Rancho San Pedro (Sánchez) facts for kids
Rancho San Pedro was a huge piece of land, about 8,926 acres (36.12 km²), in what is now San Mateo County, California. It was a special gift of land, called a Mexican land grant, given in 1839. The governor at the time, Juan Alvarado, gave this land to a man named Francisco Sanchez. Today, this area is known as Pacifica.
History of Rancho San Pedro
This large land grant, which was about two square leagues (a way to measure land back then), was given to Francisco Sánchez. He lived from 1805 to 1862. Francisco Sánchez was an important person in his time.
He was the Commandante, or leader, of the San Francisco Presidio. A presidio was like a fort or military base. He was also the eighth alcade of the City of San Francisco. An alcade was a bit like a mayor and a judge combined. He became an alcade after a big change in Mexico called the Mexican secularization act of 1833. This act changed how land was owned, especially land that belonged to missions.
Land Ownership Changes
After the Mexican-American War, California became part of the United States. This happened in 1848. The agreement that ended the war was called the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. This treaty said that the land grants given by Mexico, like Rancho San Pedro, would still be honored. This meant that people who had received land from Mexico could keep it.
To make sure these land claims were official, the United States created a new law in 1851. This law required landowners to prove they owned their land. So, in 1852, a claim for Rancho San Pedro was filed. It was sent to a group called the Public Land Commission. Finally, in 1870, the ownership of the land was officially confirmed to Francisco Sánchez. This official document is called a patent.
When Francisco Sánchez passed away in 1862, the rancho was still all together. His wife, Theodora Higuera de Sanchez, rented out the land to a person named Francis Sievers. Later, in 1871, the rancho was sold. It was bought by James Regan and some people from Hibernia Bank. They bought it to help pay off some debts that Francisco Sánchez had.
Historic Places of the Rancho
There are a few important historical places that were once part of Rancho San Pedro:
- Sánchez Adobe Park: This is an old adobe house built in 1842. It was Francisco Sánchez's home.
- San Pedro y San Pablo Asistencia: This was a small outpost or branch of a larger mission. It was used to help spread the mission's influence and teach local people.
