History Rancho Las Camaritas

ohlone indians in tule boat: san francisco bay, louis choris, 1816

las camaritas part of yelamu ohlone territory going 5,000 years. located near yelamu s migratory winter village of chutchui. village short distance original location mission san francisco de asís first identified spanish juan bautista de anza expedition on march 29, 1776.

a number of papal bulls including 1455 romanus pontifex , 1493 inter caetera amended treaty of tordesillas allowed christians take lands of non-christians anywhere in world , reduce people perpetual slavery. these bulls part of justification used spain in 1769 establish missions san diego san francisco. however, spanish crown promised ohlone people , other coastal tribes retain control on lands if became christians , followed laws of spain.

from june 29, 1776 until passage of mexican secularization act of 1833 land within present day san francisco under control of mission san francisco de asís. secularization act shut down of alta california s missions , sold them off. act deal california s dons retain allegiance mexico, giving them control on millions of acres of lands promised tribal people church held prior 1833. governor figueroa issued regulation (reglamento provisional para la secularizacion de las misiones) on august 9, 1834 outlining requirements distribution of property (land, cattle , equipment) each mission’s neophytes. however, of neophytes driven away mission , never knew of reglamento offering them land.

jose noe part of híjar-padrés colony of 1834 attempted consolidate mexican control on alta california failed. noe híjar colony member able settle in northern california.

noe last mexican alcalde of yerba buena, renamed san francisco after conclusion of mexican-american war in 1846. jose noe elected village s alcalde twice: first 7th alcalde (1842–1843) , again 12th alcalde in 1846. prior mexico becoming independent of spain, alcaldes have been elected indigenous tribal communities surrounding local catholic mission – in case mission san francisco de asís.

noe applied governor in 1839 rancho las camaritas , given land grant on january 21st, 1840. according state of california s summary of spanish , mexican land grant era, government required following 4 steps obtain land:

the first step submitting of petition applicant, containing name, religion, residence occupation, , size of family. along land description and, @ times, map of tract (diseno). diseno (map) , land description vague, calling sloughs, trees, hills, , other features not permanent.


the second step inquiries officials availability of land, character of applicant, , posting of petition in case party had objections approval of application.


the third step informe separate document or note appended original application, stating findings of officials in step number 2. third step entailed actual grant of land or refusal of grant of land


the fourth , final step confirmation of grant viceroy. final step made title land perfect. applicant or grantee given possession alcalde (local judge) caused grantee pull grass, throw stones, break twigs, , exclaim, viva el presidente y la nación mexicana (long live president , mexican nation). during mexican era, these 4 steps used minor alterations.

it unknown noe s intention obtaining 300 square vara property for, during american era became known noah s garden. las camaritas means little cabins, possibly referring noe s small cabins had on property.

the land located in san francisco s mission district encompasses blocks between fourteenth sixteenth streets , mission harrison streets.