Rancho Agua Hedionda
Encyclopedia
Rancho Agua Hedionda was a 13311 acres (53.9 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day San Diego County, California
given in 1842 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Juan María Marrón
. The name means "stinking water" in Spanish. The grant extended south along the Pacific Coast from present day Carlsbad
to Leucadia. The grant surrounded Agua Hedionda Lagoon
.
in the early 1820s. He married Felipa Osuna (1809-), daughter of Juan María Osuna
, the alcalde
of the pueblo of San Diego, and the grantee of Rancho San Dieguito
. Juan María Marrón was granted the three square league Rancho Agua Hedionda in 1842. During the Mexican-American War, Marrón's support of the Americans caused him considerable difficulties with many of his Mexican friends. His son Sylvester married Leonora Osuna, and his daughter, María Luz, married José María Estudillo.
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, a claim for Rancho Agua Hedionda was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1852, and the grant was patented
to Juan María Marrón in 1872.
Juan Marrón died in 1853, and left Rancho Agua Hedionda to his widow and children. The heirs leased Rancho Agua Hedionda to Francis Hinton in 1860. Francis J. Hinton (1818–1870) was born Abraham T.E.D. Hornbeck in New York
and came to California with the US Army forces occupying California following the Mexican–American War. He was a sergeant in the same unit as lieutenant Cave Johnson Couts, who later to become the owner of Rancho Guajome
. Hinton had a very large interest in the famous Vulture Mine
in Arizona. In 1865, Hinton acquired Rancho Agua Hedionda. Hinton, a bachelor, died in 1870, and left Rancho Agua Hedionda to his mayordomo Robert Kelly.
Robert Kelly (1825–1890) was a native of the Isle of Man
who came to the United States with his family in 1841, and arrived in San Diego early in 1851. He was an ownership partner and mayordomo of Rancho Jamacha
. After selling his interest in Rancho Jamacha in 1858, Kelly was a merchant in San Diego until in 1860, when he acquired Rancho Agua Hedionda. Kelly, also a bachelor, died in 1890, and left Rancho Agua Hedionda to the nine children of his older brother, Matthew Kelly.
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 San Diego County, California
San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
given in 1842 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Juan María Marrón
Juan María Marrón
Juan María Marrón was an early settler of San Diego, California.-Life:Marrón was a ship's captain before settling San Diego in the early 1820s. In 1834 Marrón, married Felipa Osuna , the daughter of Juan María Osuna...
. The name means "stinking water" in Spanish. The grant extended south along the Pacific Coast from present day Carlsbad
Carlsbad, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Carlsbad had a population of 105,328. The population density was 2,693.1 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Carlsbad was 87,205 White, 1,379 African American, 514 Native American, 7,460 Asian, 198 Pacific Islander, 4,189 from other...
to Leucadia. The grant surrounded Agua Hedionda Lagoon
Agua Hedionda Lagoon
The Agua Hedionda Lagoon is a lagoon in Carlsbad, California, that is fed by the Agua Hedionda Creek. Stewardship of much of the lagoon is held by the Encina Power Station and its owner NRG Energy...
.
History
Juan María Romouldo Marrón (1808–1853) had been a sea captain before arriving in San DiegoSan Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
in the early 1820s. He married Felipa Osuna (1809-), daughter of Juan María Osuna
Juan María Osuna
Juan María Osuna was an early settler of San Diego, California-Life:Juan María Osuna was born 1785 in California to Juan Hismerio Osuna and Maria Alvarado. He was a soldier and corporal of the San Diego Company and settled in San Diego...
, the 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...
of the pueblo of San Diego, and the grantee of Rancho San Dieguito
Rancho San Dieguito
Rancho San Dieguito was a Mexican land grant in present day San Diego County, California given in 1845 by Governor Pío Pico to Juan María Osuna. The rancho was renamed Rancho Santa Fe.-History:...
. Juan María Marrón was granted the three square league Rancho Agua Hedionda in 1842. During the Mexican-American War, Marrón's support of the Americans caused him considerable difficulties with many of his Mexican friends. His son Sylvester married Leonora Osuna, and his daughter, María Luz, married José María Estudillo.
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, a claim for Rancho Agua Hedionda 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 Juan María Marrón in 1872.
Juan Marrón died in 1853, and left Rancho Agua Hedionda to his widow and children. The heirs leased Rancho Agua Hedionda to Francis Hinton in 1860. Francis J. Hinton (1818–1870) was born Abraham T.E.D. Hornbeck in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and came to California with the US Army forces occupying California following the Mexican–American War. He was a sergeant in the same unit as lieutenant Cave Johnson Couts, who later to become the owner of Rancho Guajome
Rancho Guajome
Rancho Guajome was a Mexican land grant in present day San Diego County, California given in 1845 by Governor Pío Pico to Andrés and José Manuel, Indians. The name comes from the Luiseño Indian word meaning "frog pond"...
. Hinton had a very large interest in the famous Vulture Mine
Vulture Mine
The Vulture Mine was a gold mine and settlement in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. The mine began in 1863 and became the most productive gold mine in Arizona history. From 1863 to 1942, the mine produced 340,000 ounces of gold and 260,000 ounces of silver...
in Arizona. In 1865, Hinton acquired Rancho Agua Hedionda. Hinton, a bachelor, died in 1870, and left Rancho Agua Hedionda to his mayordomo Robert Kelly.
Robert Kelly (1825–1890) was a native of the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
who came to the United States with his family in 1841, and arrived in San Diego early in 1851. He was an ownership partner and mayordomo of Rancho Jamacha
Rancho Jamacha
Rancho Jamacha was a Mexican land grant in present day San Diego County, California given in 1840 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Apolinaria Lorenzana. Jamacha is an Indian name. The grant extended eastward from Rancho de la Nación along the Sweetwater River Valley...
. After selling his interest in Rancho Jamacha in 1858, Kelly was a merchant in San Diego until in 1860, when he acquired Rancho Agua Hedionda. Kelly, also a bachelor, died in 1890, and left Rancho Agua Hedionda to the nine children of his older brother, Matthew Kelly.