Rancho Cañada de San Vicente y Mesa del Padre Barona

Rancho Cañada de San Vicente y Mesa del Padre Barona was a 13,316-acre (53.89 km²) Mexican land grant in present day San Diego County, California given in 1846 by Governor Pío Pico to Juan Bautista Lopez.^[1] The grant was located in the San Vicente and Padre Barona Valleys, which lie south of Ramona. The area served as grazing lands for the Mission San Diego. Father Josef Barona served at the Mission San Diego from 1798 to 1810, before moving to the Mission San Juan Capistrano.^[2]

History

The three square league Rancho Cañada de San Vicente y Mesa de Padre Barona was granted to Juan Bautista Lopez (1786-??). Juan Bautisto Lopez was a military ally of Pico against Governor Manuel Victoria in 1831. In 1850, Lopez deeded the Rancho to his nephew, Domingo Yorba (1826-), son of José Antonio Yorba II. Domingo’s mother, Maria Josefa Verdugo and Lopez’ wife, Maria Catalina Verdugo, were sisters. In return for the title to San Vicente rancho, Domingo agreed to provide for his elderly aunt and uncle.^[3][4]

With the cession of California to the United States following the Mexican-American War, the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo provided that the land grants would be honored. As required by the Land Act of 1851, a claim for Rancho Cañada de San Vicente y Mesa del Padre Barona was filed with the Public Land Commission in 1852,^[5] and the grant was patented to Domingo Yorba in 1873.^[6]

In 1868, Domingo Yorba sold the rancho to Charles V. Howard. Howard immediately sold one-half interest in the property to Prudent Beaudry, John G. Downey, and G.A.Hayward. Less than a year later, these partners sold the rancho to a group of 19 individuals. Partitioning of the land began in 1870. Augustus Barnett came to California in 1870, originally settling in San Jose. After moving to San Diego, the Barnetts remained in the city for about two years before moving to the San Vicente area. Over a period of several years, Barnett purchased and traded several parcels to assemble the 1,300-acre (5.3 km²) Barnett Ranch.

References

1. Ogden Hoffman, 1862, Reports of Land Cases Determined in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Numa Hubert, San Francisco
2. Diseño del Rancho Cañada de San Vicente y Mesa del Padre Barona
3. Charles R. LeMenager, 1997, Off the main road: San Vicente & Barona, a history of those who shaped events in the Rancho Canada de San Vicente y Mesa del Padre Barona, Eagle Peak Publishing Company, Ramona, California, ISBN 978-0-9611102-0-8
4. R. W. Brackett, 1951,The history of San Diego County Ranchos, Union Title Insurance and Trust Company, San Diego, California
5. United States. District Court (California : Southern District) Land Case 162 SD
6. Report of the Surveyor General 1844 - 1886

Coordinates: 32°58′48″N 116°51′36″W / 32.980°N 116.860°W