The San Francisco call., 1895-12-13
Estate of Martina de Peaux Files
Suits Against the Pres.
ent Holders.
MANY THOUSANDS OF ACRES.
Augmentation, Sequel and San Andreas
Ranches Involved in the
Suits.

SANTA CRUZ, CAL, Dec. 12.-Three
papers of very startling import were filed
to-day in the office of County Recorder
Martin. The three papers are three COM
plants, the first entitled NJ. Elizabeth
Peck, special administrix of estate of
Martina de Peaux, deceased, VS.. E. F.
Adams ct al. The second ard third COM
plants are by the same plaintiff, but are
against H. Agnew ct al. and Fl. A. Burn
side ct al, respectively.
In these complaints plaintiff alleges that
one Martina de Peaux died intestate in
this county in December of 1890, and that
at the time of her decease she was owner
in fee simple of all the lands of the Sequel
Augmentation rancho, the Sequel rancho
and one-thirleenth of Rancho San An
dreas, and that the hundreds of fruitmen,
farmers and timber men who now hold
these lands have no right or title to them.
They have all been made parties to one or
the other of these three separate salts.
The complaints recite merely enough to
constitute a cause of action; there is a
meagerness of detail and facts. In 1874,
when the Mexican Government was be-
slowing immense grants of land upon
all who would take them and endeavor to
colonize them to a reasonable extent,
Michel Lorenzo, the then Governor Of
Northern California. granted to Martina
Castro, who died. and Martina de Peaux
the 80, 702 acres of land that comprised the
Sequel Augmentation ranches. This was
in addition to prior grant in 1888 by
Governor Figueroa of the Sequel and
San Andreas ranchos, comprised of 1859
acres. In 1858 the United States Govern
ment, in accordance with the act of 1851,
concerning the settlement of Mexican
grants, ordered resurvey of all acquired
lands, and year later granted Martina
Castro, or De Peaux, letters patent to her
holdings by the previous grant.
From that time to the time of her death
the grantee resided in this county and
from time to time transferred portions of
her acres to those who wanted them. The
Mexicans of the early days were lax in
their business methods, and much of
Sonora de Peaux's land was transferred
without any record being kept of the trans
fers. In fact, in some cases fraud has been
alleged. These suits are brought to quiet
the title of every landholder upon the vast
territory involved. The complaints pray
tIldG LII SdCIl case tlC filCSCu ON LICK NC COll-
PEELED to prove in open court his right and
title to his holding.
The Sequel Augmentation rancho is
the most fruitful and valuable portion of
the county. The rich orchards and vine
yards of Skyland and Highland, the
heavily timbered valleys of Sequel creek
and its many tributaries, the almost mex
haustible forests of Iona Prieta, all go
to make UP the broad acres of the rancho.
The Sequel rancho takes in the popular
summer resort, Capitola, the village of
Sequel, and many valuable farms be-
sides.
Nearly all of the Sequel rancho and
Sequel Augmentation rancho was acquired
by the Him Company of this county.
They now own all of Capitola and in late
years have made vast improvements
there. The timber of the Augmentation
is nearly wholly theirs as are the most
valuable portions of both the grants. 1t
would seem that the suit is directed most
pointedly in their direction and it is quite
certain that they will be the. hardest
fiChterS