Abstract Deposition of Thomas A Sanchez

Abstract Dep. [Deposition] of Thomas H. Snachez

Born and reside in the City of Los Angeles, California, formerly sheriff of that County: Knew Andres Pico and Knew Frances Morca: Knew the Ranchos in Los Angeles County Knows all the Rancho San Fernando, called the Mission San Fernando, and all that valley that is mentioned there is the place where those who have had possession of S.F. [San Fernando] have their stock: was called the Mission of S.F. [San Fernando] before it was called Rancho of S.F. [San Fernando] Knew it when I was very young was there about 1834 the first time: then called the Mission of S.F. [San Fernando] Even called that up to the present time by some: also called the Ex-Mission of S.F. [San Fernando] as well as Rancho of S.F. [San Fernando], Probably began to be called the Rancho after they ceased to cultivate it, in the year 1850 after the orchards were abandoned. After the place became quickly settled up. It was generally called the Rancho of S.F. Extension of this Rancho very large; a great deal more than eleven leagues. Commencing at a place called Puesta Quela; from thence taking a line to the line of the Encino, between those two places about a league more or less; and from there it round all the valley. Then the line goes to another place from the Puesta Quela called the Callabazas del Toro, from thence, or goes round along the road

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that goes up the mountain of Santa Susana: from Santa Susana, it goes along the ridge of mountains to the place where the toll gate is now, which divide the Rancho of San Francisquito: from thence it goes along the line of Tugunigo [Tuyunga] along the side of the mountains, From the line of Tugunigo [Tuyunga], it goes along to a line of a rancho called the Providencia: From thence it goes to the Puesta Quela, which is the point of beginning. All in Los Angeles Co. [County] no other tract of that name. no such places as mentioned above to my Knowledge of in the years /62 /63 and /64. No other Santemando that has been a mission since 1844 up to this date. Knew all the gardens & buildings of said mission since 1834. (Looks at map annexed to Patent of May 31ˢᵗ 1862 of U.S. to Bishop Joseph Sadoc Alemany). In this it seems there is nothing more designated than what the orchards are; the rest of the San Fernando ranch is not here. The one marked tract no 2 is a vineyard. This (pointing to a line) is an adobe wall and inside are vine huts, oranges, olives &c [etcetera], at present all down. (Looks at tract no 1) about here I believe is the Church. Near tract no 2 there is a church building. Some are in ruins, nearly all are destroyed; Here there also buildings (pointing to South side of quadrangle of tract no 1) these are the buildings of the Mission that before

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was the Mission of San Fernando. Tracts no 6 5 3 & 4 I believe represent the houses of the Indians belonging to the Mission. No 7 denotes the places where they had work shops, soap factories &c [etcetera] of the Mission. Tract no 8 called lot 45 is another orchard, fenced in by an adobe: down in some places: Occupied by a priest by name of Bloss or Ross. Andreas Pico was in possession in 1850 and one Juan Manso. Pico afterwards remained alone. Manso ceased to be there about 1852 or 1853. I think 1853, not certain, but they always had stock there in company. I don't know whether they were there as tenants or owners. Pico I think as owner. Pico, remained after 1853. Had an execution while Sheriff against Pico: saw him during that time in the ranch. think he was in possession: was living at the house (Interesting accnt [account] as to how he happened to sleep there) He said to me not to incur too many expenses. Delivered his exec. [execution] in May 1862 as appears in return to 5^th D.C. Saw nothing of Manso at that time. Knew of no other there at the time acting as proprietors except Andres. heard rumors of Celis but he was not at the Mission. The parcels of land are in exactly the same place that they were at the time of the making of that map: fences & trees are there but deteriorated. All those pieces were within the rancho, almost not exactly in the center. The term Ranchos of S.F. [San Fernando] as used by the people

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included these tracts delineated on the map: the works were there. In 1862 when I took Pico's stock, I took it about a mile from the house. The Rancho of SF [San Fernado] is a valley, divided from that of Los Angeles by mountains: There is a range of mountains across, and there is a range dividing it from the Valley of Ventura. Another range divides it from that of San Francisquito where the tunnel is now & it Keeps going around to Tujunga Rancho, and there there is an opening of land where the River of Los Angeles comes in, in a place called the Esperanza. Then you come to the mountains from which you commence the Purila Quela [Purila Que La]. It is a valley surrounded by hills. And Santa Susana Purila Quela [Purila Que La] &c [et cetera] are points on those ranges of mountains. The gardens & Mission building are nearly in the centre [center] but more towards the north. The nearest point is the tunnel of those points which I have cited. The term Rancho of SF [San Fernado] was afterwards applied to this valley. The value of the fruits & products of the Rancho from 1864 to Jan {January] 1868, on an average would be about $800 or $1000 a year. In 1864 tracts nos 2 & 8 were planted with grape vines & olives Fruit trees, pears peaches & prickly pears, and oranges, Toward The sums mentioned above, refer to only these two tracts: the value of the rest of the ranch in 1864 was nothing owing to the dry season, no feed that year: everything was abandoned. These two parcels were not dry owing

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to irrigation: the water coming from a dam a mile or less off, in the Rancho of S.F. [San Fernando] the water is conducted from the dam to the gardens by two ditches; it goes separately to each one of those gardens. Dam is made out of stone & mortar. the water goes to one garden & then to the other: The dam is to the N.E. of tract No 2; enters by the N.E. corner. It comes out first in a ditch and is carried to a gate a little to the N.E. of the tract No 2 & from there it divides. One ditch goes to tract No 2 and the other to tract No 8. divides about 100 yds [yards] from tract No 2. Dam & ditch were already built when I Knew San Fernando the old priests made it; don't Know when. the priests were still in poss. [possession] of the mission then.

Cross Ex. [Examination] [centered]

By Rancho I mean a large tract of land with orchards &c. [et cetera] or a country residence under cultivation or for raising stock. At the time of the sale of this land by the Mexican government, I heard it spoken of after the war, between the U.S. & Mexico was over, not before. Before the sale was called the Mission and also Rancho, because stock works & all were there: term "Rancho" was applied to the 116000 acres & upwards called San Fernando. A Rancho need not be inhabited if outside the limits of a town. By "Encino" I mean a Rancho that is in the Valley of San Fernando, adjoining the pieces I have described. It was a part of the