Rancho Pescadero (Pico) facts for kids
Rancho Pescadero was a very large piece of land, about 35,546 acres (which is about 144 square kilometers). It was a Mexican land grant given out in 1843 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Antonio María Pico. The name "Pescadero" means "the fishery" or "the place to fish" in Spanish. This rancho was located in what is now San Joaquin County, California and Alameda County, California. Today, the city of Tracy is located on part of this old rancho.
History of Rancho Pescadero
Antonio María Pico: The Original Owner
Antonio María Pico (1809–1869) was a member of the well-known Pico family of California. His family was very important in California during the Mexican period. Antonio María Pico was a leader in the Pueblo of San José from 1833 to 1839. He also served as an alcalde, which was like a mayor or judge, in San Jose.
In 1843, Antonio María Pico received the large Rancho Pescadero land grant. He was also involved in important political events. For example, he took part in a revolt against Governor Micheltorena in 1845. He also helped write California's first constitution at the 1849 California Constitutional Convention.
Changes in Ownership
In 1849, Antonio María Pico sold half of Rancho Pescadero to Henry Morris Naglee (1815–1886).
After the Mexican-American War, California became part of the United States. The 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo stated that the US government would respect the land grants given by Mexico. To make sure these grants were valid, the US government created a special process.
A claim for Rancho Pescadero was filed in 1852. At first, a special commission said the claim was not valid. However, the US District Court later confirmed the grant in 1856. The US Supreme Court also agreed, and the official ownership document, called a patent, was given to Antonio María Pico and Henry Morris Naglee in 1865.
Antonio María Pico sold his remaining half of the property to John C. Frémont in 1852. Over time, people who did not own the land, called squatters, began to live on the rancho. In 1867, John C. Frémont sold the rancho to Charles McLaughlin, who owned the land next to it, called Rancho Cañada de los Vaqueros.
