Juan Francisco Reyes (soldier) facts for kids

Juan Francisco Reyes (1749–1809) was an important figure in early California history. He was a "soldado de cuero," which means a "leather-jacketed soldier," and was part of the 1769 Portolá expedition. This expedition explored and helped settle California for Spain.

Reyes also served as the alcalde (a type of mayor or judge) for the Pueblo de Los Ángeles three times. He was also given large areas of land by the Spanish government, including Rancho Los Encinos and later land near Lompoc.

Life of Juan Francisco Reyes

In 1769, Juan Francisco Reyes left his home in Mexico to join the Spanish army. He traveled with Father Junípero Serra, who was establishing the first missions in California. Reyes served as a soldier at the missions in Monterey and San Luis Obispo. He was also stationed at Mission San Antonio de Padua while it was being built.

In 1784, Juan Francisco Reyes received a large land grant from the Spanish government. This land was called Rancho Los Encinos. It covered much of what is now the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, California. Reyes used this land for raising cattle.

However, in 1795, the Spanish mission leaders decided that Rancho Los Encinos was a good spot for a new mission. So, Reyes returned the land to the mission, which became Mission San Fernando Rey de España. He then asked for a new land grant. In 1802, he received land in central California, between Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa and Mission La Purísima Concepción. Reyes did not live on this new land.

Juan Francisco Reyes kept an adobe house in the Pueblo de Los Ángeles. He became the alcalde (mayor) of Los Angeles in 1790, and again from 1793 to 1795.

Reyes married María del Carmen Domínguez. They had eleven children together. His brother-in-law, José María Domínguez, was given Rancho Las Virgenes. Later, in 1845, this ranch was sold to María Antonia Machado de Reyes, who was connected to the Reyes family.

Reyes Family Members

Juan Francisco Reyes had many children. Some of them also played important roles in early California.

Antonio Faustino Reyes

Antonio Faustino Reyes (1785-1844) was the oldest son of Juan Francisco Reyes. He married Maria Clara Cota in 1816. Antonio served in the Los Angeles militia and at the Presidio (a military fort) in San Diego. He and Maria had six children.

Antonio Maria Reyes

Antonio Maria Reyes (1822-1928) was the son of Antonio Faustino Reyes. He married Maria Trinidad Jesus Francisca Vejar in 1852. Maria's father, Nepomuceno Ricardo Vejar, was a "Juez de Campo" (Country Judge) in Los Angeles. Ricardo Vejar also owned parts of Rancho San Jose and Rancho Los Nogales. Antonio Maria Reyes lived to be 105 years old, passing away in Orange, California.

José Jacinto Reyes

José Jacinto Reyes (1788-1837) was another son of Juan Francisco Reyes. He married María Antonia Francisca Valentina Machado in 1808. They had fourteen children before José's early death. Both José's father, Juan Francisco Reyes, and María's father, José Manuel Machado, were "soldados de cuero" on the Portola expedition.

Ysidro Reyes

José Ysidro Reyes (1813-1861) was the son of José Jacinto Reyes and María Antonia Machado. He lived in Los Angeles and owned one of the largest vineyards in the area. Ysidro also had a business transporting brea (tar) from the Rancho La Brea to homes in Los Angeles. In 1839, Ysidro Reyes and his friend Francisco Márquez were jointly given the Mexican land grant Rancho Boca de Santa Monica.

José Paulino Reyes

José Paulino Reyes (born 1824) was another son of José Jacinto Reyes and María Antonia Machado. Around 1850, he built an adobe home on Rancho Las Virgenes.