Special Question of General Interest 
 -- does anyone know where to buy a series of posters depicting the flags which flew over California? 
La Tejedora

Pregunta 60 - 10 March 2002

I have been trying to do research on an Angel Bojorques who was part of the Joaquin Murrieta gang. He is mentioned in a book called, Joaquin Murrieta and His Horse Gangs, by Frank Latta. Angel was from the Los Banos/Hollister/San Juan Bautista area. Around 1839 he abducted  Felicida Castro (an Indian girl about 15 years old) from the Castro ranch near San Juan Bautista, Calif. They had a son together, Isidore Salvador Bojorques, 18 April 1854. Angel Bojorques was killed soon afterward by one of the Murrieta's. I am trying to find out who Angel is connected to in the Bojorques family or if he was an Indian laborer who took on his master's name. I am also interested in a María Elena Vargas who married Isidore Bojorques around 1886 in Hollister, Calif. Her parents were Matheus Vargas and Cleophus Smith. [Rebecca (nonmember), Oakley, Calif.]

Respuesta a Pregunta 60 - 7 September 2006

My great grandfather was a member of Joaquin Murrieta's "gang".  I have some paperwork that I will need to look into, so I can't give any specifics.  Please feel free to contact me at xielolixii@yahoo.com.

In the meantime, when I have a chance I'll look and see if I can find a connection for you on this question. [Xielolixii (nonmember), Bakersfield, Calif.]

Pregunta 59 - 5 March 2002

My brother and I are looking for our great grandfather, Michaelis Valle. He was married to Theresa de Jesus Ruiz in Los Angeles, 1883-1890? He was born in Los Angeles 1850-1865? Thank You. [Patty Noble (member), Camino, Calif.]

Pregunta 58 - 5 March 2002

Respuesta a Pregunta 58 - 8 April 2005

Jim Larson is trying to contact you. Please respond.  Jam8Lrs@aol.com]

Respuesta a Pregunta 58 - 6 March 2002

Well lets see, I think I have the right Juana Briones: full name, Juana María Gracia Briones; baptized 25 June 1804 at Mission San Luis Obispo; married 7 February 1828 at Mission San Carlos de Monterey to Joseph Francisco Lugo. Juana's parents were María Gertrudis Raymunda Buelna, who was born 29 November 1780; baptized 2 Dec 1780 at Mission San Antonio; buried 10 September 1808 at Mission San Carlos de Monterey [Gertrudis' parents were, José Antonio Buelna of Sinaloa, México, and María Antonia Tapia, of the 1776 Anza expedition]. Juana's father was Manuel Briones. He was born 12 February 1774; baptized 15 February 1774 at Santa Gertrudis, Baja California, México; buried 9 Dec 1840 at Mission San Juan Bautista, age 70. Manuel's parents were José Antonio Briones and María Gertrudis Higuera. Manuel was married (1) 24 November 1796 at Mission Santa Clara to María Buelna. There were 5 children of this marriage: 1. Andrea Lutgarda born 11 Nov 1797, married 23 May 1821 to Juan Alvárez, 2. Joseph Antonio Nicolas born 10 September 1800, married 13 November 1817 to María Dolores Gonzáles; 3. María Gertrudis baptized 15 October 1802, married 7 February 1828 to Joseph Teodoro Villavicencio; 4. Juana María, see above.; 5. María Estefana baptized 27 December 1806, died at age two years.

The second marriage of Manuel Briones was 26 June 1814 at Mission Santa Clara to María Antonia Vásquez, who was born about 1797 (India); her parents were Antonio Vásquez and María Leocadia. There were 4 children of this union: 1. José Joaquin born 15 July 1814, married 2 April 1839 to a widow María Apolonia Mesa; 2. María del Rosario born 18 January 1816, married (1) 4 April 1836 to Joaquin Castro, (2) 24 November 1838 to José Julian Espinosa; 3. Juan Crisostomo born 27 January 1818, died at age ten years; 4. María Manuela born 2 June 1823, married 24 November 1838 to Felipe Mateo Fellon.
There is further information on Tapia/Buelna family and Briones in the two- volume set of books Spanish-Mexican Families of Early California, 1769-1850 by Marie Northrop. These books are sometimes availably via an Interlibrary Loan from your local library or are available for purchase from the Southern California Genealogical Society.  Hope this helps. [Jimmie Hardy (member), Winston, Oregon]

Pregunta 57 - 22 February 2002

I am looking for information on a lady named Macaria Robinson who came from England to be a governess [nanny] for the Murphy children of the area around Santa Clara, Alta California. After being nanny for the Murphy children she married the ranch foreman, Jesús García. Thanks.

Also looking for the parents of Ygnacia Moraga born circa 1766, at Presidio de Altar, México. She married José Dario Argüello in June 1782 at Mission San Gabriel, Alta California. Thanks again. [Jimmie Hardy (member), Winston, Oregon]

Respuesta a Steven Horvath - 12 July 2002

It seems Steven Horvath and I are cousins and I have lots of information to share. Yes, Macaria and Jesús had at least 9 children. To be exact, they had 11 (eleven), of which one was Rosa, my great grandmother, who married Luis Estrada. They had 5 girls, Delphine, Juana, Virginia, Rosemond, and my mother, Laura Gracen. I have the names of all eleven children of Jesús and Macaria and who they married, and a list of some of the grandchildren. I also have addresses and phone numbers of some. Feel free to e-mail me at flyingrocks@mcsi.net . What I am looking for is information on the ancestors and early lives of Jesús and Macaria. [Jimmie Hardy  (member), Winston, Oregon]

Respuesta a Pregunta 57 - 7 July 2002

Respuesta a Pregunta 57 - 10 March 2002

According to my notes, María Ygnacia Moraga was the daughter of José Ygnacio Moraga and Barbara Alviso. The parents of her father, José Ygnacio Moraga, were José Moraga and María Gaona. 

And just an added note, I did find a baptismal record on José Dario Argüello.  He was baptized on 20 November 1753 at the Iglesia Espiritu Sanctu in Queretaro.  His parents were listed as "unknown," but there were many other baptisms during that time that listed the parents as "unknown." I hope this information helps. [Kevin Currin (member), San Diego, Calif.]

1 May 2002 Note: It was called to my attention that in #31A of the Traveling Genealogy Library, "Una Familia Española en California"  by Manuel de Aranegui that José Dario's parents are given as Don José Argüello and Doña Petra Dolores Camacho. La Tejedora

Pregunta 56 - 10 February 2002

My brother and I are looking for our great grandfather, Miguel Valle or De Valle. He was married to Theresa de Jesus Ruiz in Los Angeles. He was born in Los Angeles 1850-1865? Probably married 1883-1890? We have the Ruiz family information, but nothing on Valle, although there seems to be a lot of Valles. Thank you. [Patty Noble (member), Camino, Calif.]

Pregunta 55 - 2 February 2002

Can anyone identify the Vicente Lugo family members in the 1890 photograph in front of the adobe home in what is now called Bell Gardens? [Patty Noble (member), Camino, Calif.]

Pregunta 54 - 16 January 2002

I am looking for any information on Don Teodoro Arellanes. He was granted Punta de la Laguna, El Rincon, and Rancho Guadalupe . Any information regarding his children, grandchildren, etc. would be appreciated. [Lynda (nonmember), Nipomo, California]

Respuesta a Pregunta 54 - 8 November 2006

I have a lot of information on the Arellanes family. I have been looking for other family members who have some information. I tried IShakman@aol.com, but to no avail. My e-mail is jam8lrs@aol.com. [James T. Larson (Member), Paso Robles, Calif.]
 

Respuesta a Pregunta 54 - 4 September 2002

One of the children of María Clemencia Arellanes and José Luis Gonzaga Rodriguez was María Presentación de Alta Gracia Rodriguez, baptized at Santa Barbara 4 February 1826.  She married Gerónimo del Carmen Ruiz, son of José Pedro Ruiz and María Ygnacia Lugo, 23 November 1842 at Santa Barbara.  They had many children. [Brian Haley (nonmember), Oneonta, New York]

Respuesta a Pregunta 54 - 4 September 2002

Hi Lynda  I have lots and lots of info on Don Josef Teodoro Arellanes.  I have all his siblings, parents, children of first wife and second wife, as well as some little known historical info including his size and personality. It would be easier for me to email this info to you than to copy into this arena.  Contact me at IShakman@aol.com  and I will send. [Inez Shakman (nonmember), Ventura, Calif.]

Respuesta a Pregunta 54 - 25 February 2002

José's father, Manuel Ramírez Arellanes (Arellano), was a soldier with the de Anza Expedition and was probably garrisoned at Mission Santa Clara. Manuel was born about 1742 in Puebla, Puebla, México. José's mother was María Agueda López de Haro; born about 1760, in San Miguel de Horcasitas, Sonora, México. I recently found out that I am a distant relative. [Olivia Mercado (nonmember), Nehalem, Oregon]

Pregunta 53 - 8 January 2002

I am interested in the land grant - Laguna de San Antonio in Sonoma and Marin County.  Why was it stolen?  Who was the attorney named Shafter that changed to the opposing side after filing for Bartolomé Bojórques?  Are there any photos of Bartolomé? [Pauline Bojorques Reed (nonmember) ]

Respuesta a Pregunta 53 - 29 April 2002

Note: I do not know if this is the same piece of property,  but I imagine the sequence of events is quite similar in any case. The answer does give a lot of information on the area and the Shafters. La Tejedora

The Rancho Punta de Los Reyes, Sobrante, (surplus) was an area of eleven leagues in western Marin County granted in 1843 to Antonio María Osio, a public official under Mexican authority, who held it for a few years. (Would need further research to determine if he ever lived there).  It was so named because of its proximity to Point Reyes. [Point Reyes in Marin County was named by the expedition of Sebastian Vizcaíno, that passed the promontory on 6 January1603, the day given over to the devotion of los reyes, "three holy kings" or wise men of the New Testament, by the Roman Catholic Church.  The point was discovered by the expedition of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, on 14 November 1542, and named Cabo de Pinos, ("cape of pines"), but as at many other points on the California coastline, Vizcaíno's names superseded those of his predecessor.]

In 1844, the fourth year of his position as Justice, Osio occupied the dwelling of Don Timoteo Murphy, near San Rafael Mission, while the owner lived at the Mission. In 1846 he escaped the Bear Flag Revolt by moving his family to Hawaii. He then returned to his former home in Baja and authored Historia de California.

In the early 1850s Rancho Punta de Los Reyes and Rancho Punta de Los Reyes Sobrante, (surplus) were acquired by Andrew Randall. On 2 March 1853 he filed a petition for them claiming the grant of eleven Spanish leagues formerly
made to Osio. He received patents for two pieces of land, a total of 57,066.98 acres on 4 June 1860.  

From Randall these patent pieces passed to Justice Oscar L. Shafter of the State Supreme Court, his brother, Judge James McMillan Shafter, and Charles Webb Howard, president of the Spring Valley Water Company.
Later Rancho Tomales y Baulenes (granted in 1836 to Rafael García) was added to their large holding. The combined property stretched from the coast north of Point Reyes, south and east to the top of Mount Tamalpais. The ranchos that were combined into one were passed down to descendants of Charles W. Howard and the Shafters.  

Judge James McMillan Shafter, following a distinguished career back east, arrived in California in 1853. He became a State Senator and was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1878. He was a Regent of the University of California.  At the time of the founding of Leland Stanford Junior University he delivered the dedicatory speech and became a Trustee.  His house, called The Oaks was located on his extensive 3-rancho land holding.  It was wood, carried by ferry out of the Golden Gate and into Tomales Bay, then hauled by oxen and lumber wagons to the site two miles south of Olema. Many of the rough timbers were sawed by his own mill on the place. Judge Shafter's house address: 951 Chestnut Street, San Francisco. 

Judge Shafter was very interested in showing finely trained horses and cattle. He had a private racetrack. His son, Payne Jewett Shafter, (known as "Squire Shafter") carried on after his death.  A daughter of "Squire,"
named Mary Shafter, wrote a book American Indian and Other Folk Dances. [Teresa Russell y Espinosa de Boronda (nonmember), Long Beach, Calif.]

Respuesta a Pregunta 53 - 10 March 2002

I live in Marin County, Calif. There was, I believe, a lawyer named William Shafter who became a judge in the 1880s. He acquired part of Point Reyes and lived in Olema. A local historian Jack Mason has several small books on Marin and I know you can find more information in those books.

I found the book by Jack Mason, of Point Reyes, The Solemn Land. Oscar Shafter came to California in 1854. His father was a Vermont judge who unsuccessfully ran for governor there. Oscar accepted an offer with the law firm of Halleck, Peachy, Billings and Park of San Francisco as an office lawyer at $10,000 a year. His younger brother James McMillan Shafter joined the firm the next year. They collaborated together and soon began picking apart ranchos in the Point Reyes/Bolinas/Olema area in 1857. They soon owned Rafael Garcia's and Gregorio Briones' land. They also had another brother named William. No doubt these are the masters of swindle. I, too, am interested in the Rancho Laguna de San Antonio in Marin/Sonoma Counties. María Angela Trejo is my 6th generation grandmother and was Bartolomé Francisco's mother and Pedro Antonio Bojorquez's second wife. Thanks for alerting me to this story. [Bryce Alviso (nonmember), Inverness, Calif.]

Respuesta a Pregunta 53 - 1 February 2002

I have hundreds of property transfer documents and the trial transcript of the case from San Francisco. If you are interested in any more information e-mail me at migueldd45@aol.com [Michael Doolittle (life member), San Juan Island, Washington] 

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