Rancho Rincon de San Francisquito facts for kids
Rancho Rincon de San Francisquito was a large piece of land in what is now Santa Clara County, California. It was a "Mexican land grant," meaning the Mexican government gave this land away. In 1841, Governor Juan Alvarado gave this grant, which was about 8,418-acre (34.07 km2) (or 34 square kilometers), to a man named José Peña.
The name "Rincon de San Francisquito" means "corner or bend of the San Francisquito," referring to San Francisquito Creek. This rancho covered parts of modern-day Palo Alto and the southern area of the Stanford University campus. It stretched along Matadero Creek towards the hills.
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Early Days of the Rancho
José Peña (1777–1852) was an artilleryman, a soldier who used cannons, at the Presidio of San Francisco. A presidio was like a fort. In 1822, he got permission from Mission Santa Clara to use some of its pasture land.
Peña left for Mexico for a while but came back in the 1830s. He wanted to live on his land again. In 1841, he officially asked for the land he had been using. Governor Juan Alvarado then granted him two "square leagues" of land. At that time, José Peña was working as a school teacher in the small town of Santa Clara.
In 1847, José Peña sold almost all of the rancho. He kept only a small piece of land for himself. He sold the rest to two brothers, Secundino Robles and Teodoro Robles. After José Peña passed away in 1852, his wife, Gertrudis Lorenzana, continued to own their small adobe house and its land. An old map from 1862 shows this property was near Lake Lagunita.
The Robles Brothers and the Rancho
Secundino Robles (1813–1890) and his brother Teodoro bought Rancho Rincon de San Francisquito from José Peña in 1847. Secundino was born in a place called Branciforte. In 1835, he married Maria Antonia Garcia, and they had a very large family.
Secundino Robles was an interesting person. In 1824, he found a mineral called cinnabar south of San Jose. He learned about it from Ohlone Native Americans, who showed him where they found red-colored rock. By 1845, people realized that this cinnabar was rich in quicksilver. Because of his discovery, Secundino and Teodoro received money and a share in Andres Castillero's New Almaden Quicksilver Mine.
In 1843, Secundino worked as the "Majordomo" (which means foreman or manager) at Mission Santa Clara. His brother Teodoro also joined him there.
Changes Under United States Rule
After the Mexican–American War, California became part of the United States. This change happened with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. This treaty promised that the land grants given by the Mexican government would still be honored.
To make these land grants official under U.S. law, people had to file a claim. This was required by the Land Act of 1851. So, in 1852, a claim for Rancho Rincon de San Francisquito was filed with the Public Land Commission. The land grant was officially "patented" (meaning the ownership was legally confirmed) to Secundino and Teodoro Robles in 1868.
Selling Off the Rancho Lands
Over time, parts of the rancho were sold. In 1853, a man named Elisha Oscar Crosby bought 250 acres (1.0 km2) from the Robles brothers.
Teodoro Robles faced some personal challenges, and in 1855, he lost half of his share of the rancho. Jeremiah Clarke from San Francisco then bought a part of this land in 1859.
Later, a Frenchman named Peter Coutts bought 1,162 acres (4.7 km2) from Jeremiah Clarke. Coutts suddenly went back to France in 1880. In 1882, Leland Stanford bought this property from Coutts. Leland Stanford later founded Stanford University on much of this land.
Secundino Robles also traded 500 acres (2.0 km2) of his rancho land to Jeremiah Clarke for some horses and a buggy. By 1859, a lot of the Robles brothers' land had been sold. This was to help pay for legal costs and other expenses. Secundino Robles passed away in 1890.
