Earliest land grants in Duval County

Map of San Diego land grant made to Julian and Ventura Flores.

“Tengo…desde el antiguo gobierno cuatro sitios en el paisaje de San Diego en la costa…que poblé y cultive…”

– Juan Rosales

In the middle of the eighteenth century, the Spanish crown began an effort to settle the area between the Rio Bravo and the Nueces Rivers. Settlement of the area that would become Duval County began circa 1794. The Rio Grande River communities of Guerrero, Camargo and Mier were the wellspring for ranches and later communities that would emerge in the area. The earliest settlements were ranchos at San Diego, Los Ángeles, and Concepción.

Spain began to make grants to influential citizens of Camargo and Reynosa, but unlike earlier porciones along the north side of the Rio Grande, these grants were larger and were further inland, along the Gulf of Mexico. The new Spanish land grant policy, however, resulted in vast grants to a few individuals, prompting the crown to revise its guidelines and limit grants to no more than four sitios per individual. A sitio measured 4,316.37 acres or 6.74 square miles. Empresarios got around the new Spanish law by joining forces to obtain larger tracts as did Don Antonio Pérez who swore before the alcalde of Mier that his heirs were entitled to four tracts of land.

San Diego

According to Nueces County court records, the crown made four grants to Perez’ heirs on the banks of the San Diego Creek. They were San Florentina deeded to José Antonio de la Peña y López; San Diego de Arriba and San Diego de Abajo to the father and son Julián and Ventura Flores; and San Leandro to Juan Sánchez Rosales. Each grant consisted of four sitios, or 17,714 acres of land each.

Perfecting title to these grants was a cumbersome process that included denouncement, survey, appraisal, sale at public auction, and act of possession. The process took several years to complete. José Faustino Contreras of San Luis Potosí surveyed San Diego de Arriba and San Diego de Abajo in 1806. Herdsman for Julián Flores occupied the ranch San Diego as early as 1815. Juan Sáenz, whose father was the head herdsmen for Señor Flores, said he was born on the ranch on that year. He remained at the ranch until he turned 18 in 1833. As far as he could remember, Sáenz testified in court, the original grantees or their heirs had always occupied and cultivated the land while living at Rancho San Diego, except when Indians threatened their lives.

To be continued…

Lucy Zouck | March 1, 2021 at 1:45 pm | Reply (Edit) Hi, Alfredo I was wondering if you might have heard the last name Canchola, or Conchola they were my great grandfather and grandfather, which later they changed their last name to De La Cruz. They lived in San Diego, and my father was born there. Grandfather was Jose(Canchola/Conchola) De La Cruz, my father Antonio De La Cruz. Just wanting to get some information on these please. Tk Y RC RESENDEZ | February 13, 2019 at 12:07 pm | Reply (Edit) Good morning ..sir: texted HOMERO ROSA…he does indeed remember you…..passed on gmail address…I’m sure..that because of your very generous character, lots of know and respect your work.Thanl you again , have an awesome day! RC RESENDEZ | February 12, 2019 at 9:34 pm | Reply (Edit) Sir: another item I failed to mention…my primo from Edinburgh Texas ,recently retired.He spent 36 years teaching “ag”. We discuss TEXAS history, he is very knowledgeable in valley history…he doesn’t entertain the idea of writing a book…?..maybe you have a book project….in the near future…?..My cousins parents both taught schooling Edinburgh..his mom MANUELA PEREZ RESENDEZ-UT,AUSTIN,..his DadFelix Hernandez,,from Brady started college at “SAN MARCOS”…WW2 interrupted studies..resumed,graduated ,,started career at Edinburgh,taught @40years….. both driven idealists :teach los Mexicanos!!! VIVA TEXAS!!! Rudolph CARMONA Resendez | February 1, 2019 at 9:11 pm | Reply (Edit) Dear sirs:very interested in history ofPIEDRAS PINTAS RANCHO,we were told our grandmother,surname Colunga-Solis,Xavier ancestors..perhaps surnames ring a bell?….can you provide approximate location of rancho…thank you in advance.. cardenas.ae@gmail.com | February 3, 2019 at 3:06 pm | Reply (Edit) I’m afraid I am not familiar with these names. In an earlier reply, I mistakenly gave you information on the location of Realitos and not Piedras Pintas, which is a couple of miles northwest of the town of Benavides. Here is a map to the Pie3dras Pintas Cemetery. https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2577894/piedras-pintas-cemetery/map RC RESENDEZ | February 6, 2019 at 3:08 pm | Reply (Edit) Sir: seem to …now..! remember…my grandmother’s mom maiden name was Vela…a friend from Duval county shared -los Vela held their own against squatters and bandits.back in the early days..1800-1900s.May even own their ranchos to this day!.thank you, cardenas.ae@gmail.com | February 12, 2019 at 12:18 pm | Reply (Edit) Thank you. I know Veras that own land around the Rios area, but not sure about Velas although there are some Velas in the county. R C RESENDEZ | February 12, 2019 at 1:15 pm | (Edit) Dears sir: thank you for your information..over the decades,I have always been iimpressed by the intelligence of fellow tejanos from”south Texas “. I think yall received a better education than we did in central Texas. I seem to conclude that the PIEDRAS PINTA RANCHO,,WAS split up….did it end up owned by gringos?on another topic: I mentioned to an old SOUTHWESTERN BELL phone man that I ran across your newsletter,since he is fromBenevides Texas.he quickly informed me that he was very familiar with your name,that in fact you were quite a football player, his name is HOMER ROSAS…my, my…small world.Sir thank you for your assistance,have an awesome month! cardenas.ae@gmail.com | February 12, 2019 at 8:30 pm | (Edit) Thank you, RC. Yes, the Piedras Pintas did end up being bought up by a number of people, including several Anglos once oil was discovered in that area. I don’t know if I mentioned this before but my grandmother was born in Piedras Pintas. It was an old family story that my great-grandfather sold his land in the area for 10 cents an acre because the land was “no good” because every time they drilled for water some black stuff is all they would find. This was in the 1880s. If the “Homer” Rosas you are referring is “Homero” Rosas from San Diego, not Benavides, I know him well. Haven’t seen him in years, except on FB now and then. His brother was my classmate. As for the football tale that is truly a tale. I played but would never brag about it. Homero, on the other hand, was on the state playoff basketball team for San Diego. RC RESENDEZ | February 12, 2019 at 9:07 pm | (Edit) Greeting sir: I stand corrected,I recently viewed a Duval county map…BENEVIDES “sticks out …probably because I m old & I had several co-workers at SW BELL.ALSO my g-mother-born & raised on the PIEDRAS PIENTAS- had extended family in BEIVIDES and almost next door-ALICE,TEXAS.Family surnames were..SOLIS,COLUNGA,VELA…HOMERO always said the VELAS always “shot back” when threatened?…bandits,squatters,”gente barbaros”..native Americans..I’m pushing 70 years & have always been extremely fascinated by TEXAS.geography …and the many ethnic groups,their stories and adventures.Thank you for sharing research ….the story of humans fighting for resources..seems to never change….these stories must be told &shared …so we can appreciate the Latino citizens contribution to our history. I spoke to HOMERO ,told him I found your blog ..I will text him your site info..thank you..keep up your great effort!(PIEDRAS..PINTAS…has a nice sound..to it..right?)..ADIOS!!! Rudolph CARMONA Resendez | February 1, 2019 at 9:09 pm | Reply (Edit) Dear sirs:very interested in history ofPIEDRAS PINTAS RANCHO,we were told our grandmother,surname Colunga-Solis,Xavier ancestors..perhaps surnames ring a bell?….can you provide approximate location of rancho…thank you on advance.. cardenas.ae@gmail.com | February 3, 2019 at 11:56 am | Reply (Edit) Thank you for your comment. Realitos is 69 miles east of Laredo on TX 359. Good luck with your search. Ricardo Saenz | June 6, 2018 at 10:30 am | Reply (Edit) Hello Alfredo, thanks for your blogs on landowners during the 1850s. I have a copy of an 160 acre Homestead Land Grant to my great grandfather Antonio Sais Saenz. However, my question is, do you have any history on the Bounty Land Grants that were awarded to the soldier that served in the Confederate Army or the Texas Calvary during the years of 1863 to 1911? alfredo@mcmbooks.com | June 6, 2018 at 11:05 am | Reply (Edit) I do not have any research on the Bounty Land Grants you mention. You may want to check with the General Land Office at http://www.glo.texas.gov/history/archives/land-grants/index.cfm. martha fleitas | May 26, 2013 at 4:45 am | Reply (Edit) Thank you so much for looking- I thought that if verdict was appealed, records might be at St Mary's. Civil War followed that trial so perhaps not- I am enjoying your blog- hope you write a book! Alfredo E. Cardenas | May 23, 2013 at 8:50 pm | Reply (Edit) Interesting. When I have a chance I'll walk over to the Nueces County Courthouse and see what they have on this trial. If I find something, I'll let you know. martha fleitas | May 23, 2013 at 8:48 pm | Reply (Edit) Perhaps, but Davis gave survey 8 or center section of the Piedras Pintas Ranch to the heirs of Andrew Jackson Bryant upon the death of their father- Bryant died from injuries suffered during the US-Mex war- not death from the battle, but years later. Juan Saens had been running the ranch since the 1850's so when he received word that the governor had given away his land, he had to re-purchase his land from Bryant's heirs. Was recently given copies of the telegrams- wondered if land was given away by Davis because of Saen's 1860 testimony but cannot find trial records. Alfredo E. Cardenas | May 20, 2013 at 3:22 am | Reply (Edit) I have not seen the transcripts on Hamilton Bee v. Texas but have seen some of the records for Trinidad Flores Y Perez v. State of Texas which mentions Juan Saens as having testified. If I find anything else on this I will let you know. Incidentally, the "hated reconstruction judge" EJ Davis should be the "much beloved judge" by Duval County grantee descendants since he ruled in favor of DUval County landowners in several land dispute cases. martha fleitas | May 20, 2013 at 3:13 am | Reply (Edit) I read in Alice Grimes book "Llanos Mestenos" that my great great grandfather had testified before Judge EJ Davis in Brownsville (later the hated reconstruction judge) but I cannot find the trial transcript of Hamilton Bee vs the state of Texas. Did you find additional information or a transcript?