Rancho Cañada de Guadalupe la Visitación y Rodeo Viejo facts for kids
Rancho Cañada de Guadalupe la Visitación y Rodeo Viejo, sometimes called Ridley's Rancho, was a large piece of land in California. It was about 6,416 acres (26 square kilometers) in size. This land was given as a Mexican land grant in 1841. The governor at the time, Juan Bautista Alvarado, gave it to Jacob P. Leese.
This rancho covered parts of what are now San Mateo County, California and San Francisco County, California. It included three different valleys: Cañada de Guadalupe, La Visitacion, and Rodeo Viejo. The rancho also contained most of San Bruno Mountain, the city of Brisbane, Guadalupe Valley, and Visitacion Valley.
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Who Owned Rancho Cañada de Guadalupe?
Jacob Leese: The First Owner
The first person to officially own this rancho was Jacob Primer Leese (1809–1892). He was a trader who came from Ohio. In 1837, Jacob Leese married María Rosalia Vallejo. She was the sister of a famous general named Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo.
Jacob Leese first arrived in California in 1833. He took control of the land grant in 1838. This was three years before he received the official document that made him the owner.
Robert Ridley Takes Over
Around 1843, Jacob Leese traded his land to Robert T. Ridley (1818-1851). In return, Leese received a different rancho called Rancho Collayomi in Lake County.
Robert Ridley was an English sailor. He was the captain of the Port of San Francisco. He was married to Presentación Briones. Robert Ridley never lived on the rancho or developed it much.
The Land Changes Hands Again
Robert Ridley died in 1851. After his death, the land was sold at a special public sale called a sheriff's auction. About 700 acres (2.8 square kilometers) went to Robert E. Eaton. The rest of the land was bought by Alfred Wheeler.
Alfred Wheeler (1822–1903) was a well-known lawyer in San Francisco. He specialized in land titles. Later, in 1865, Henry R. Payson bought about 5,473 acres (22.1 square kilometers) of the rancho. This large piece of land was soon divided into smaller parts. The Visitacion Land Company bought the biggest portion.
Official Land Patents
In 1865, official documents called "patents" were issued for the rancho. These patents confirmed ownership. Henry R. Payson received a patent for 5,473 acres (22.1 square kilometers). William Pierce received a patent for 943 acres (3.8 square kilometers). Any claims made by Presentación Ridley, Robert Ridley's wife, were not accepted.
Charles Crocker's Purchase
Central Pacific railroad leader and banker Charles Crocker bought a large part of the rancho. In 1884, he acquired 3,814 acres (15.4 square kilometers). The next year, he bought another 183 acres (0.7 square kilometers).
Charles Crocker passed away in 1888. After his death, the land became part of the Crocker Land Co. Later, it became an asset of the Foremost McKesson Co.
See also
- Rancho Collayomi
- San Bruno Mountain
- Visitacion Valley, San Francisco
In Spanish: Rancho Cañada de Guadalupe la Visitación y Rodeo Viejo para niños
