Rancho San Pedro, Santa Margarita y Las Gallinas facts for kids
Rancho San Pedro, Santa Margarita y Las Gallinas was a very large piece of land, about 21,679-acre (87.73 km2), in what is now Marin County, California. It was a Mexican land grant, which means the Mexican government gave this land away. In 1844, Governor Manuel Micheltorena gave it to Timothy Murphy. The name "Las Gallinas" means "the hens" in Spanish. This huge ranch stretched from east of Nicasio, California, through Lucas Valley, California, and along Miller Creek to Las Gallinas and the San Pablo Bay.
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A Look Back: The Rancho's Story
Timothy Murphy was born in County Wexford, Ireland, in 1800. He worked in a meatpacking business in Lima before moving to Monterey. In 1837, he became the administrator of Mission San Rafael. He also served as an alcalde (like a mayor or judge) in San Rafael.
In 1844, Timothy Murphy received his big land grant. It included three connected ranchos: Rancho San Pedro, Rancho Santa Margarita, and Rancho Las Gallinas. Sadly, Timothy Murphy lost a lot of money in 1849 from selling meat from his ranch. Things got worse for him, and he passed away in 1853.
The Rancho Becomes Part of the U.S.
After the Mexican–American War, California became part of the United States. This happened with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. The treaty said that the U.S. would respect the land grants given by Mexico.
To make sure these land claims were official, the U.S. government passed the Land Act of 1851. Timothy Murphy's claim for Rancho San Pedro, Santa Margarita y Las Gallinas was filed in 1852. The grant was officially confirmed to him in 1866.
Other Important People
An Irishman named James Miller came to California in 1844. He was part of the Stephens-Townsend-Murphy Party. In 1846, he bought about 680 acres (2.8 km2) of Rancho Las Gallinas from Timothy Murphy. James Miller first used the land for raising beef cattle, then for a dairy farm. Today, Miller Creek is named after him.
Timothy Murphy never married. When he died in 1853, his brother Matthew Murphy inherited parts of the rancho. These areas are now known as McNear, Peacock Gap, and China Camp.
Timothy's nephew, John Lucas, inherited the 7,600-acre (31 km2) Santa Margarita ranch. This area is now Lucas Valley-Marinwood, California and Terra Linda. John Lucas was also from County Wexford, Ireland. He came to California in 1852. He later returned to Ireland but came back to California in 1855. He married Maria Sweetman and moved to the ranch in 1856. He continued to raise cattle there. In 1898, he sold about 1,200 acres (4.9 km2) of Rancho Santa Margarita to Manuel T. Freitas.
Historic Sites of the Rancho
- Dixie Schoolhouse: This is a one-story, wooden schoolhouse built in 1864. It has an Italianate style, which was popular at the time.
