*Note: According to her baptismal record, BP, #00326, Maria was born and baptized at the Presidio of Santa Barbara.
Contributor: Werner H (#48480465)

In the 1870 U. S. census, 64 yr. old Soledad Castro, b. in CA., was keeping house and living in Soquel, Santa Cruz, CA. with her
67 yr. old (inferred) husband, Rafael Castro, a farmer, b. in CA.
11 yr. old (inferred) grandson, Carlos Castro, b. in CA.
76 yr. old Enrique L'Estara, a laborer, b. in France
Rafael's real estate was valued at $5,000 and his personal estate at $1,000.

Santa Cruz Sentinel, (Santa Cruz, CA.), P. 7, last column
Sat., Jun. 27, 1936
Excerpt from: Members of Pioneer Family of Santa Cruz County, Traced Descent From Prince Who Became George IV of England
John Ord of Aptos and Marcellus Ord of Santa Cruz Were Sons of Young Briton Exiled to United States in 1800 for Political Reasons.
The ranch, 70 acres, came into the Ord family as a fee for legal advice. Rafael Castro, son of a man who came as child of five with the Anza party from Sonora to Monterey in 1775, decided he wanted to divorce his wife, Soledad Cota, member of a Monterey and Santa Barbara family of Mexican days.
Pacificus Ord was one of the leading attorneys of the state. On a trip to Santa Cruz to appear in court here he was consulted by the patriarch of Aptos as to the procedure in obtaining a divorce under American law.
Rafael Castro Wanted Divorce
Rafael was told by Pacificus Ord that the law of the United States would undoubtedly require him to divide his property with his wife. Castro decided that, while he wanted marital freedom, he did not desire it sufficiently to part with any of his land holdings and timber. It is ironical that the old county records show that his wife, Soledad, turned the tables on him and a year or so later, sued for divorce on her own behalf, alleging that Rafael's relations with a young and beautiful maiden of the neighborhood would not bear close scrutiny. The divorce, however, was not granted.
Farm Was Legal Fee
Rafael's fee to Pacificus Ord was 70 acres of rich farming land. On it John Ord lived for many years, growing wheat on its level acres and cutting timber from the forested land to the north with the permission of the open handed Castro.

Santa Cruz Sentinel, (Santa Cruz, CA.), P. 3, Col. 2 & 3
Wed., Apr. 17, 1889
-On Monday Mrs. Maria Soledad Cota de Castro died at the Bay View Hotel. Aptos, at the age of 83 years. Deceased was the wife of Rafael Castro, well-known among pioneers in this county. He died eleven years ago.
She leaves a family of seven, four sons and three daughters, all of whom reside in this State. She was one of the pioneers in this county, her parents being among the first settlers in Aptos.

MRS. RAFAEL CASTRO.
She Passes Away in Aptos - A Reminiscence of Pioneer Days
Mrs. Maria Soledad Cota de Castro, relict of Rafael Castro, deceased, breathed her last at the Bay View Hotel at Aptos on Monday afternoon. Mrs. Castro was eighty-three years of age, and for about sixty years had been a resident of this county.
The Castro family, under Mexican rule, was among the most prominent in California. One member was Governor and the other a General. At one time Rafael Castro counted his acres of land in the county by the hundred. The land in and around Aptos, owned by Claus Spreckels, was purchased from Don Rafael, who died some years ago.
Don Rafael, who had been imposed on by some of the early American settlers, acquired a sort of distrust of all men. True, he had a few intimate friends, but even to these he was not confidential with his business affairs. In his later years he had about $10,000 in fifty-dollar slugs in the wall near the head of his bed in which he slept. One day during his absence the money was found missing. This must have been over twenty years ago, and the robbery created much comment in the county. The old gentleman had so much confidence in his hiding place that it was not for some time that he discovered his loss. The theft was traced to one who was in some way related to Don Rafael. On the first trial the party accused was convicted, but a new trial was granted and an acquittal resulted.
Mrs. Castro was always kind to the poor, and was noted for her hospitality. Of the vast estate once owned by the family, very little is now left.
The children of the deceased are:
1. Angustia (Maria de las Angustias) Castro, b. 1844 and d. Feb. 4, 1896 in Aptos, Santa Cruz county, CA. Angustia marr. Jose/Joseph Ernest Arano, who built the Bay View Hotel in Aptos, Santa Cruz county, CA.
2. Maria Antonia Castro, b. abt. 1850 in CA. Maria Antonia marr. Guadalupe Bernal
3. Mary Francisca de los Angeles Castro, b. Jun. 2, 1834 in Aptos, Santa Cruz County, CA. and d. Mar. 18, 1911 in Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County, CA. Maria marr. Nicholas Valencia in 1850 and after he died in 1870, Maria marr. Esperidian Hipoloito.
4. Jose Castro, b. abt. 1826 in CA.
5. Francisco Castro, b. abt. 1828 in CA.
6. Antonio Castro (who marr. Dolores Jackson), b. abt. 1829 in CA.
7. Vicente Castro, b. 1835 (or 1837) in CA. and d. 1925
8. Joaquin Castro, b. 1842 (or 1844) in CA. and d. Jan. 28, 1925.
Among the nieces of deceased are Mesdames J. Littlejohn, J. Peck, J. Averon and Thos. Fallon.
The deceased leaves many relatives in this county to mourn her loss.

Other children of Rafael & Maria Castro:
9. Adelaide Castro, b. Dec. 18, 1832 in Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz county, CA. and d. Sep. 9, 1851 at the age of 18 in Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County, CA. Adelaide marr. Luis Gonzales.

Mentioned in Rafael Castro's will are (difficult to read):
His wife: Doña Maria Soledad Cota y Castro
Sons: Joaquin, Antonio, Vicente, Francisco and Jose Maria Castro.
Daughter: Maria Castro, married to Esperidian Hipolito; Antonia Castro, wife of Guadalupe Bernal; Angustia Castro, wife of Jose Arana/Arano.
Source: California, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1850-1953

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