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John Purcell San Mateo County documents, 1868-1893.
MANUSCRIPT3150
Collection Overview

Title:

John Purcell San Mateo County documents, 1868-1893
Purcell

Creator/Contributor:

Purcell, John.

Creator/Contributor:

Purcell, Louisa.

Creator/Contributor:

Hidalgo, Jacinta.

Creator/Contributor:

Polhemus, Charles B.

Abstract:

San Mateo County property deeds, and legal documents. Some of these appear to pertain to the town of Purissima.

Date:

1868 (issued)

Subject:

n-us-ca
Correspondence -- 1890-1900
Deeds -- California
Legal documents
San Mateo County (Calif.)
San Francisco (Calif.)
Purissima (Calif.)

Note:

John Purcell (possibly spelled "Pursel" or "Pursell") owned property in San Mateo County during the nineteenth century, and in 1868 deeded land to the town of Purissima for its cemetery. He engaged in dealings with Henry Dobbel, one of Purissima's leading citizens. He also became inviolved in litigation in both San Mateo and San Francisco counties. It cannot be determined if he is the same John Purcell (1840-1893) who served two terms as Street Commissioner of San Jose, and later engaged in street contracting in Stockton.
The town of Purissima (later spelled "Purisima," which may have been the proper spelling all along) in San Mateo County, California was founded in 1854 by a group of American settlers on a previously disputed tract of land. For a time (especially during the 1880s promise of an oil boom) many thought the town would become the largest in the county, but it was eclipsed by Spanishtown (Half Moon Bay), four miles to the north, and little remains of Purissima today.
Purcell.
Unrestricted. Please credit California State Library.

Physical Description:

print
1 manuscript box; 15 1/4 x 11 3/4 x 3 in.

Language:

English

Identifier:

Origin:

California

Copyright Note:

Unrestricted. Please credit California State Library.