Rancho Nicasio
Encyclopedia
Rancho Nicasio was a Mexican land grant
of 56807 acres (230 km²) granted to the Coast Miwok
indigenous people in 1835, located in the present-day Marin County, California
, a tract of land that stretched from San Geronimo
to Tomales Bay
. Today, Nicasio, California
is at the heart of this location.
to the San Rafael Indians, whose land had been co-opted by the Mission San Rafael
. The land was granted by Mexican Governor José Figueroa
to the Coast Miwok of Marin County
in 1835, but the Miwok claim was rejected by the Public Land Commission
in 1855. José Calistro
resecured a deed to 30 acre (0.1214058 km²) of the original rancho at Halleck Creek in 1870, and became the chief leader of the native community of Rancho Nicasio.
In 1844, Governor Manuel Micheltorena
granted the 56621 acres (229.1 km²) Rancho Nicasio to Pablo de la Guerra
and John B.R. Cooper
. By 1849, there were three owners — Pablo de la Guerra, Cooper, and Jasper O’Farrell. In 1850 Pablo de la Guerra sold his 30848 acres (124.8 km²) undivided share of the ranch to Henry Wager Halleck
. In 1850, Cooper sold his 16293 acres (65.9 km²) undivided share of the ranch to Benjamin Rush Buckelew. Besides Cooper’s share of Rancho Nicasio, Buckelew also purchased Cooper’s Rancho Punta de Quentin
and John Reed’s Rancho Corte Madera del Presidio
. In 1851, O’Farrell sold his 9479 acres (38.4 km²) share to James Black, the grantee of Rancho Cañada de Jonive
. In 1852 Buckelew sold 7598 acres (30.7 km²) to William Reynolds and Daniel Frink.
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 Nicasio was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1852, and the grant patented
to Black, Buckelew, Halleck, and Reynolds and Frink in 1870.
Black later bought Halleck’s share of Rancho Nicasio. Black also bought Rancho Olompali
from Camilo Ynitia, the last Olompali Indian chief, in 1852. Black's daughter, Mary, married Dr. Galen Burdell. Black's wife, Maria Agustina Sais, died in Dr. Burdell's dental chair in 1864. In 1866 Black married Maria Loreto Duarte, Ygnacio Pacheco’s widow. James Black died in 1870.
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...
of 56807 acres (230 km²) granted to the Coast Miwok
Coast Miwok
The Coast Miwok were the second largest group of Miwok Native American people. The Coast Miwok inhabited the general area of modern Marin County and southern Sonoma County in Northern California, from the Golden Gate north to Duncans Point and eastward to Sonoma Creek...
indigenous people in 1835, located in the present-day Marin County, California
Marin County, California
Marin County is a county located in the North San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. As of 2010, the population was 252,409. The county seat is San Rafael and the largest employer is the county government. Marin County is well...
, a tract of land that stretched from San Geronimo
San Geronimo, California
San Geronimo is a census-designated place located in the San Geronimo Valley in Marin County, California in the United States. San Geronimo is located southwest of downtown Novato, at an elevation of 292 feet...
to Tomales Bay
Tomales Bay
Tomales Bay is a long narrow inlet of the Pacific Ocean in Marin County in northern California in the United States. It is approximately 15 miles long and averages nearly 1.0 miles wide, effectively separating the Point Reyes Peninsula from the mainland of Marin County. It is located...
. Today, Nicasio, California
Nicasio, California
Nicasio is a census-designated place in Marin County, California. It is located west-southwest of Novato, at an elevation of 194 feet . The population was 96 at the 2010 census....
is at the heart of this location.
History
In the mid 1830s, 80000 acres (324 km²) was promised by General Mariano VallejoMariano Guadalupe Vallejo
Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo was a Californian military commander, politician, and rancher. He was born a subject of Spain, performed his military duties as an officer of Mexico, and shaped the transition of California from a Mexican district to an American state...
to the San Rafael Indians, whose land had been co-opted by the Mission San Rafael
Mission San Rafael Arcángel
Mission San Rafael Arcángel was founded in 1817 as a medical asistencia of the Mission San Francisco de Asís as a hospital to treat sick Native Americans of the Bay Area, making it Alta California's first sanitarium. The weather was much better in the North Bay than in San Francisco, and helped...
. The land was granted 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...
to the Coast Miwok of Marin County
Marin County, California
Marin County is a county located in the North San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. As of 2010, the population was 252,409. The county seat is San Rafael and the largest employer is the county government. Marin County is well...
in 1835, but the Miwok claim was rejected by 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 1855. José Calistro
José Calistro
José Calistro was the last chief of the Coast Miwok community who resided at Rancho Nicasio, which was once a Native American rancho that stretched from present-day Nicasio, California to Tomales Bay....
resecured a deed to 30 acre (0.1214058 km²) of the original rancho at Halleck Creek in 1870, and became the chief leader of the native community of Rancho Nicasio.
In 1844, 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...
granted the 56621 acres (229.1 km²) Rancho Nicasio to Pablo de la Guerra
Pablo de la Guerra
Pablo de la Guerra , from the de la Guerra family of Santa Barbara, California, was the Acting Lieutenant Governor of California, 1861-1862...
and John B.R. Cooper
John B.R. Cooper
John Bautista Rogers Cooper was born in England and raised in Massachusetts. He came to California as master of the ship Rover, and was a pre-gold rush pioneer of Monterey, California...
. By 1849, there were three owners — Pablo de la Guerra, Cooper, and Jasper O’Farrell. In 1850 Pablo de la Guerra sold his 30848 acres (124.8 km²) undivided share of the ranch to Henry Wager Halleck
Henry Wager Halleck
Henry Wager Halleck was a United States Army officer, scholar, and lawyer. A noted expert in military studies, he was known by a nickname that became derogatory, "Old Brains." He was an important participant in the admission of California as a state and became a successful lawyer and land developer...
. In 1850, Cooper sold his 16293 acres (65.9 km²) undivided share of the ranch to Benjamin Rush Buckelew. Besides Cooper’s share of Rancho Nicasio, Buckelew also purchased Cooper’s Rancho Punta de Quentin
Rancho Punta de Quentin
Rancho Punta de Quentin was a Mexican land grant in present day Marin County, California given in 1840 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to John B.R. Cooper...
and John Reed’s Rancho Corte Madera del Presidio
Rancho Corte Madera del Presidio
Rancho Corte Madera del Presidio was a Mexican land grant in present day Marin County, California given in 1834 by Governor José Figueroa to John Reed. Corte Madera del Presidio means the "lumber mill of the Presidio". The grant encompassed what is now southern Corte Madera, Mill Valley,...
. In 1851, O’Farrell sold his 9479 acres (38.4 km²) share to James Black, the grantee of Rancho Cañada de Jonive
Rancho Cañada de Jonive
Rancho Cañada de Jonive was a Mexican land grant in present day Sonoma County, California given in 1845 by Governor Pío Pico to James Black. The grant encompassed the town of Freestone.-History:...
. In 1852 Buckelew sold 7598 acres (30.7 km²) to William Reynolds and Daniel Frink.
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 Nicasio 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 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 Black, Buckelew, Halleck, and Reynolds and Frink in 1870.
Black later bought Halleck’s share of Rancho Nicasio. Black also bought Rancho Olompali
Rancho Olompali
Rancho Olompali was a Mexican land grant in present day Marin County, California given in 1834 by governor Manuel Micheltorena to Camilo Ynitia, son of a Coast Miwok chief. The name Olómpali comes from the Coast Miwok language and likely means southern village or southern people. The land...
from Camilo Ynitia, the last Olompali Indian chief, in 1852. Black's daughter, Mary, married Dr. Galen Burdell. Black's wife, Maria Agustina Sais, died in Dr. Burdell's dental chair in 1864. In 1866 Black married Maria Loreto Duarte, Ygnacio Pacheco’s widow. James Black died in 1870.