Rancho Las Animas facts for kids

Rancho Las Ánimas was a very large piece of land, about 26,519 acres, in what is now Santa Clara County, California. It was given out by the Spanish government in 1803. The first person to receive this land was José Mariano Castro. Later, in 1835, the land was given again to his wife, Josefa Romero de Castro, by the Mexican Governor. Today, the city of Gilroy is located on part of this historic rancho.

History of Rancho Las Ánimas

Early Spanish Land Grant

In 1803, a leader named Félix Berenguer de Marquina, who was the Viceroy (like a governor) of New Spain, gave the Las Ánimas Ranch to José Mariano Castro. This was a special type of land gift called a "conditional grant." José Mariano Castro was a soldier. He served in the Monterey garrison, which was a military fort.

Passing Down the Land

Mariano Castro passed away in 1828. He left behind his wife, Josefa Romero de Castro, and their eight children. The land was then divided among them. His wife received half of the rancho. Each of their children received one-sixteenth of the land.

In 1835, Governor José Figueroa officially confirmed the land grant to Josefa Romero de Castro. That same year, Josefa Romero de Castro and four of her children sold their shares of the rancho. They sold their parts to Jose Maria Sanchez. This sale meant that Sanchez now owned three-fourths of the large property. The other four Castro children still owned the remaining one-fourth. Jose Maria Sanchez also owned other ranchos nearby.

Changes After the Mexican-American War

After the Mexican-American War, California became part of the United States. The 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo stated that the land grants given by Spain and Mexico would still be honored.

Because of a new law called the Land Act of 1851, Jose Maria Sanchez had to officially claim his ownership of Rancho Las Ánimas. He filed his request with the Public Land Commission in 1852. Sadly, Sanchez drowned later that year on Christmas Eve. He left behind his wife, Maria Encarnacion Ortega Sanchez, and five children.

In 1873, an official document called a "patent" was issued. This patent confirmed that 26,842 acres of the rancho belonged to the heirs of Jose Maria Sanchez.

Later Owners of the Rancho

Over time, parts of Rancho Las Ánimas were sold to different people. Josefa Castro sold her small share to Martin Murphy. He then sold it to Johanna Fitzgerald. Vicente Castro sold his share to Alexis Godey, who then sold it to Thomas Rea. Encarnacion Castro and Maria Lugardo Castro sold their shares to Henry Miller.

By 1871, when the land commission issued its patent, Johanna Fitzgerald, Thomas Rea, and Henry Miller owned more than 80% of the 26,518-acre rancho.