USA > California > San Francisco County > San Francisco > The beginnings of San Francisco : from the expedition of Anza, 1774, to the city charter of April 15, 1850 : with biographical and other notes, Vol. II > Part 18
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23
"ARCHI. W. GILLESPIE, "Bvt. Major U. S. M. Corps.
"Washington, September 19, 1853."
This estimate was corroborated by other testimony and the board unanimously voted to allow fifty dollars for the service, and that sum was accordingly paid.
APPENDIX
APPENDIX A THE PRESIDIO OF SAN FRANCISCO
On the 17th of September 1776, Lieutenant José Joaquin Moraga founded the presidio of San Francisco, as related in chapter VI, and on the 9th of the following month, the mission of San Francisco de Asis, the religious serv- ices being conducted by Fray Palou assisted by Frays Cambon, Nocedal, and Peña. The mission was located on the ojo de agua Arroyo de los Dolores, the site selected by Colonel Anza near the Laguna de Manantial after- wards known as the Laguna de los Dolores, hence the name which the mission came to be called-Mission Do- lores. The report of the store-keeper (guarda almazen) on December 31, 1776, shows a force of thirty-eight men, including officers, eight settlers (pobladores), thirteen sailors and servants, two priests (Palou and Cambon), and one store-keeper, Hermenegildo Sal: total sixty-two men at the presidio and mission. The servants included mechanics, vaqueros, etc., and four sailors landed from the San Carlos to assist on the buildings and in digging ditches to bring water from the stream. During the winter the adobe walls of the presidio were begun, and in January 1777, Moraga founded the mission of Santa Clara. In November of the same year he founded the pueblo of San José Guadalupe, taking the settlers from the soldiers and pobladores of San Francisco. In April 1777, the presidio was honored by a visit from the gov- ernor, Felipe de Neve, and in October the good padre presi- dente, Fray Junípero Serra, made his first visit to San Francisco, arriving in time to say mass in the mission church on October 4th, the day of Saint Francis. On the Ioth he was taken to the presidio and for the first
717
718
THE BEGINNINGS OF SAN FRANCISCO
time looked upon the blue waters of the Golden Gate. Standing upon the summit of the Cantil Blanco he ex- claimed: "Thanks be to God, now has Saint Francis, with the holy cross of the procession of the missions, arrived at the end of the continent of California; for," he added with pious pleasantry, "to get any further it will be necessary to take to the water."
The first child born in the new establishment was to the wife of the soldier, Ignacio Soto. The babe was hastily baptised, ab instantem mortem, and named Fran- cisco José de los Dolores Soto. The first burial was on December 21, 1776, being that of María de la Luz Muñoz, wife of the soldier José Manuel Valencia. The first mar- riage was that of Mariano Antonio Cordero, a soldier of the Monterey company, with Juana Francisca Pinto, daughter of the soldier Pablo Pinto, married, November 28, 1776. The mission church was a temporary affair made of wood with a thatched roof. The foundation of the permanent church was laid with appropriate cere- monies in 1782. It was built of adobe and the roof was covered with tiles; it was commodious and handsomely decorated, and held five or six hundred persons. It still stands (1911) as originally built except that the adobe walls are protected with a wooden covering.
On July 13, 1785, Moraga died and Lieutenant Diego Gonzales, who came with Rivera in 1781, was appointed temporary comandante. Gonzales remained about a year and a half when he was sent to the Sonoma frontier under arrest for irregular conduct. The presidio was in charge of Ensign Sal as acting comandante until the arrival of Lieutenant José Darío Argüello June 12, 1787. Argüello remained in command until March 1, 1806, with occasional tours of duty elsewhere during which Sal took his place as acting comandante. In December
719
APPENDIX
1790, the presidio had one lieutenant, one ensign, one sergeant, four corporals, twenty-eight privates, three retired soldiers-invalidos, one prisoner, and three serv- ants; a total, with their families and the missionary priest, of one hundred and forty-four souls. This is the first census of San Francisco. It includes the mission guards of Dolores and Santa Clara, but does not, of course, include the Indian neophytes of the mission. In 1791 Argüello was sent to Monterey to relieve Lieutenant Ortega, leav- ing Sal as acting comandante at San Francisco. It was during this period that Vancouver arrived and was entertained by Sal.
Hermenegildo Sal was a native of Villa de Valdemora, Spain, born in 1746, and probably came to California with Rivera in 1773. He was corporal in the Monterey company and witnessed Rivera's signature to the first land grant in California, November 27, 1775. He was made sergeant March 19, 1782; ensign, May 29, 1782; lieutenant, April 27, 1795, and comandante of Monterey from September of that year until his death, December 8, 1800. Sal was an excellent officer, a strict disciplinarian, the best accountant and the clearest headed business man in California. During the greater part of his service he acted as habilitado-the accounting officer of the com- pany. His accounts are in good order and are beautifully written. Vancouver was greatly pleased by Sal's hospi- tality and he speaks in the highest terms of the comandante and his wife, of the decorous behavior of their two daugh- ters and son, and of the attention that had evidently been paid to their education. Sal's wife was Josefa Améz- quita. His daughter, Rafaela, married Don Luis Antonio Argüello. Josefa married Sergeant Roca. Two sons entered the military company of San Francisco and both died early.
720
THE BEGINNINGS OF SAN FRANCISCO
The walls of the presidio, begun by Moraga in the winter of 1776-77, were, at the time of Vancouver's visit, 1792, completed on three sides, but on the fourth, or east- erly side, a compromise was effected by a palisade suppli- mented by bushes planted to cover its appearance. The adobe walls were fourteen feet high and five feet thick. About the beginning of the century the fourth, or east wall was completed to correspond with the others. In 1812 an earthquake threw down a large part of the eastern and southern walls and nearly all of the northern wall. It also ruined the church and a number of buildings within the enclosure.
The fort was built in 1794, on the site selected by Anza eighteen years before. The Punta del Cantil Blanco was a bold jutting promontory of hard serpentine rock about one hundred feet above high water. The fort was a formidable affair of adobe, horseshoe in shape, and pierced with fourteen embrasures lined with brick. It was about one hundred and twenty-five feet long by one hundred and five feet wide. The parapet was ten feet thick and in the middle of the fort was a barrack for the artillerymen. Eleven brass nine-pounders were sent from San Blas but I believe only eight of them were ever mounted. The fort stood on the extreme point of the rock, which, on the west, was sheer to the water. Vancouver, writing in San Francisco in October 1793, speaks of seeing on the beach eleven dismounted cannon, nine-pounders, with a large quantity of shot of two different sizes, and on the top of the cliff several Spaniards who, with a numerous body of Indians, were employed in erecting what appeared to him to be a barbette battery. The fort was finished in December 1794, and cost sixty-four hundred dollars. It was later rebuilt with brick. It was named Castillo de San Joaquin and was variously called by that name, the "Castillo," and "Fort Blanco." It was garrisoned
ENTRANCE TO BAY OF SAN FRANCISCO IN 1852 The Cantil Blanco surmounted by the Castillo de San Joaquin on the left. From BARTLETT's Narrative.
DERIESGOS OF SAN FRANCISCO
Ib presidio begun by Moraga in the Typedem weg, at the time of Vancouver's visit, moJin tin ce sides, but on the fourth, or east- py a compromise was effected by a palisade suppli- planted lo cover its appearance. The ef- Murteen feet high and five feet thick. About the beginning of the century the fourth, or east wer was completed to correspond with the others. In 18te an earthquake threw down a large part of the asfern and southern wall and nearly all of the northern wall It also ruined the church and a number of buildings Within the enclosure.
The fort was built in 1794, on the site selected by Anza eighteen years before, The Punta del Cantil Blanco was a beld jutting promsuntory of bard serpentine rock about оће Ікаві ИІ ОЗЗІЮНАЯЯ МА ДО УДЯ ОТ ДОМАЯТИAt was a Immmid-7s2 9b oflises oft yd bothwomine si litns? odTid pierced with Inuctsen enteraslol odt no niupsoth brit Ty was about me hundred anesvissTish 2'TraJTAd monany By one hundred and five feet wider The garaper was ten lect thick and in the middle of the fort was & ballad foi the artillerymen. Eleven lass nine-pounders were sent from San Blas but I believe only eight of them were ever mounted. The lurt stood of the extreme point of the rock, which, on The west, was ihrer to the water. Vancouver, writing in Sa Fraucileo in October 1793, speaks of seeing on the Teach Depen dismannied cannon, nine-pounders, with wwwity of shot of two different sizes, and on the Un 3 th- cliff several Spaniards who, with a numerous Tbdlinh, wery employed in erecting what appeared og & barbeits battery. The fort was finished Um r 1794, and cost sixty-four hundred dollars. h ww liin webuih with brick. It was named Castillo de scu bapdni and wal variously called by that name, hunt ," And "Tert Blanca." Te way garrisoned
1
1
721
APPENDIX
by a corporal and six artillerymen. At Point San José (Black Point) there was erected in 1797 a battery of five eight-pounders for the protection of the inner harbor. In 1796 the force at the presidio was increased by a num- ber of Catalan volunteers, part of a company of seventy- two men sent from San Blas at the request of Governor Borica.
In 1795 Sal was made a lieutenant and sent to Mon- terey, leaving Ensign José Perez Fernandez in charge as acting comandante until the return of Lieutenant Argüello in March 1796. Argüello remained in command until 1806, when he was sent to Santa Barbara and his son, Don Luis Antonio, reigned as comandante of San Fran- cisco until his death, March 27, 1830. Don Luis was made a captain in 1818, and in 1822 was elected provi- sional governor of California by the diputacion, defeating by a small majority, José de la Guerra who was his senior in rank. Argüello served until the arrival of Governor Echeandía in October 1825, when he returned to his command at San Francisco. The last two years of his life he was only nominal commander, being relieved from active duty by Governor Echeandía. During Don Luis' absence at Monterey as acting governor and after his suspension in 1828, Lieutenant Ignacio Martinez acted as comandante. Martinez served until 1831 when he was retired with forty-one years service to his credit and was succeeded in the command of San Francisco by En- sign Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, then twenty-three years old. The force belonging to the San Francisco presidio had been from fifty-five to sixty men, guarding the mis- sions of Dolores, San Rafael, San Francisco Solano, San José, Santa Clara, the pueblo of San José Guadalupe, and part of the time, the Villa de Branciforte and the mission of Santa Cruz. In 1830 the company had been reduced to about thirty men. Vallejo was elected member of
722
THE BEGINNINGS OF SAN FRANCISCO
the diputacion and during his absence Alférez José Antonio Sanchez acted as comandante, and after 1833, Alférez Dámaso Rodriguez. In 1835 Vallejo was made coman- dante of the northern frontier and removed his company to Sonoma, leaving Alférez Juan Prado Mesa in charge of San Francisco with a half dozen artillerymen. Later the regular troops were all withdrawn and the fort and presidio suffered to fall into decay: one old artilleryman, Corporal Joaquin Peña, being left as custodian of the government property. Peña's report of January 7, 1837, shows eight iron guns-three of them useless-eight brass guns-one useless-nine hundred and ninety-four balls, four muskets, one pistol, one machete, and a few musket balls and other trifles. Vallejo protested against the government's neglect and asked to have the fort repaired and a presidial company sent to garrison San Francisco but the most he could obtain was permission to repair the fortifications at his own expense. In January 1837, a company of milicia civica was enrolled in San Francisco, with Francisco Sanchez as captain, two lieutenants, two ensigns, and eighty-one men, among whom were William Smith and William Grey, presumably Americans, and William A. Richardson, Englishman. It does not appear that this company ever garrisoned the presidio or were assembled as a military body at San Francisco. In 1840 Vallejo, failing to receive any troops from Mexico, sent from his Sonoma force-still called the San Francisco company-Alférez Mesa with a sergeant and twelve privates to garrison San Francisco. Mesa* and his men appear to have been in garrison in 1841, in 1842, and perhaps, in 1843. After this there seem to have been no regular troops at the presidio. The walls were down and the fort was crumbling to ruins.
* Juan Prado Mesa was grandson of Corporal José Valerio Mesa of Anza's company. He received a wound from an arrow in a fight with Indians from which he died in 1846.
-
0
CT
P
el
4
M
5
9
J
O
C
0
AN
5
U
5
S
C
5
J
0
5
A
.
r
5
THE PRESIDIO OF SAN FRANCISCO IN 1820
1
3
0
..... ..
6
4
5
5
36
5
4
V
THE BEGINNINGS OF SAN FRANCISCO
Lhe dijudoon and during his absence Alférez José Antonio Sicher acted as comandante, and after 1833, Alférez Dimo Rodriguez. In 1835 Vallejo was made coman- dante uf the northern frontier and removed his company to Sonoma, leaving Alférez Juan Prado Mesa in charge bi San Francisco with a half dozen artillerymen. Later The regular troops were all withdrawn and the fort and presoho suffered to Fall into decay : one old artilleryman, Corporal Traguin Peña being left as custodian of the government property. Per a's report of January 7, 1837, Shows eight iron guns- three of them useless-eight brass guns-one useless-nine hundred and ninety-four balls, four muskets, une pistol, one machete, and a few musket balls and other trifles. Vallejo protested against the government's neglect and a ken to heve the fort repaired San Francisco and a prendre
rto repair bor the mo he could 11 the fornfirations al his own Tannary 1837 a company of willia cirice Was enrolled in San Francisco, NOTE PADEher Sanchez zo caplain, two lieutenants, two Fumone, Lod wighrycone men, among whom were William Bootb Dd Willum Grey, presumably Americans, and William A. Richard on, Enyllinman. It does not appear that this company ever g frisoned the presidio or werc decenibled aw a millitary body at San Francisco. In 1840 Vall-jo, Failing to receive any troops from Mexico, sent from Til Sonama force- till called the San Francisco corp-My -- Méryz Mesa with a sergeant and twelve private io parnon San Francisco. Mesa* and his men appear to be book in garrison in 1841, in 1842, and perhaps in 1843. After this there seem to have been no reiroler troops at thé presidio. The walls were down and the forr was crumbliny terrains.
Prado Mesa - toidea of Corporal Je Velona Mea ( Anza' HaceNed & wo nd Irim an arrow in . helt with Indian from
C
5
4
CCCC
-
1
e
-
3
-
5
5
--
S
c
6
S
Ojo de Aiquo
El Polın
San Francisco de Asis Fundada
Casas de Marco: Briones y
Miramontes
Muralla
SDuIng
Casa del Comte
Officiales Esta era la fachada principal del Presidio, antes que fuese arruinaba la iglesia por las Temblores de 1812
PRESIDIO de SAN FRANCISCO 1820
Muralla
Fundado el 17 de Seta 1776 par Moraga Quiros y Fr Palou
C
Hasta Bandera
Guardia Principal
Parte de la compa **~
C
gra
-
m
Ruinas Muralla
Vista a la bahia, entrado del Puerto Alcatraz, Angeles 4. ºc.
4
vov
5 D
S
amir
5
L
3
1
5
1
11
Pozo de las Marineros
-
Medanos
de
Arenas
Copied from a tracing in possession of George Davidson, certified by General M.G.Vallejo.
Zoeth S. Eldredge Dec. 25, 1908.
L
Ruinas Muralia
Duena
€
Camino para el Castillo
5
4
C
4
$
5
4
Capas
2
Camino para la Mision de Dolares
-
4 de Oct 1116 para el Pe Palau, Moraga , Quindi
Muralla Ruinas
Muralla
5
3
-
21
723
APPENDIX
On July 1, 1846, Frémont with twelve of his men crossed over from Sausalito in the launch of the Moscow and spiked the guns of the Castillo de San Joaquin and then returned whence they came. Brown asserts it was a bold deed .* Frémont says that as they ascended the hill several horsemen were seen hastily retiring, while Brown says that there was not a Spaniard nearer than the Mission Dolores (four and a half miles).4º
After raising the American flag in San Francisco Cap- tain Montgomery remained in command until about December 1, 1846, when he was succeeded by Commander Joseph B. Hull of the Warren, Lieutenant Watson of the marines retaining the command of the troops on shore, succeeded later by Ward Marston, captain of marines on the flagship Savannah. Marston was commander of the force that marched against Sanchez in the Santa Clara campaign of January 1847. He was succeeded by Robert Tansill, lieutenant of marines on the man-of-war Dale. In March 1847, came the Stevenson regiment and companies H and K were sent to garrison the presidio under command of Major James A. Hardie. After the volunteers were mustered out in August 1848, Hardie resumed his position in the regular army-lieutenant of Third artillery-and remained as commandant of the By presidio with a small force of the First dragoons. order of Colonel Mason Captain Joseph L. Folsom, assistant quartermaster, laid off a reserve for military purposes embracing the presidio and Point San José (Black Point). This reserve, as described by Captain Folsom in his report of June 23, 1848, was bounded by "a line drawn north sixty degrees west and tangent to the eastern extremity of Alcatraz island to the summit of a
* Early Days. Chapter ii. The extracting of the spikes caused Lieutenant Misroon an infinite amount of trouble. Captain Phelps filed a claim against the United States government for ten thousand dollars for conveying Frémont across the bay from Sausalito.
724
THE BEGINNINGS OF SAN FRANCISCO
high ridge of hills running sensibly parallel to the bay. The line extends five thousand two hundred and fifty- three feet from the bay of San Francisco to the summit of the hills, and thence south forty-two degrees west to the Pacific ocean. From this point on the coast the bound- ary runs along the beach to the old fort at the entrance of the harbor, and thence, still following the beach, to the point of departure. "* The boundaries of this reserve may be sufficiently indicated for general purposes by a line drawn from the foot of Jones street to the summit of the Clay street hill at Clay and Jones streets, thence south- westerly to the ocean which is reached at Lawton, or L street, a most royal demesne of about ten thousand acres. Captain Folsom, in the concluding paragraph of his report says: "Should it ultimately be found that the reserve is unnecessarily large, it can be relinquished in part when no longer wanted." A map of this reserve, as surveyed by Lieutenant William H. Warner, United States topo- graphical engineers, is given herewith.
Previous to the laying out of this reserve, Mr. Thomas O. Larkin of Monterey, notified Colonel Mason, governor of the territory, on June 16, 1847, that he was, by pur- chase from Don Benito Diaz, owner of two leagues of land near San Francisco running from Laguna de Loma Alta (Washerwomen's Lagoon) to Punta de los Lobos, embracing the old presidio and castillo, for many years abandoned, deeded and granted on the 25th of June 1846, to said Diaz by Pio Pico, governor of California, and on the 19th of September same year, sold and con- veyed by Diaz to Larkin for a valuable consideration. Larkin further notified Governor Mason that, in going over the land the previous May, he found that some troops of the United States government were in possession of
* Rudolph Herman Company vs. City and County of San Francisco. Agreed Statement of Facts. 13-14.
THE MILITARY RESERVATION IN 1847 AS LAID OUT BY CAPTAIN FOLSOM Survey by Lieutenant WARNER. Drawn from a copy made by Lieutenant GEORGE H. DERBY.
-
$770374
1
VOIT BEGINNINGS OF SAN FRANCISCO
bieb nde of hill murning sensibly parallel to the bay. The ime smenti nve thousand two hundred and fifty- this but buto the bay of San Francisco to the summit of ilie bill, sud then .. south forty-two degrees west to The Panfu obsahu From this point on the coast the bound ty rans along the Level to the old fort at the entrance of the harbor, and there still following the beach, to the point of departure ** The boundaries of this reserve- may In aumfici. mily indicated foi general purposes by = The @ lin From the foot of longs street to the summit of Ah5 CMg Mset mil dt Clas and Jonesstreets, Bence south- wor ces os the ocean which is reached at Lawton, or arteet, . mowy nogal dewe.me of about ten thousand acres. Capio P tror, in the concluding paragraph of his report "Should of ultimately on found that the reserve TABI VII VIOITAVANEGA YXATIHI GHT part when DOPO MIATTAS YA TUO GIAI 2A 25 -Urveyed .AAMAAW Insnetusid vd 79V1U2 artes Topo-
Previous to the Dying out of this Mr. Thomas O Tartine! Mamere,, notified Colonel Mason, governor of the Arritory_or Four 16, 1847, that he was, by pur- chave kom Dor Renina Diz, owner of two leagues of Lod near Sax Primesco running from Laguna de Loma Nea (Wastrerw men's Lagden( 1) Purta de los Lobos, coxbracing the old presidio and castillo, for many years abandoned, deeded and granted on the 25th of June. 9546, to ward That'b, Tio Fico, governo) of California, atu bu Wie Fotkiof September same year, sold and con- pered Ly Diz 18 Larkio for a valuable consideration. Farlin Turerbet mashed Governor Mason that, in going et er Melamil the preve na May, he found that lume t cops of the firsted Sette government were in pome ion of
1 DE LOS ANGELES
SAUSALITO BAY
NEEDLES
LIME ROCKS
PUNTA DIABOLO
PUNTA BONITA
I YERBA BUENA
5253 FT.
PRESIDIO
YERBA BUENA COVE
PUNTA DE LOS LOBIS
SAND BARREN
.5.42 °W.
A TRUE COPY.
DAL. L. Topog Engris.
-
2
4 MILES
SCALE
MAGNETIC
PUNTA DE SAN JOSE
LOS ALCATRAZES
O BLOSSOM ROCK
N 6°W
725
APPENDIX
the presidio; that they were living there; that they had torn down some of the buildings to repair others, and in some cases were putting new roofs on the houses. Larkin protested against his property's being used without his consent, or without compensation, and against damages sustained now or hereafter.
In proof of his claim Larkin offered the following docu- ments:
Grant of two leagues of land known as the Punta de los Lobos, comprising all that property on the San Fran- cisco peninsula lying north of a line drawn from the Laguna de Loma Alta to the Punta de los Lobos, signed by Pio Pico in the city of Los Angeles, June 25, 1846.
Deed from Benito Diaz and his wife, Luisa Soto, for above grant to Thomas O. Larkin, in consideration of one thousand dollars in silver coin, signed in Monterey before Walter Colton, alcalde, September 19,1846.
Certificate of claim of Thomas O. Larkin to the afore- said grant, signed by Washington Bartlett, alcalde of San Francisco, October 6, 1846.
These documents bore the following endorsement:
"The United States troops are in possession of the presidio and old fort at the entrance of the bay of San Francisco, which are claimed by Mr. Thomas O. Larkin as his property.
"Without making any decision for or against the soundness of Mr. Larkin's title as exhibited by this paper, the possession held by the United States will not operate to the prejudice of any just claim to said property held by Mr. Larkin.
"Monterey, September 3, 1847.
"R. B. Mason,
"Colonel Ist Dragoons, Governor of California."
On June 6, 1847, Captain Folsom in a report to Major Thomas Swords, quartermaster, expressed his opinion against the validity of Larkin's title for the following reasons :
726
THE BEGINNINGS OF SAN FRANCISCO
That the fort and presidio were on the land claimed; that they had been occupied by troops up to within four or five years and that one or more old Mexican soldiers continued to reside there; that he was assured by General Vallejo and Colonel Prudon that it was contrary to the organic laws of Mexico to sell or convey away any lands which might be wanted for "forts, barracks, field-works, and public purposes for defence"; that the title was not approved by the departmental assembly, as required by law; that the alcalde of the district had not certified that the grant could be made without prejudice to the public interest, as required by law; that Pio Pico, the governor, was not in Los Angeles on June 25, 1846, when the alleged grant was signed; but had left Los Angeles June 17th or 18th and did not return until July 15th, being at Santa Barbara on June 25th.
Henry W. Halleck, brevet captain of engineers and secretary of state, in an exhaustive report to Governor Mason on the laws governing the granting or selling of lands in California, dated March 1, 1849, rejected the claim of Larkin as against the law, practice, and precedent of the Mexican government .*
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.