawful.
        Don Vicente Peralta married Eucaruacion Galindo who survived him and 
married Manuel M. Ayola. She was born in the old adobe presidio in San Francisco 
in 1841 and at the age of sixteen years married Peralta. She died in Oakland 
January 3, 1892.
        There were five original claims to the site of Oakland: (1) Peralta 
title; (2) Squatter's title; (3) Sobrante title; (4) Encinal or Oak Grove title; 
(5) the Water Front. The main contest was between the squatters and the Mexican 
grantees, the former having the advantage because they occupied the property and 
could put purchasers in immediate possession. Those whose claims included the 
city had it surveyed into streets, avenues, and blocks. They put their lots into 
market and reaped a splendid harvest from the sales. This gave them 
extraordinary advantages and incentive to fight. The Peralta claimants felt the 
power of the squatters most keenly. The town began to grow rapidly and 
everywhere among the oaks, buildings went up as if by magic. Everybody was 
buying and building. What did the Peraltas do? They began to sell lots also—made 
the most of the situation, but could find few buyers. Their enemies had blocked 
their game by charges that good titles could not be given by the Peraltas, the 
real owners of the whole. This step for a time stopped building operations, but 
soon the real estate dealers managed to reconcile the rival claimants and in the 
end cleared up the situation.
        The five years after the confirmation of the patent of all the lands in 
Oakland township to Vicente and Domingo Peralta expired on February 10, 1882. 
For a few days before that date a flood of suits to quiet titles and to eject 
tenants were filed in the local courts. The regents of the university brought 
suit to quiet the title to the university site. In September, 1886, in the land 
suit of Thomas Rees vs. the Central Pacific Railroad Company, the Department of 
the Interior decided in favor of the defendant. The suit involved about twenty 
thousand acres in the El Sobrante claim. The litigation arose over the disputed 
boundary lines of what was designated as the Mexican private land grants of 
Laguna de los Palos, Colorados El Sobrante and San Lorenzo. In 1885 the suit of 
Blum vs. Sunol in San Francisco was decided in favor of the defendant. The case 
involved seventeen thousand acres, of which two thousand five hundred were in 
Alameda county in Murray township.     Simon Blum in early days was a peddler 
doing business with the Mexicans in Livermore valley and surrounding country. 
They became indebted to him and sold him a certain interest in the lands all of 
which except one small valley was in the hills and mountains. Subsequently Simon 
Blum purchased the interests of the heirs, equal to two-fifths of the entire 
grant. After the confirmation in 1862 by the Government a suit was brought to 
partition the grant. On this suit Judge Dwinelle decided in favor of the 
plaintiff, but a new trial was granted and an appeal was taken to the supreme 
court which sustained the lower court. In 1884 the case was begun anew ; the 
chief ground of the defense being that the instruments executed in 1846 were 
forgeries.
        Eden township embraces within its boundaries the lands of five Mexican 
grants: The Sobrante, which was for so many years in dispute, in the northeast 
of the township; the Estudillo, or San Leandro, granted October 16, 1842, and 
patented July 15, 1863; the Castro, or San Lorenzo, on the east, granted 
February 23, 1841, and patented February 14, 1865; the Soto, or San Lorenzito, 
on the west, granted October 10, 1842, and patented April 14, 1877; and the 
Vallejo, or Alameda, on the south, granted August 30, 1842, and patented January 
1, 1858.
        The first settlement in Eden township was made in the year 1836, by Don 
Jose Joaquin Estudillo, who was a Californian by birth. On January 8, 1836, he 
petitioned the Constitutional Governor of the Department of California for a 
grant in the said department known as the Arroyo de San Leandro, but this 
document having either been lost or mislaid, a second petition was forwarded to 
that official on June 28, 1842, in which Senor Estudillo states that "in order 
to procure his subsistence and enable himself to support his large family, 
consisting of a wife and ten children, after having served in the army seventeen 
years, four months, and seven days, on January 8, 1837, he petitioned for the 
tract of land known by the name of Arroyo de San Leandro, containing four square 
leagues from east to west, and having obtained from Your Excellency, who extends 
a generous and protecting patronage towards the inhabitants of this land, 
permission to settle himself and continue his labors; meanwhile the proper legal 
proceedings thereupon should be concluded, which he has accordingly done," etc. 
In view of the petition Don J. J. Estudillo was declared by Governor Alvarado to 
be the owner in property of the part of the tract of land known by the name of 
"San Leandro," bounded "on the north by the Arroyo of San Leandro; on the east 
by the places where the waters from the springs on the lands which the Indians 
who are now established there occupy, waste themselves; thence on the south 
side, in a direct line to the Arroyo of San Lorenzo, without embracing the lands 
which the said Indians cultivate; and on the west by the bay."
        The Estudillo family thus had lived on the land which was afterwards 
granted to them for a considerable number of years. In 1837 Senor Estudillo 
built a house about two miles from the town of San Leandro, on the creek of that 
name, towards the lower part of the land. He afterwards moved farther up the 
creek, where the town of San Leandro now stands, about three-quarters of a mile 
from the site of his original location.
        On January 14, 1840, the Governor of California made the following 
order: "Don Guillermo Castro can establish himself upon the place called San 
Leandro, on the parts towards the hills, without passing beyond the line from 
north to south, formed by the springs on said place, not being permitted to make 
his fields in whatever part of the land of 'San Leandro;' this concession being 
understood provisionally until the governor may settle the boundaries which 
belong to Senor Jose Estudillo, who is actually established on the said site, 
and without prejudice to the Indians living thereon." This was the second 
settlement in Eden township. He built his residence where now is the town of 
Haywards.
        The next Hispano-Mexican family to locate was that of the Sotos, who 
built their adobe residence on a part of the Meek estate, where the house stood 
for many years, but was eventually razed to the ground, its position being about 
half a mile southeast from Haywards.
        Prior to the settlement of these families the district was occupied by 
the cattle of the Mission of San Jose, and, from the year 1829, had in certain 
portions been in the possession of Christianized Indians of that establishment. 
In 1841 or 1842 there was an Indian named Sylvester, on the San Leandro Rancho, 
who had residing with him, besides his own family, his brother Annisetti. They 
occupied an adobe house built by Don J. J. Vallejo, who was administrator of the 
Indians, and had some three or four acres under cultivation, chiefly watermelons 
and corn, the ground for which they turned up with sticks. Besides these there 
were others on the different ranchos. A Californian named Bruno Valencia, dwelt 
under permission of Estudillo and Castro on the bank of the San Lorenzo, not far 
from the bay. There was a so-called road through this territory to San Jose, 
which had three crossings over the San Lorenzo: the Paso Viego, the Paso del 
Ramedero, and the Pasa del Puente. At the first of these during the summer 
months the Indians were wont to camp in a grove of willows and sycamores.
        Don Jose Joaquin Estudillo died June 7, 1852. During his life he filled 
many high offices in the gift of the Mexican government. In his last will and 
testament, which bears date April 4, 1850, he declared that he was married in 
the year 1824 to Donna Juana Maria Del Cannon Martinez at the presidio of San 
Francisco, by whom he had six sons and five daughters. Of these nine were alive 
at the time of his death. Upon the establishment of the county seat at San 
Leandro, they made many concessions toward retaining it there; their residence 
was at one time occupied as the courthouse. Guillermo Castro, having lost his 
possessions, went to South America, and there died. His son, Luis Castro, 
afterward gained prominence as county surveyor of Alameda. These were the only 
residents in Eden township before 1849.
        The Mexican grants, wholly or partly in Murray township, consist of the 
San Ramon, four square leagues and 1,800 varas, granted to J. M. Amador in 1835; 
confirmed by the commission, August 1, 1854; and by the district court, January 
14, 1857; extent in acres 16,516.96. The Santa Rita granted April 10, 1839, to 
J. D. Pacheco; rejected by the commission April 25, 1854; confirmed by the 
district court August 13, 1855; and decree affirmed by United States supreme 
court; 8,885.67 acres. El Valle de San Jose, granted to Antonio Maria Pico, 
April 10, 1839; confirmed to Antonio Sunol et al., by commission January 31, 
1854; by the district court January 14, 1856; 51,572.26 acres. Las Pocitas, two 
square leagues, granted April 10, 1839, to Salvio Pacheco; confirmed by 
commission to Jose Noriego and Robert Livermore, February 14, 1854, and by the 
district court February 18, 1859. Canada de los Vaqueros (mostly in Contra Costa 
county) granted February 29, 1842, to Francisco Alviso, et al., confirmed to 
Robert Livermore by commission, September 4, 1855, and by the district court 
December 28, 1857. The Rancho Canada de los Vaqueros, the four league rancho, 
was partly in each of Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Their herds roamed over 
this rancho until some time in 1847 when the property was sold to Robert 
Livermore and Jose Noriego for the consideration of 300 heifers. In December, 
1857, this grant was confirmed to Livermore and Noriego by the United States 
Government. In September, 1852, Livermore and his wife—Josefa Higuera 
Livermore—deeded to their several children one-half of the rancho, known then as 
the Rancho de Positas Poza Vaqueros.  At the same time they gave to their 
children, 3,000 head of horned cattle and 300 head of tame cows, fifteen head of 
yoking cattle and forty tame horses. Later portions of the rancho passed to 
Etien Garat, Pedro Altuba, Luiz Perez, P. Dupre, William Akenhead, Juan Sunol 
and Noble Hamilton. Sunol was a physician and known as Senor Don Juan Sunol.
        The exact boundaries of Las Pocitas grant were not fully defined until a 
few years after the cession of California to the United States. It was provided 
in the grant that if the land within certain limits should exceed two leagues, 
the surplus should be and remain public lands of Mexico and in this state the 
tract passed to the United States. In 1853 the grant was confirmed by the land 
commissioners and in 1859 by the district court, and in 1861 an appeal was taken 
to the supreme court. The tract was resurveyed in 1865 and was found to contain 
43,011 acres or nearly ten leagues  instead, of two. This survey was approved by 
the surveyor general in 1867. Later a new survey was ordered and the two leagues 
were exactly measured and patented June 6, 1871. By this survey the contested 
lands of section 24 were excluded and became United States public lands. In 
1870, Messrs. Doyle, Bales, Pratt and Carr preempted the lands and filed their 
claims June 28, 1871. The state also filed on these lands under the school lien 
land law. Carl Schurz, of the interior department, listed the lands, about 
twelve thousand acres, to the state, but made the proviso that if there were 
adverse claims the land should not go to the state. The rights of the preemptors 
were recognized in the courts, whereupon the settlers paid $16,000 for the lands 
and received patents therefor. In 1877 there came an adverse order from 
Washington cancelling these claims and evicting the settlers and handing the 
lands to the state. From this action the settlers appealed in 1886. They claimed 
that the secretary of the interior had no power to make the cancellation.
        Rancho Los Ceritos was granted by the Mexican government to Thomas 
Pacheco and Augustin Alviso. In 1853 these lands were covered with Spanish or 
wild cattle attended by vaqueros, but soon the squatters took possession under 
what was called "possessory law" and commenced farming operations and raised 
large quantities of barley, wheat, potatoes and onions. It was at this time that 
the herds of cattle began to thin out and their hides and carcasses could be 
found in the markets of San Francisco without the consent of the owners. Mr. 
Vallejo estimated that his losses in six months by this agency amounted to 
$50,000. Niles and Mount Eden were on the Vallejo rancho—Rancho Arroyo de la 
Alameda which contained upwards of seventeen thousand acres. So were Union City 
and Alvarado on Ceritos Rancho. John M. Horner's steamer plied regularly twice 
or thrice a week from Union City to San Francisco.
        In 1862 the Mexican government sent emissaries among the rich Castilian 
landowners in California to borrow money. Don Augustine Alviso, the old 
Castilian landowner of the Rancho Los Ceritos, and founder of the village of 
Alviso, loaned General Vallejo in this connection the alleged sum of $69,000 at 
the time Emperor Maximillian was striving to get control of the government 
there, upon condition that the Mexican government would pay him $200,000 in 
return for the money and its use. In the eighties a representative of the Alviso 
estate was sent to Mexico, to arrange for a settlement of the account; but those 
who sent him made no statement of what had been collected. As a result 
Guadaloupe Alviso, in 1897, commenced at Oakland, proceedings for an accounting 
to learn particularly what had become of the Mexican claim. It was shown in 
court that nothing yet had been received from Mexico on the claim. There was a 
dispute at this time over the claim between George and Valentine Alviso. The old 
Don died poor in 1880, but left several heirs.
        Livermore valley was one of the best grain and hay districts in the 
state and Livermore town sprang into existence, having been founded in 1868. 
Amador
and Livermore became hostile and once had a fight from the effects of which 
Livermore, who was a small man, came near dying. It was believed that Amador's 
rapidly gained wealth came from the Mission San Jose spoils. The golden age of 
the native Californians was from 1833 to the American conquest about 1846.     
Gambling was a passion and dancing almost a daily pastime. Every house was a 
hostelry. Grain was thrashed with the feet of horses. Plows were made of 
crotched logs, carts were very rude, there being no spoked wheels. The hides and 
tallow of cattle in vast quantities were taken to the embarcaderos with thirty, 
forty or fifty yokes of oxen and sold to Yankee vessels at Alviso. Mission wine 
was the principal drink. Amador while majordomo made fifty barrels of wine a 
year at Mission San Jose. There was much milk and cheese consumed. Potatoes were 
unknown. Pinole was plentiful, so was wild bee honey.
        Jose Maria Amador was born in San Francisco and had seven brothers and 
seven sisters. In 1827 he became major domo at Mission San Jose, which position 
he filled for ten years. In 1829 he applied to the government of Mexico for a 
grant of land in what became Amador valley—named for him. He did not receive 
this grant until 1832-3, and was then given four square leagues and 1,800 yards 
at the southeast to include a valuable spring. At one time, about 1837-40, he 
had 150 employes, 300 to 400 horses, 13,000 to 14,000 cattle 3,000 to 4,000 
sheep and some swine. In 1848 he caught the gold fever and went with four others 
to the mines. When on the American river fourteen days, they collected 114 
pounds of gold; Valentine, his son, was one of this party. They then went to 
Amador Camp, on Consumne river, where for a short time twenty-two ounces per day 
were taken out by each man. Later they were not so successful and returned to 
Amador valley. In 1852 he sold out to J. W. Dougherty, who for many years was 
the owner. All Amador ever received for this princely estate was about $22,000. 
He married three times and had twenty-eight children.
        Guillermo Castro obtained a confirmation to the lands of the San Lorenzo 
Rancho, April 29, 1865, and a United States patent was issued therefor, while 
not long after, the settlers on the San Ramon Rancho paid the sum of $111,000 to 
Horace W. Carpentier for his title thereto. This splendid estate had originally 
cost Mr. Carpentier, it was said, one sack of flour !
        Simon Zimmerman was a native of Germany and was in California before 
1849. After working in the mines he returned to Germany, but came again to 
California in 1853 and bought the Blue Tent place which later became known as 
the Mountain House. He was in the line of travel and became acquainted with many 
prominent men who stopped at his place. His principal characteristic was story 
telling at which he had no superior in the state. In time he became known as 
"The Old Man of the Mountain."
        In 1884 Jose Mums moved from Livermore to East Oakland ; he had lived in 
the valley near there for thirty years. He was a native of Chili. He came from 
the mission when Robert Livermore had the only house in the valley and there was 
but one road. He was the manager of the last bull-fight ever held in the old pen 
near Laddsville and was a leading man among the Spanish speaking citizens.
        It was the custom of the old Spanish settlers, when riding over the 
country on horseback, to turn in their horse when they reached a corral and take 
a fresh one, the horses being so numerous and cheap that the owners nowhere 
objected. Continuing their rides they repeated this operation often many times 
before concluding their journey. Later under the new and stricter laws of the 
Americans, they were arrested in many instances for horse stealing when 
continuing this practice, though in the end the horses were to be returned to 
their proper corrals.
        The Santa Rita Ranch of 1,600 acres near Pleasanton was sold to Samuel 
Hewlett for $120,000 in September, 1883.
        In 1835 thirty residents of the jurisdiction of San Franciso living in 
the Contra Costa region petitioned the Governor to be transferred to the 
jurisdiction of San Jose as follows :
SAN ANTONIO, SAN PABLO AND THE ADJACENT RANCHOS NORTH,
MAY 30, 1835.
        "The residents of the adjoining ranchos of the north, now belonging to 
the jurisdiction of the part of San Francisco with due respect to your 
Excellency, represent: That finding great detriment and feeling the evils under 
which they labor from belonging to this jurisdiction, whereby they are obliged 
to represent to your Excellency that it causes an entire abandoning of their 
families for a year by those who attend the judiciary functions and are obliged 
to cross the bay. Truthfully speaking, to be obliged to go to the port by land, 
we are under the necessity of traveling forty leagues going and coming back; and 
to go by sea we are exposed to the danger of being wrecked. By abandoning our 
families, as above stated, it is evident that they must remain without 
protection against the influences of malevolent persons; they are also exposed 
to detention and loss of labor and property and injury by animals.
        "There is no lodging to be had in that port when for a year an 
aguntamiento is likely to detain them, and should they take their families 
incurring heavy expenses for their transportation and necessary provisioning for 
the term of their engagement there is no accommodation for them. Wherefore, in 
view of these facts they pray your Excellency to be pleased to allow them to 
belong to the jurisdiction of the town of San Jose and recognize a commission of 
justice that will correspond with the said San Jose as capital for the people in 
the vicinity. Wherefore we humbly pray your Excellency to favor the parties 
interested by acceding to their wishes.
"ANTONIO MARIA PERALTA,             "JOAQUIN YSIDRO CASTRO, 
"BLAS NARBOIS,                                   "Z. BLAS ANGELIUO, 
"SAUNAGO MESA,                                "JUAN JOSE CASTRO, 
"CANDELARO VALENCIA,                  "JOSE PERALTA, 
"FERNANDO FELES,                             "ANTONIO AMEJAI, 
"JUAN BERNAL,                                    " MARCANO CASTRO, 
"ANTONIO YGORCE,                           "YGNACIO PERALTA, 
"BRUNO VALENCIA,                            "JOAQUIN MORAGA,
"RAMON FOVERO,                               "JOSE DUARTE,
"FRANCISCO PACHECO,                     "BARTOLE PACHECO, 
"MARIANO CASTRO,                            "FILIPE BRUONES, 
"JULIAN VELES,                                     "RAFAEL VELES, 
"FRANCISCO SOTO,                             "FRANCO AMEJO."
 
        This document was sent to the Governor at Monterey and was passed on 
favorably by the committee and government who expressed the judgment that the 
opinion of the aguntamientos of the towns of San Jose and San Francisco should 
be secured before definite action was taken in the matter and that the document 
should then be returned for final action by the exalted deputation. This action 
was ordered and a list of the residents at San Francisco was directed to be 
taken. The aguntamiento of the town of San Jose said, "With regard to the 
residents on the northern vicinity; now under the jurisdiction of San Francisco 
and who in their memorial prayed to be exempted from belonging to that 
jurisdiction, having indispensably to cross the bay or to travel upwards of 
forty leagues; while on half their way they can come to this town, under the 
jurisdiction of which they formerly were, which was more suitable and was 
inconvenient to them, this aguntamiento thinks that their prayer should be 
granted if it is so found right." But as might have been expected the petition 
was treated as frivolous by the aguntamiento of the port of San Francisco. It 
was denied that any of them had ever been wrecked in attending to their business 
affairs in the Bay of Yerba Buena nor had they been denied the lack of 
accommodation at the presidio. This reply was signed by Francisco de Jaro and 
was dated December 20, 1835.
 
TABLE OF LAND CLAIMS
 
        Domingo and Vicente Peralta, claimants for San Antonio granted August 
16, 1820, by Don Pablo Vicente de Sola to Luis Peralta claim filed January 21, 
1852, confirmed by the commission February 7, 1854, by the district court 
January 26, 1855, and by the supreme court in 19 Howard, 343 ; containing 
18,848.98 acres. Patented, February 10, 1877.
        Jose Dolores Pacheco, claimant for Santa Rita, granted April 10, 1839, 
by Juan B. Alvarado to J. D. Pacheco ; claim filed, February 21, 1852, rejected 
by the commission, April 25, 1854, confirmed by the district court August 13, 
1855, and decree affirmed by the United States supreme court in 23 Howard, 495; 
containing 8,894.01 acres. Patented March 18, 1865.
        Jose Noriego and Robert Livermore, claimants for Las Pocitas, two square 
leagues, granted April 10, 1839, by Juan B. Alvarado to Salvio Pacheco; claim 
filed February 27, 1852, confirmed by the commission, February 14, 1854, and by 
the district court February 18, 1859; containing 8,880 acres. Patented May 25, 
1872.
        Fulgencio Higera, claimant for Agua Caliente, two square leagues, 
granted October 13, 1836, by Nicolas Gutierrez, and April 4, 1839, by Juan B. 
Alvarado, to F. Higuera; claim filed February 27, 1852, confirmed by the common 
February 14, 1854, and appeal dismissed November 24, 1856; containing 9,563.87 
acres. Patented April 17, 1858.
        Jose de Jesus Vallejo, claimant for Arroyo del Alameda, four square 
leagues, granted August 30, 1842, by Juan B. Alvarado to J. de Jesus Vallejo; 
claim filed March 2, 1852, confirmed by the commission October 18, 1853, by the 
district court March 2, 1857, and appeal dismissed July 28, 1857; containing 
17,705.38 acres. Patented January 1, 1858.
        Juan Jose Castro, claimant for El Sobrante, eleven square leagues, 
granted April 23, 1841, by Juan B. Alvarado to J. J. Castro, claim filed March 
9, 1852, confirmed by the commission July 3, 1855, and appeal dismissed April 6, 
1857.
        Andres Pico et al., claimants for Mission San Jose 30,000 acres, granted 
May 5, 1846, by Pio Pico to Andres Pico and Juan B. Alvarado; claim filed March 
22, 1852, confirmed by the commission December 18, 1855, and rejected by the 
district court, June 30, 1859.
        Jose Maria Amador, claimant for San Ramon four square leagues and 1,800 
varas, granted August 17, 1835, by Jose Figueroa to J. M. Amador, claim filed 
March 23, 1852, confirmed by the commission August 1, 1854, by the district 
court January 14, 1856, and appeal dismissed January 10, 1857. Patented March 
18, 1865.
        Antonio Sunol et al., claimants for El Valle de San Jose, described by 
boundaries, granted April 10, 1839, by Juan B. Alvarado to Antonio Maria Pico et 
al., claim filed May 18, 1852, confirmed by the commission January 31, 1854, by 
the district court January 14, 1856, and decision of the United States supreme 
court as to the right of appeal in 20 Howard, 261; containing 48,435.92 acres. 
Patented March 15, 1865.
        Jose Joaquin Estudillo, claimant for San Leandro, one square league, 
granted October 16, 1842, by Juan B. Alvarado to Joaquin Estudillo; claim filed 
May 31, 1852, confirmed by the commission January 9, 1855, by the district court 
May 7, 1857, and by the United States supreme court; containing 6,829.58 acres. 
Patented July 15, 1863.
        Thomas Pacheco and Augustin Alviso, claimants for Potrero de los 
Ceritos, three square leagues, granted March 23, 1844, by Manuel Micheltorena to 
T. Pacheco and A. Alviso; claim filed May 31, 1852, confirmed by the commission 
February 14, 1854, by the district court October 29, 1855, and by the United 
States supreme court; containing 10,610.26 acres.. Patented February 21, 1866.
        Antonio Maria Peralta, claimant for part of San Antonio, two square 
leagues, granted August 16, 1820, by Pablo V. de Sola to Luis Peralta; claim 
filed June 18, 1852, confirmed by the commission February 7, 1854, by the 
district court December 4, 1855, and appeal dismissed October 20, 1857. Patented 
February 3, 1858.
        Ygnacio Peralta, claimant for part of San Antonio, two square leagues, 
granted August 16, 1820, by Pablo V. de Sola to Luis Peralta; claim filed June 
18, 1852, confirmed by the commission February 7, 1854, by the district court 
January 13, 1857, and appeal dismissed April 20, 1857. Patented February 10, 
1877.
        Guillermo Castro, claimant for part of San Lorenzo, 600 varas square, 
granted February 23, 1841, by Juan B. Alvarado to G. Castro and for San Lorenzo, 
six square leagues, granted October 24, 1843, by Manuel Micheltorena to G. 
Castro; claim filed July 8, 1852, confirmed by the commission February 14, 1853, 
by the district court July 6, 1855, and appeal dismissed January 16, 1858. 
Patented April 14, 1877.
        Barbara Soto et al., claimants for San Lorenzo, one and a half square 
leagues, granted October 10, 1842, by Manuel Micheltorena and January 20, 1844, 
by Juan B. Alvarado to Francisco Soto; claim filed January 22, 1853, confirmed 
by the commission April 24, 1855, by the district court April 23, 1857, and 
appeal dismissed April 29, 1857. Patented February 14, 1865.
        Archbishop Joseph Sadoc Alemany, claimant for Mission San Jose, in 
Alameda county, founded under Carlos IV, June 11, 1797; claim filed February 19, 
1853, confirmed by the commission December 18, 1855, appeal dismissed in 
Northern District, March 16, 1857, and in Southern District March 15, 1858; 
containing 28.33 acres. Patented March 3, 1858.
        Guillermo Castro, claimant for land granted January 14, 1840, by Juan B. 
Alvarado to G. Castro; claim filed March 2, 1853, rejected by the commission, 
May 15, 1855, and appeal dismissed for failure of prosecution March 9, 1857.
        Charles B. Strode, claimant for part of San Antonio, 5,000 acres, 
granted by P. V. de Sola and Luis Antonio Arguello to Luis Peralta; claim filed 
March 2, 1853. Discontinued.
        Charles B. Strode, claimant for part of San Antonio, 10,000 acres, 
granted by P. V. de Sola and Luis Antonio Arguello to Luis Peralta ; claim filed 
March 2, 1853. Discontinued.
 
NAME OF RANCH           NAME OF CONFIRMEE
San Antonio             Ygo. Peralta
San Antonio             Y. and D. Peralta
San Antonio             L. M. Peralta
San Leandro             J. J. Estudillo
San Lorenzo             Barbara Soto, et al.
San Lorenzo             Guillermo Castro
Agua Caliente           Fulgencio Higuera
Arroyo de la Alameda    J. de Jesus Vallejo
Canada de los Vaqueros  R. Livermore, J. Noriego
Mission of San Jose     Bishop Alemany
Mission of San Jose     Andres Pico and Alvarado
El Pescadero            A. M. Pico and H. Nagle
Las Positas             R. Livermore and Noriego
Potrero de los Ceritos  A. Alviso and D. Pacheco
San Ramon               J. M. Amador
Santa Rita              Yountz Administrator
Valle de San Jose       Sunol and Bernales

Area of private grants  196,036.95
Area of public land     275,963.05
Total area in acres     472,000.00