Bob Norris wrote: Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 21:59:29 EDT From: <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Subject: [CA-GOLDRUSH-L] Commodore Robert F. STOCKTON - need a 1848 to 53 bio Howdy - I refuse to give up:-)) I have been unable to find any serious mention of Commodore Robert F. STOCKTON from 1849 on in my Mariposa County research. I am NOT interested in further information about his participation in the War of 1846. Nor in his relationship/fight conspiracy/whatever with/between he, General Stephen Watts KEARNY and John C. FREMONT. I have reams of this information. I need any biography that details/mentions STOCKTON'S life in California from the discovery of gold in 1848 until he left CA and became a U.S. Senator(NJ?) from 1851 - 1853. I am still trying to follow up the "Mariposa Gazette" article saying that my ggf J.R. NORRIS was at one time STOCKTON's "agent and business manager." Neither I nor the Maiposa History Center have found anything further. The 1851 to 1854 time period is my prime target. ================================ Bob, At long last I have found the "missing years" you are looking for . And to think that he was in Santa Clara Valley! I found this reference in _Historic Spots in California:Counties of the Coast Range_ by Hoover. Rancho El Potrero de Santa Clara (I'll skip the early history and take you to 1844) After the secularization of the Missions, this land reverted to the Mexican government; and in 1844 Governor Manuel Micheltorena granted El Potrero de Santa Clara (the pasture lands of Santa Clara) consisiting of one square league, to James Alexander FORBES, a native of Scotland, who had arrived in Alta California in 1830 or 1831. Mr FORBES had been naturalized as a Mexican citizen ten years previous to receiving this rancho and in 1834 had married Ana Maria, daughter of Juan Crisostomo GALINDO , claimant of Mission lands near Milpitas. After holding his rancho a few years, he sold it to Commodore STOCKTON, to whom it was twice confirmed; in 1853 by the Land Commission, and in 1855 by the District Court. It was known for a long time as the Stockton Ranch. After appointing Colonel John Fremont to take the governorship in January of 1847 he (Stockton)started home on June 20, 1847, across the Rockies with his small and heterogeneous collection of men(?). The rancho which he purchased from James Alexander FORBES lay in the angle formed by the Alameda and the Guadalupe River and was well watered by ditches dug from that stream to the vicinity of Mission Santa Clara. Three business ventures in California are credited to the Commodore, who resigned from the Navy in 1850; a nursery for the propagation of fruit trees, a residential subdivision called Alameda Gardens, and the importation of houses from the East around the Horn! All of these projects arose from the one idea of the establishment of pleasant living condidtions for families in this new part of the United States. Although he had returned to California in 1848, the carrying out of his ideas must have BEEN DELEGATED TO RESPONSIBLE AGENTS (this is where I got real excited!!)as Stockton was a United States Senator serving in Washington for his native state of New Jersey for the the term of 1851-1853. Nursery stock, was ordered from HOVEY's Nursery in Massachusetts in 1852. FOX and EGAN came and were in charge of the stock. The nursery was well established by 1853.It is believed that Stockton was the first to import strawberry plants to the Santa Clara Valley. He also had James F KENNEDY, native of Pennsylvania, a salesman from Hoveys (?) come out to manage the rancho. For the Alameda Garden subdivision the Commodore ordered houses to be made in New England ready to be erected in California (prefab housing!) after coming around the Horn. The first shipment meet with misfortune (no details given). The second shipment, was smaller, and the ten homes were erected. (At the writing of this-1936-only one left standing-the address given as the corner of Newhall and Spring Streets) Sorry Bob that ole JR in not mentioned here but it does give us new clues, possibilities and new energy!!. (I am assuming that you have not received this info off line-) Carolyn- Santa Clara! http://www.compuology.com/cagenweb/maripcty.htm