Guide to the California Private Land Claims Collection MS-55
Chris S. Ervin CA
Presidio Research Center
2019-11-20
215 East Canon Perdido St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
chris@sbthp.org
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Presidio Research Center
Title: California Private Land Claims Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MS-55
Physical Description:
1 Linear Feet
– containing 26 claims
Date (inclusive): 1852-1884
Abstract: The California Private Land Claims Collection is made up of photocopies of a selection of California private land claims presented
to the Public Land Commission to determine the validity of prior Spanish and Mexican land grants within California. The contents
include handwritten transcripts of proceedings and maps.
Language of Material: While primarily in English, some materials refer to words in Spanish. It is also worth noting the materials are in cursive
and therefore require some effort to decipher.
Physical Description: The photocopies are generally in very good condition. The file folders are of inconsistent quality, sizes, and labeling.
Scope and Contents
The California Private Land Claims Collection is made up of photocopies of a selection of twenty-six California private land
claims presented to the Public Land Commission to determine the validity of prior Spanish and Mexican land grants within California.
The contents include handwritten transcripts of proceedings and maps.
The collection is a small subset of the original 813 claims considered by the Commission, likely gathered during a researcher's
targeted study. The common research thread of the selection is yet to be determined as the claims are from several California
counties spread out across the state.
Biographical / Historical
The California Land Act of 1851 (9 Stat. 631), enacted following the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and the admission of California
as a state in 1850, established a three-member Public Land Commission to determine the validity of prior Spanish and Mexican
land grants. It required landowners who claimed title under the Mexican government to file their claim with a commission within
two years. Contrary to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which guaranteed full protection of all property rights for Mexican
citizens, it placed the burden on landholders to prove their title.
While the commission eventually confirmed 604 of the 813 claims, almost all of the claims went to court and resulted in protracted
litigation. The expense of the long court battles required many land holders to sell portions of the property or even trade
it in payment for legal services. A few cases were litigated into the 1940s.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged as a single series of 26 files in the original order they were acquired.
Processing Information
The collection was processed by Maria Wallis and James Doub from October to December 2019. The collection guide was written
by Chris S. Ervin.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Transferred by Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society (SBCGS) to Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation, in June
2019.
Custodial History
The materials were donated to the Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society (SBCGS) in 2009 or 2010. The identity and purpose
of the person who commissioned the photocopies has been lost. The materials were transferred to the Santa Barbara Trust for
Historic Preservation via SBCGS volunteer Laurie Hannah.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], California Private Land Claims Collection, MS-55, Presidio Research Center, Santa Barbara Trust
for Historic Preservation, Santa Barbara, California.
Related Materials
Presidio Maps and Plans Collection, MS-54, Drawer I- Genealogy Charts, Disenos and Plats, Presidio Research Center, Santa
Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation, Santa Barbara, California, https://www.sbthp.org/mapsandcollections, accessed November
27, 2019
California Land Act of 1851 [Wikipedia], https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Land_Act_of_1851, accessed November 27,
2019
The Patenting of California's Private Land Claims, 1851-1885 (1979), https://www.jstor.org/stable/214806, accessed November
27, 2019
Reports and Documents Relating to Land Grants and Public Domain (2018), https://digitalcommons.csumb.edu/hornbeck_usa_4_b/4,
accessed November 27, 2019
Beers, Henry Putney. 1979.
Spanish & Mexican records of the American Southwest: a bibliographical guide to archive and manuscript sources. Tucson: University of Arizona Press
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to researchers.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation Research Center as the owner of the
physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by
the reader. Copyright restrictions also apply to digital facsimiles of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted
to research and educational purposes.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
California Land Act of 1851
Public lands--California
Claims
Agua Caliente
1852-02-27
Physical Description: 1 Folder
Material Specific Details: Case No. 78
Northern District ND 133
Related Materials
Rancho Agua Caliente, Online Archive of California, https://oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb987008hv/?brand=oac4, accessed December
9, 2019
"Agua Caliente Rancho," California State Archives Exhibits, http://exhibits.sos.ca.gov/items/show/11263, accessed December
9, 2019
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Alameda County (Calif.)
Higuera , Francisco Fulgencio, 1799-1878
San Francisquito
1853-02-14
Physical Description: 1 Folder
Material Specific Details: Case No. 595
Southern District SD 247
Related Materials
San Francisquito Rancho, California State Archives Exhibits, http://exhibits.sos.ca.gov/items/show/11213, accessed November
4, 2019
Diseño del Rancho San Francisquito: Monterey County, Calif., Online Archive of California, http://www.oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb7m3nb3rq/?order=1,
accessed December 9, 2019
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Monterey County (Calif.)
Bolsa del Pajaro or Bolsa de los Rodrigues
1852-04-20
Physical Description: 1 Folder
Material Specific Details: Case No. 187
Southern District SD 289
Related Materials
Bolsa de los Rodrigues, or Bolsa del Pajaro Rancho, California State Archives Exhibits, http://exhibits.sos.ca.gov/items/show/11191,
accessed November 4, 2019
Diseño del Rancho Bolsa del Pajaro, Online Archive of California, http://www.oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb138n99r1/?order=3,
accessed December 9, 2019
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Santa Cruz County (Calif.)
Cahuenga
1852-11-08
Physical Description: 1 Folder
Material Specific Details: Case No. 465
Southern District SD 50
Related Materials
Southeastern San Fernando Valley, 1880, showing Rancho Cahuenga inholding within Rancho Providencia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rancho_Cahuenga#/media/File:Rancho_Providencia_Hall_Map_1880.png,
accessed November 25, 2019
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Los Angeles County (Calif.)
Canada de los Alisos
1852-09-11
Physical Description: 1 Folder
Material Specific Details: Case No. 431
Southern District SD 31
Related Materials
Canada de los Alisos Rancho, California State Archives Exhibits, http://exhibits.sos.ca.gov/items/show/11634, accessed November
4, 2019
Diseño de la Cañada de los Alisos, Online Archive of California, https://oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb538nb2m8/?brand=oac4,
accessed December 11, 2019
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Los Angeles County (Calif.)
Orange County (Calif.)
Agua Hedionda
1852-10-30
Physical Description: 1 Folder
Material Specific Details: Case No. 411
Southern District SD 238
Related Materials
Agua Hedionda Rancho, California State Archives Exhibits, http://exhibits.sos.ca.gov/items/show/11432, accessed November 4,
2019
Subjects and Indexing Terms
San Diego County (Calif.)
Juan María, Marrón, 1808-1853
Jamacho
1852-11-01
Physical Description: 1 Folder
Material Specific Details: Case No. 442
Southern District SD 48
Related Materials
Jamacha, or Jamacho Rancho, California State Archives Exhibits, http://exhibits.sos.ca.gov/items/show/11167, accessed November
4, 2019
Diseño del paraje de Jamachá, Online Archive of California, http://www.oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb1w1003tj/?order=1, accessed
December 11, 2019
Subjects and Indexing Terms
San Diego County (Calif.)
Corral de Piedra
1852-04-20
Physical Description: 1 Folder
Material Specific Details: Case No. 190
Southern District SD 45
Related Materials
Corral de Piedra Rancho, California State Archives Exhibits, http://exhibits.sos.ca.gov/items/show/11381, accessed November
4, 2019
Diseño del Rancho Corral de Piedra : Calif., Online Archive of California, http://www.oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb929008nm/?order=1,
accessed December 11, 2019
Subjects and Indexing Terms
San Luis Obispo County (Calif.)
San Juan Bautista
1852-08-15
Physical Description: 1 Folder
Material Specific Details: Case No. 297
Southern District SD 325
Related Materials
Land- Mission San Juan Bautista Rancho, California State Archives Exhibits, http://exhibits.sos.ca.gov/items/show/11305, accessed
November 4, 2019
Subjects and Indexing Terms
San Benito County (Calif.)
San Juan
1853-03-01
Physical Description: 1 Folder
Material Specific Details: Case No. 681
Southern District SD 330
Related Materials
Tract of Land near San Juan Bautista, Calif., Online Archive of California, http://www.oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb4f59n84t/?order=1,
accessed December 18, 2019
Land- Mission San Juan Bautista Rancho, California State Archives Exhibits, http://exhibits.sos.ca.gov/items/show/11305, accessed
December 18, 2019
Subjects and Indexing Terms
San Benito County (Calif.)
Los Alamos y Agua Caliente
1852-10-29
Physical Description: 1 Folder
Material Specific Details: Case No. 428
Southern District SD 183
Related Materials
Alamos y Agua Caliente Rancho, California State Archives Exhibits, http://exhibits.sos.ca.gov/items/show/11636, accessed November
4, 2019
Diseño de Los Alamos y Agua Caliente, Online Archive of California, http://www.oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb2779n790/?order=1,
accessed December 18, 2019
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Los Angeles County (Calif.)
Kern County (Calif.)
Mission San Fernando
1852-10-07
Physical Description: 1 Folder
Material Specific Details: Case No. 378
Southern District SD 343
Related Materials
Plat of the Ex Mission de San Fernando [Calif.], Online Archive of California, http://www.oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb5t1nb2xh/?order=2,
accessed January 6, 2020
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Los Angeles County (Calif.)
Rancho de Napa
1884-06-20
Physical Description: 1 Folder
Material Specific Details: Northern District ND 437
Related Materials
Jalapa or Napa Rancho, California State Archives Exhibits, http://exhibits.sos.ca.gov/items/show/11349, accessed November
4, 2019
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Napa County (Calif.)
Piedra Blanca
1852-09-26
Physical Description: 1 Folder
Material Specific Details: Case No. 302
Southern District SD 43
Related Materials
Piedra Blanca Rancho, California State Archives Exhibits, http://exhibits.sos.ca.gov/items/show/11338, accessed November 4,
2019
Subjects and Indexing Terms
San Luis Obispo County (Calif.)
Pico, José de Jesús, 1806-1892
Potrero de San Luis Obispo
1853-08-29
Physical Description: 1 Folder
Material Specific Details: Case No. 636
Southern District SD 304
Related Materials
Potrero de San Luis Obispo Rancho, California State Archives Exhibits, http://exhibits.sos.ca.gov/items/show/11440, accessed
November 4, 2019
Diseño del Rancho Potrero de San Luis Obispo : Calif., Online Archive of California, http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb3g5004gv/?order=1,
accessed January 6, 2020
Subjects and Indexing Terms
San Luis Obispo County (Calif.)
Boronda, María Concepción, 1820-1906
San Bernardino
1852-08-31
Physical Description: 1 Folder
Material Specific Details: Case No. 316
Southern District SD 12
Related Materials
San Bernadino Rancho, California State Archives Exhibits, http://exhibits.sos.ca.gov/items/show/11422, accessed November 6,
2019
Diseño del Rancho San Bernardino : Calif., Online Archive of California, http://www.oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb2199n6sf/?order=1,
accessed January 6, 2020
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Lugo, José del Carmen, 1813-1870
Rincon de los Esteros
1852-02-28
Physical Description: 1 Folder
Material Specific Details: Case No. 278
Northern District ND 204
Related Materials
Rincon de los Esteros Rancho, California State Archives Exhibits, http://exhibits.sos.ca.gov/items/show/11253, accessed November
6, 2019
Plat of the Rancho Rincon de los Esteros, finally confirmed to Rafael Alvisa et al. : [Santa Clara Co., Calif.], Online Archive
of California, http://www.oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb029001z3/?order=2, accessed January 6, 2020
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Santa Clara County (Calif.)
San Francisco
1852-09-02
Diseño (plan map) of the Rancho San Francisco: 1843-
Diseño del Rancho de Sn. Franco. : [Calif.]: 184?
Physical Description: 1 Folder
Material Specific Details: Case No. 318
Southern District SD 303
Related Materials
Rancho San Francisco map 1843, https://scvhistory.com/scvhistory/jj2003a.htm, accessed 2019-11-06
Diseño del Rancho de Sn. Franco. : [Calif.], Online Archive of California, land case map B-1349, http://www.oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb9j49p232/?order=1,
accessed January 6, 2020
Diseño del Rancho Sespe : Calif., Online Archive of California, land case map B-1350, http://www.oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb4z09n8pc/?order=1,
accessed January 6, 2020
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Los Angeles County (Calif.)
Ventura County (Calif.)
Feliz, Jacoba
San Mateo
1853-02-23
Physical Description: 1 Folder
Material Specific Details: Case No. 559
Northern District ND 409
Related Materials
Corral de Tierra, or San Pedro, or San Mateo Rancho, California State Archives Exhibits, http://exhibits.sos.ca.gov/items/show/11152,
accessed November 6, 2019
Diseño del torreno [sic] de S. Mateo : [Calif.], Online Archive of California, http://www.oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb8q2nb4xr/?order=1,
accessed January 6, 2020
Subjects and Indexing Terms
San Mateo County (Calif.)
Howard, William Davis Merry, 1819-1856
Rancho de San Miguelito de Trinidad
1852-02-09
Physical Description: 1 Folder
Material Specific Details: Case No. 27
Southern District SD 18
Related Materials
San Miguelito Rancho, California State Archives Exhibits, http://exhibits.sos.ca.gov/items/show/11388, accessed November 6,
2019
Diseño del Rancho San Miguelito : Monterey County, Calif., Online Archive of California, http://www.oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb9489p1rs/?order=1,
accessed January 8, 2020
Diseño del Rancho San Miguelito : Monterey County, Calif., Online Archive of California, http://www.oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb8b69p150/?order=1,
accessed January 8, 2020
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Monterey County (Calif.)
Soulajulle – George N. Cornwell
1853-11-10
Physical Description: 1 Folder
Material Specific Details: Case No. 234
Northern District ND 328
Related Materials
Diseño, Soulajulle : 1844, Rancho de Jose Roman, [Marin Co., Calif.], Online Archive of California, http://www.oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb496nb1zz/?order=1,
accessed January 8, 2020
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Marin County (Calif.)
Soulajulle – Joshua S.Brackett
1853-11-10
Physical Description: 1 Folder
Material Specific Details: Case No. 233
Northern District ND 329
Related Materials
Soulajulle Rancho, California State Archives Exhibits, http://exhibits.sos.ca.gov/items/show/11496, accessed November 6, 2019
Diseño, Soulajulle : 1844, Rancho de Jose Roman, [Marin Co., Calif.], Online Archive of California, http://www.oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb309nb0sm/?order=1,
accessed January 8, 2020
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Marin County (Calif.)
Soulajulle – Pedro J.Vasquez
1853-11-10
Physical Description: 1 Folder
Material Specific Details: Case No. 245
Northern District ND 331
Related Materials
Diseño, Soulajulle : 1844, Rancho de Jose Roman, [Marin Co., Calif.], Online Archive of California, http://www.oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb529005th/?order=1,
accessed January 8, 2020
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Marin County (Calif.)
Santa Ysabel
1852-09-02
Physical Description: 1 Folder
Material Specific Details: Case No. 356
Southern District SD 42
Related Materials
Santa Isabel Rancho, California State Archives Exhibits, http://exhibits.sos.ca.gov/items/show/11505, accessed November 6,
2019
Diseño del Rancho Santa Ysabel : San Luis Obispo County, Calif., Online Archive of California, http://www.oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb6k40070n/?order=1,
accessed January 8, 2020
Subjects and Indexing Terms
San Luis Obispo County (Calif.)
Suisun
1853-01-03
Physical Description: 1 Folder
Material Specific Details: Case No. 3
Northern District ND 2
Related Materials
Suisun Rancho, California State Archives Exhibits, http://exhibits.sos.ca.gov/items/show/11405, accessed November 6, 2019
Diseño del llano del Suy-sun : Solano Co., Calif., Online Archive of California, http://www.oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb8870088x/?order=1,
accessed January 8, 2020
Map of the land of Suysun, the property of A.A. Ritchie : [Solano County, Calif.], Online Archive of California, http://www.oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb296nb0zv/?order=1,
accessed January 8, 2020
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Solano County (Calif.)
Tulucay
1852-03-23
Physical Description: 1 Folder
Material Specific Details: Case No. 126
Northern District ND 45
Related Materials
Tulucay Rancho, California State Archives Exhibits, http://exhibits.sos.ca.gov/items/show/11403, accessed November 6, 2019
Diseño del Rancho Tulucay : Napa Co., Calif., Online Archive of California, http://www.oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb9r29p2b0/?order=1,
accessed January 8, 2020
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Napa County (Calif.)
