Rancho Honcut
Encyclopedia
Rancho Honcut was a 31080 acres (125.8 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day Yuba County, California
given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena
to Theodore Cordua. The rancho is named after Honcut Creek which bounded the grant on the north. The grant was bounded on the east by the Sierra Nevada Mountains, on the south by the Yuba River
, on the west by the Feather River
, and included present day Honcut
and Ramirez
.
leased Rancho New Helvetia
land to Theodore Cordua, a native of Mecklenburg
, Germany
, who raised livestock and, in 1843, built a home and trading post he called New Mecklenburg, the site of present-day Marysville
. It soon became commonly known as Cordua's ranch. In 1844, Cordua obtained from the Mexican government, a seven square league land grant directly north of his leased land.
In 1848, Cordua, decided he needed partner to help him run the ranch. So he sold a half-interest in Rancho Honcut to a former employee, Charles Julian Covillaud (b. 21 Nov 1816 in Cognac
, France
; d. 05 Feb 1867 in Marysville). Covillaud had come overland from Missouri
in 1846 and worked for Theodor Cordua. He was among the first to mine for gold on the Yuba River in 1848. In 1848 Charles Covillaud, married Mary Murphy (1831–1867), a survivor of the Donner Party
. Mary had been briefly married to William Johnson (d.1863) owner of the nearby Rancho Johnson
. In 1849, Cordua, sold his remaining half-interest in Rancho Honcut to Michael C. Nye and William M. Foster, brothers-in-law to Covillaud's wife, Mary Murphy. Cordua lost most of the money he made from the sale of the ranch on investments in Suttersville
real estate and gold mines, and left California in 1852. Cordua Bar
on the Yuba River is named for him.
Michael C. Nye (1821-1905), an American born of German parents, came overland to California with the Bartleson-Bidwell Party
in 1841 and married Harriet Frances Murphy (1828 - 1870), a survivor of the Donner Party. William McFadden Foster (1815 - 1874), also a survivor of the Donner Party, married Sarah Ann Charlotte Murphy (1826 - 1906). Foster Bar
on the Yuba River is named for him. In September, 1849, Nye and Foster sold their interest to Covillaud, who then had title to the whole grant. A few days later, Covillaud sold half of his property to José Manuel Ramirez and John Sampson. Ramirez came with Sampson from Chile
in 1849, to mine for gold. The town of Ramirez is named for him. During the same month, Covillaud sold half the remaining half of his property to Theodore Sicard. Sicard was a French sailor, who from 1842 to 1843, worked for Sutter as the manager of Hock Farm. Sicard Flat
on the Yuba River is named for him. In addition to Cordua's Rancho Honcut, the four partners Covillaud, Ramirez, Sampson, and Sicard, known as Covillaud & Co., also bought Cordua's leased land on Rancho New Helvetia from Sutter.
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 Honcut was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1852, and the grant was patented
to Covillaud & Co. in 1863. A claim by Henrique Huber for eight square leagues to E. Huber by Governor Micheltorena in 1845, was filed with the Commission in 1852, and rejected in 1853.
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 Yuba County, California
Yuba County, California
Yuba County is a county located in the U.S. state of California's Central Valley, north of Sacramento, along the Feather River. As of the 2010 census, its population was 72,155. The county seat is Marysville. Yuba County is part of the Greater Sacramento area.-History:Yuba County was one of the...
given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena
Manuel Micheltorena
Manuel Micheltorena was a Brigadier General of the Mexican Army, Adjutant-General of the same, Governor, Commandant-General and Inspector of the Department of the California...
to Theodore Cordua. The rancho is named after Honcut Creek which bounded the grant on the north. The grant was bounded on the east by the Sierra Nevada Mountains, on the south by the Yuba River
Yuba River
The Yuba River is a tributary of the Feather River in the Sacramento Valley of the U.S. state of California. It is one of the Feather's most important branches, providing about a third of its flow. The main stem of the river is about long, and its headwaters are split into North, Middle and South...
, on the west by the Feather River
Feather River
The Feather River is the principal tributary of the Sacramento River, in the Sacramento Valley of Northern California. The river's main stem is about long. Its length to its most distant headwater tributary is about . Its drainage basin is about...
, and included present day Honcut
Honcut, California
Honcut is a census-designated place in Butte County, California. It lies at an elevation of 108 feet . Lower Honcut Rd. links the community to California State Route 70. Honcut is near the Yuba County line...
and Ramirez
Ramirez, California
Ramirez is an unincorporated community in Yuba County, California. It is located on the Southern Pacific Railroad north-northeast of Marysville, at an elevation of 95 feet .A post office operated at Ramirez from 1889 to 1890....
.
History
In 1842, John SutterJohn Sutter
Johann Augus Sutter was a Swiss pioneer of California known for his association with the California Gold Rush by the discovery of gold by James W. Marshall and the mill making team at Sutter's Mill, and for establishing Sutter's Fort in the area that would eventually become Sacramento, the...
leased Rancho New Helvetia
Rancho New Helvetia
Rancho New Helvetia was a Mexican land grant in present day Sacramento County, Sutter County and Yuba County, California given in 1841 by Governor Juan Alvarado to John Sutter. The name means "new Switzerland" after Sutter's home country...
land to Theodore Cordua, a native of Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg is a historical region in northern Germany comprising the western and larger part of the federal-state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, who raised livestock and, in 1843, built a home and trading post he called New Mecklenburg, the site of present-day Marysville
Marysville, California
Marysville is the county seat of Yuba County, California, United States. The population was 12,072 at the 2010 census, down from 12,268 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Yuba City Metropolitan Statistical Area, often referred to as the Yuba-Sutter Area after the two counties, Yuba and...
. It soon became commonly known as Cordua's ranch. In 1844, Cordua obtained from the Mexican government, a seven square league land grant directly north of his leased land.
In 1848, Cordua, decided he needed partner to help him run the ranch. So he sold a half-interest in Rancho Honcut to a former employee, Charles Julian Covillaud (b. 21 Nov 1816 in Cognac
Cognac
Cognac is a commune in the Charente department in southwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:Cognac is situated on the river Charente between the towns of Angoulême and Saintes. The majority of the town has been built on the river's left bank, with the smaller right...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
; d. 05 Feb 1867 in Marysville). Covillaud had come overland from Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
in 1846 and worked for Theodor Cordua. He was among the first to mine for gold on the Yuba River in 1848. In 1848 Charles Covillaud, married Mary Murphy (1831–1867), a survivor of the Donner Party
Donner Party
The Donner Party was a group of American pioneers who set out for California in a wagon train. Delayed by a series of mishaps, they spent the winter of 1846–47 snowbound in the Sierra Nevada...
. Mary had been briefly married to William Johnson (d.1863) owner of the nearby Rancho Johnson
Rancho Johnson
Rancho Johnson was a Mexican land grant in present day Yuba County, California given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Pablo Gutiérrez. The grant was located along the north side of Bear River, and emcompassed present day Wheatland...
. In 1849, Cordua, sold his remaining half-interest in Rancho Honcut to Michael C. Nye and William M. Foster, brothers-in-law to Covillaud's wife, Mary Murphy. Cordua lost most of the money he made from the sale of the ranch on investments in Suttersville
Sutterville, California
Sutterville is a former settlement in Sacramento County, California. It was located on the Southern Pacific Railroad south-southwest of Sacramento,...
real estate and gold mines, and left California in 1852. Cordua Bar
Cordua Bar, California
Cordua Bar is a former settlement in Yuba County, California. It was located on the north bank of the Yuba River northwest of Timbuctoo....
on the Yuba River is named for him.
Michael C. Nye (1821-1905), an American born of German parents, came overland to California with the Bartleson-Bidwell Party
Bartleson-Bidwell Party
In 1841, the Bartleson–Bidwell Party led by Captain John Bartleson and John Bidwell, became the first American emigrants to attempt a wagon crossing from Missouri to California.-The trail:...
in 1841 and married Harriet Frances Murphy (1828 - 1870), a survivor of the Donner Party. William McFadden Foster (1815 - 1874), also a survivor of the Donner Party, married Sarah Ann Charlotte Murphy (1826 - 1906). Foster Bar
Foster Bar, California
Foster Bar is a former settlement in Yuba County, California. It was located on the North Yuba River southeast of Challenge, at an elevation of 1909 feet . It was inundated by the Bullards Bar Reservoir....
on the Yuba River is named for him. In September, 1849, Nye and Foster sold their interest to Covillaud, who then had title to the whole grant. A few days later, Covillaud sold half of his property to José Manuel Ramirez and John Sampson. Ramirez came with Sampson from Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
in 1849, to mine for gold. The town of Ramirez is named for him. During the same month, Covillaud sold half the remaining half of his property to Theodore Sicard. Sicard was a French sailor, who from 1842 to 1843, worked for Sutter as the manager of Hock Farm. Sicard Flat
Sicard Flat, California
Sicard Flat is an unincorporated community in Yuba County, California, USA. It is located west-northwest of Smartville, at an elevation of 348 feet . The name honors Theodore Sicard, miner and merchant, who settled here in 1848....
on the Yuba River is named for him. In addition to Cordua's Rancho Honcut, the four partners Covillaud, Ramirez, Sampson, and Sicard, known as Covillaud & Co., also bought Cordua's leased land on Rancho New Helvetia from Sutter.
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 Honcut 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 Covillaud & Co. in 1863. A claim by Henrique Huber for eight square leagues to E. Huber by Governor Micheltorena in 1845, was filed with the Commission in 1852, and rejected in 1853.