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W.T. Baldwin notes on California land grants
MSS.207
MSS.207
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Title: W.T. Baldwin notes on California land grants
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.207
Contributing Institution:
California State University, Chico, Special Collections, Meriam Library
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.0 folder
Date: 1908-1914
creator:
Baldwin, W.T.
Collection is open for research without restriction.
No restrictions.
Spanish settlers began populating California in 1769, and from then until 1822, land titles in California remained within
Spanish control. Following 1822, land was granted to Mexican settlers and by 1847 Mexican land grants covered the western
half of California up to the Sacramento Valley. After the war between Mexico and the United States, and the Treaty of Guadalupe
Hildalgo (1848), California came under the jurisdiction of the United States. The passing of a land claim act in 1851 by the
United States Government created a board of land commissioners, and most land grants to European settlers followed. In Butte
County, all Spanish or Mexican land grants occurred between 1860 and 1863.
William Thomas Baldwin (1862-1914) was born in Chariton (Iowa) before moving with his family to Colusa County. He attended
grade school in Colusa and enrolled at U.C. Berkeley, but he left before graduation to begin work as a bookkeeper in Lodi.
After working as a teacher in Lodi, he moved to Gridley, where he was elected as the Butte County tax collector, serving from
1898 to 1908. In 1908 he began work as an abstractor, acquiring the Butte County Title Abstract Company, which was established
in 1877.
This collection contains typed and hand-written notes on land grants in California, including sizes and purchasers of properties.
The notes relate to Butte County, Tehama County and Colusa County, during the 18th and 19th centuries. The notes were created
between 1908 and 1914. Names pertaining to land grants mentioned include: John Bidwell, Edward Farwell, Dionecius Fernandez,
Peter Lassen, Samuel Neal, John Parrott, James Phelan, Samuel Todd and John Williams.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Gift
W.T. Baldwin notes on California land grants, MSS 207, Special Collections, Meriam Library, California State University, Chico
Related Archival Materials note
Abstract of title Bosquejo Grant/Gerke Rancho, MSS 055, Special Collections, Meriam Library, California State University,
Chico
Land patent, Plumas County, California to Melissa Bailey, MSS 115, Special Collections, Meriam Library, California State University,
Chico
The library can only claim physical ownership of the collection. Users are responsible for satisfying any claimants of literary
property.
Original order
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Butte County (Calif.)--History
Colusa County (Calif.) -- History
Land grants--California--History
Tehama County (Calif.) -- History