Verdugo Ancestors

[1] T. A. Dockins (born in San Diego, CA). His father was [2] Donald Martin Dockins and his mother [3] Barbara Jean Metcalfe. They never married.

[3] Barbara Jean Metcalfe was born 12/2/1939 in San Diego, CA. Her father was [4] Robert George Metcalf and her mother [5] Henrietta Josefina Cesena (or Vejar). They were married sometime before February 1939.

[5] Henrietta Josefina Cesena was born 5/29/1921 in San Diego and died 2/4/1988 in ?, Baja California, Mexico. Her father was [6] Henry (Enrique) Cesena and her mother [8] Rosa Maria Cruz. They married ?. [edit 4.24.17...alternately, some indicators that Henrietta Josefina's father was [7] Reginaldo Palomares Vejar.]

[6] Henry Cesena was born circa 1897/1898 in California or Baja California, Mexico. His father is [9] unknown Cesena Sr. from Mexico and his mother was [10] Elena (last name unknown) born circa 1860 in Mexico.

[edit 4.24.17...[7] Reginaldo Palomares Vejar was born 3/23/1880 at Rancho Pomona in Los Angeles, CA. His father was [11] Ramon Antonio de Jesus Vejar and his mother [12] Calistra Teresa Josefa Palomares. They were married 6/18/1855 in Los Angeles, CA.]

[8] Rosa Maria Cruz was born 7/6/1896 in San Diego and died April 1977 in San Diego. Her father was [13] Jose Martin (Morales) Cruz and her mother [14] Maria Mauricia Faviana Verdugo. They were married 5/16/1885 in California (probably in Los Angeles).

[edit 4.24.17...[11] Ramon Antonio de Jesus Vejar was born 12/24/1830 in Los Angeles, CA. His father was [15] Juan Nepomuceno Ricardo Vejar and his mother was [16] Maria de la Trinidad Soto. They were married 11/7/1825 in Los Angeles, CA.]

[edit 4.24.17...[12] Calistra Teresa Josefa Palomares was born 10/15/1838 in Los Angeles, CA. Her father was [17] Ygnacio Maria Palomares and her mother was [18] Maria "China" de la Concepcion Lopez. They were married 6/26/1832 in Los Angeles, CA.]

[13] Jose Martin (Morales) Cruz was born September, 1856 in California and died sometime before 1920 (His wife Mauricia was listed as a widow in the 1920 census). His parents are unknown but his father (per family info) was a mayor (alcalde) of Ensenada, Mexico. I have found no record however. *[13] Basilia lived with Son in Law Martin and Mauricia Cruz as of the 1900 census, her last named misspelled “Berdue”.  [edit 4.24.17...his father was [19] Jose Maria Morales and his mother was [20] Maria Uribes. they were married 10/7/1848 at Mission San Gabriel in Los Angeles, CA. Maria Uribes remarried Jose Marcial Cruz who adopted Jose Martin Morales.]

[14] Maria Mauricia Faviana Verdugo born c. Sept 1863 (based on the 1900 census) in California. Her father was [21] Jose Joaquin Juan Pedro Verdugo christened January 30, 1832 at Mission San Gabriel, Los Angeles, California. Her mother was [22] Maria Basilia Perez. [edit 4.24.17...They were married circa 1864.]

[edit 4.24.17...[15] Juan Nepomuceno Ricardo Vejar was born 11/16/1805 in San Diego, CA. His father was [23] Francisco Salvador Vejar and his mother was [24] Maria Josefa Benita Lopez. They were married 10/10/1798 in San Diego, CA.]

[edit 4.24.17...[16] Maria de la Trinidad Soto was born 3/2/1809 in Los Angeles, CA. Her father was [25] Guillermo Soto and her mother was [26] Juana Maria Perez y Nieto. They were married 11/17/1787 in Los Angeles, CA.]

[edit 4.24.17...[17] Ygnacio Maria Palomares was born 2/11/1811 in Los Angeles, CA. His father was [27] Jose Cristobal Palomares and his mother was [28] Maria Benedicta Luisa Saez. They were married 2/24/1794 at Mission Santa Clara, CA.]

[edit 4.24.17...[18] Maria "China" de la Concepcion Lopez was born about 1817 in Los Angeles, CA. Her father was [29] Esteban Ignacio Maria De Los Angeles Lopez and her mother was [30] Maria Jacinta del Sacramenta Valdez. They were married 1/8/1808 in Los Angeles, CA.]

[19] Jose Maria Morales date of birth is unknown. He died 3/17/1856 in Los Angeles, CA.

[edit 4.24.17...[20] Maria Uribes was born in 1829 in Los Angeles, CA. Her father was [31] Ricardo Uribes and her mother was [32] Luisa Perez. Their marriage date is unknown...before 1829.

[21] Jose Joaquin Juan Pedro Verdugo’s father was [33] Jose Joaquin Verdugo born 1795 at San Gabriel, Los Angeles, California. Buried on January 25, 1832  San Gabriel, Los Angeles, CA. His mother was [34] Maria Josefa Magdalena Vejar (Bejar) born November 8, 1799 in San Diego, Alta California. They married January 7, 1821 in San Diego Presidio, Alta California. *At Jose Joaquin Juan Pedro’s christening his Godparent’s are listed as Julio Verdugo and Catalina Verdugo of Rancho San Rafael (cousins of father Jose Joaquin).

[22] Maria Basilia Perez’s father was [edit 4.24.17...[35] Jose Perez and her mother was [36] Maria Asumpcion de la Encarnacion Ontiveros. They never married.

[23] Francisco Salvador Vejar

[24] Maria Josefa Benita Lopez

[25] Guillermo Soto

[26] Juana Maria Perez y Nieto

[27] Jose Cristobal Palomares

[28] Maria Benedicta Luisa Saez

[29] Esteban Ignacio Maria De Los Angeles Lopez

[30] Maria Jacinta del Sacramenta Valdez

[31] Ricardo Uribes

[32] Luisa Perez

[33] Jose Joaquin Verdugo’s father is [37] Ygnacio Leonardo Maria Verdugo born c. 1761 at Loreto, Baja California, Mexico. Christened November 24, 1778 at San Gabriel, Los Angeles, California. His mother [38] Maria Josefa Vincenta Rubio born November 25, 1780 at the Royal Presidio of San Diego, California. Died September 25, 1830. Buried September 25, 1830 at Los Angeles Plaza Church, Los Angeles, California. Married July 28 or 29, 1793 at San Gabriel, Los Angeles, California.

[34] Maria Josefa Magdalena Vejar (Bejar)’s father is [39] Francisco Salvador Vejar (Bejar) born c. 1770 in Tepic. Her mother [40] Maria Josefa Benita Lopez born April 4, 1784 in San Diego, Alta California. Died March 10, 1863 in Los Angeles, California. Married October 14, 1798 in Mission San Diego, Alta California.

[16] Narciso Perez…no further information

[17] Maria Feliciana Plasencia’s father is [22] Leandro Raphael Plasencia christened March, 1782 in Nochistlan, Zacatecas, Mexico. Her mother [23] Maria Miguela de Lara born c. 1782 in Mexico.

[18] Ygnacio Leonardo Maria Verdugo’s father is [14] Juan Diego (Santiago) Verdugo born c. 1717-20 in El Fuerte, Sinaloa, Mexico. Christening at San Xavier, Sinaloa, Mexico. Died January 23, 1780 in San Gabriel, Los Angeles, California. Buried January 24, 1780 in San Gabriel Mission, Alta California. His mother [15] Maria Ignacia De La Concepcion Carrillo born c. 1725 in Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Died April 25, 1798 in San Gabriel, Los Angeles, California. Buried April 25, 1798 San Gabriel Mission,Alta California . Married in 1739 at Mission Loreto, Baja California, Mexico. *Ygnacio was the younger brother of 2 more famous “Soldados de Cuera”, Mariano Verdugo (an alclade of Pueblo Los Angeles) and Jose Maria Verdugo (recipient of the 37,000 acre land grant Rancho San Rafael by the King of Spain).

[19] Maria Josefa Vincenta Rubio’s father is [26] Mateo Rubio (Jr.) born 1755 at Yores, Flanders, Belgium. Her mother [27] Maria Ursula Dominguez born circa 1760 (illegitimate) Married April 28, 1779.

[20] Francisco Salvador Vejar’s (Bejar) father was Salvador Vejar of Spain and his mother was Josepha Ornalis of Spain. *[20] Francisco Salvador Vejar was a master carpenter and helped erect the Mission San Gabriel and the Plaza Church in Los Angeles

[21] Maria Josefa Benita Lopez’ father is [28] Juan Francisco Lopez born 1746 in Mission Todos Santos, Baja California, Mexico. Died January 5, 1800 in San Diego, Alta California. Her mother [29] Maria Feliciana Arbayo (Arballo) born 1752 in Villa de Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico. Died February 25, 1808 at  Presidio de San Diego, Alta California?) (Civilian member of the Anza Expedition 1776). Married March 6, 1776 in Mission San Gabriel, Los Angeles, California.

[22] Leandro Raphael Plasencia’s father is [30] Jose Joaquin de Plasencia christened March 28, 1753 in Nochistlan, Zacatecas, Mexico. His mother [31] Rosa Maria Mercado christened September 15, 1760 in Nochistlan, Zacatecas, Mexico. Married: 2 Jun 1777 in Nochistlan,Zacatecas,Mexico

[23] Maria Miguela de Lara…no further information

[24] Juan Diego Verdugo’s father is [32] Blas Verdugo born c. 1688 at El Fuerte, Sinaloa, Mexico. Died date unknown at Iglasia Of San Gabriel, De Arcangel, Plaza Church, Alta  California. His mother [33] Maria Carla Micaela De Los Rios born 1692 at El Fuerte, Sinaloa, Mexico. Married c. 1717-19 at El Fuerte, Sinaloa, Mexico.

[25] Maria Ignacia De La Concepcion Carrillo’s father is [34] Juan Carillo born c. 1695 in Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Died May 4, 1748 in Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Her mother [35] Lucía Efigenia Millán. Married c. 1718 - 1728, Loreto, Baja California, Mexico.

[26] Mateo Rubio (Jr.)’s father is [36] Mateo Rubio (Sr.) born c. 1730. His mother [37] Gertrudis Bermon born circa 1730. *[26] Mateo Rubio and his father were supposedly from Flanders

[27] Maria Ursula Dominguez’ father is [38] Juan Jose Dominguez born 1736 in the village of Sinaloa, Mexico. Died January 24, 1809. Buried January 29, 1809 at Mission San Gabriel, Los Angeles, California. Her mother [39] India, a Native Californian Indian (a neophyte from the Misión de Santa Gertrudis)

[28] Juan Francisco Lopez’ father is [40] Jose Ygnacio Maria De Jesus Lopez born 1728 at the Royal Presidio of Loreto, Baja California, Mexico. Died December 5, 1781 at Mission San Juan Capistrano, Alta (Orange) California. His mother [41] Maria Fecunda De Mora born 1725 in Mission Santiago de las Caras, Baja California, Mexico. Died 1799 in Baja California, Mexico. Married December 30, 1744? in Mission Santiago de las Caras, Baja California, Mexico.

[29] Maria Feliciana Arbayo (Arballo)…no further information, however…she was “The Bold Widow” from the de Anza expedition of whom much is written. More information later.

[30] Jose Joaquin de Plasencia…no further information

[31] Rosa Maria Mercado’s father is [42] Joseph Joachin Mercado Christened April 4, 1720 in Nochistlan, Zacatecas, Mexico. Her mother [43] Francisca Cornelia de Chavez born c. 1723 in Mexico.  Married: 18 Jan 1742 in San Felipe, Cuquio, Jalisco, Mexico

[32] Blas Verdugo…no further information

[33] Maria Carla Micaela De Los Rios…no further information

[34] Juan Carillo…no further information

[35] Lucía Efigenia Millán’s father [44] Lazaro Millan born before 1690

[36] Mateo Rubio (Sr.)…no further information

[37] Gertrudis Bermon…no further information

[38] Juan Jose Dominguez’ father [45] Jose Ignacio Dominguez born 1710 in Sinaloa, Mexico. His mother [46] Ana Maria Sepulveda born 1720 Sinaloa, Mexico. Married 1735 in Sinaloa, Mexico. *[38] Juan Jose Dominguez was a soldier with the Verdugos and Cotas; and was the recipient of the land grant Rancho San Pedro from the King.

[39] India, a Native Californian Indian…no further information

[40] Jose Ygnacio Maria De Jesus Lopez’ father [47] Captain Andres Lopez born c. 1690-1708 in Spain or De La Otra Banda, Nueva Antiqua, Baja California, Mexico. His mother [48] Rosa Josefa Sotomayar born c.1694-1712 (1715) at De La Otra Banda, Nueva Antiqua, Baja California. Married before 1728.

[41] Maria Fecunda De Mora…no further information

[42] Joseph Joachin Mercado’s father [49] Cristobal Mercado born c. 1685 in Mexico. His mother [50] Angela Torres born c. 1688 in Mexico. Married January 30, 1706 in  Nochistlan, Zacatecas, Mexico.

[43] Francisca Cornelia de Chavez’ father [51] Joseph Antonio de Chavez born c. 1695 in Mexico. Her mother [52] Petra Rubalcava born c. 1698 in Mexico. Married: 24 Feb 1716 in San Felipe, Cuquio, Jalisco, Mexico.

[44] Lazaro Millan…no further information

[45] Jose Ignacio Dominguez…no further information

[46] Ana Maria Sepulveda…no further information

[47] Captain Andres Lopez…no further information

[48] Rosa Josefa Sotomayor…no further information

[49] Cristobal Mercado…no further information

[50] Angela Torres…no further information

[51] Joseph Antonio de Chavez father [53] Lucas de Chavez born c. 1689 in Mexico. His mother [54] Catalina Rodriguez born c. 1692 in Mexico.

[42] Petra Rubalcava…no further information

[43] Lucas de Chavez…no further information

[44] Catalina Rodriguez…no further information

Detailed Information:

[4] Robert George Metcalf and [5] Henrietta Josefina Cesena children:

·       [3] Barbara Jean Metcalfe

·       Regina Marie Metcalfe

·       Marcia Metcalfe

[6] Henry (Enrique) Cesena and [7] Rosa Maria Cruz’ children:

• [5] Henriette ‘Jo’ Cesena was born May 29, 1921 in San Diego and died February 4, 1988 in Baja California, Mexico.
• Helena Cisenos (dates unknown)

[9] Martin Cruz and [10] Mauricia Verdugo ‘s children:

• Benjamin F Cruz born March 1877
• Marshall Verdugo Cruz born October 25, 1878 (1888?). Died  November 3,1951 in San Diego. Married Vera N
• Florence Cruz born July 1889 (or December 7, 1900) and died in July of 1983. Married to Rash
• James Cruz born March 1891. Married Della
• Virgina Cruz born 1916
• Yolanda L Cruz born 1920
• Louisa Cruz born August 1893
• [7] Rosa Cruz born July 1894 (or July 6, 1896) in San Diego and died in April of 1977 in San Diego.
• William Cruz born November 1897
• Albert Cruz born 1904

[14] Jose Joaquin Verdugo & [15] Maria Josefa Magdalena Vejar (Bejar)’s Children:

·       Maria Salvadora VERDUGO b: 26 FEB 1825 in San Gabriel, Alta California. Married: Rafael YESCAS 6 AUG 1852 in Mission San Gabriel, California

·       Maria Concepcion VERDUGO b: JAN 1827 in San Gabriel, Alta California. Death: NOV 1827 in San Gabriel, Alta California

·       Maria Eustaquia de la Concepcion VERDUGO b: SEP 1828 in San Gabriel, Alta California Death: ABT 1870 in San Gabriel, California Married: Jose Luis LUGO 4 JUL 1850 in Mission San Gabriel, California

·       Maria Juana Eleuteria VERDUGO b: APR 1830 in San Gabriel, Alta California. Death: 22 JUN 1915 in San Gabriel, California Married: Jose Anastacio ALVITRE 26 FEB 1848 in Mission San Gabriel, Alta California

·       [12] Jose Joaquin Juan Pedro VERDUGO b: JAN 1832 in San Gabriel, Alta California

·       Maria Dolores VERDUGO b: 9 AUG 1823 in San Gabriel, Alta California Married Juan Villalobo

[16] Narciso Perez & [17] Maria Feliciana Plasencia’s Children:

·       Maria Blasa PEREZ

·       Maria Cimona PEREZ

·       Maria Juliana PEREZ

·       Maria Feliciana PEREZ

·       Maria Joaquina PEREZ

·       Maria de la Natividad PEREZ

·       Jose Alenogenes PEREZ

·       [13] Maria Basilia PEREZ

[18] Ygnacio Leonardo Maria Verdugo’s and [19] Maria Josefa Vincenta RUBIO line:

·       2 Bernardo Pedro VERDUGO

·       Married: Maria Anastacia AGUILAR 1847 in Mission San Juan Capistrano, Alta California

·       2 Jose Miguel VERDUGO

·       Married: Maria de Gracia GARCIA 14 AUG 1831 in San Diego Presidio, Alta California

o   3 Crisanta VERDUGO b: 2 NOV 1841 in Los Angeles, Alta California

·       2 Maria Antonia VERDUGO Death: ABT 1851

·       Married: Joaquin CHABOYA 22 JAN 1832 in Mission San Gabriel, Alta California

·       2 Maria Ygnacia Ines VERDUGO b: in San Miguel, Baja California, Mexico Death: 30 DEC 1851 in San Gabriel, California

·       Married: Jose de la Trinidad DUARTE 11 JAN 1824 in San Diego Presidio, Alta California

o   3 Maria Josefa Lugarda DUARTE b: 24 NOV 1824 in San Diego, Alta California

o   3 Jose Vicente Felipe DUARTE b: 26 MAY 1831 in San Diego, Alta California

o   3 Jesus Cayetano DUARTE b: 31 DEC 1833 in San Diego, Alta California

·       [14] 2 Jose Joaquin VERDUGO b: ABT 1795 in San Gabriel, Alta California Death: JAN 1832 in San Diego, Alta California

·       Married: [15] Maria Josefa Magdalena VEJAR 7 JAN 1821 in San Diego Presidio, Alta California

o   3 Maria Salvadora VERDUGO b: 26 FEB 1825 in San Gabriel, Alta California

o   Married: Rafael YESCAS 6 AUG 1852 in Mission San Gabriel, California

o   3 Maria Concepcion VERDUGO b: JAN 1827 in San Gabriel, Alta California Death: NOV 1827 in San Gabriel, Alta California

o   3 Maria Eustaquia de la Concepcion VERDUGO b: SEP 1828 in San Gabriel, Alta California Death: ABT 1870 in San Gabriel, California

o   Married: Jose Luis LUGO 4 JUL 1850 in Mission San Gabriel, California

o   [12] 3 Jose Joaquin Juan Pedro Verdugo

Married [13] Maria Basilia Perez

·       [11] 4 Mauricia Verdugo

o   3 Maria Juana Eleuteria VERDUGO b: APR 1830 in San Gabriel, Alta California Death: 22 JUN 1915 in San Gabriel, California

o   Married: Jose Anastacio ALVITRE 26 FEB 1848 in Mission San Gabriel, Alta California

§  4 Maria Antonia del Espirtu Santos ALVITRE b: FEB 1850 in San Gabriel, California Death: 8 AUG 1852 in San Gabriel, California

§  4 Maria Antonia ALVITRE b: ABT 1853 in San Gabriel, California Death: 21 JUL 1939 in Los Angeles, California

§  Married: Rafael BASYE 6 MAR 1869 in Mission San Gabriel, California

§  5 Tomas Henriquez BASYE b: 15 JUL 1876 in San Gabriel, California

§  5 Eduardo BASYE b: 8 APR 1883 in San Gabriel, California Death: 11 OCT 1944 in Los Angeles, California

·       Married: Aurelia VILLA 6 JUL 1909

·       Married: Magdalena AROS AFT 1911

·       6 Edward J. BASYE b: 6 MAY 1918 in Monterey Park, California

·       6 Living BASYE

·       6 Living BASYE

·       6 Living BASYE

·       6 Living BASYE

·       6 Living BASYE

·       6 Ralph BASYE b: 9 JUN 1930 in Monterey Park, California

·       6 Living BASYE

·       6 Lawrence BASYE b: 28 AUG 1935 in Monterey Park, California

·       6 Rita BASYE b: 28 AUG 1935 in Monterey Park, California

·       5 Juana Isabel BASYE b: 12 JUN 1885 in San Gabriel, California

§  4 Pedro Segundo ALVITRE b: 13 MAY 1863 in San Gabriel, California Death: 13 NOV 1941 in Los Angeles, California

§  Married: Eliza ALVAREZ 5 FEB 1903 in Los Angeles, California

§  5 Antonio ALVITRE b: 8 JUL 1904 in San Gabriel, California Death: 27 JAN 1979 in W. Covina, California

§  5 Raymond ALVITRE b: 16 APR 1907 in San Gabriel, California

§  5 Bonafacio Albert ALVITRE b: 6 JUN 1908 in San Gabriel, California Death: 15 DEC 1972 in Whittier, California

§  5 Ricardo ALVITRE b: 3 APR 1910 in San Gabriel, California Death: 22 AUG 1979 in El Monte, California

§  5 Victor Angel ALVITRE b: 6 MAR 1912 in San Gabriel, California Death: 9 AUG 1970 in Los Angeles, California

§  5 Inez E. ALVITRE b: 20 APR 1914 in San Gabriel, California Death: 13 AUG 1988 in La Habra, California

§  4 Jose Anastacio Florentino ALVITRE b: 29 NOV 1872 in San Gabriel, California

o   3 Jose Joaquin Juan Pedro VERDUGO b: JAN 1832 in San Gabriel, Alta California

o   3 Maria Dolores VERDUGO b: 9 AUG 1823 in San Gabriel, Alta California

o   Marriage 1 Juan VILLALOBO

§  4 Juana Josefa VILLALOBO b: ABT 1847

§  Married: Jose Doroteo FELIZ 3 MAR 1787 in Mission Santa Barbara

§  5 Jose Maria FELIZ b: 25 SEP 1823 in San Gabriel, California Death: 29 SEP 1823 in San Carlos, Monterey, California

§  Married: Andres DUARTE 9 JUL 1864 in Mission San Gabriel, California

§  5 Martin Librado DUARTE b: 23 JUL 1869 in Duarte, California

§  5 Dolores Felicita DUARTE b: 21 FEB 1871 in San Gabriel, California

§  5 Agustin Jorge DUARTE b: 28 AUG 1873 in San Gabriel, California

§  5 Bonifacio DUARTE b: 29 MAY 1881 in San Gabriel, California

o   Married: Jose Facunda REYES 1 MAR 1863 in Mission San Gabriel, California

§  4 Adelaida VILLALOBO b: 3 JUN 1854 in San Gabriel, California

[18] Ygnacio Leonardo Maria Verdugo & [19] Maria Josefa Vincenta Rubio’s Children:

·       Bernardo Pedro VERDUGO Married: Maria Anastacia AGUILAR  1847 in Mission San Juan Capistrano, Alta California

·       Jose Miguel VERDUGO Married: Maria de Gracia GARCIA 14 AUG 1831 in San Diego Presidio, Alta California

·       Maria Antonia VERDUGO Married: Joaquin CHABOYA 22 JAN 1832 in Mission San Gabriel, Alta California

·       Maria Ygnacia Ines VERDUGO b: in San Miguel, Baja California, Mexico Death: 30 DEC 1851 in San Gabriel, California Married: Jose de la Trinidad DUARTE 11 JAN 1824 in San Diego Presidio, Alta California

·       Jose Joaquin VERDUGO b: ABT 1795 in San Gabriel, Alta California

·       Anselmo Jose VERDUGO b: APR 1797 in Los Angeles, Alta California Death: JUL 1798 in Los Angeles, Alta California

·       Jose Francisco VERDUGO b: 9 MAR 1799 in Los Angeles, Alta California Death: OCT 1861 in San Juan Capitstrano, California Married: Maria Joaqina DUARTE 23 JUN 1822 in Mission San Gabriel, Alta California

·       Maria Concepcion Nicolasa VERDUGO b: 6 DEC 1800 in San Gabriel, Alta California Death: JUL 1827 in Rosario, Baja California, Mexico Married Josef Ygnacio ARCE

·       Zeferino de Jesus VERDUGO b: 25 AUG 1803 in San Gabriel, Alta California Death: APR 1804 in San Gabriel, Alta California

·       Maria Antonia VERDUGO b: FEB 1805 in San Gabriel, Alta California

·       Maria de San Juan Benita VERDUGO b: MAR 1813 in San Domingo, Baja California, Mexico Married: Silvestre CANEDO 22 JAN 1829 in San Diego Presidio, Alta California

[20] Francisco Salvador Béjar,

·       born in 1772 in Tepic, Mexico, came to Alta California in 1790.  He was sent under contract with the Catholic Church, as an artisan and a Soldado de Cuero. In 1798 he married Maria Josefa Benita López in Mission San Gabriel. The marriage resulted in five daughters and eight sons. He and his wife were the founders of the Béjar/Véjar family in Southern California

·       Béjar, Salvador, Soldier and Master Carpenter

·       Ethnic Identity: Spaniard

·       Origin: Tepic, Nayarit

·       Dates: ca. 1767 - 1824

·       Parents: Salvador Béjar and María Josefa Ornelas

·       Wife: María Josefa López

·       Record::

·       Nov.27, 1791. Salvador Véjar, employee of Santa Cruz and [his brother] Pablo Véjar, of the Department of San Blas, served as godfathers to a baptism at Santa Cruz.

·       1792-1795. Véjar was at San Diego (Bancroft 1964: 369)

·       Sept.22, 1796-May 7, 1797. The carpenter Béjar began work at the Presidio de Monterey on the earlier date, replacing Leocadio Martínez, who "was exiled by order of the viceroy." On the later date he left Monterey to serve as a soldier at San Diego (1796 Presidial roster. CA 74: unnumbered).

·       Oct.14, 1798. Marriage at San Diego of Salvador Véjar, soldier and carpenter of the Presidio [de San Diego], native of Tepic (son of Salvador Véjar and María Josefa Ornelas) to María Josefa López, native of the Presidio de San Diego.

·       Dec.31, 1798 presidial roster of San Diego listed Salvador Véjar as a private (Prov.St.Paps.Ben.Mil.II, SBPRL).

·       1802. Salvador Béjar and Felipe Romero, the blacksmith, were engaged in the manufacture of conduits for drinking water for the garrison at Point Guijarros. He signed the document verifying the project (P.I.16.Exp.19: 458-475).

·       June 24, 1803. Josefa López, wife of Salvador Véjar, carpenter of the Presidio de San Diego, and [her bother-in-law] Pablo Josef Véjar served as godparents at Mission San Diego.

·       Dec.20, 1804. In compliance with an order from the viceroy, Lt. Don Manuel Rodríguez, Commandant of the Presidio de San Diego, with a sargeant, a corporal, and the soldiers Salvador Béjar, carpenter, and Felipe Romero, blacksmith, burned the old boat that had been used to supply the garrison at Point Guijarros in order to salvage the iron. Béjar signed his name to the document attesting to his compliance with the order (P.I. Vol.17: 1-54).

·       May 12, 1805. Salvador Véjar was a witness to the marriage at Mission San Diego of a daughter of the blacksmith Phelipe García y Romero.

·       Oct.9, 1808. Salvador Béjar,"second corporal of the California militia and carpenter," signed a receipt for 36 pesos for the construction of a baluarte (watch tower) at Point Guijarros for which he had labored for twenty-four days at a rate of 12 reales a day. His brother Pablo was also engaged in refortification of the site (P.I.17: 370-384).

·      

·       The thirteen children of Béjar and López all appear to have been born at the Presidio de San Diego, but the sequence of their birth is unclear since, with the exception of the first born, their baptismal records were not located by this author.

·         l.María Josefa Magdalena. Baptized San Diego Nov.9, 1799. Married San Diego Jan.7,       1821 to José Joaquín Verdugo; married 1793 to Jorge Morillo, according to Northrop    (II:173).

·         2.Pablo. Born at Presidio de San Diego and baptized at San Juan Capistrano, according    to his marriage entry. Bancroft states that the year of his birth was 1802 (1964: 369).        Married San Juan Bautista Jan.26, 1827 to Mariana de Jesús Féliz.

·         3.Ricardo. Buried San Diego Jan.26, 1804 when he was  identified as the son of the    carpenter of the presidio.

·         4.Juan Nepomuceno Ricardo. Born San Diego Dec.19, 1805 (May: 4). Both the 1829         and 1836 censuses identified Ricardo as a farmer. Married San Gabriel Nov.7, 1825 to        María Trinidad Soto. In the 1836 census of Los Angeles, Ricardo, his wife María                Francisca Soto and six children - all of Los Angeles, were living at the Rancho Rodeo de     las  Aguas (Temple VIII, SBMAL). In 1837 he and Ignacio Palomares received a grant       of Mission San Gabriel's Rancho de San José from Governor Alvarado (Mawn: 7-8).

·         5.María Felipa. Buried San Diego June 24, 1805. Identified  as the daughter of the              soldier and master carpenter of the presidio.

·         6.María Salome. Buried San Diego March 28, 1807.

·         7.María Nazaria. Born about 1807 according to the age recorded when she married. She     was listed as residing in her parents household when the census was taken in 1823               (Temple VIII, SBMAL). The same year, on Sept.2, she married José Joaquín Velásquez     at San Gabriel.

·         8.Emidio, or Emigdio. Born about 1809 according to the 1836 census of Los Angeles.        His recorded age of 27 in the list of eligible voters is certainly too advanced. The 1836        census identified him as a 27 year old rancher with a wife María Rafaela Avila, 20, and a     year old child María de Jesús (Temple VIII, SBMAL). Married San Gabriel Dec.7,             1834 to María Rafaela Villa [sic] of Los Angeles. The San Gabriel baptism records note      a Emigdio Véjar married to Francisca Moraga in 1840. He may have been a nephew,           because Emidio, the widower of Rafaela Avila, was married in Los Angeles on Aug.2,         1853 to Isabel Cota. A decade later, Jan.24, 1863, Emigdio, 53, husband of Rafaela            Avila [sic] was buried in Los Angeles.

·         9.María Ramona. Born about 1812, according to her marriage entry. The 1823 census of    Los Angeles included her in the household of her parents (Temple VIII, SBMAL). When    she was married at San Gabriel Dec.27, 1831 to Tomás Urquídez, she was recorded as        19 years of age and a native of the Presidio de San Diego.

·         10.Lazaro. Born about 1816 according to the 1836 census that identified him as a 20            year old rancher (Temple VIII, SBMAL). He married María Anselma Féliz on March       17, 1855 at Los Angeles.

·         11.Juan Crisostoma. Probably born about 1818 according to the 1836 census. His         marriage entry would indicate he was born in 1815, but the censuses of 1823 and 1836        obviously list the sons in the order of their birth and he was younger than Lazaro who         was born about 1816. Married San Gabriel Feb.19, 1838 to María García Reyes, when        he was recorded as having been born at the Presidio de San Diego 23 years previously.

·         12.José Manuel. Born about 1821 according to the 1836 census of Los Angeles. In the        latter year Manuel was recorded as a 15 year old rancher, like his brothers Lazaro and         Crisostomo, all of whom still resided with their widowed mother (Temple VIII,         SBMAL). José Manuel married María Eulogia Ballesteros, who was identified as his         widow when he was buried in Los Angeles on Nov.11, 1868 at the recorded age of 53        years.

·          13.Francisco. Born about 1825 according to the 1836 census of Los Angeles, when he        was identified as 11 years old (Temple VIII, SBMAL). Married Los Angeles Jan.24,        1843 to María de la Asención Villa. The marriage was also recorded at San Fernando         where his wife's name was written as María de los Angeles Villa.

·      

·       1817. A leaking roof at San Luis Rey was being repaired with the assistance of Master Salvador (Engelhardt 1921: 35).

·       Sept.3, 1817.  "Master Salvador Véjar" and the masons were struggling to repair the roof on the church at San Luis Rey (Peyrí to Solá, CMD 1475, SBMAL).

·       1820. In preparation for the dedication of the new church (Sept.10, 1820), Father Ripoll asked the governor for permission to allow Salvador Béjar to come to Santa Bárbara for two months to make rockets (Engelhardt 1923: 107).

·       1823 census of Los Angeles listed the household of Salvador Béjar and María Josefa López with children Ricardo, Emidio, Lazaro, Juan Chrisostomo, María Nazaria, and María Ramona (Temple VIII, SBMAL). The list drawn up the same year of persons who complied with the [construction of the] church listed the same personnel in the same order (CMD 2531, SBMAL).

·       Nov.22, 1823. Josefa López, wife of Salvador Véjar, and neighbor from Los Angeles, was godmother to a baptism at San Juan Capistrano.

·       March 27, 1824. Burial at San Gabriel of Salvador Véjar, 57 years, from Tepic (son of Salvador Véjar and Josefa Ornelas), former master carpenter from the Presidio de San Diego, and husband of María Josefa López, native of the said presidio and neighbor of Los Angeles.

·       1825-1827. María Josefa López, widow of Salvador Véjar, baptized several infants who were in danger of dying: on May 22, 1825 at San Gabriel; on Jan.1, 1826 at San Diego; and on Aug.25, 1827 at Los Angeles. In the latter entry she was identified as a midwife.

·       1836 census of Los Angeles households listed that of Josefa López, 50. Still residing with their mother were Lazaro 20, Crisostomo 18, Manuel 18, and Francisco 11. The three older sons were identified as ranchers. Also in the household were Dolores Verdugo 12, and Loreta Velásquez 8. All residents were identified as Angeleños. The older son Ricardo Véjar, 33, his wife María Francisca Soto and six children were residing at the Rancho Rodeo de los Aguas (Temple VIII, SBMAL).

·       March 11, 1863. Burial in Los Angeles of Josefa López, 83, the widow of Salvador Véjar.

·       Note: According to family tradition, Béjar was engaged in the construction of San Gabriel as well as the Los Angeles church (May: 4).

[22] Leandro Raphael Plasencia & [23] Maria Miguela de Lara’s children:

·       Maria Antonia PLASENCIA

·       Maria Melquiades PLASENCIA b: ABT 1803 in Mexico

·       Julian PLASENCIA b: ABT 1807 in Mexico

·       Jose Claudio PLASENCIA

·       Maria Ambrosia PLASENCIA b: ABT 1812 in Mexico

·       Jose Timoteo PLASENCIA

·       Maria Feliciana PLASENCIA b: ABT 1822 in Mexico

·       Jose Ventura PLASENCIA

·       Maria Norberta PLASENCIA b: ABT 1826 in Mexico

 [26] Mateo Rubio (Jr.)

·       In 1788 the Aranzazu (a frigate), on December 21st, came into the port of San Francisco and Mateo Rubio, a soldier, was wounded by the firing of a cannon.

[27] Maria Ursula Dominguez

·       From 1790 Census:

o   Ramón, born 1781

o   Jose Santiago, born 1787;

o    Josefa Vicente, born 1780;

o   María Paula, born 1785;

o   Luisa Antonia Juana, a baby.

[28] Juan Francisco Lopez

·       Casa de Lopez

o   Built by Juan Francisco Lopez, one of San Diego's early Spanish settlers. The Casa Larga, or long house, was among the first substantial houses built in the pueblo of San Diego, about 1835. In 1846 it was the home of Juan Matias Moreno, secretary to Pio Pico, California's last Mexican governor.

·       A soldier at the Mission San Gabriel

[28] Juan Francisco Lopez & [29] Maria Feliciana Arbayo (Arballo)’s children:

·       Ignacio Maria (Becino) De Jesus LOPEZ b: 31 MAY 1778 in Mission San Diego, Alta California

·        Maria Juliana Josefa LOPEZ b: 16 MAR 1781 in Mission San Diego, Alta California

·        Margarita Antonia Ventura LOPEZ b: 21 JUL 1781

·        Maria Josefa Inocencia LOPEZ b: 28 DEC 1782

·        Maria Josefa Benita LOPEZ b: 3 APR 1784 in Mission San Juan Capistrano, Alta California

·        Juan Jose LOPEZ b: 27 DEC 1786 in Mission San Juan Capistrano, Alta California

·        Maria Antonia LOPEZ b: 10 MAY 1789

·        Maria Ignacia De La Candelaria LOPEZ b: 31 JAN 1793 in Royal Presidio of San Diego, Alta California—

[29] Maria Feliciana Arbayo (Arballo)

·       The Early Life of Maria Carrillo:

Maria Ygnacia de la Candalaria Lopez was born January 31,1793, probably at the Presidio in San Diego. Her father was Juan Fransciso Lopez, a soldier in the service of Spain. Her mother was Maria Feliciana Arballo, a widow (who came north) with the De Anza Expedition of 1776. Maria was the youngest child in her family. She watched her father being buried when she was only 7.

At the age of 16,on September 3, 1809, Maria married Joaquin Victor Carrillo, also 16, who was born in Baja, California, to a noble family with connections to Old Spain. Joaquin was a musician and soldier who left his family in Baja and came north to serve under his cousin Francisco Ruiz, Commandant of the San Diego Presidio.

Joaquin and Maria had 13 children. They lived in San Diego and moved to San Gabriel because the pirate Bouchard was raiding the California coastline. Six years later they moved back to San Diego. They lived in the Ruiz adobe where Maria had a large garden and orchard. She was known to be a kind and generous hostess. This adobe, known as "Casa de Carrillo" still stands today.

·       Feliciana was the famous bold widow of the Anza Expedition. She left the expedition at Mission San Gabriel to marry Lopez. His family were early settlers and ranchers at San Gabriel. They built El Molino Viejo, now the headquarters of the California Historical Society.  The Lopez adobe at San Gabriel remains to this day, well preserved and in daily use.

·       María Feliciana Arballo, widow of José Gutierrez, accompanied the expedition with her two little girls: María Tomasa Gutierrez, age six, and María Estaquia Gutierrez, age four. She left the expedition at San Gabriel, where on March 6, 1776, she was married to Juan Francisco Lopez, a soldier of the guard. The marriage ceremony was performed by Fray Francisco Garcés, missionary to the Colorado river tribes, who, it will be remembered, Anza had left at the junction of the rivers. Garcés had gone up the Colorado to visit the Mojaves and had crossed the Mojave desert, arriving at San Gabriel after the expedition had passed up the coast. Little María Estaquia, thirteen years later, married José María Pico whom she had first known when, a boy of eleven, he accompanied his family with the expedition. She became the mother of Pio Pico. María Feliciana had, by her second husband, María Ignacia de la Candelaria Lopez, who married Joaquin Carrillo of San Diego, and became the mother of General Vallejo's wife and four other daughters whose loveliness is duly recorded in the pages of this historia verdadera. After her husband's death María Ignacia Lopez de Carrillo, who was a most beautiful woman, was granted, in 1841, the rancho Cabeza de Santa Rosa in Sonoma county, where she lived with her son Ramon. She is buried in the ruined mission of San Francisco Solano, at Sonoma. Her remains were laid under the font where it would receive the holy water that fell from the hands of devout worshippers.

·       On December 17, the divisions rejoined at a campsite on San Felipe Creek, between the southern Salton Sea and the Anza Borrego Desert State Park. Although the expedition lost numerous livestock to exhaustion, starvation and thirst, not a single person forfeited his life. Indeed, several who had been ill recovered during the march. "…may God be thanked," said Font. That night at the campsite on San Felipe Creek "with the joy at the arrival of all the people, they held a fandango [a jubilant Andalusian-style dance and feast]," said Font. To the exasperation of the friar, who was sick and ill tempered for most of the journey, the colonists celebrated the bawdy sings of Maria Feliciana Arballo, a spirited woman, recently widowed, who came on the expedition with her six- and eight-year-old girls to find new opportunity in California. The fandango, said Font, "was somewhat discordant, and a very bold widow who came with the expedition sang some verses which were not at all nice, applauded and cheered by all the crowd." At his next Mass, Font scolded the colonists for their behavior.

·       Maria Feliciana Arballo, Private Citizen – Arballo, the widow who sang bawdy songs and embarrassed Fray Font at the campsite on San Felipe Creek, quit the expedition at San Gabriel to marry a soldier named Juan Francisco Lopez. Her daughter, Maria Estaquia, who had traveled over the entire trail with Arballo, married a son of Santiago de la Cruz Pico and gave birth to Pio Pico, the governor. Arballo’s daughter, Maria Ignacia Lopez de Carrillo, by Juan Francisco Lopez, lies buried in the ruins of the San Francisco Solano mission at Sonoma, beneath the original location of the font, where holy water streaming from the hands of the devout once fell on her grave.

[30] Jose Joaquin de Plasencia & [31] Rosa Maria Mercado’s children:

·       Maria Anselma PLASENCIA

·       Juana Maria PLASENCIA

·       Leandro Raphael PLASENCIA

·       Jose Atanacio PLASENCIA

[32] Blas Verdugo

·       Blas Verdugo was born circa 1690 and married Michaela de los Rios. Blas is the earliest recorded Berdugo/Verdugo for the Californians'. They were residents of Villa del Fuerte, Sinaloa, New Spain (Mexico) where their son, Juan Diego Verdugo was born. Juan Diego served in the Spanish Army at the Royal Presidio de Loreto, Baja California. Maria Juana Verdugo was the oldest of the Verudgo children who came to Baja California with their parents. Blas and Michaela are buried within the Iglesia of San Gabriel de Arcangel (Mission San Gabriel). Maria Juana was one of a few people buried with them in the Plaza Church, Alta California. (Sumitted by Jesse Verdugo - to Los Fundadores 9/12/1993) Blas Verdugo was born circa 1690 and married Michaela de los Rios. Blas is the earliest recorded Berdugo/Verdugo for the Californians'. They were residents of Villa del Fuerte, Sinaloa, New Spain (Mexico) where their son, Juan Diego Verdugo was born. Juan Diego served in the Spanish Army at the Royal Presidio de Loreto, Baja California. Maria Juana Verdugo was the oldest of the Verudgo children who came to Baja California with their parents. Blas and Michaela are buried within the Iglesia of San Gabriel de Arcangel (Mission San Gabriel). Maria Juana was one of a few people buried with them in the Plaza Church, Alta California. (Sumitted by Jesse Verdugo - to Los Fundadores 9/12/1993)

·       The problem with both Cota and Verdugo surnames is the 'el Fuerte' problem: no one knows where this village was, and no one has records from there. It has been listed in various sources as the birthplace of both Andreas de Cota and Blas Verdugo, both late 17th-Century. It is called variously 'Villa de Sinaloa', 'Villa de Fuerte', and 'el Fuerte'--but no one know anything more about it. It has been several years since I looked at the Sinaloa microfilm, and perhaps that is worth doing again--there are many Verdugo/Berdugo entries. If this problem can be solved, then perhaps we can tie the Verdugo surname to the earlier records in Spain. Verdugos were in many places in the Western Hemisphere, from Francisco in Hispañola, and later Mexico, to others in South America. It would be very gratifying to tie some of these early leads together.

·       I know that it has been a long time since your post, but I just saw it and hope you are still around for this info. El Fuerte is a pueblo in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. It is in the mountains east of Culiacan, the state capital. We visited friends there a couple of years ago. My friend is orginally from California, married to a Lugo from El Fuerte. They have retired back in his home town and have opened a B & B! They showed us around town and told us that El Fuerte is a very old colonical siver mining town. The town was cut off from most of Mexico for a very, very long time because of the rough terrain. The only way in or out was by mule train. There is now a highway which connects it with Mexico's main Pacific coast highway. Because El Fuerte was cut off from the rest of Mexico for so long, the language spoken there is a pure Spanish....I thought I was in Madrid! The train route through Mexico's famous Copper Canyon goes through El Fuerte. So, there is your El Fuerte....a lovely little colonial town just waking up to the 21st century....I imagine that the records you need are still there in El Fuerte's beautiful church. Buena Suerte!

·       Yes, I know about the town you mentioned. That is not the 'villa de Fuerte' from where so many early Californians came. There are no records that anyone has found to date of which I am aware of the other 'el Fuerte'. Best wishes, Lawrence Bouett

·       I am a direct descendant of Guillermo Cota (ca. 1768-1844) and his second wife, María Manuela Antonia Pérez Nieto.  This line has, for many years, had three 'brick-wall' ancestors:  Andreas de Cota, Blás Verdugo, and Juán Carrillo.  Has any progress been made on the ancestries of any of these families and their spouses?  I am interested only in information that has been, or can be, documented from original sources.  Best wishes to all. [Lawrence Bouett (member), Solana Beach, Calif.]

·       Blas Verdugo and his wife, Maria Michaela de los Rios were my (Elias Cota) 5thgreat grandparents, they were the parents ofJuan Diego Santiago Verdugo who married Maria Ignacia de la Concepcion Carrillo in 1739. He was born in 1720 and died jan 23, 1780. She was born 1725 and died April 14, 1798 at San Gabriel.

·       They were the parents ofJuana Maria Verdugo born in 1740 at Royal Presidio de Loreto, Baja California. She died in Los Angeles, CA May 13, 1835. She was the wife of Roque Jacinto Cota, son of my 4th great grandfather Andres De Cota. She, Juana Maria Verdugo was the mother of my 2nd great grandfather Guillermo Cota, whose son was Miguel Cota married to Manuela Ortega. Manuela's father was Antonio Maria Ortega, son of Jose Maria Ortega.Jose Maria Ortega's father was an explorer of the 1769 trek to California, Jose Francisco de Ortega, who was born in 1734, married in 1758 to Maria Antonia Carrillo, and died Feb of 1798 in Santa Barbara.

·       born circa 1690, uncertain if he was from Spain and settled in El Fuente, Sinolia, Mexico, Province of New Spain or if he was born there.

·       Married Maria De Los Rios

·       child: Joachin Verdugo abt 1720 El Feurte Sinolia, Mex, Prov of Spain

·       child: Mariania Verdugo abt 1721 El Feurte, Sinolia, Mex, Prov of Spain

·       died Inglasia (Pueblo of Maria de Los Angeles of Sabastian Taribal and buried at the Plaza church there,) this was in the district of Mission San Gabriel, Alta Callifornia Mexico. This Inglasia (or land of the earth quakes) became Los Angeles in 1801.

·       NOTES: 1774 Sabastian Taribal was awarded Spanish land grant of his choice for his part in discovering and assisting of the maping the FAMOUS ROUTE FROM SONOMA Mex to MONTEREY. He started a pueblo there named for his mother MARIA DE LOS ANGELES, and had been named Inglasia by the Padres of San Gabriel. In 1778 there were violent earth quakes and the area was refered to LAND OF the QUAKES by the San Gabriel Mission Padres. 1781 Sabastian Taribal died but his death was not documented. 1781 Col Anza tried to illegally confiscate these lands and transfer them to his possession(Harbor and inlands pastures), 1781 Gov Neves reinstated these lands to be held until the death of Sabastian Taribal could be established. 1781 Gov Neves mysteriously died and the lands were under the guardianship of the Padres of San Gabriel. 1786 exsoldier Sabasian Albitre was released from Prison when Col Anza was forced into the Gov of New Mexico and lost his California lands and received lands in New Mexico as replacement. Sabastian Albitre was the natural father of Sabastian Taribal and inherited the Iglasia (Maria de Los Angeles) Pueblo, he died 1790 and it went to Sabastian Albitre's other son Felipe who incorporated it as Los Angeles in 1801

[38] Juan Jose Dominguez’

·       Rancho San Pedro was granted to Juan Jose Dominguez. This was a Spanish land grant, at one time it was 75,000 acres. It was the first land grant issued to a private citizen in Southern California. Juan Jose Dominguez was an uneducated retired soldier.

Who was Juan Jose Dominguez?

Juan Jose Dominguez was born in the village of Sinaloa, Mexico in 1736. Juan Jose’s mother was Ana Maria Sepulveda, she came from a prominent Castilian Spanish family. When he was twenty years old he followed in his father’s (Jose Ignacio Dominguez) footsteps and joined the military. He became part of a company of rough and rugged infantrymen called soldados de cuera. The name came from their uniform, which consisted of thick leather vests or sleeveless jackets.

Each soldier was armed with a lance, a broadsword, a musket ,and primer in a leather case. The case held powder and bullets in separate pouches. Each soldier also carried his personal belongings, rations, and other supplies in leather saddlebags, as well as the leather reata.

Juan Jose spent a great deal of time in Baja California. He served under Captain Rivera y Moncada. They arrived in San Diego on June 29, 1769. This was the first Spanish settlement in Alta, California. Several weeks later, he was selected to join the party to establish a settlement in Monterey Bay. Captain Gaspar de Portola and Father Junipero Serra were also members of the party. It was during this trip that he saw the land south of Pueblo Los Angeles that later become the first Spanish land grant.

He returned to San Diego a year later, then he spent two years at the presidio at Loreto. In 1773, he served at the presidio in Monterey. At the end of 1774, he was transferred to the presidio at San Diego. He was assigned to the mission garrison when Mission San Diego was attached by hostile Indians, he fought to defend it. By 1780, he was the oldest trooper in the San Diego garrison. By 1782, he had achieved the rank of private first class. He retired in July of 1782. During his time in San Diego, he had acquired some livestock and needed land for grazing.

·       Lomita's part in the Spanish period of California's history begins in 1542, when Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo sailed into Bahia de los Humos, or Bay of Smoke as he called it, followed by Sebastian Viscaino in 1603, who renamed it San Pedro Harbor. After Saint Peter things remained relatively quiet until 1784, when a Spanish soldier named Juan Jose Dominguez, a member of the Portola Expedition, requested and received authorization to use 75,000 acres of land in Southern California from Don Pedro Fages, the Spanish Governor of California. Rancho San Pedro, the first land grant to be bestowed in California by King Charles III of Spain, stretched from the Los Angeles river to the Pacific Ocean and included what would become the cities of Carson, Torrance, Redondo Beach, Lomita, Wilmington, and parts of San Pedro.

At about the same time, the Sepulvedas established and started barn-raising cattle on Rancho Los Palos Verdes, which caused quite a stir with the Dominguez family, as the Sepulvedas hadn't actually received a land grant. They often quarreled, part of present day Lomita laying at the boundary of their dispute, which they didn't resolve until 1841, when the Sepulvedas finally acquired and signed a deed.

·       "Rancho San Pedro was granted to Juan Jose Dominguez. This was a Spanish land grant, at one time it was 75,000 acres. It was the first land grant issued to a private citizen in Southern California. Ju an Jose Dominguez was an uneducated retired soldier. Juan Jose Dominguez was born in the village of Sinaloa, Mexico in 1736. Juan Jose’s mother was Ana Maria Sepulveda, she came from a prominent Cas tilian Spanish family. When he was twenty years old he followed in his father’s (Jose Ignacio Dominguez) footsteps and joined the military. He became part of a company of rough and rugged infantryme n called soldados de cuera. The name came from their uniform, which consisted of thick leather vests or sleeveless jackets. Each soldier was armed with a lance, a broadsword, a musket ,and primer i n a leather case. The case held powder and bullets in separate pouches. Each soldier also carried his personal belongings, rations, and other supplies in leather saddlebags, as well as the leather rea ta. Juan Jose spent a great deal of time in Baja California. He served under Captain Rivera y Moncada. They arrived in San Diego on June 29, 1769. This was the first Spanish settlement in Alta, Califo rnia. Several weeks later, he was selected to join the party to establish a settlement in Monterey Bay. Captain Gaspar de Portola and Father Junipero Serra were also members of the party. It was durin g this trip that he saw the land south of Pueblo Los Angeles that later become the first Spanish land grant. He returned to San Diego a year later, then he spent two years at the presidio at Loreto. I n 1773, he served at the presidio in Monterey. At the end of 1774, he was transferred to the presidio at San Diego. He was assigned to the mission garrison when Mission San Diego was attached by hosti le Indians, he fought to defend it. By 1780, he was the oldest trooper in the San Diego garrison. By 1782, he had achieved the rank of private first class. He retired in July of 1782. During his tim e in San Diego, he had acquired some livestock and needed land for grazing. Manuel Gutierrez was the executor of Juan Jose’s estate, while Felipe Talamantes was in control of the livestock. Juan Jos e drew up a will only three days before his death. He left half his livestock to his nephew, Cristobal and the remaining half to the children of Mateo Rubio. He left half of Rancho San Pedro to Cristo bal Dominguez and the other half was divided between Gutierrez and Rubio. Initially, Cristobal wanted no part of the Rancho when he discover his uncle had left it in debt and disrepair. He had no mone y to pay the debt and couldn’t look after the rancho since he was in the military. So Gutierrez moved in, assumed control of the rancho, and paid off the debt.

The rancho thrived under Gutierrez control, within ten years his cattle had expanded to 9,000 head. Before 1810, Gutierrez allowed a friend, Jose Dolores Sepulveda, to graze cattle in a southwest port ion of the rancho known as Canada de Los Palos Verdes (Canyon of the Green Trees). Sepulveda not only grazed his cattle on the land, he also built an adobe and made numerous improvements. Jose Dolore s Sepulveda was from the same family as Juan Jose Dominguez’s mother. Gutierrez also allowed Agustin Machado and the Avila Family to graze cattle on the rancho. Cristobal Dominguez was not happy wit h the arrangements made by Gutierrez with Sepulveda. Since Cristobal had shown no interest in the rancho, it was assumed that he had abandoned his claim to the rancho. However, in 1817, Cristobal Domi nguez filed a petition with Governor Pablo Vincente de Sola to have Sepulveda removed from the property and requested that Rancho San Pedro be re-granted to him. Both Gutierrez and Sepulveda refused t o give up the land that they had improved. The governor issued a decree ordering Sepulveda from the rancho and granted provisional ownership to Cristobal Dominguez. Sepulveda refused to abandon his ho me and appealed the decree. The rancho's boundaries were very vague. The coast was a natural boundary that was indisputable. The Northern and Eastern boundaries were not clearly defined, and the South ern boundary was the Los Angeles River, but it changed course yearly due to flooding. This caused many disputes with neighboring ranchos and problems with the mixing of cattle. So in 1817, Rancho Sa n Pedro was first surveyed and mapped. The boundaries were marked by piles of stones or clumps of trees. One of the trees marking the Northern boundary still stands at Poppy and Short streets in Compt on. In 1947, a plaque was placed at its base. In 1822, Governor Sola formalized the land grant and made Cristobal Dominguez the owner of Rancho San Pedro. Sepulveda appealed again, and requested a per sonal meeting with the governor to plead his case. Sepulveda was killed in a violent Indian revolt at Mission La Purisima Concepcion in 1824, while returning from a trip to Monterey. His sons Juan an d Jose Loreto Sepulveda continued the fight. They received help from Antonio Machado, who guided the boys, supervised their cattle operations, and married their mother.

Cristobal retired from service in 1821. Although Cristobal had title of the rancho, he never returned to it. He died in 1825 at the San Diego Presidio. The day before his death, he made out a will lea ving the rancho to his six children. He had wanted the land divided equally among them. Luis Gonzaga Policarpo Manuel Antonio y Fernando Dominguez was born at the San Diego Presidio on January 26, 180 3. He was known as Manuel, he was Cristobal’s second oldest son. He was educated and was able to read and write in Spanish and English.

Shortly after his father’s death, Manuel drove a small herd of cattle north from San Diego, with his mother and siblings. Manuel was now head of the family, his older brother Josef died in 1819 o f a fever. The herd they brought with them was so small that Manuel and his brother could handle them without hiring any vaqueros. The family had only $100 when they arrived at the rancho.

The old abandoned adobe of Juan Jose’s was too small. So they had to build a new house, this took about one year. During that time Manuel’s mother and two sisters lived in the pueblo of Los Angele s. Manuel’s brothers Pedro and Nasario built the family home. They selected a site on the northeast slope of Dominguez Hill about a half-mile south of Juan Jose’s adobe. The house had a view of th e river and several underground fresh springs just north and south of the house. The brothers camped at the site while Manuel supervised the construction. The original structure was an L-shaped single -story adobe with five large rooms, with covered porches on three sides. The clay for the adobe bricks came from open pits in the Gardena area. The roof was flat and mad of sturdy hewn timbers. Tule s covered the wood beams of the roof, which were covered with sand and tar from the La Brea Pits. The heavier timbers were cut in the mountain north of Mission San Gabriel and hauled by carreta. The h ouse was completed in 1826. Pedro and Nasario later built their own adobe homes to the north and west of Manuel’s adobe. The adobe was furnished simply with beds made of rough frames with strands o f rawhide to support the straw mattress and other roughly made furniture. As the family’s wealth grew, they acquired better furniture. Manuel’s bedroom set is still at the rancho today. The adob e has gone through many changes over time. The adobe is now located at 18127 S. Alameda Street, between the 91 Freeway and E. Del Amo Boulevard. It’s a museum containing historical artifacts and period furnishings."

·       Rancho San Pedro was one of the first California land grants, and the first to win a patent from the United States.[1] The land grant was validated by the Mexican government at 48,000 acres (190 km2) in 1828, and a US patent validating 43,119 acres (174.50 km2) was issued in 1858. The original Spanish land grant included what today consists of the Pacific coast cities of Los Angeles harbor, San Pedro, the Palos Verdes peninsula, Torrance, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Manhattan Beach, and east to the Los Angeles River including; the cities of Lomita, Gardena, Harbor City, Wilmington, Carson, Compton, and western portions of Long Beach and Paramount.[2][3]