Robert H. Willey Legal Collection
MSS.2013.04.30
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0028
special.collections@sjsu.edu
URL: http://www.sjlibrary.org/research/special/special_coll/
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Title: Robert H. Willey Legal Collection
creator:
Willey, Robert H.
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.2013.04.30
Physical Description:
1 Box
(.417 linear feet)
Date (inclusive): 1831-1911
Date (inclusive): 1860-1880
Abstract: The collection of Robert H. Willey contains records pertaining to Willey’s law practice in Monterey County from 1879-1916.
The first series consists of records documenting various Willey family legal transactions. Series two consists of a variety
of legal records that include: deeds, legal agreements, mining documents, financial statements, patent correspondence, court
documents and other legal records. Series three consists of a single petition and includes a typescript. The petitioner requests
Colonel R. B. Mason, the Governor of Upper California (1847-1849) for enforcement of protection of rancheros' located in
San Diego, San Luis, Santa Ana, and San Bernardino from continued robbery of cattle, horses, and mules by Native Americans
and others. Applications for armed protection were made to the Military Commandant without result. The petitioner requests
assistance from the Governor by providing a detachment of U.S. military officers to enforce the rule of law in the region.
Access
The collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives. All requests for
permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Collections. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the SJSU Special Collections & Archives 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 reproductions of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational
purposes.
Preferred Citation
Robert H. Willey Legal Collection, MSS-2013-04-30, San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.
Processing Information
Collection arranged and processed by Danielle Lopez, 2013, edited and reviewed by Danelle Moon.
Organizational/Biographical History
Robert H. Willey (1852-1916) was born in 1852 in New York, New York, while his father was a temporary worker in New York and
following the end of his assignment, he and his family returned to their home in Yorkshire, England. At the age of seventeen
Robert Willey traveled to San Francisco with his father and from this experience he moved to Napa Valley to study law. While
in Napa Valley, Willey met and married Susie Clark. In 1879, the couple relocated to Monterey where Willey established his
law practice. Some years later Willey became Monterey’s City Attorney while continuing his private law practice. Willey died
November 30th, 1916 leaving behind a widow and three children.
Bibliography:
Ingersoll, Luther A. Memorial and Biographical History of the Coast Counties of Central California.
(Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1893), 418-419.
"San Diego-Port and City,” in An Illustrated History of Southern California Embracing the
Counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of
Lower California, from the Earliest Period of Occupancy to the Present Time: Together with Glimpses of Their Prospects: Also,
Full-page Portraits of Some of Their Pioneers and of Prominent Citizens of To-day. (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1890),
pp. 174-176.
Scope and Content of Collection
The collection of Robert H. Willey contains records pertaining to Willey’s law practice in Monterey County from 1879-1916.
The first series consists of records documenting various Willey family legal transactions. Series II consists of a variety
of legal records that include: deeds, legal agreements, mining documents, financial statements, patent correspondence, court
documents and other legal records. Series III consists of a single petition and includes a typescript. The petitioner requests
Colonel R. B. Mason, the Governor of Upper California (1847-1849) for enforcement of protection of rancheros' located in
San Diego, San Luis, Santa Ana, and San Bernardino from continued robbery of cattle, horses, and mules by Native Americans
and others. Applications for armed protection were made to the Military Commandant without result. The petitioner requests
assistance from the Governor by providing a detachment of U.S. military officers to enforce the rule of law in the region.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into three series: Series I, Wiggins Family Records, 1842-1890; Series II, Robert Willey Legal
Records, 1831-1911; Series III, Petition to Colonel R.B. Mason, Governor Upper California (cira 1847-1849)
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Law -- California -- Monterey County
Mining -- California
Willey, R.H.
Wiggins, William
Monterey County -- History
Willey, Robert H.
Series I: Wiggins Family Records
1842-1890
Physical Description
5 Folders
Scope and Content Summary
This series consists of family documents that include: legal records, letters, notes, ledgers, newspaper clippings, and one
stock certificate. Several documents include information about the Guadalupe and Wiggins Mining operation. The records are
arranged into four subject headings: Court Proceedings, Family Correspondence, Financial statements, Land/Property agreements,
and Mining papers. A few non-translated Spanish documents and one transcribed letter are included within the series.
Arrangement
This series is arranged alphabetically by subject and chronologically by date.
Folder 1: Court Proceedings
1850-1880
Folder 2A: Family Papers
1851-1880
Folder 2B: Ms.Gracie Letter
n/d
Folder 3: Financial Papers
1850-1880
Folder 4A: Land/Property Agreements
1861-1890
Folder 4B: Land Document
1842
Folder 5: Mining Papers
1850-1878
Series II: Robert Willey Legal Records
1840-1911
1865-1880
Physical Description
4 Folders
Scope and Content of Collection
This series documents Robert Wiley's law practice in Monterey County. The records include: property deeds, land agreements,
patent requests, court summons, money transactions, letters, personal notes, and client lists. The court documents primairly
relate to land and property legal transactions. The patent documents within the series chronicle the effort and success of
an official patent for the invention of a Baking and Glazing Apparatus. The United States Patent Office acknowledged the invention
from Luke House and granted R.H. Willey two-thirds ownership rights of the patent.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by subject and by chronological date order.
Folder 6: Court Dcuments
1864-1877
Folder 7: Land/Property Agreements
1831-1907
Folder 8: Miscellanous Documents
1984,1900
Folder 9: Patent Documents
1908-1911
Series III: Petition to Colonel R. B. Mason, Governor Upper California, (circa 1847-1849)
n/d
Physical Description
1 Folder
Scope and Content of Collection
This series consist of a hand written petition addressed to Colonel R.B. Mason, Governor of Upper California, and a typescript.The
petitioner requests military protection of rancheros' located in San Diego, San Luis, Santa Ana, and San Bernardino from continued
robbery of cattle, horses, and mules by Native American's and others. Applications for armed protection were made to the Military
Commandant without result. The petitioner requests assistance from the Governor by providing a detachment of U.S. military
officers to enforce the rule of law in the region.
Arrangement
This series is arranged into a single folder.
Folder 10: Petition to Colonel R. B. Mason, Governor Upper California, (circa 1847-1849)
n/d
