Rancho San Ysidro
Encyclopedia
Rancho San Ysidro was a 13066 acres (52.9 km²) Spanish land concession
in present day Santa Clara County, California
given in 1809 by Governor José Joaquín de Arrillaga
to Ygnacio Ortega. After his death the lands were divided among his three children by Mexican Governor José Figueroa
in 1833. The city of Gilroy
is at the center of the former Rancho lands.
. Ygnacio Ortega a soldier was married to Gertrudis Arce (born 1772). In the 1790 California census, he is listed as mayordomo (foreman) at the Mission San Gabriel
.
After the death of Ygnacio Ortega, the Rancho was partitioned among Ortega's three surviving children by Governor José Figueroa
in 1833. Ysabel Ortega received 1 league in the hills east of San Martin. Quentin Ortega and John Gilroy received 1 league.
John Gilroy (1794–869), born in Scotland
as John Cameron, arrived in Monterey, California
in 1814. He took his mother's maiden name, and was later baptized as "Juan Bautista Gilroy". In 1821 he married Clara Ortega. With brothers-in-law Quintin Ortega and Julian Cantua, Gilroy made soap near San Felipe Lake (also called Upper Soap Lake), which he traded along with onions and flour from his gristmill to Thomas O Larkin of Monterey.
Captain John C. Frémont
and his troops passed through Rancho San Ysidro on their way south in November 1846 during the Mexican American War. They appropriated most of Gilroy's horses. John Gilroy served as an auxiliary alcalde and later as justice of the peace. When the town was incorporated in 1868, citizens honored Gilroy by naming their town after him. His adobe house, said to have been built in 1825, was located in what is now called "Old Gilroy" or "San Ysidro", 2 miles east of Gilroy. In later years Gilroy lost his property, and he died almost penniless in 1869.
The railroad arrived in 1869, making the community the hub of South Santa Clara County. With the completion of the railroad and the demise of John Gilroy, the growth of the community of San Ysidro shifted two miles west. The new Town of Gilroy was officially incorporated in 1870, becoming the largest community in Santa Clara County with a brewery, flouring mill and a distillery.
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 Clara County, California
Santa Clara County, California
Santa Clara County is a county located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 it had a population of 1,781,642. The county seat is San Jose. The highly urbanized Santa Clara Valley within Santa Clara County is also known as Silicon Valley...
given in 1809 by Governor José Joaquín de Arrillaga
José Joaquín de Arrillaga
José Joaquín de Arrillaga was interim governor of Las Californias from 1792 to 1794, governor of Las Californias from 1800 to 1804 and governor of Alta California from 1804 to 1814.-Death:...
to Ygnacio Ortega. After his death the lands were divided among his three children 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 city of Gilroy
Gilroy, California
Gilroy is the southernmost city in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population was 48,821 at the 2010 census. Gilroy is well-known for its garlic crop and for the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival, featuring various garlicky foods, including garlic ice cream. Gilroy also produces...
is at the center of the former Rancho lands.
History
Ygnacio Ortega (1764–1829) was the son of José Francisco OrtegaJosé Francisco Ortega
José Francisco Ortega was soldier and early settler of California.-Early life:Ortega was born in 1734 at Zelaya, Guanajuanto, Mexico, where he worked as a warehouse clerk. In 1755, he enlisted and served at the Presidio at Misión Nuestra Señora de Loreto. In 1759 Ortega married María Antonia...
. Ygnacio Ortega a soldier was married to Gertrudis Arce (born 1772). In the 1790 California census, he is listed as mayordomo (foreman) at the Mission San Gabriel
Mission San Gabriel Arcángel
The Mission San Gabriel Arcángel is a fully functioning Roman Catholic mission and a historic landmark in San Gabriel, California. The settlement was founded by Spaniards of the Franciscan order on "The Feast of the Birth of Mary," September 8, 1771, as the fourth of what would become 21 Spanish...
.
After the death of Ygnacio Ortega, the Rancho was partitioned among Ortega's three surviving children by 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. Ysabel Ortega received 1 league in the hills east of San Martin. Quentin Ortega and John Gilroy received 1 league.
| Rancho | Grantee | Spouse | Area | Patentee | Patented | Land Case No |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Polka | Maria Ysabel Ortega (1797 - ) | Julian Cantua | 4167 acres (17 km²) | Martin Murphy | 1860 | 159 ND |
| San Ysidro (Ortega) | Jose Quintin Ortega (1792 - ) | Vicenta Butron | 4439 acres (18 km²) | Quintin Ortega | 1868 | 163 ND |
| San Ysidro (Gilroy) | Maria Clara Ortega (1807 - ) | John Gilroy | 4461 acres (18 km²) | John Gilroy | 1867 | 216 ND |
John Gilroy (1794–869), born in 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...
as John Cameron, arrived in Monterey, California
Monterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
in 1814. He took his mother's maiden name, and was later baptized as "Juan Bautista Gilroy". In 1821 he married Clara Ortega. With brothers-in-law Quintin Ortega and Julian Cantua, Gilroy made soap near San Felipe Lake (also called Upper Soap Lake), which he traded along with onions and flour from his gristmill to Thomas O Larkin of Monterey.
Captain John C. Frémont
John C. Frémont
John Charles Frémont , was an American military officer, explorer, and the first candidate of the anti-slavery Republican Party for the office of President of the United States. During the 1840s, that era's penny press accorded Frémont the sobriquet The Pathfinder...
and his troops passed through Rancho San Ysidro on their way south in November 1846 during the Mexican American War. They appropriated most of Gilroy's horses. John Gilroy served as an auxiliary alcalde and later as justice of the peace. When the town was incorporated in 1868, citizens honored Gilroy by naming their town after him. His adobe house, said to have been built in 1825, was located in what is now called "Old Gilroy" or "San Ysidro", 2 miles east of Gilroy. In later years Gilroy lost his property, and he died almost penniless in 1869.
The railroad arrived in 1869, making the community the hub of South Santa Clara County. With the completion of the railroad and the demise of John Gilroy, the growth of the community of San Ysidro shifted two miles west. The new Town of Gilroy was officially incorporated in 1870, becoming the largest community in Santa Clara County with a brewery, flouring mill and a distillery.
Historic sites of the Rancho
- Christian Church of Gilroy was built in 1857, and is the oldest wood framed church in Santa Clara County in continuous use.
- Gilroy Free Library
- Live Oak Creamery
- Old City Hall was completed in 1906