Rancho Jamacha
Encyclopedia
Rancho Jamacha was a 8881 acres (35.9 km²) 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. The southwestern section of the rancho is now covered by the waters of the Sweetwater Reservoir created in 1888.
, Apolinaria moved to San Diego, under the care of Raymundo Carrillo. Apolinaria Lorenzana remained a single woman devoted to the church. As a result of her religious devotion, she was called "La Beata", meaning "the pious one".
In 1840, Lorenzana received a two square league grant of some of the San Diego Mission's grazing land. She was also grantee of the small Rancho Cañada de los Coches
. Lorenzana continued to live at the mission. Following a further decline in the San Diego Mission, Lorenzana moved to San Juan Capistrano
in 1846, hiring John (Don Juan) Forster
as her agent for Rancho Jamacha.
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 was filed for Rancho Jamacha with the Public Land Commission
in 1852, and the grant was patented
to Apolinaria Lorenzana in 1871.
Unlike northern California, where gold seekers constituted the majority of new emigrants, military men made up most of the Americans in the San Diego area following the Mexican–American War
. Among the newly arrived military personnel were Colonel John Bankhead Magruder, First Lieutenant Asher R. Eddy, Eugene B. Pendleton, Frank Ames, and Robert Kelly. John Bankhead Magruder (-1871), a native of Virginia, graduated from West Point in 1831 and came to California with the US Army forces occupying California following the Mexican–American War. Asher R. Eddy(-1879), of Colonel Magruder's staff, graduated from West Point in 1844. 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 in 1851.
In 1851, Magruder obtained permission from John Forster to graze the Army's livestock on Rancho Jamacha. In 1853, Colonel Magruder purchased the Rancho Jamacha from Lorenzana, and sold an undivided two-thirds to Eddy, Kelly, Ames, and Pendleton. Colonel Magruder financed the purchase through a mortgage made by Lorenzana. In 1860 Lorenzana sold the mortgage to Eddy, ending her ownership, and she moved to Santa Barbara
. Kelly sold his interest in Rancho Jamacha in 1858, and was a merchant in San Diego until in 1860, when he acquired Rancho Agua Hedionda
.
In the middle 1860s, the price of cattle collapsed, and ownership of Rancho Jamacha began to be divided among a number of individuals. In 1869, Eddy sold all of Rancho Jamacha to his wife - even though Magruder, Pendleton, and Ames, still held their respective interests. Rancho Jamacha was further divided between 1872 and 1880. Ownership of the property had become even more confused, when in 1878, Lorenzana sold Rancho Jamacha to Monica Romero de Ruiz of Santa Barbara - even though Lorenzana no longer held legal title. The division of Rancho Jamacha amongst the various claimants was decided in a partition suit brought in 1881.
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 1840 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Apolinaria Lorenzana. Jamacha is an Indian name. The grant extended eastward from Rancho de la Nación
Rancho de la Nación
Rancho de la Nación was a Mexican land grant in present day southern San Diego County, California given in 1845 by Governor Pío Pico to John Forster...
along the Sweetwater River
Sweetwater River (California)
The Sweetwater River is a long stream in southwestern California in the United States. From its headwaters high in the Cuyamaca Mountains, the river flows generally southwest, first through rugged hinterlands but then into the urban areas surrounding its mouth at San Diego Bay. Its drainage basin...
Valley. The southwestern section of the rancho is now covered by the waters of the Sweetwater Reservoir created in 1888.
History
Apolinaria Lorenzana (1790–1884) came to California with her mother in 1800. When her mother returned to MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Apolinaria moved to San Diego, under the care of Raymundo Carrillo. Apolinaria Lorenzana remained a single woman devoted to the church. As a result of her religious devotion, she was called "La Beata", meaning "the pious one".
In 1840, Lorenzana received a two square league grant of some of the San Diego Mission's grazing land. She was also grantee of the small Rancho Cañada de los Coches
Rancho Cañada de los Coches
Rancho Cañada de los Coches was a Mexican land grant in present day San Diego County, California given in 1843 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Apolinaria Lorenzana. This small land grant was located just west of Flinn Springs and in the center of Rancho El Cajon...
. Lorenzana continued to live at the mission. Following a further decline in the San Diego Mission, Lorenzana moved to San Juan Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano, California
San Juan Capistrano is a city in southern Orange County, California, located approximately southeast of Downtown Santa Ana. The current OMB metropolitan designation for San Juan Capistrano and the Orange County Area is “Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA.” The population was 34,593 at the 2010 census,...
in 1846, hiring John (Don Juan) Forster
John (Don Juan) Forster
John Forster was born in England; became a Mexican citizen of early California, and was one of the largest landowners in California.-Early life:...
as her agent for Rancho Jamacha.
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 was filed for Rancho Jamacha 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 Apolinaria Lorenzana in 1871.
Unlike northern California, where gold seekers constituted the majority of new emigrants, military men made up most of the Americans in the San Diego area following the Mexican–American War
Mexican–American War
The Mexican–American War, also known as the First American Intervention, the Mexican War, or the U.S.–Mexican War, was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S...
. Among the newly arrived military personnel were Colonel John Bankhead Magruder, First Lieutenant Asher R. Eddy, Eugene B. Pendleton, Frank Ames, and Robert Kelly. John Bankhead Magruder (-1871), a native of Virginia, graduated from West Point in 1831 and came to California with the US Army forces occupying California following the Mexican–American War. Asher R. Eddy(-1879), of Colonel Magruder's staff, graduated from West Point in 1844. 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 in 1851.
In 1851, Magruder obtained permission from John Forster to graze the Army's livestock on Rancho Jamacha. In 1853, Colonel Magruder purchased the Rancho Jamacha from Lorenzana, and sold an undivided two-thirds to Eddy, Kelly, Ames, and Pendleton. Colonel Magruder financed the purchase through a mortgage made by Lorenzana. In 1860 Lorenzana sold the mortgage to Eddy, ending her ownership, and she moved to Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
. Kelly sold his interest in Rancho Jamacha in 1858, and was a merchant in San Diego until in 1860, when he acquired Rancho Agua Hedionda
Rancho Agua Hedionda
Rancho Agua Hedionda was a 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...
.
In the middle 1860s, the price of cattle collapsed, and ownership of Rancho Jamacha began to be divided among a number of individuals. In 1869, Eddy sold all of Rancho Jamacha to his wife - even though Magruder, Pendleton, and Ames, still held their respective interests. Rancho Jamacha was further divided between 1872 and 1880. Ownership of the property had become even more confused, when in 1878, Lorenzana sold Rancho Jamacha to Monica Romero de Ruiz of Santa Barbara - even though Lorenzana no longer held legal title. The division of Rancho Jamacha amongst the various claimants was decided in a partition suit brought in 1881.