Rancho Rinconada del Arroyo de San Francisquito facts for kids
Rancho Rinconada del Arroyo de San Francisquito was a large piece of land, about 2,230 acres (9 square kilometers), given out by the Mexican government in 1841. This land grant was located in what is now Santa Clara County, California. Governor Juan Alvarado gave it to María Antonia Mesa. The name "Rancho Rinconada del Arroyo de San Francisquito" means "ranch at the bend in San Francisquito Creek." This land included parts of today's Menlo Park and downtown Palo Alto.
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History of the Rancho
Early Settlers and the Soto Family
The story of this land grant begins with Rafael Soto (1789–1839). He was born in the Pueblo of San José. His parents were early settlers who came with the De Anza Expedition.
Rafael Soto married María Antonia Mesa in 1819. In 1835, Rafael Soto and his family settled near San Francisquito Creek. They sold goods to people traveling through the area.
Rafael Soto passed away in 1839. Two years later, in 1841, his wife, Antonia Mesa Soto, was officially granted a large section of land by Governor Juan Alvarado. This land became known as Rancho Rinconada del Arroyo de San Francisquito.
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 Mexico would still be recognized.
However, a new law in 1851 required all land claims to be filed with the Public Land Commission. María Antonia Mesa filed a claim for her rancho in 1852.
Initially, the Commission rejected her claim. They said there wasn't a clear description of the land. But María Antonia Mesa appealed this decision. Based on new information, a court confirmed her land grant in 1855. The official ownership was given to her in 1872.
The Seale Brothers and Land Sales
When the Land Commission first rejected their claim, the Soto family made a deal. They agreed to give half of the land to Thomas Seale if he could help them get the grant confirmed.
Thomas Seale (1826–1907) was from Ireland. He came to San Francisco in 1850 with his brother, Henry W. Seale. They ran a contracting business. For their help, the brothers received about 1,400 acres (5.7 square kilometers) of the rancho land.
Over time, parts of the rancho were sold. In 1887, Thomas Seale sold 697 acres (2.8 square kilometers) to Timothy Hopkins. Hopkins then helped develop the town that would become Palo Alto. In 1864, Dr. William Newell bought 60 acres (0.24 square kilometers) from Henry W. Seale. The rest of the Seale brothers' property was used for farming until Henry's death in 1888.
