Rancho Tepusquet
Encyclopedia
Rancho Tepusquet was a 8901 acres (36 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day northern Santa Barbara County, California
given in 1837 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to Tomás Olivera. The grant extended along the Sisquoc River
and encompassed present day Sisquoc
and Garey
, northeast of Los Alamos
.
in 1825) and Eduarda Osuna (who married Benjamin Foxen of Rancho Tinaquaic
in 1831). Tomás Olivera was superintendent of three mission ranches - La Purisima
, Santa Ines
and Santa Barbara
. Tomás Olivera was granted the two square league Rancho Tepusquet in 1837, and died in 1848.
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 Tepusquet was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1852, and the grant was patented
to María Antonia Cota et al., heirs of Tomás Olivera in 1871.
In 1855, the heirs of Tomás Olivera sold Rancho Tepusquet to step daughter, María Martina Osuna (1809–1898) and son-in-law Juan Pacifico Ontiveros (1795–1877). Juan Pacifico Ontiveros moved to Rancho Tepusquet in 1856, and constructed an adobe on the property, where he lived until his death. Toady the adobe is the center of Bien Nacido Vineyards.
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 northern Santa Barbara County, California
Santa Barbara County, California
Santa Barbara County is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California, on the Pacific coast. As of 2010 the county had a population of 423,895. The county seat is Santa Barbara and the largest city is Santa Maria.-History:...
given in 1837 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to Tomás Olivera. The grant extended along the Sisquoc River
Sisquoc River
The Sisquoc River is a river in northeastern Santa Barbara County, California. It is a tributary of the Santa Maria River, which is formed when the Sisquoc River meets the Cuyama River. The river is long and originates on the north slopes of Big Pine Mountain, at approximately...
and encompassed present day Sisquoc
Sisquoc, California
Sisquoc is a census-designated place in Santa Barbara County, California located east of U.S. Route 101 about southeast of Santa Maria and south of Garey. The ZIP Code is 93454, and the community is inside area code 805. Sisquoc has a fire station, a church, a Preschool-8 school and a store. It...
and Garey
Garey, California
Garey is a census-designated place in Santa Barbara County, California located east of U.S. Route 101 about southeast of Santa Maria and north of Sisquoc. The ZIP Code is 93454, and the community is inside area code 805...
, northeast of Los Alamos
Los Alamos, California
Los Alamos is a census-designated place in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Although located in the Los Alamos Valley, the town of Los Alamos is usually considered to be a part of the Santa Ynez Valley community...
.
History
Tomás Olivera (1787–1848) married María Antonia Cota (1793–) in 1816. By her previous marriage, María Antonia Cota had daughters: María Martina Osuna (who married Juan Pacifico Ontiveros of Rancho San Juan Cajón de Santa AnaRancho San Juan Cajón de Santa Ana
Rancho San Juan Cajón de Santa Ana was a Mexican land grant in present day Orange County, California grant given in 1837 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Juan Pacífico Ontiveros...
in 1825) and Eduarda Osuna (who married Benjamin Foxen of Rancho Tinaquaic
Rancho Tinaquaic
Rancho Tinaquaic was a Mexican land grant in present day Santa Barbara County, California given in 1837 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to Benjamin Foxen...
in 1831). Tomás Olivera was superintendent of three mission ranches - La Purisima
Mission La Purísima Concepción
Mission La Purisima Concepción, or La Purisima Mission, with the original Spanish name being La Misión de La Purísima Concepción de la Santísima Virgen María, was founded on the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin on December 8, 1787...
, Santa Ines
Mission Santa Inés
Mission Santa Inés was founded on September 17, 1804 by Father Estévan Tapís, who had succeeded Father Fermín Lasuén as President of the California mission chain...
and Santa Barbara
Mission Santa Barbara
In 1840, Alta California and Baja California were removed from the Diocese of Sonora to form the Diocese of Both Californias. Bishop Francisco Garcia Diego y Moreno, OFM, established his cathedra at Mission Santa Barbara, making the chapel the pro-cathedral of the diocese until 1849...
. Tomás Olivera was granted the two square league Rancho Tepusquet in 1837, and died in 1848.
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 Tepusquet 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 María Antonia Cota et al., heirs of Tomás Olivera in 1871.
In 1855, the heirs of Tomás Olivera sold Rancho Tepusquet to step daughter, María Martina Osuna (1809–1898) and son-in-law Juan Pacifico Ontiveros (1795–1877). Juan Pacifico Ontiveros moved to Rancho Tepusquet in 1856, and constructed an adobe on the property, where he lived until his death. Toady the adobe is the center of Bien Nacido Vineyards.