Rancho Valle de Pamo
Encyclopedia
Rancho Valle de Pamo was a 17709 acres (71.7 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day San Diego County, California
given in 1843 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena
to José Joaquín Ortega and Edward Stokes. The grant occupied the Santa Maria Valley and was centered on present-day Ramona
.
lands in the Santa Maria Valley were granted to José Joaquin Ortega and his son-in-law, Edward Stokes. Stokes and his father-in-law Ortega received two Mexican land grants - Rancho Valle de Pamo in the Santa María Valley in 1843, and Rancho Santa Ysabel
in the Santa Ysabel Valley in 1844.
José Joaquin Geronimo Ortega (1801–1865), grandson of José Francisco Ortega
, married Maria Casimira Pico (1804–1883), sister of Pío Pico
and Andrés Pico
, in 1821. José Joaquin Ortega served as majordomo and administrator of San Diego Mission
from 1835 to 1840, and as majordomo of San Luis Rey Mission
from 1843 to 1845. From this experience, he knew which were the best of the ex-mission lands when seeking grants. He also served as justice, elector, alternate member of the assembly, alcalde, and county supervisor.
In 1840, Edward Stokes, was an English sailor who came to California from Hawaii
. In 1842 he married Maria del Refugio Ortega (1823–1918), daughter of José Joaquin Ortega. Stokes died soon after the Battle of San Pasqual
. His widow Maria Ortega married in 1859 Agustin Olvera
, grantee of the Rancho Cuyamaca
.
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 Valle de Pamo was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1852, and the grant was patented
to José Joaquín Ortega and Eduardo Stokes in 1872.
In 1852, José Joaquin Ortega and María del Refugio Stokes sold the rancho to Susan McKinstry, but by 1856 had re-acquired the property, and José Joaquin Ortega mortgaged his half share of the property to William C. Ferrell. Edward Stokes and María del Refugio Ortega had had three sons, Alfredo (b. 1840), Adolfo (b. 1843), and Eduardo (b. 1846). By 1870, Adolfo Stokes became the sole owner, and in 1872, sold the property to Juan B. Arrambide. In 1878 Arrambide sold the rancho to Bernard Etcheverry (1836–1912). Etcheverry had emigrated from France
in 1856 to seek his fortune in the California gold mines. After a few years, Etcheverry moved back to his native France, but then returned to San Diego County in 1872.
In 1886, Etcheverry sold 3855 acres (15.6 km²) to Milton Santee, a Los Angeles civil engineer and land developer. Santee then started the Santa Maria Land and Water Company and subdivided what is now the townsite of Ramona.
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 San Diego County, California
San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
given in 1843 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 José Joaquín Ortega and Edward Stokes. The grant occupied the Santa Maria Valley and was centered on present-day Ramona
Ramona, California
Ramona is a census-designated place in San Diego County, California. The population was 20,292 at the 2010 census.The term Ramona also refers to an unincorporated community that includes both the Ramona CDP and the adjacent CDP of San Diego Country Estates CDP...
.
History
The four square league former San Diego MissionMission San Diego de Alcalá
Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá, in San Diego, California, was the first Franciscan mission in the Las Californias Province of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. It was founded in 1769 by Spanish friar Junípero Serra in an area long inhabited by the Kumeyaay Indians...
lands in the Santa Maria Valley were granted to José Joaquin Ortega and his son-in-law, Edward Stokes. Stokes and his father-in-law Ortega received two Mexican land grants - Rancho Valle de Pamo in the Santa María Valley in 1843, and Rancho Santa Ysabel
Rancho Santa Ysabel (Ortega)
Rancho Santa Ysabel was a Mexican land grant in present day San Diego County, California given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to José Joaquín Ortega and Edward Stokes...
in the Santa Ysabel Valley in 1844.
José Joaquin Geronimo Ortega (1801–1865), grandson of José Francisco Ortega
José 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...
, married Maria Casimira Pico (1804–1883), sister of Pío Pico
Pío Pico
Pío de Jesús Pico was the last Governor of Alta California under Mexican rule.-Origins:...
and Andrés Pico
Andrés Pico
Andrés Pico was a Californio who became a successful rancher, served as a military commander during the Mexican-American War; and was elected to the state assembly and senate after California became a state, when he was also commissioned as a brigadier general in the state militia.-Early...
, in 1821. José Joaquin Ortega served as majordomo and administrator of San Diego Mission
Mission San Diego de Alcalá
Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá, in San Diego, California, was the first Franciscan mission in the Las Californias Province of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. It was founded in 1769 by Spanish friar Junípero Serra in an area long inhabited by the Kumeyaay Indians...
from 1835 to 1840, and as majordomo of San Luis Rey Mission
Mission San Luis Rey de Francia
Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, also known as Mission San Luis Rey or San Luis Rey Mission Church, was founded on June 13, 1798 in coastal Las Californias, in the present day U.S. city of Oceanside in California. The local Quechnajuichom Native American tribe became known as the Luiseño 'Mission...
from 1843 to 1845. From this experience, he knew which were the best of the ex-mission lands when seeking grants. He also served as justice, elector, alternate member of the assembly, alcalde, and county supervisor.
In 1840, Edward Stokes, was an English sailor who came to California from Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. In 1842 he married Maria del Refugio Ortega (1823–1918), daughter of José Joaquin Ortega. Stokes died soon after the Battle of San Pasqual
Battle of San Pasqual
The Battle of San Pasqual, also spelled San Pascual, was a military encounter that occurred during the Mexican-American War in what is now the San Pasqual Valley community of the city of San Diego, California. On December 6 and December 7, 1846, General Stephen W...
. His widow Maria Ortega married in 1859 Agustin Olvera
Agustin Olvera
Agustin Olvera was a pioneer of Los Angeles, California and was active in the turbulent political affairs of the time.-Biography:...
, grantee of the Rancho Cuyamaca
Rancho Cuyamaca
Rancho Cuyamaca was a Mexican land grant in present day San Diego County, California given in 1845 by Governor Pío Pico to Agustin Olvera. The grant extended south of present day Julian and encompassed Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, Lake Cuyamaca, and Cuyamaca Peak.-History:Olvera remained in Los...
.
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 Valle de Pamo 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 José Joaquín Ortega and Eduardo Stokes in 1872.
In 1852, José Joaquin Ortega and María del Refugio Stokes sold the rancho to Susan McKinstry, but by 1856 had re-acquired the property, and José Joaquin Ortega mortgaged his half share of the property to William C. Ferrell. Edward Stokes and María del Refugio Ortega had had three sons, Alfredo (b. 1840), Adolfo (b. 1843), and Eduardo (b. 1846). By 1870, Adolfo Stokes became the sole owner, and in 1872, sold the property to Juan B. Arrambide. In 1878 Arrambide sold the rancho to Bernard Etcheverry (1836–1912). Etcheverry had emigrated from 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...
in 1856 to seek his fortune in the California gold mines. After a few years, Etcheverry moved back to his native France, but then returned to San Diego County in 1872.
In 1886, Etcheverry sold 3855 acres (15.6 km²) to Milton Santee, a Los Angeles civil engineer and land developer. Santee then started the Santa Maria Land and Water Company and subdivided what is now the townsite of Ramona.