Bernal Family Papers

Finding aid prepared by Huntington Staff in 1949.

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens

Manuscripts Department

The Huntington Library

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, California 91108

Phone: (626) 405-2191

Email: reference@huntington.org

URL: http://www.huntington.org

Descriptive Summary

Title: Bernal Family Papers

Dates: 1849-approximately 1896

Collection Call Number: mssHM 70789-70855

Creator: Bernal family

Extent: 67 items in 1 box

Repository: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Manuscripts Department

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, California 91108

Phone: (626) 405-2129

Email: reference@huntington.org

URL: http://www.huntington.org

Abstract: This collection chiefly documents business, legal, financial, and real estate-related activities of the Bernal family and their associates in the San Francisco Bay area of California in the mid-to-late 19th century.

Language of Material: The records are in English and Spanish.

Access

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Administrative Information

Publication Rights

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item]. Bernal Family Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Provenance

Purchased from Argonaut Bookshop, March 1949.

Biographical Note

The Bernal Family resided in the San Francisco Bay area during the latter part of the 19th century. Carmen Sibrian de Bernal, who was born at San Juan Bautista Mission on April 14, 1804, married Jose Cornelio Bernal on Junee 26, 1819 at Santa Clara Mission. As these documents reveal, Carmen Sibrian de Bernal assumed a greater role in the family's legal and financial matters after the death of her husband in November 1850. The documents also demonstrate that the couple's son, Jose de Jesus Bernal, born circa December 26, 1830 at San Francisco Mission, also took an active role in the family's dealings, particularly in real estate affairs. Jose de Jesus Bernal eventually married Geronima Rufino, whose family members also contributed to this collection. Other persons who had familial ties to the Bernals include members of the Vasquez and Higuera families. Other associates include members of the Italian and Euro-American communities in the San Francisco area.

Scope and Content

This collection chiefly documents business, legal, financial, and real estate-related activities of the Bernal family and their associates in the San Francisco Bay area of California in the mid-to-late 19th century.

The chronologically-arranged documents demonstrate the range of legal, financial, and real estate-related transactions initiated by or concerning the Bernal Family and their associates. Included in this series are legal contracts, mortgages, leases, title deeds, promissory notes, tax receipts, and general accounting records. The series also includes materials created and / or signed by California-based administrators, most notably by Jacques Antoine Moerenhout. The Belgian-born Moerenhout served as consul for France in the United States and Tahiti and authored The Inside Story of the Gold Rush (Campbell 85). Also represented is Henry Haight, the San Francisco-based banker and uncle of the tenth governor of California, Henry H. Haight.

The chronologically-arranged correspondence includes personal and business letters to and by the Bernal Family members and their associates. Many letters were directed to Geronima Rufino de Bernal, with a minority of letters directed to Carmen Sibrian de Bernal.

Two chronologically-arranged portraits comprise their own series. Both portraits were taken by San Francisco-based photographers, Charles Lake Cramer and George Daniels Morse, sometime during the last thirty years of the nineteenth century. Only the sitter in Morse's photograph was named and identified as Luis Ruffino.

Finally, ephemera are contained in the last folder of the collection. These items include: a blank indenture form signed by Charles C Moore; a "Compromisos" (or Obligations) printed card, filled in with pencil; an empty envelope addressed to Carmen Sibrian de Bernal, postmarked January 3, 1882; and two business cards, one for Mr. and Mrs. Aldrich and the other for Mr. and Mrs. Forbes.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in 4 series in 1 box:

Documents
Correspondence
Cartes-de-visite (2 items)
Ephemera (5 items)

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Huntington Library's Online Catalog.

Personal Names

Bernal family

Subjects

Halleck, H. W. (Henry Wager), 1815-1872

Moss, Joseph Mora,1809-1880

Deeds--California

Landlord and tenant--California

Land titles--Registration and transfer--California.

Leases--California

Mortgages--California

Real property tax--California

Taxation--California--San Francisco

Women--California

California--History--19th century--Sources

Livermore (Calif.)

San Francisco (Calif.)

San Mateo County (Calif.)

Genre

Cartes-de-visite (card photographs)

Deeds California 19th century

Leases California 19th century

Legal documents California 19th century

Letters (correspondence) California 19th century

Promissory notes

Box 1

Bernal family papers

Documents

HM 70789 Contract between landholder (unknown) and Sebastian Rodrigues for a parcel of land on the rancho named Rincon de la Ballena (in Spanish). 1849, October 31

HM 70790 Lease between Jacques Antoine Moerenhout and [...]s Breck, Louis Hebrard, and Jos. Deprette for their use of twenty acres on Rancho de las Salinas, near Mission San Francisco (in French). 1850, November 1

HM 70791 Lease between Jacques Antoine Moerenhout and A. Dodge and Co. for Dodge's use of twenty-five acres of land on the property of Jose Cornelio Bernal. 1851, March 1

HM 70792 Alcayaga, Manuel and Antonio Aguayo. Promissory note. 1851, March 7

Note: The relationship between the signed parties is somewhat unclear. The agreement appears to be between Alcayaga and Aguayo, with Carmen Sibrian acting as a witness. Damian Marchan's role is not fully explained (in Spanish)

HM 70793 Lease between Carmen Sibrian de Bernal to Hollom Hutchinson for his use of land on Rancho de Jesus Marin, also known as "Potrero Viejo.". 1852, January 24

HM 70794 [Higuera, Lazaro]. Promissory note to [Jose de] Jesus Bernal. 1853, October

Note: Date of month missing (in Spanish)

HM 70795 Higuera, Lazaro. Receipt for Jose de Jesus Bernal acknowledging his payment of 385 pesos for the purchase of Las Tularcitas (in Italian). 1853, November 10

HM 70796 Higuera, Florencio. Promissory note to Ignocencio Romero with Jose de Jesus Bernal serving as the guarantor (in Spanish). 1854, January 29

HM 70797 [Higuera, Lazaro]. Promissory note to Jacques Antoine Moerenhout (in Spanish). 1854, February 4

HM 70798 [Higuera, Lazaro]. Promissory note to Giorgio Scarpa (in Spanish). 1854, February 7

HM 70799 Higuera, Florencio. Promissory note to Jose de Jesus Bernal (in Spanish). 1854, July 15

HM 70800 Gelich, Francesco. Receipt for Jose de Jesus Bernal acknowledging his payment of 193.12 1/2 pesos on behalf of Encarnacion Higuera (in Spanish). 1855, May 20

HM 70801 Bernal, Carmen Sibrian de and [Jose de Jesus] Bernal. Promissory note to Pedro Real [Pietro Reale] (in Spanish). 1855, June 30

HM 70802 Mortgage between Carmen Sibrian de Bernal and Jose de Jesus Bernal and Jose Antonaegui, Esteban Garat, Miguel Gracian, and Pedro Altube (mortgagees) for a parcel of land on Rincon de Las Salinas y Potrero Viejo. 1855, July 7

HM 70803 Ruffino, [Francesco]. Accounts of Carmen Sibrian de Bernal and Paula Santiago (in Spanish). 1855, August 14

HM 70804 Bernal, Carmen Sibrian de and Jose de Jesus Bernal. Promissory note to Halleck, Peachy, Billings, and Park. 1855, August 22

NOTES

HM 70805 Bernal, Carmen Sibrian de. Promissory note to Pietro Reale (in Spanish and Italian). 1855, September 1

HM 70806 Mortgage between Carmen Sibrian de Bernal and Jose de Jesus Bernal and Gustave Touchard (mortgagee) for a lot of land near Mission Dolores in San Francisco. 1855, December 26

HM 70807 Deed from Joseph Mora Moss to Carmen Sibrian de Bernal and Jose de Jesus Bernal for a parcel of land on Potrero Viejo. 1858, January 26

HM 70808 Promissory note to Paula Sibrianes (in Spanish). 1858, March 1

HM 70809 California District Court (3rd Judicial District). Joseph Scott, plaintiff, vs. Valentin Higuera, et al., Defendants. 1858, April 23

Note: Copy of summons

HM 70810 Lease between Carmen Sibrian de Bernal and Jose de Jesus Bernal and Gabriello Cecchettini, Andreas Cecchettini, and Stefano Cecchettini. 1859, November 10

HM 70811 greement between Jose de Jesus Bernal and Carmen Sibrian de Bernal with Jacques Antoine Moerenhout and his daughter, Emma Antonia Moerenhout de Crowly, concerning a parcel of land called San Ygnacio on the Rancho las Tularcitas in Santa Clara County (in Spanish). 1862, April 22

HM 70812 Bernal, Carmen Sibrian de. Promissory note to Giacomo Brignardello. 1864, April 15

HM 70813 Mortgage between Carmen Sibrian de Bernal and Giacomo Brignardello (mortgagee) for a parcel of land on Rincón de las Salinas y Potrero Viejo. Also signed by Henry Haight (Sr.). 1864, April 15

HM 70814 Lease between Maria Alvina Hernandez de Vasquez and Maria Reyes Bernal de Vasquez and Sebastian Jara for Jara's use of a parcel of land in and around Rancho de los Pilarcitos (in Spanish and English). 1864, May 2

HM 70815 Ruffino, Francesco. Receipt for Carmen Bernal, acknowledging her payment of 223 pesos (in Spanish). 1864, Junee [8]

HM 70816 Lease between Luciano Vasquez and Sebastian Jara for Jara's use of his land in and around Rancho de los Pilarcitos (in Spanish and English). 1864, September 26

HM 70817 Bernal, Carmen Sibrian de. Assignment of mortgage to Job M. Seaman. 1864, October 11

HM 70818 Lewis, John B. Transfer of real estate title to Carmen Sibrian de Bernal. 1865, October 30

HM 70819 Bernal, Carmen Sibrian de. Promissory note to David C. Anderson. 1866, February 27

HM 70820 Bernal, Carmen Sibrian de. Promissory note to William D. Brown. 1867, October 22

HM 70821 Maze, M. and J.D. Marks. Request to A.H. Parker, County Surveyor of Santa Clara, to survey and map the Archuleta suertes; receipt for survey and map fees from J.D. Marks to M. Maze. 1868, April 27

HM 70822 Three documents detailing agreements between Carmen Sibrian de Bernal and Sivilo Valencia; Tracy McDonald and Martin Barra; and Carmen Sibrian de Bernal and Martin Barra. 1868-1870

HM 70823 Lease between Carmen Sibrian de Bernal and Luigi Gaddi, Luigi Giusti, Giovanni Battista Daneri, Agostino Pitti, and Guiseppe Lotti for their use of her property along Islais Creek. 1869, July 20

HM 70824 Fox, George W. Delinquent tax receipt received of Jesus Garcia. 1870, January 8

HM 70825 Statement of Martin Barra, detailing his grievances against Sivilo Valencia and the cancellation of his agreement with Tracy McDonald for some property owned by Carmen Sibrian de Bernal (in Spanish and English). 1870, November 8-19

HM 70826 Lathrop, Thomas W. Receipt for State and County taxes received of Carmen Sibrian de Bernal. 1871, November 20

HM 70827 Edgar, John [C.]. State and County taxes, San Mateo County, 1872-'73; Half Moon Bay Township, Description of Real and Personal Property, received of C.H. de Bernal. 1873, January 4

HM 7082 Edgar, John [C.]. Receipt for State and County taxes received of C.H. Bernal. 1875, January 4.

HM 70829 Edgar, John [C.]. Receipt for State and County taxes received of C.H. de Bernal. 1876, January 3

HM 70830 Transfer of tenancy agreement from Carmen Sibrian de Bernal to Sebastian Jara; and J Debenedetti's renunciation of the contract ceded between Bernal and Jara and himself (in Spanish). 1878-1879

HM 70831 Green, George W. Receipt for State and County taxes received of C. S. Bernal. 1880, January 5

HM 70832 Green, George W. Receipt for State and County taxes received of C. F. Bernal. 1880, January 20

HM 70833 Receipt for Carmen Sibrian de Bernal acknowledging her payment of $200.00 (in Spanish). 1881, September 17

HM 70834 San Francisco (Calif.). Tax collector. City and County of San Francisco, 1886, Personal property taxes assessed to Geronimo Bernal. 1886

HM 70835 Rents collected in Bernal Ranch for 1896 from November 1, 1895 to November 1, 1896. Note: Recordkeeping ends on December 4 [1895]. [Approx. 1895-1896]

HM 70836 Description of property in San Francisco. [Undated]

Note: Property may belong to Carmen Sibrian de Bernal and Jose de Jesus Bernal, as their names appear at the bottom of page 2

HM 70837 Ruffino, [Francesco]. Accounts of Dona Paula (in Spanish). [Undated]

Correspondence

HM 70838 Valencia, Tomasa. 1 letter to Geronima Rufino (in Spanish). 1853, November 21

HM 70839-70840 Bernal, Jose de Jesus. 2 letters to Geronima [Bernal] (in Spanish). 1854

HM 70841-70842 -----, Clara. 2 letters to Geronima Rufino (in Spanish and some English). 1854-1855

HM 70843 Garcia, Carmen. 1 letter to "Mi muy estimada madre" (in Spanish). 1856, April 14

HM 70844 Leon, Lorenzo de. 1 letter to Carmen Sibrian (in Spanish). 1859, August 18

HM 70845 Rufino, Pancha. 1 letter to Geronima Bernal (in Spanish). 1862, July 31

HM 70846 Vignolo, Petrona. 1 letter to Geronima [Bernal] (in Spanish). 1862, September 3

HM 70847 Moerenhout, J.A. (Jacques Antoine), 1796-1879. 1 letter to Carmen Sibrian de Bernal (in Spanish). 1870, September 26

HM 70848 "Para la Senora Livermore." 1 note to [Josefa Higuera] Livermore (in Spanish and English). 1871, Mar 13

HM 70849-70850 Bernal, Jose Cornelio. 2 letters to Geronima R. de Bernal (in Spanish). 1873

HM 70851 Jara, S[ebastian]. 1 letter to Carmen S. de Bernal (in Spanish). 1880, March 19

HM 70852 Castro, Isabella. 1 letter to Senoritas Rufinas (in Spanish and English). [Undated]

Cartes-de-visite

HM 70853 Cramer, Charles Lake. "Portrait of an unidentified man." 1 photographic print: albumen; carte-de-visite. [After 1868]

HM 70854 Morse, George Daniels. "Portrait of Luis Ruffino, 1844." 1 photographic print; carte-de-visite. [Between 1871 and 1891]

Note: The photograph is possible a copy of a daguerreotype or ambrotype view.

Ephemera

HM 70855 Ephemera.

5 items