|
Well, it turned out to be worth a LOT to them anyway, as after they homesteaded the land in 1865, they ended up paying for it twice in subsequent years!
The land around the Bay Area, before CA was a US State, used to be under the control of Spain, with much of the land granted to individuals as gifts for their service to the Spanish Crown. On two separate occasions, Spaniards appeared before the local magistrates in Santa Clara County and were able to prove that they were the rightful owners of the land. Both times, in order to keep the property (320 acres) the family had to pay off the claimant.
The family maintained the ranch up through the mid-1960's, and as far as I know the ranch house is still standing.
|
Favoured: 0
