WOB - Ranchos 1842-1867

Wilhelm Benitz

Rancho Real Estate Transactions

(1841-1867, ages 26-52 years)

(Last updated: Saturday January 21, 2012)

In the table below we list Wilhelm's real estate transactions on file at the Sonoma County Recorder's Office, plus some we know of from elsewhere. His real estate transactions in Alameda County (i.e. Oakland) are in a separate table (see menu). We have not yet researched his business transactions, of which we are certain there are many, in other counties, in particular in the California counties Tehama & Shasta (i.e. Rancho New Breisgau) and Nevada (mining), and in the state of Nevada in Washoe county (mining).

During his first ten years at Fort Ross (1845-1855), Wilhelm was active acquiring and selling properties, essentially building up his capital. During the mid-1850's he consolidated his holdings: selling his share in Rancho Herman, buying out his partner in Fort Ross, and settling his ownership issues over New Breisgau. During his last ten years at Fort Ross (1855-1866) he concentrated his activities on Fort Ross, operating it as a business enterprise.

Wilhelm did very well for himself when you consider that when he arrived at Sacramento in 1843 he was, if not penniless, close to it. Twenty years later (1867) he sold his Fort Ross real estate for $64,000 (more than $1,150,000 USD-2000). His total capital worth was likely much more, for example we don't know when he sold his investments in Agua Caliente, Rancho Jonive, and Rancho New Breisgau, nor do we know the value of his other investments, such as in mines.

Letters:

His letters of that period sketch his growng capital, largely amassed through real estate transactions. Basically he and his partners (Ernest Rufus and Charles Meyer) obtained property for little or nothing (Mexican grants) and sold them for considerable profit. He also made good money from his farming and ranching operations at Fort Ross, through the sale of agricultural products and livestock to the markets in the Bay area.

The monetary amounts in his letters are quite often larger than those in the official documents, possibly because he includes other expenses such as lawyers. Also, he sometimes rounded the numbers. We include here pertinent quotes from his letters, concentrating on his real estate transactions:

27 June ’53:

My partner and I have 2 camps [ranches], one of 20.000 acres [Fort Ross] and one of 11.000 [Rancho Herman?]; the latter we have sold for $26.500.- but the one we still have is much more valuable. I have lived there for 10 years already. I have another property of 25.000 acres up the Sacramento river, which belongs to me alone and which was given to me by the Spanish Government. I have named this piece of land "New Breisgau" this having also been inserted in the map. Till next spring it will be decided whether I remain here or not; in the first case I will keep Fort Ross and New Breisgau; besides I have invested $36.000.- which give me $500.- a month.

8 March ’55:

Times are getting worse out here. Two weeks ago, the banks stopped their payments. I also have, with my partner Meyer, $14.400.- in them, not knowing whether we will get it back or not. I am losing money besides, because you can feel the scarcity in all business. I an also losing my camp on the Sacramento, New Breisgau of 22.000 acres. The American government has acquired (?) this land, but there will be an appeal.

I have bought my partner's half of the camp [Fort Ross] and owe him $22.500.- to be paid on the lst. of May.

22 Sep ’56:

I lost $12.000.- in cash and 14.500 acres of land at New Breisgau, where they left me 7.500 ac.

Of course I could not economise anything during these last three years, but to the contrary had big losses. Still I could lend out $25.000.- and there is no danger either in other respects.

4 Sept ’58:

The wages will have risen over there too (ever 12 Kreuzer)? I pay my cook $40.- (100 Gulden) a month. If I had the idea to remain here, I would have advised you long ago to come, but I can not sell so soon. I want now $100.000.- for Fort Ross as it is; my camp [ranch] has been measured, it consists of 17.500 acres, and my new ranch at New Breisgau will soon be decided upon; there are another 6.750 acres. In my opinion these places will be worth double price in three years. Also my life-stock will do doubled by that time.

18 Jan ’63:

Three years ago I had a lawsuit which cost me $8.000. It was on account of my camp; somebody covetted it, but I won the lawsuit, less the $8000.-

Additional information:

The following websites provide useful background information:

All ranchos: Ranchos of California (Univ. of California at Berkeley)

Tehama county: Los Rancheros of N. California

List of Real Estate Transactions:

Bear in mind that early property descriptions were made using land marks, their sizes approximated within boundaries defined by a river, mountain range, or a particular tree. The deeds use a mix of terms for the same unit of land area (see our page on Measures):

1 sitio de ganado mayor = California league = Spanish league = league = 4,340.2 acres = 1,756.5 hectareas

1 acre = 0.4047 hectareas

1 vara = 33 inches = 0.8382 meters

1 California league = 2.6 miles = 4.2 km.

18xx

Property

Ac./Ha.

Total $

WB Out

WB In

WB Net

Partners

Type

From/To

Other Party

Agua Caliente (Sonoma)

13-Sep-47

1 mile square of land English measure

640 a.

259 h.

$2,000

1,000

Ernest Rufus

William Bennett

Deed?

Seller:

Jacob Dopken

Same

$0

0

Buyer:

** MISSING **

Total:

1,000

0

-1,000

Rancho Herman (Sonoma)

1846

Grant: 5 sitios de ganado mayor, bounded on north and east by Gualala river, west by Pacific Ocean. [True size: approx. 3 sitios]

21,701 a.

8,782 h.

$0

Ernest Rufus

Grant

Grantor:

Mexican Governor Pío Pico

1846

1 sitio de ganado mayor

4,340 a.

1,756 h.

$0

Ernest Rufus

Gift

Gift to:

Frederick Huguls

1846

1 sitio de ganado mayor

4,340 a.

1,756 h.

$0

Ernest Rufus

Gift

Gift to:

William Bihler?

08-Jun-49

3 of the original 5 sitios de ganado mayor (Mexican leagues)

13,020 a.

5,269 h.

$1,000

500

Chas. Meyer
Wm. Benet

Indenture
(see New Breisgau)

Seller:

Ernest Rufus

08-Jul-49

1 Spanish league NW part

4,340 a.

1,756 h.

$1

1

Charles Meyer
William Bennitz

Quit Claim

Seller:

Frederick Huguls

1853 First payment on sale of 2 & 1/4 leagues? Total price was $26,500 per letter of 27 June '53.
--
$11,100 5,550 Charles Meyer
William Bennitz
Letter:

27 June '53

Buyer:

Charles Wagner ?
William Bihler ?

04-Jun-55

NW part: 2 & 1/4 Spanish league +/-, plus all cattle & horses branded by Meyer, Bennitz, Jim Davison, Henry Hegeler, and Frederick Hügel.

9,765 a.

3,952 h.

$15,000

7,500

Charles Meyer
William Bennitz

Indenture

Buyer:

Charles Wagner
William Bihler

18-Apr-62

Bounded on north & east by Gualala river, west by Pacific

--

$1

1

Charles J. Meyer
William Benitz

Indenture

(Quit Claim)

Buyer:

William Bihler

3/4 Spanish league, difference between bought & sold
3,255 a.

1,317 h.

$0

0

Charles Meyer
William Bennitz

Buyer:

** MISSING **

Total:

501

13,051

12,550

Rancho Jonive

25-Jan-59

Detailed description

$3,000

3,000

William Benitz

Indenture

Seller:

William M. Gillespie

Same

$0

0

Buyer:

** MISSING **

Total:

3,000

0

-3,000

Rancho Muñiz (Sonoma)

Mar-1812 Fort Ross [Rossiia colony] established, approx. 1 by 2 miles
1,300 a.

525 h.

Tools & trinkets
-- -- -- Ivan A. Kuskov
Permission

Grantors:
Kashaya group, Pomo native people

Dec-1841 2 contracts, #1 unofficial: coast land from Point Reyes to Cape Mendocino (190 x 12 miles, 300 x 20 km.). #2 official: All Russian assets (buildings, livestock, implements) but no land.
Unofficial

1500,000 a.

600,000 h.

Official

no land

$30,000
-- -- -- Johann A. Sutter
Installment

Contract

Seller:
Alexander Rotchev, manager of the colony

04-Dec-45 4 leagues of land +/-: Bounded on the south by the Russian River, west by Pacific Ocean, east by Coast Range of mountains [Fort Ross]
17,360 a.

7,026 h.

--
-- -- -- Manuel Torres
Grant

Grantor:
Mexican Governor Pío Pico

17-May-51

4 leagues of land +/-: Bounded on the south by the Russian River, west by Pacific Ocean, east by Coast Range of mountains [Fort Ross]

17,360 a.

7,026 h.

$5,000

0

Charles Meyer
William Bennitz

Agreement

Seller:

Manuel Torres

1-May-55 Same 4 leagues of land -- 22,500 22,500 William Benitz
Letter:

8 March '55
Seller: Charles Meyer

11-Aug-55

Same 4 leagues of land

--

$1

1

William Bennitz

Indenture

(Quit Claim)

Seller:

Charles Meyer

13-Apr-57

Same 4 leagues of land

--

$5,000

5,000

William Bennetz

Indenture

Seller:

Manuel Torres

24-Nov-57

1mile Spanish square (1,666 varas square)

479 a.

194 h.

$3,000

3,000

William Bennitz

Indenture

Buyer:

James M. Small
John B. Thompson

05-Nov-59

Same 4 leagues of land

17,360 a.

7,026 h.

$6,000

6,000

William Bennitz

Indenture

(Quit Claim)

Seller:

John A. Sutter
Anna Sutter his wife
Anna Eliza Engler
William Muldrew
George R. Moore
Daniel W. Welty

05-Nov-59

Legal expenses? Difference between Quit Clain and $8,000 per letter of: 18 Jan.'63.

--

$2,000

2,000

William Benitz

Letter:
18 Jan. '63

Expenses:

Lawyers ?

04-Feb-60

Same 4 leagues of land, now 17,760.75 acres, based upon US survey approved 4 Oct., 1859.

17,761 a.

7,188 h.
-- -- -- --
Manuel Torres

Patent

Issued by:
US Board of Land Commissioners

11-Aug-60

SE corner, along Russian River up to Sheep Rancho Creek

1,500 a.

607 h.

$3,000

3,000

William Benitz

Indenture

Buyer:

John Orr
Flan Sheridan

23-Jul-63

Mineral rights: 3/4 rights to a mineral ledge

--

$0

0

William Benitz

Agreement

Buyer:

W.W. Hudspeth & partners
J.M. Ward & partners
Moses Davis & partners

21-Nov-63

Mineral rights: 9/10 proceedings for only right to prospect for coal southern half of Rancho Mooney for 10 years

--

$0

0

Wm. Benitz

Agreement

Buyer:

Trustees of the Fort Ross Coal Mine Co.
(A. Morstaat, C. Poehlman, C. Tempel )

03-Apr-65

Mineral rights: 9/10 mineral rights

--

$1

1

William Benitz

Agreement

Buyer:

Trustees of the Fort Ross Mining Company
(Conrad? Tempel, T. Schlosser, J.L.Rugg)

03-Apr-65

Mineral rights: 9/10 proceedings for only right to prospect for all minerals north half of Rancho Mooney for 10 years

--

$1

1

William Benitz

Agreement

Buyer:

F.W. Shattuck
J.L. Bonds

02-Jul-66

SE corner along Russian River from Sheep Rancho Creek.

1,907 a.

772 h.

$7,500

7,500

William Bennitz

Indenture

Buyer:

Arthur Thing
Samuel Rien

28-Aug-66

215 acres (in Timber Cove), grant to bro-in-law

215 a.

87 h.

$0

0

William Benitz

Indenture

(Grant)

Gift to:

John Kolmer

28-Aug-66

502 acres (in Timber Cove) next to Kolmer

502 a.

203 h.

$1,500

1,500

Wm. Benitz

Indenture

Buyer:

Wm. R. Miller
Wm. Allison

28-Aug-66

NW 103 acres (in Timber Cove?)

103 a.

42 h.

$0

0

Wm. Benitz

Indenture

(Grant)

Gift to:

Franziska Blanchard

01-Mar-67

North half (+/-)

7,000 a.

2,833 h.

$30,000

30,000

William Benitz

Indenture

Buyer:

James Dixon

03-Apr-67

Remaining south half (+/-) excluding that sold to others.

7,000 a.

2,833 h.

$25,000

25,000

William Benitz

Indenture

Buyer:

Charles J. Fairfax

20-Sep-73

North half orig. sold to Dixon.

2,500 a.

1,012 h.

$1

1

William Bennitz

Indenture

(Quit Claim)

Buyer:

George W. Call

Total:

$35,501

$70,003

34,502

New Breisgau (Shasta)

26-Jul-44

Grant: 5 sitios de ganado mayor, bounded on the west by Sacramento River, and on the east by the sierra, straddling Battle Creek. [True size: approx. 3.5 sitios]

21,701 a.

8,782 h.

$0

0

William Benitz

Grant

Grantor:

Mexican Governor Manuel Micheltorena

26-Mar-50 Undivided 1/2 share (exchanged for a share of Rancho Hermann - Shasta Co. Book of Deeds E: 505)
21,701 a.

8,782 h.
$0 0 0 0 William Benitz Exchange Buyer: Ernest Rufus

1856

2/3 of property, expropriated. (See transcript of his petition.)

14,467 a.

5,855 h.

$0

0

William Benitz

Letter:

22 Sep. '56

Expropriator:

US Land Commission

1856

Legal expenses of attempt to retain title?

--

$12,000

12,000

William Benitz

Letter:
22 Sep. '56

Expenses:

Lawyers ?

1/3 of property, retained (exact extent currently unknown).

7,234 a.

2,927 h.

$0

0

William Benitz

Buyer:

** MISSING **

Total:

12,000

0

-12,000

Town of Sonoma

09-Apr-49

Lot #19; 109 varas square +/-

2.05 a.

0.83 h.

$1,200

1,200

William Benitz

Indenture

Seller:

L. & F. Hegermann

15-Jan-57

Same

$1,500

1,500

William Benitz

Indenture

Buyer:

Charles Van Geldern

Total:

1,200

1,500

300

Town of Sonoma

Lot #34; Orig. bought from Blume.

2.05 a.

0.83 h.

$0

0

William Benitz

Indenture

Seller:

Blume

12-Jul-73

Same

$1

1

William Bennitz

Indenture

(Quit Claim)

Buyer:

Friederike Fichler

Total:

0

1

1

Town of Sonoma

21-Jan-50

Lot #199; 109 varas square +/-

2.05 a.

0.83 h.

$9

9

Wm. Bennett

Deed

Seller:

Wm. M. Fuller (alcalde/mayor)

08-Feb-50

Same

$200

200

Wm. Bennett

Deed

Buyer:

Joshua A. Brackett

Total:

9

200

191

TOTAL:
53,211 84,755 31,544

Final sale 1866-1867:

64,000

18xx	Property	Ac./Ha.	Total $	WB Out	WB In	WB Net	Partners	Type	From/To	Other Party
	Agua Caliente (Sonoma)
13-Sep-47	1 mile square of land English measure	640 a. 259 h.	$2,000	1,000			Ernest Rufus William Bennett	Deed?	Seller:	Jacob Dopken
	Same		$0		0				Buyer:	MISSING
	Total:			1,000	0	-1,000
	Rancho Herman (Sonoma)
1846	Grant: 5 sitios de ganado mayor, bounded on north and east by Gualala river, west by Pacific Ocean. [True size: approx. 3 sitios]	21,701 a. 8,782 h.	$0				Ernest Rufus	Grant	Grantor:	Mexican Governor Pío Pico
1846	1 sitio de ganado mayor	4,340 a. 1,756 h.	$0				Ernest Rufus	Gift	Gift to:	Frederick Huguls
1846	1 sitio de ganado mayor	4,340 a. 1,756 h.	$0				Ernest Rufus	Gift	Gift to:	William Bihler?
08-Jun-49	3 of the original 5 sitios de ganado mayor (Mexican leagues)	13,020 a. 5,269 h.	$1,000	500			Chas. Meyer Wm. Benet	Indenture (see New Breisgau)	Seller:	Ernest Rufus
08-Jul-49	1 Spanish league NW part	4,340 a. 1,756 h.	$1	1			Charles Meyer William Bennitz	Quit Claim	Seller:	Frederick Huguls
1853	First payment on sale of 2 & 1/4 leagues? Total price was $26,500 per letter of 27 June '53.	--	$11,100		5,550		Charles Meyer William Bennitz	Letter: 27 June '53	Buyer:	Charles Wagner ? William Bihler ?
04-Jun-55	NW part: 2 & 1/4 Spanish league +/-, plus all cattle & horses branded by Meyer, Bennitz, Jim Davison, Henry Hegeler, and Frederick Hügel.	9,765 a. 3,952 h.	$15,000		7,500		Charles Meyer William Bennitz	Indenture	Buyer:	Charles Wagner William Bihler
18-Apr-62	Bounded on north & east by Gualala river, west by Pacific	--	$1		1		Charles J. Meyer William Benitz	Indenture (Quit Claim)	Buyer:	William Bihler
	3/4 Spanish league, difference between bought & sold	3,255 a. 1,317 h.	$0		0		Charles Meyer William Bennitz		Buyer:	MISSING
	Total:			501	13,051	12,550
	Rancho Jonive
25-Jan-59	Detailed description		$3,000	3,000			William Benitz	Indenture	Seller:	William M. Gillespie
	Same		$0		0				Buyer:	MISSING
	Total:			3,000	0	-3,000
	Rancho Muñiz (Sonoma)
Mar-1812	Fort Ross [Rossiia colony] established, approx. 1 by 2 miles	1,300 a. 525 h.	Tools & trinkets	--	--	--	Ivan A. Kuskov	Permission	Grantors:	Kashaya group, Pomo native people
Dec-1841	2 contracts, #1 unofficial: coast land from Point Reyes to Cape Mendocino (190 x 12 miles, 300 x 20 km.). #2 official: All Russian assets (buildings, livestock, implements) but no land.	Unofficial 1500,000 a. 600,000 h. Official no land	$30,000	--	--	--	Johann A. Sutter	Installment Contract	Seller:	Alexander Rotchev, manager of the colony
04-Dec-45	4 leagues of land +/-: Bounded on the south by the Russian River, west by Pacific Ocean, east by Coast Range of mountains [Fort Ross]	17,360 a. 7,026 h.	--	--	--	--	Manuel Torres	Grant	Grantor:	Mexican Governor Pío Pico
17-May-51	4 leagues of land +/-: Bounded on the south by the Russian River, west by Pacific Ocean, east by Coast Range of mountains [Fort Ross]	17,360 a. 7,026 h.	$5,000	0			Charles Meyer William Bennitz	Agreement	Seller:	Manuel Torres
1-May-55	Same 4 leagues of land	--	22,500	22,500			William Benitz	Letter: 8 March '55	Seller:	Charles Meyer
11-Aug-55	Same 4 leagues of land	--	$1	1			William Bennitz	Indenture (Quit Claim)	Seller:	Charles Meyer
13-Apr-57	Same 4 leagues of land	--	$5,000	5,000			William Bennetz	Indenture	Seller:	Manuel Torres
24-Nov-57	1mile Spanish square (1,666 varas square)	479 a. 194 h.	$3,000		3,000		William Bennitz	Indenture	Buyer:	James M. Small John B. Thompson
05-Nov-59	Same 4 leagues of land	17,360 a. 7,026 h.	$6,000	6,000			William Bennitz	Indenture (Quit Claim)	Seller:	John A. Sutter Anna Sutter his wife Anna Eliza Engler William Muldrew George R. Moore Daniel W. Welty
05-Nov-59	Legal expenses? Difference between Quit Clain and $8,000 per letter of: 18 Jan.'63.	--	$2,000	2,000			William Benitz	Letter: 18 Jan. '63	Expenses:	Lawyers ?
04-Feb-60	Same 4 leagues of land, now 17,760.75 acres, based upon US survey approved 4 Oct., 1859.	17,761 a. 7,188 h.	--	--	--	--	Manuel Torres	Patent	Issued by:	US Board of Land Commissioners
11-Aug-60	SE corner, along Russian River up to Sheep Rancho Creek	1,500 a. 607 h.	$3,000		3,000		William Benitz	Indenture	Buyer:	John Orr Flan Sheridan
23-Jul-63	Mineral rights: 3/4 rights to a mineral ledge	--	$0		0		William Benitz	Agreement	Buyer:	W.W. Hudspeth & partners J.M. Ward & partners Moses Davis & partners
21-Nov-63	Mineral rights: 9/10 proceedings for only right to prospect for coal southern half of Rancho Mooney for 10 years	--	$0		0		Wm. Benitz	Agreement	Buyer:	Trustees of the Fort Ross Coal Mine Co. (A. Morstaat, C. Poehlman, C. Tempel )
03-Apr-65	Mineral rights: 9/10 mineral rights	--	$1		1		William Benitz	Agreement	Buyer:	Trustees of the Fort Ross Mining Company (Conrad? Tempel, T. Schlosser, J.L.Rugg)
03-Apr-65	Mineral rights: 9/10 proceedings for only right to prospect for all minerals north half of Rancho Mooney for 10 years	--	$1		1		William Benitz	Agreement	Buyer:	F.W. Shattuck J.L. Bonds
02-Jul-66	SE corner along Russian River from Sheep Rancho Creek.	1,907 a. 772 h.	$7,500		7,500		William Bennitz	Indenture	Buyer:	Arthur Thing Samuel Rien
28-Aug-66	215 acres (in Timber Cove), grant to bro-in-law	215 a. 87 h.	$0		0		William Benitz	Indenture (Grant)	Gift to:	John Kolmer
28-Aug-66	502 acres (in Timber Cove) next to Kolmer	502 a. 203 h.	$1,500		1,500		Wm. Benitz	Indenture	Buyer:	Wm. R. Miller Wm. Allison
28-Aug-66	NW 103 acres (in Timber Cove?)	103 a. 42 h.	$0		0		Wm. Benitz	Indenture (Grant)	Gift to:	Franziska Blanchard
01-Mar-67	North half (+/-)	7,000 a. 2,833 h.	$30,000		30,000		William Benitz	Indenture	Buyer:	James Dixon
03-Apr-67	Remaining south half (+/-) excluding that sold to others.	7,000 a. 2,833 h.	$25,000		25,000		William Benitz	Indenture	Buyer:	Charles J. Fairfax
20-Sep-73	North half orig. sold to Dixon.	2,500 a. 1,012 h.	$1		1		William Bennitz	Indenture (Quit Claim)	Buyer:	George W. Call
	Total:			$35,501	$70,003	34,502
	New Breisgau (Shasta)
26-Jul-44	Grant: 5 sitios de ganado mayor, bounded on the west by Sacramento River, and on the east by the sierra, straddling Battle Creek. [True size: approx. 3.5 sitios]	21,701 a. 8,782 h.	$0	0			William Benitz	Grant	Grantor:	Mexican Governor Manuel Micheltorena
26-Mar-50	Undivided 1/2 share (exchanged for a share of Rancho Hermann - Shasta Co. Book of Deeds E: 505)	21,701 a. 8,782 h.	$0	0	0	0	William Benitz	Exchange	Buyer:	Ernest Rufus
1856	2/3 of property, expropriated. (See transcript of his petition.)	14,467 a. 5,855 h.	$0		0		William Benitz	Letter: 22 Sep. '56	Expropriator:	US Land Commission
1856	Legal expenses of attempt to retain title?	--	$12,000	12,000			William Benitz	Letter: 22 Sep. '56	Expenses:	Lawyers ?
	1/3 of property, retained (exact extent currently unknown).	7,234 a. 2,927 h.	$0		0		William Benitz		Buyer:	MISSING
	Total:			12,000	0	-12,000
	Town of Sonoma
09-Apr-49	Lot #19; 109 varas square +/-	2.05 a. 0.83 h.	$1,200	1,200			William Benitz	Indenture	Seller:	L. & F. Hegermann
15-Jan-57	Same		$1,500		1,500		William Benitz	Indenture	Buyer:	Charles Van Geldern
	Total:			1,200	1,500	300
	Town of Sonoma
	Lot #34; Orig. bought from Blume.	2.05 a. 0.83 h.	$0	0			William Benitz	Indenture	Seller:	Blume
12-Jul-73	Same		$1		1		William Bennitz	Indenture (Quit Claim)	Buyer:	Friederike Fichler
	Total:			0	1	1
	Town of Sonoma
21-Jan-50	Lot #199; 109 varas square +/-	2.05 a. 0.83 h.	$9	9			Wm. Bennett	Deed	Seller:	Wm. M. Fuller (alcalde/mayor)
08-Feb-50	Same		$200		200		Wm. Bennett	Deed	Buyer:	Joshua A. Brackett
	Total:			9	200	191
	TOTAL:			53,211	84,755	31,544
	Final sale 1866-1867:				64,000