Sign In

Latter-Day Californios from Northern Spain:

An Extensive Archive Documenting the Land and Farming Businesses of Prominent Spanish Pioneers in 19th Century California

160 Manuscript Letters plus Land Deeds, Printed Ephemera and other Documents

Rancho Arroyo Seco, Rancho Santa Anita (Monterey County), & Rancho Santa Rosa (San Luis Obispo County)

A significant archive of letters and documents relating to land and water development in various Ranchos in Monterey County California during the second half of the 19th century.

The land and agricultural businesses documented here belonged to Francisco Sanjurjo, an outstanding member of a small but influential group of well-to-do Spaniards that settled in post-Gold Rush California. Along with Domingo Pujol and Juan Murrieta, Sanjurjo bought large tracts of California Rancho lands, developed successful livestock and farming operations thereon, while also subdividing and leasing lands. This tightly-knit community of latter-day Spanish "Californios" made substantial investments in the Salinas Valley of Monterey County, and also purchased rancho lands in San Luis Obispo County. The collection includes material relating to water appropriation, water rights ownership, and irrigation canals (including a profile and diagram of an irrigation Canal), as well as letters relating to legal aspects of water resources. 

Among the more fascinating topics covered in this archive are a series of drawing for the construction of a water ditch capable of crossing creek and technical and mechanical drawings for irrigation and water distribution (distributing ditch gales).  

It's worth noting as well that these Spanish land developers even expanded into Southern California, mainly in the Temecula Valley. In 1873 Sanjurjo, in partnership with Domingo Pujol and the brothers Juan and Ezequiel Murrieta, purchased Rancho Temecula in modern-day southwestern Riverside County. While the current collection includes a few documents that reference Juan Murrieta, the entirety of the material offered here relates to land dealings and businesses in Northern California.

The main properties discussed in the archive are the Rancho Arroyo Seco and the Rancho Santa Anita (both in Monterey County), as well as the Rancho Santa Rosa (San Luis Obispo County). The latter property was a 1841 Mexican land grant of 13,000 acres that George Hearst attempted to purchase in 1865 from the original grantee (Julian Estrada) who had received the land from the Mexican governor of California, Juan Alvarado, in 1841. Estrada did not hold clear title as Domingo Pujol was foreclosing on the land due to non payment of a debt. Hearst sued, but ended up with only 1340 acres of the Rancho. Pujol subdivided the land and sold it in lots, including land for the founding of the town of Cambria. An 1866 document from George Heast's lawyer is included in the collection which concedes "I have this day dismissed the Quit of Hearst v. Pujol, involving title to Santa Rosa Rancho."

The archive likely resided with Francisco Sanjurjo until his death on June 1, 1897, in Santander.  Per the Salinas Californian of June 8, 1897, page 3, Francisco Sanjurjo died June 1, 1897 in Santander "where he had been living some years up to the time of his death".

Latter-day Californios

Sanjurjo and his associates hailed from the Santander and Basque regions of northern Spain, and while they maintained connections with business networks in their home country, these Spaniards can rightfully be called latter-day Californios. Some of these pioneers, such as Pablo Zabala, arrived during the Gold Rush. While their land business had its speculative side, these men set down roots in their adopted home. Sanjurjo's circle can be seen as an overlooked transitional element in the history of California land development of the immediate post-Mexican, early American era. The role of these Spaniards in California history has yet to be fully researched and described.

The main groupings comprising the collection are described below. This is followed by an overall inventory of the collection.

Joaquin Bolado and Santa Anita Rancho, 1880-1881.

Seventeen letters written from the Santa Anita Rancho by Joaquin Bolado, Sanjurjo's countryman, who with José G. Arques had purchased the main holdings of Rancho Santa Ana in 1866 from the heirs of Manuel Larios. In 1875, Bolado sold the entire 9300+ acre Rancho Santa Anita only to re-purchase it again at public auction in 1878 due to the buyer’s inability to pay the mortgage. Bolado ran a ranching operation on the ranch from Nov. 18, 1880 - July 14, 1881. The letters mainly focus on business matters, including orders for sulfur and lime, tobacco, also livestock, including sheep, goats, and the like. These letters include references to Juan Murrieta, a pioneer of the Temecula Valley, the namesake of Murrieta Hot Springs. Other Spanish pioneers of California mentioned: Domingo Pujol, the owner of Rancho Temecula, also Pedro Zabala, and the ranch properties of Tres Pinos and Rancho Las Aguilas. 

A contemporary biography of Joaquin Bolado described him as follows:

In 1866, after closing the business mentioned, Mr. Bolado entered into partnership with Mariano Malarin and stocked the San Luis ranch. They were associated two or three years, and then Mr. Bolado, in company with José G. Arques, bought the Santa Ana Ranch of 23,000 acres, for stock purposes.

They carried on business together for two years, after which they sold off 5,000 acres and divided the remainder. To his half, Mr. Bolado has added by purchase until he now has 9,500 acres in his ranch. He has also a tract of 1,000 acres six miles east of Hollister, which is fine farming land. He also has banking interests in San Francisco, is a director of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Hollister, and President of the Farmers Merchant Company, of Tres Pinos. He is in no sense a politician, but votes with the Democratic party.

English translations of excerpts from this group of letters here follow:

Nov. 18, 1880:

...I have gone twice to see [Lucia?] but she was not at the Ranch, I left a letter relaying the offers that those gentlemen are making for his capons. I am very sorry about the death of Mr. Pisis, but he was like myself, quite old, and it is natural to take leave once reaching such an age. The $20 the are lacking to complete the $180 of the bill that I passed along to Paul, are for provisions at Santa Ana for the 8 men who were washing, as $160 is recorded in the book for 10 days work of 8 men and provisions for Santa Ana of $20 on the same date..."  Includes an accounting of expenses for tabacco and sulfur, rental of one "bogay," cost of telegram to Rancho.

Feb. 28, 1881:

I have received your offer on the wheat...Tell Paul that the white mule has disappeared from Rancho de las Aguilas.

March 3, 1881:

I have just received yours of the 1st. Due to the mistake on the telegram, I mailed it to 535 Clay Street, well upon issuing it I couldn't get the address number of the office on Market Street. Tell Cook that the wheat I had at Hollister was sold on the 29th of last month at $1.20 at Hollister, with one month to pay, to a sure person. More details follow on the wheat crop. Today I plan to go for the car to Tres Pinos...

March 20, 1881:

By Wells, Fargo Express I recieved a small box containing chorizos, which Tiburcio Paroot had mentioned a few days ago. Tell him that this year he can't get $100, as he wishes. It's too late. The local Basques around here don't have more than they produce for their own consumption, the time to make them is from November to the end of January ... Felipe went yesterday to the Valley, the weather is hot here.

P.S. I had finished this letter upon receiving your of the 18th, with news of the death of Pujol. Tell Paul that Patrolini? just arrived with the herd near Rancho de Donnelly, he says that the herd got sick upon passing through the LLano of the Rancho Grande, that they have already died, and he thinks 30 or 40 more will die, he thinks it's the Valley's salty water....

July 1, 1881:

Per your letter of the 27th I have credited you the $40 that you gave me in the home of Mr. Robinson, and which I confused with the payment for the carpenter... Everything is all right. I leave today to spend the 4th of July in Monterey, where eight days ago the Julias went; it's not far from Salinas...

March 30, 1881

Next Friday I will ship the 6 carloads of capons, and the 6th of April the other 6 will be shipped; tell Paul that I am not sending lambs... I am not preparing the water to wash the bulls and the sheep, but not the lambs, tomorrow. I will let you with plenty of advance notice when I will send the lambs, which will be before I send the allotment to Las Aguilas... Today the wool is shipping out, 27 bunches, 1 to 27 long wool, 10145 pounds and 4 bunches of 28 to 31 short wool, 1736 pounds, number 32 is waste and weighs 550 pounds.... Tell Messrs. Bryant & Cook that the grass for San Mateo will go out next Tuesday.

April 10, 1881:

I have credited you the $130 that was delivered to Mrs Bolado, who in company with Dulce sends her regards, and I, along with them, would like to invite you to the Rancho now that it is so green.... Felipe went today in search of lambs, and because the firm of Bolado & Husson doesn't have them, I had to loan him 2 mules.... If you would be so kind to send $470.25 to Miguel Laveaga, owed for livestock that I bought of Fleury some time ago... Pick up from Bryant & Cook the equivilant value of 3 cars of hay... P.S. I depart for Gilroy on Monday to take testimony from Mr. & Mrs. Hernandes, Mathews will be ther...

April 29, 1881:

Many thanks for yours of the 20th and 25th of the current month, acknowledging the receipt the the [bill?] of Francisco Rivera for $500, which was charged to my account. The plantings are going well but they need water, especially the latest ones. And the earlier ones are very much covered with sand. I am cutting grass, which is growing fast in the current heat. I am pleased you had a good harvest in the Arroyo Seco, so that instead of Dolores having to come down, you could come to her.

I am glad Mrs. Gilson has paid and also now that Mrs. Lemman is leaving, that the house gets rented out quickly as Burke says. 

I am informed that 148 lambs came out, two less, rather one, as at Tres Pinos Herreso Kelby took one...Today 150 lambs and 88 sheep (half wool) will be sent out; and next Monday 6 and a half cars of wood and 2 long wool....I received the $600 that you sent, here I enclose the monthly statement for April so that you can give it to Bardet, Juan Estreen will stay here until Frank returns from the valley to Julian....

P.S. Paul's foal is doing well so far.

May 1, 1881:

I am very happy that Fany will soon be known as Mrs. Boutining... I have charged you $266.45 for hay, I used to be charged a 5% commission, so the hay merchants are being very Jewish... I didn't get a bad price for Don Juan Murrieta's wool, tell Paul not to wait like last year, if they offer 20 cents. Ask Felipe or Paul about shearing the [sheep?]... washing the sheep with tobacco and sulphur, as the wool is quite long. The shearing by Chinese and the bathing by Japanese, and how cheap and how well do they bathe in the Valley... [further details on washing the animals with sulphur and tobacco, and supplies for such]

May 10, 1881:

I have your recent letters. Its appears your speculations in oysters is coming along well, and now with your association with the millionaire Manzanedo it will do even better. I have not rented the house to that Mrs. Sherwood. I have credited to Bolado & Husson $95.32 interest and $1.30 for 1 lamb sent to the attorney Matthews.

July 14, 1881:

Would you please place the following ad in the Bulletin or the Daily Alta California: For Sale Cheap. French Merinos rams, at Santa Anita Ranch, 3 miles distance from Tres Pinos Stations. San Bo. County. Apply to Joaquin Bolado, Tres Pinos, or Francisco Sanjurjo, San Francisco.

Pedro Zabala: the Basque Forty-Niner

There are five letters (in Spanish) from Pedro Zabala, addressed to Francisco Sanjurjo, from Salinas, between 1886-1889. Mainly on agricultural and personal topics, with mentions of Rancho Arroyo Seco, the railroad line to Paso de los Robles, a near fatal accident in which Zabala received three separate injuries to the head.

Pedro Zabala (1824-1917), a native of Bilbao, was a 49er who came to California via Chile, arriving in San Francisco on February 20, 1849. After a stint in the mines, he opted to settle in Monterey County where he focused on farming and cattle ranching. Zabala married Anna Hartnell, daughter of pioneer William E. P. Hartnell, in 1859; they had 15 children (only six of whom would eventually survive their hearty Basque progenitor). John Steinbeck, who was born in Salinas, mentions a Zabala House in his book East of Eden: “He walked to Stone Street where the Catholic church is and turned left, went past the Carriaga house, the Wilson house, the Zabala house, and turned left on Central Avenue at the Steinbeck house.”

An oustanding letter from Jan. 2, 1888 conveys the old Basque 49er's optimism about California's future, particularly Southern California, from Los Angeles to San Diego:

Respeto á lo que en California para no me compare mucho, pues eres á V. al tanto por los periodicos (hoy envio el Chronicle del dia 1o.) por su puesto V. sabe que hay que hacer un rebajo de un 50% pero hay mucho de verdad que el pais avansa rapidamente no haya duda, y como tiene elementos pues y empresarios, esta llamado á ser su grande estado, en lo que refiere desde los Angeles hacia á San Diego es [trascurso?] como tambien en Fresno y algunos otros lugares, aqui han querido hacer Boom pero no ha pegado pero avansa paulatinamente asi que los otro puntos se llevan vendra y quizas sobre.

[English translation:] With respect to Califronia, of course you know that a 50% discount must be made but it is very true that the country is advancing rapidly, there is no doubt, and since it has all the elements, and businessmen, it is destined to become a great state. As far as the region from Los Angeles to San Diego it is [ensured?], as well as in Fresno and some other places, here we've been on the verge of a Boom but it has not hit yet, but it advances gradually so the other points will come.]

Rancho Arroyo Seco

Many of the documents and letters relate to Sanjurjo's ownership and management of Rancho Arroyo Seco, a 16,500-acre Mexican land grant in the Salinas Valley, in modern-day Monterey County. Here he was involved in stock raising, subdivision of ranch lands for sale to others, leasing agricultural lands, as well as irrigation projects and conflicts over water rights. As an absentee owner who was often tending to other business in San Francisco (he was a partner in a cigar manufacturing business there), Sanjurjo relied on farm managers, real estate brokers and attorneys to manage his Arroyo Seco affairs. See below for a list of documents.

The documents in the collection can be divided into three basic catagories: 

1. Land business: including land sale contracts, deeds, tax receipts, a diagram of the Arroyo Seco Irrigation Canal and other irrigation and water related items, cancelled checks, a few mining-related items, a pencil sketch map of lands near the Salinas River, and the like):
   • Letters from Real Estate Brokers, land dealers, and attorneys. Mostly from W P. L. Winham or Winham Bros. of Salinas. ca. 1876-1894. Over 50 densely packed letters. Including one letter written by Sanjurjo to Winham:
     • April 18, 1880. Sanjurjo to Winham:  Dear Sir, Enclosed please find three maps of A. Seco & Ranchito Ranches, that I send you by W.F. & Co. Express, .... of the A. Seco belong to me the following lots [here follows a list of lots totalling several thousands of acres of land] ...of the Ranchito I own the Eastern part adjoining Jack's or Los Coches, say 1300 acres including some 2 or 300 acres on the River & Creek... I am glad Armstrong is ploughing & am ansious to receive your report about crops after you have seen them.
   • Letter from J. Alexander Yoell, attorney, San Jose. Jan 17, 1880. An aggressive pioneer businessman who arrived in California in 1850. Upon his death Yoell's heirs contested his will and recalled an argument he once had with Bob Fitzsimmons, a famous prize fighter of the day who purportedly said to Yoell: "If you wuzn't such a little runt I'd break you in two." Yoell's excitable personality comes through a bit in the present letter to Sanjurjo, which concern land business:
     • I am aware that it is a new deed direct to me, and for the very reason that I am the only person to whom it should be made, as Mr. Sanchez is dead, and his widow has deeded all her right to my grantors, and Mr. Ygual cannot deed to a dead man. The heirs have been paid their money, and it is to correct the insufficient passage of their title to my grantors that I want the deed made to me, as their legal successor in interest.
   • Tabling of the Final Survey of Arroyo Seco by Thompson. Undated, ca. 1870. Two large sheets. Survey notes for five large lots of land.
   • Two illustrated receipts for Gold Bullion deposited at Kellogg, Hewston & Co., Nov. 8, 1861. With printed illustration of 416 Montgomery St., San Francisco. Lithograph printed by Britton & Co.
   • Josephine Quicksilver Mining Co. Stock Certificiate. Salinas Mining District. San Luis Obispo County, Cal. With engraved vignette of mining scene. San Francisco: Towne & Bacon, Printers. May 13, 1864.
   • Deed to 320 acres in Santa Barbara County, from William C. Parker to Francisco Sanjurjo. 1865.
   • Manuscript note to Joaquin Arquez, from W. J. Graves, Atty. for George Hearst. San Luis Obispo, July 17, 1866. "I have this day dismissed the Quit of Hearst v. Pujol, involving title to Santa Rosa Rancho." Rancho Santa Rosa was a Mexican land grant in San Luis Obispo County comprising over 13,000 acres. It was given to Julian Estrada in 1841 by Governor Juan Alvarado. In 1865 George Hearst, the father of William Randolph Hearst, bought the Santa Rosa Rancho from Julian Estrada, however Estrada did not hold clear title as Domingo Pujol was foreclosing on the land due to non payment of a debt. Hearst sued, but ended up with only 1340 acres of the Rancho. Pujol subdivided the land and sold it in lots, including land for the founding of the town of Cambria.
   • Promissory note, signed by Julian Estrada, Feb. 22, 1868. San Luis Obispo. Estrada was the owner of Rancho Santa Rosa, but Domingo Pujol foreclosed on the land. "I promise to pay to the order of Domingo Pujol the sum of One Thousand, Eight Hundred and Seventy Six Dollars, with interest...to be paid in gold or silver coin of the United States."
   • Business partnership agreement for the Arroyo Seco Ranch, 1872, between Domingo Pujol, Francisco Sanjurjo and C. J. Romie. With Pujol and Sanjurjo putting in $45,000 each, and Romie $10,000. The land holdings of the partnership consisted of Rancho del Arroyo (8200 acres), Ranchito de la Soledad (2000 acres), and Lien Land claims (3280 acres). Livestock: 2800 head of cattle; 100 horses. 
   • Power of Attorney Juan Murrieta to Francisco Sanjurjo, 1873, for Rancho Santa Rosa in San Luis Obispo County.
   • Deed to Rancho Arroyo Seco, Monterey County, 1873. Granted to José Vicente de Laveaga, for consideration of $28,962 in gold coin of the United States.
   • Description of Lands [Arroyo Seco], by Molera & Cabrian, Civil Engineers, San Francisco. Manuscript document on thin tissue paper (likely a contemporary copy), ribbon tied. 21 pages. In English. Includes references to map and profile of Arroyo Seco. Cost of an earthen dam $75,000. Cost of 4 miles of wooden box, to lead the water would amount to some $22,000.
   • Copy of a Description of a portion of the Arroyo Seco Rancho. Lieut. John Cox, Surveyor. Salinas, Oct. 7, 1876.
   • Letter from Mr. Woodley, San Francisco. March 4, 1877. Inquiry responding to an advertisement, requesting price of the lands of the Ranch at Arroyo Seco.
   • Group of approximately 12 letters and memoranda related to Charles Romie (including letters from Romie in Spanish), referencing a land deal. Charles Romie acquired 964.55 acres of land on the Arroyo Seco Rancho from Francisco Sanjurjo on August 22, 1877.
     • Notice of Appropriation of Water. Copy of Notice of Appropriation of Water by A.S. Water Co. Recorded May 26, 1877. 3 leaves. 
     • Water Reservation in Deed of Sanjurjo to Charles Romie for part of A. Seco Ranch. 1877. 
   • Proposal and Directions for Laying Out Irrigation Canal Gate by John B. Barry. 14 pages of manuscript text. July 6, 1877.
   • Original pen & ink diagram on oil cloth of proposed Head Gate for irrigation canal, showing hoist gates, lever wheel, and the like. 12 x 21 inches. With smaller ink diagram showing section of Waste Sluice Gate. Likely companion illustrations to John B. Barry proposal described in above.
   • Profile and diagram of Arroyo Seco Irrigation Canal. Sheet split into three parts, lacking one section.
   • 2 letters from P. A. Forrester to Sanjurjo. Nov. 26, 1880 and Jan. 18, 1881. San Luis Obispo. Mentions deeds from Mr. Pujol, building lots adjoining Cambria. Deeds from Murietta.
   • Deed to Rancho Santa Rosa, 1881, Francisco Sanjurjo and Juan Murrieta
   • Letter from Theodore Lemmen Meyer. German-born merchant of San Francisco, one of the original investors in the Santa Cruz Island Company. On San Francisco Copper Mining Company letterhead, of which firm he was president. March 3, 1881.
   • Power of Attorney, Francisco Sanjurjo to Juan Murrieta, of Temecula, San Diego County, 1883.
   • 16 cancelled checks, several signed by Ezequiel Murrieta at Temecula, others signed by Joaquin Bolado at Rancho Santa Anita.
   • University of California Land Department Office: receipts, documents, letters on letterhead. 1870s. Approximately 6 items.
   • Western Union Telegrams from W. P. L. Winham relating to lands, including rental of farm properties.
   • Pencil sketch map on sheet measuring, 12 x 14.5 inches. Shows lands west of the Salinas River, naming: Arroyo Seco, Metz Warehouse, Armstrong place, Paso Rancho, C. Romie property, Zabala property, Old Los Angeles Road, and "Government Land owned by settlers & petitioners for road."
   • Approximately 30 additional pages of letters, documents and telegrams concerning land business, mainly Arroyo Seco Rancho. 1870s-1880s.
2. Agricultural business and cigar business (crops, livestock, management thereof, including illustrated printed invoices and receipts)
   • Extensive correspondence from W. J. Armstrong, who managed day-to-day work at the Arroyo Seco Rancho, topics include: irrigation and water rights topics, wheat crops, threshing machine, laborers, and the like. Approximately 30 letters plus a few postcards.
     • Postcard: Dear Sir, Wheat growing very fast, looking fine, & covering the ground. Foggy nights & cool days. Ditch almost cleared. A large amount of water in the Arroyo. Seed almost as much as when you was here. Expect to have the water in ditch the last of this week will be plenty of water to keep the ditch full all summer. Yours with respect, W. J. Armstrong. 
     • Sep. 2, 1878: I have had two or three talks with Dr. Winham relative to your land... I have about thirty men working for me at present and it keeps me pretty busy... 
     • Nov. 22, 1878: Struck water in the well at the depth of 64 feet but will go deeper so as to make sure of a Never failing supply...
     • Jan. 25, 1879: There is over one thousand acres of Wheat sown above the Telegraph line and thoroughly harrowed it is all like a garden about two hundred acres below the Telegraph line...
     • Feb. 27, 1879: If it does not rain there will be about 220 acres and it will produce 2000 bk of wheat
     • March 18, 1879: I am very greatfull and thankfull for your kindness in every way but most of all for furnishing more money than you agreed to do... I will explain how the business stands at present I have cleared up about four acres of that best River Land and have it plowed and will put it in Potatoes tomorrow... we could get the water out of Arroyo onto the land and put in 100 acres of corn and irrigate it and that would be worth at the very least $1500.
     • Jan. 13, 1880: I came up here from Salinas on the 15th of August - I brought five Chinamen with me and hired two white men [to work an irrigation ditch].
     • April 9, 1880: I understand from your letter that you only wish to sell 2/3 of the Ranch do wish to sell 2/3 to me, with the stock and crop one fifth cash and the rest as may be agreed upon. If I should buy I would put a permanent dam in the Arroyo and double the capacity of the ditch and that would give plenty of water to irrigate the whole Ranch.
     • April 28, 1881: I suppose that you would like to know how everything looks here on the Ranch. There is three thousand acres now headed out on the Ranch and if we have cool weather will all make grain.
     • June 15, 1881: As I understand it you own all the water running in the A. S. C. except so much as may be necessary for stock purposes. The question now is, have you the legal right to divert and take the water out at any other point. I think it is a question of vital importance whether the water can be taken out below and if Mr. Romie could prevent it if he should see fit to do so. Please find out what the law is on that point.
     • June 23, 1881: Relative to taking out the water at the point purposed I think there would not be any objection made by Mr. Romie.
   • Several Western Union Telegrams relating to offers and prices on wheat and barley crop. Salinas to San Francisco. 1880s.
   • Charles H. Mead, Manufacturer and Importer of Saddles, Bridles, Harness, etc. Mexican & California Saddles. Illustrated receipt printed by the Women's Co-operative Printing Office, San Francsico. Receipt for horse collars and lashes, and other supplies. Nov. 30, 1875.
   • Abrams & Carroll, Wholesale Druggist. Receipt for strychnine. Jan. 26, 1880. Illustrated with view of business building at 3 & 5 Front Street, San Francisco.
   • Correspondence relating to Sanjurjo's cigar business in San Francisco: Cobo, Martinez Cigar Factory, 10 letters. 1870s. Including: 
     • Cobo y Martinez Cigars, bought of Ygual & Co., receipt. San Francisco, April 26, 1878.
     • 2 letters from Juan Cappe, Los Angeles, 1879. Relating to the cigar business.
3. Personal correspondence and papers (mostly in Spanish, with other Spaniards in California, with references to business topics)
   • 17 letters from Joaquin Bolado, one of Sanjurjo's compatriots. 
   • 5 Letters from P. Zabala. In Spanish. Salinas, Calif. 1886-1889.
   • 5 Letters from Enrique J. García. In Spanish. San Francisco, Oakland, and East Berkeley. 1879-1880. With two pages of notes by Sanjurjo related to García.
   • Pacific Mail Steam Ship Company receipt for shipment of pipe and horse fittings aboard the Steamer Granada, from San Francisco to San Blas. April 29, 1879.
   • Pacific Mail Steam Ship Company receipt for shipment of 5 cases of personal effects and one case of sweetmeats, aboard the steamer City of Panama, from San Francisco to A. Y. de Ygual, Santander, Spain. Nov. 18, 1880.

Conclusion

An opportunity to acquire a content-rich archive that sheds much light on mid-to-late 19th century California land development. Sanjurjo and his Spanish-speaking associates leveraged their capital resources to acquire vast tracts of ex-Mexican rancho lands within the backdrop of the American land grab culture of the boom-and-bust real estate cycles of latter 19th century California.