Peninsula Ranchos

In the 1770s, the policy of the church (through the Spanish government) was to keep the land in the hands of the church as the natives were not yet trained to handle the responsibility of sustaining themselves (although they had been doing this for thousands of years). Virtually no land grants were doled out to Indians or Spanish citizens. The rapid change of leadership in the early 1820s changed when Mexico began administrating the Spanish Empire on the North American continent. The Mexican government began rewarding those who had served in the military with land grants and it became easier for any reputable Mexican to acquire land if he had an espediente and diseno (petition and crude map) and $12 to complete the transaction. Almost anyone could become a landholder and a don.

Hundreds applied and received land grants (ranchos). A survey was necessary but not always completed in the presence of the Alacade and other important officials of the community. The act of an official survey as the Americans required was not even attempted for most grants. Usually, the boundary of the Rancho was determined by a log or a tree, a rock at one or more corners, a pond of water or a creek (that may or may not have flowed year around) or other superficial marks.

One of the smallest land grants went to Signora Juana Briones, in North Beach, the Ojo de Agua De Figueroa in 1833. Her husband, a soldier, had been abusing her and the commandant recommended she live off of Presidio. On the tip of the Peninsula (in San Francisco territory), the designation of Yerba Buena as a to-be-developed city site in 1836 rendered a change of attitude for land grant giving. Rancho Pajare de Arroyo (Richmond District) was granted in 1836, followed by Rancho Rincon de las Salinas Potrero Viejo (1839), Rancho Camaritas, Rancho Potrero Nuevo (1841), Rancho Rincon (1844), Rancho San Miguel (1845). Many others were supposedly granted during the American transition but most proved fraudulent.

The Peninsula scene was a little more serene compared with the San Francisco grants. Many of the grantees were serving or had served in the military and most were large with great agriculture potential.

In 1837, Rancho Laguna de la Merced Francisco de Haro, son-in-law of the patriarch Jose Antonio Sanchez (Granted of Rancho Buri Buri) received the rancho that was partly in San Francisco and partly in San Mateo County. This was originally granted to Jose Antonio Galindo in 1835. In the 1850s and 1860s, legal problems almost caused a war in the Colma/Daly City territory (which was not a Rancho land) before the government stepped in to settle boundaries. Rancho Buri Buri (15,000 acres) was granted to Jose Antonio Sanchez in 1836. He wanted the San Mateo Rancho for one of his sons but did not attain it, however he did get a grant in the San Andreas Valley for his grandson, Dominico Feliz.

Rancho Canada de Guadalupe de la Visitacion y Rodeo Viejo, which went to an American turned Spanish citizen. Jacob Leese married the sister of General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, was granted two square leagues (9,500 acres) of land in 1841. This too resided in both counties and was to become San Bruno Mountain, Brisbane and the southern area of San Francisco (Visitacion Valley).

The biggest grant in San Mateo County went to the Arguello heirs. This took many years of litigation before it was confirmed. It comprised 35,250 acres and covered the area between San Mateo Creek, south to San Francisquito Creek, the Bay to approximately Skyline Boulevard.

Rancho San Pedro of Pacifica was granted to Jose Antonio Sanchez’s son, Francisco Sanchez, in 1839. Francisco became the richest man in San Mateo County in the 1850s.

To the south of Montara Mountain, isolated from the main Bay area, El Corral de Terra was split in two parts, the northern part going to Palomaries and the part south of El Arroyo de en Medio to Vasquez. Spanishtown developed around the land granted to Candelario Miramontes, south of Pilarcitos Creek. This area is now Half Moon Bay.

The Alviso brothers acquired land south of the Miramontes and south of this, two square leagues was granted to Antonino Buelno. This was named San Gregorio. Rancho El Pescadero was granted to Juan Jose Gonzales, mayordomo (foreman) of the Santa Cruz Mission.

Finally Butano (one square league) and Punta del Ano Nuevo (four square leagues) grants completed the coast grants.

On the Bayside, three very important grants that had great economic potential were given. Canada Raymundo had enormous trees (redwoods) that were to play important early development in the American California. This was given to Englishman John Coppinger, a friend of Gov. Juan B. Alvarado. To its south was Corte Madera (where the timber was obtained) which was granted to two men, Domingo Peralta and Maximo Martinez. These two grants generated much wealth for the development of the Peninsula.

Rediscovering the Peninsula runs every weekend. It is compiled through our archives created by Jim Clifford and the late Darold Fredricks.