COVARRUBIAS, José María (c. 1809-1870), born in France, he became one of the most powerful men of "Old California."

In 1838, Covarrubias married the daughter of Dominguez Carrillo, Maria del Espiritu Santo Dominga Carrillo (1814-1876), and for more than 50 years they lived in the adobe now located at 715 Santa Barbara St., Santa Barbara, CA. Rancho San Carlos de Jonata, west of Mission Santa Ynez [Santa Barbara County], was a Mexican Land Grant given to Covarrubias and Joaquin Carrillo by Governor Pio Pico in 1845.

In 1850 Covarrubias bought Santa Catalina Island for $10,000 from Thomas Robbins, who had received the island as a land grnat from Governor Pio Pico. In 1853, Covarrubias sold the island to to Albert Packard of San Francisco, after which the island went through a complex series of ownership changes. By 1867, the island's ownership was reunited under James Lick.

For years Santa Catalina Island was the property of José María Covarrubias, one of the most affluent of the old Spanish rancheros. In 1838 he married a daughter of Domingo Carrillo.

Jose Maria Covarrubias and his wife had eight children:

• 1. Nicolas Antonio (1839-1924)
• 2. Onesemio Miguel (1841-1930)
• 3. Maria Dolores Delfina (1844-1860)
• 4. Amelia (1846-1930)
• 5. Camilo Juan Pedro (1849-1928)
• 6. Maria Luisa Clara (1851-1870)
• 7. Pasculina (1853-1860)
• 8. George Washington (1866-1919)

Jose Maria Covarrubias died at age 62 on April 1, 1870 in Santa Barbara.

• Thomas M. Robbns received Santa Catalina Island from Gov. Pio Pico in 1846
• José María Covarrubias in 1850. Sold to:
• Albert Packard of Santa Barbara in 1853.

Per Dorothy Sloan-Books, Ranching Catalogue Part 2(Authors D-G), Items 2065-2089, http://www.dsloan.com/catalogues/RanchCat/RanchCat2/2065-2089.htm : "From the library of an important Franco-Mexican-Californian, signed on title by José María Covarrubias, a Frenchma n who became a Mexican citizen and came to California in 1834 with the Híjar and Padrés Colony to be a schoolteacher (see Bancroft, Pioneer Register, p. 110). This volume has exceptional associatio n interest: Covarrubias was adaptable, holding several key government posts in Monterey and Santa Barbara both before and after the shift of power to the U.S. In the early 1840s Covarrubias was busy a rresting Anglo foreigners. At the time of this imprint, he served as alcalde at Santa Barbara. By 1849 Covarrubias was a member of the California constitutional convention and served with the first le gislature (four times re-elected). In 1843 Covarrubias applied for a 26,000-acre land grant in Santa Inéz Valley, which was granted to him and his kinsman Joaquín Carrillo by the last Mexican govern or of California. Covarrubias hired Native American laborers to work the property as a cattle ranch, the Castac (or Castaic Rancho), a portion of which is now Fort Tejón, a California state histori c park near the Grapevine."

Per HispanicVista.com, http://www.hispanicvista.com/HVC/Columnist/jschmal/060605jpschmal.htm: "Article XI, Section 21 of Califor nias 1849 Constitution reflected the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgos guarantee, declaring, "All laws, decrees, regulations, and provisions... shall be published in English and Spanish." Article II, "Righ t of Suffrage," Section 1, stated that "Every white male citizen of the United States, and every white male citizen of Mexico, who shall have elected to become a citizen of the United States, under th e treaty of peace... who shall have been a resident of the State six months next preceding the election... shall be entitled to vote at all elections..." Eight Californios - six of them Mexican Califo rnians - represented Hispanic interests at the Convention. They were as follows: 1. Antonio M. Pico from San Jos e 2. Jacinto Rodriguez from Monterey 3. Pablo de la Guerra from Santa Barbar a 4. M.G. Vallejo from Sonora 5. José Antonio Carrillo from Los Angele s 6. Manuel Dominguez from Los Angeles 7. Miguel de Pedrorena - a native of Spain - representing San Diego. 8. Jos é M. Covarrubias - a native of France and a naturalized citizen of Mexico - representing Santa Barbara.* *[One of two Californio delegates at the first Conventi on was Jose M. Covarrubias, who was recognized far and wide as a Californio landowner from the Santa Barbara area even though he was born in France. Well respected by his political peers, Señor Covar rubias would represent his Santa Barbara District in the California State Assembly off and on between 1849 and 1862 and hold other important offices in the County]."

http://missions.huntington.org/MarriageData.aspx?ID=219: Jose Maria Cobarrubias married Maria del Espirit u Santo Carrillo 16 June 1838 Mission Presidio Santa Barbara #00218. Jose's origin Francia. Maria baptized Mission San Diego FBAP #04201. Both sets of parents unstated. Sacrament Witnesses are Mar ia Antonia Carrillo and Jose Noriega. Officiant and Recorder is Narciso Duran.
Per 1850 U.S. Federal census Jose Maria Covarubias is living in Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, born abt 1808 France Head Married Lawyer, spouse name Maria

Per 1852 California State Census José Maria Covarrubias is living in Santa Barbara County, California, age 44, born abt 1808 France Head Married Ranchero, spouse name Maria Carrillo de Covarrubias, l ast residence Mexico
Per 1860 U.S. Federal census Jose Maria Covarrubias is living in Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, born abt 1808 France Head Married Lawyer, spouse name Maria
Per The Political Graveyard, http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/courts-covode.html#S8504YIHW: "Covarrubias, Jose M. (c.1809-1870) - of Sant a Barbara County, Calif. Born in California [France]. Delegate to California state constitutional convention from San Luis Obispo District, 1849; member of California state assembly, 1849-50, 1851-52 , 1853-54, 1855-58, 1860-62 (Santa Barbara District 1849-50, 3rd District 1851-52, 1853-54, 2nd District 1855-58, 1860-62). Died in Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, Calif., April 1, 1870. Burial l ocation unknown."
Per U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885: Name: Jose M. Covarrubias Gender: Mal e Marital Status: Married Place of Birt h: France Estimated Birth Year: abt 1811 Age: 5 9 Month of Death: Apr Cause o f Death: Rheumatism Census Year: 1870 Census Locat ion: Township 2, Santa Barbara, California Line: 6 Archive Collection Numb er: 96:20


∼José María Covarrubias y [?] was born in France about 1809. He immigrated to Mexico where he became a citizen. He accompanied the Hijar & Padrés Company to Alta California in 1834. José married María del Espiritu Santo Dominga Carrillo y Pico (May 12, bap. 13, 1815 [SD Baptism 04201]-Jan. 11, 1899) at the Santa Bárbara Presidio Chapel June 16, 1838 (BP Marriage 00218). He was grantee of Rancho Castaic in 1843. He became a U.S. citizen with the transfer of California's sovereignty in 1848 and was a member of the State's Constitutional Convention at Monterey in 1849. He was elected to the California State Legislature to serve in 1850, 1853, 1855, and 1857. He was appointed judge in Santa Barbara in 1861. José died at Santa Bárbara April 1, 1870.
---
Children:
- Nicolás Antonio (early Apr., bap. 12, 1839 [BP Baptism 01315]-Nov. 26, 1924; served 4 terms as Santa Barbara County Sheriff; m. [1] Inez Gutiérrez y Ruíz Sep. 26, 1869; m. [2] Luísa Hernández y [?] Dec. 25, 1902)
- Onesimo Miguel (Feb. 23, bap. Mar. 8, 1841 [BP Baptism 01427]-Apr. 15, 1930; m. Ysabel Smith y Ortega; ch: Jose M., Ernesto, Angela, Maria Aurora, Yris, Laura [187?-1928])
- María de los Dolores Delfina (Dec. 23, 1843, bap. Jan. 5, 1844 [BP Baptism 01591]-bef. Jan. 5, 1848)
- Amelia (1846-1930)
- María de los Dolores Delfina (Jan. 5 at Santa Ynez, bap. Apr. 9, 1848 [BP Baptism 01869]-1860?)
- Camilo Juan Pedro (Dec. 7, bap. 9, 1849 [BP Baptism 01971]-Dec. 20, 1928)
- María Luísa Clara (1851-1870)
- Pascualina (1853-Jan. 24, 1895)

COVARRUBIAS, José María (c. 1809-1870), born in France, he became one of the most powerful men of "Old California."

In 1838, Covarrubias married the daughter of Dominguez Carrillo, Maria del Espiritu Santo Dominga Carrillo (1814-1876), and for more than 50 years they lived in the adobe now located at 715 Santa Barbara St., Santa Barbara, CA. Rancho San Carlos de Jonata, west of Mission Santa Ynez [Santa Barbara County], was a Mexican Land Grant given to Covarrubias and Joaquin Carrillo by Governor Pio Pico in 1845.

In 1850 Covarrubias bought Santa Catalina Island for $10,000 from Thomas Robbins, who had received the island as a land grnat from Governor Pio Pico. In 1853, Covarrubias sold the island to to Albert Packard of San Francisco, after which the island went through a complex series of ownership changes. By 1867, the island's ownership was reunited under James Lick.

For years Santa Catalina Island was the property of José María Covarrubias, one of the most affluent of the old Spanish rancheros. In 1838 he married a daughter of Domingo Carrillo.

Jose Maria Covarrubias and his wife had eight children:

• 1. Nicolas Antonio (1839-1924)
• 2. Onesemio Miguel (1841-1930)
• 3. Maria Dolores Delfina (1844-1860)
• 4. Amelia (1846-1930)
• 5. Camilo Juan Pedro (1849-1928)
• 6. Maria Luisa Clara (1851-1870)
• 7. Pasculina (1853-1860)
• 8. George Washington (1866-1919)

Jose Maria Covarrubias died at age 62 on April 1, 1870 in Santa Barbara.

• Thomas M. Robbns received Santa Catalina Island from Gov. Pio Pico in 1846
• José María Covarrubias in 1850. Sold to:
• Albert Packard of Santa Barbara in 1853.

Per Dorothy Sloan-Books, Ranching Catalogue Part 2(Authors D-G), Items 2065-2089, http://www.dsloan.com/catalogues/RanchCat/RanchCat2/2065-2089.htm : "From the library of an important Franco-Mexican-Californian, signed on title by José María Covarrubias, a Frenchma n who became a Mexican citizen and came to California in 1834 with the Híjar and Padrés Colony to be a schoolteacher (see Bancroft, Pioneer Register, p. 110). This volume has exceptional associatio n interest: Covarrubias was adaptable, holding several key government posts in Monterey and Santa Barbara both before and after the shift of power to the U.S. In the early 1840s Covarrubias was busy a rresting Anglo foreigners. At the time of this imprint, he served as alcalde at Santa Barbara. By 1849 Covarrubias was a member of the California constitutional convention and served with the first le gislature (four times re-elected). In 1843 Covarrubias applied for a 26,000-acre land grant in Santa Inéz Valley, which was granted to him and his kinsman Joaquín Carrillo by the last Mexican govern or of California. Covarrubias hired Native American laborers to work the property as a cattle ranch, the Castac (or Castaic Rancho), a portion of which is now Fort Tejón, a California state histori c park near the Grapevine."

Per HispanicVista.com, http://www.hispanicvista.com/HVC/Columnist/jschmal/060605jpschmal.htm: "Article XI, Section 21 of Califor nias 1849 Constitution reflected the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgos guarantee, declaring, "All laws, decrees, regulations, and provisions... shall be published in English and Spanish." Article II, "Righ t of Suffrage," Section 1, stated that "Every white male citizen of the United States, and every white male citizen of Mexico, who shall have elected to become a citizen of the United States, under th e treaty of peace... who shall have been a resident of the State six months next preceding the election... shall be entitled to vote at all elections..." Eight Californios - six of them Mexican Califo rnians - represented Hispanic interests at the Convention. They were as follows: 1. Antonio M. Pico from San Jos e 2. Jacinto Rodriguez from Monterey 3. Pablo de la Guerra from Santa Barbar a 4. M.G. Vallejo from Sonora 5. José Antonio Carrillo from Los Angele s 6. Manuel Dominguez from Los Angeles 7. Miguel de Pedrorena - a native of Spain - representing San Diego. 8. Jos é M. Covarrubias - a native of France and a naturalized citizen of Mexico - representing Santa Barbara.* *[One of two Californio delegates at the first Conventi on was Jose M. Covarrubias, who was recognized far and wide as a Californio landowner from the Santa Barbara area even though he was born in France. Well respected by his political peers, Señor Covar rubias would represent his Santa Barbara District in the California State Assembly off and on between 1849 and 1862 and hold other important offices in the County]."

http://missions.huntington.org/MarriageData.aspx?ID=219: Jose Maria Cobarrubias married Maria del Espirit u Santo Carrillo 16 June 1838 Mission Presidio Santa Barbara #00218. Jose's origin Francia. Maria baptized Mission San Diego FBAP #04201. Both sets of parents unstated. Sacrament Witnesses are Mar ia Antonia Carrillo and Jose Noriega. Officiant and Recorder is Narciso Duran.
Per 1850 U.S. Federal census Jose Maria Covarubias is living in Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, born abt 1808 France Head Married Lawyer, spouse name Maria

Per 1852 California State Census José Maria Covarrubias is living in Santa Barbara County, California, age 44, born abt 1808 France Head Married Ranchero, spouse name Maria Carrillo de Covarrubias, l ast residence Mexico
Per 1860 U.S. Federal census Jose Maria Covarrubias is living in Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, born abt 1808 France Head Married Lawyer, spouse name Maria
Per The Political Graveyard, http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/courts-covode.html#S8504YIHW: "Covarrubias, Jose M. (c.1809-1870) - of Sant a Barbara County, Calif. Born in California [France]. Delegate to California state constitutional convention from San Luis Obispo District, 1849; member of California state assembly, 1849-50, 1851-52 , 1853-54, 1855-58, 1860-62 (Santa Barbara District 1849-50, 3rd District 1851-52, 1853-54, 2nd District 1855-58, 1860-62). Died in Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, Calif., April 1, 1870. Burial l ocation unknown."
Per U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885: Name: Jose M. Covarrubias Gender: Mal e Marital Status: Married Place of Birt h: France Estimated Birth Year: abt 1811 Age: 5 9 Month of Death: Apr Cause o f Death: Rheumatism Census Year: 1870 Census Locat ion: Township 2, Santa Barbara, California Line: 6 Archive Collection Numb er: 96:20


∼José María Covarrubias y [?] was born in France about 1809. He immigrated to Mexico where he became a citizen. He accompanied the Hijar & Padrés Company to Alta California in 1834. José married María del Espiritu Santo Dominga Carrillo y Pico (May 12, bap. 13, 1815 [SD Baptism 04201]-Jan. 11, 1899) at the Santa Bárbara Presidio Chapel June 16, 1838 (BP Marriage 00218). He was grantee of Rancho Castaic in 1843. He became a U.S. citizen with the transfer of California's sovereignty in 1848 and was a member of the State's Constitutional Convention at Monterey in 1849. He was elected to the California State Legislature to serve in 1850, 1853, 1855, and 1857. He was appointed judge in Santa Barbara in 1861. José died at Santa Bárbara April 1, 1870.
---
Children:
- Nicolás Antonio (early Apr., bap. 12, 1839 [BP Baptism 01315]-Nov. 26, 1924; served 4 terms as Santa Barbara County Sheriff; m. [1] Inez Gutiérrez y Ruíz Sep. 26, 1869; m. [2] Luísa Hernández y [?] Dec. 25, 1902)
- Onesimo Miguel (Feb. 23, bap. Mar. 8, 1841 [BP Baptism 01427]-Apr. 15, 1930; m. Ysabel Smith y Ortega; ch: Jose M., Ernesto, Angela, Maria Aurora, Yris, Laura [187?-1928])
- María de los Dolores Delfina (Dec. 23, 1843, bap. Jan. 5, 1844 [BP Baptism 01591]-bef. Jan. 5, 1848)
- Amelia (1846-1930)
- María de los Dolores Delfina (Jan. 5 at Santa Ynez, bap. Apr. 9, 1848 [BP Baptism 01869]-1860?)
- Camilo Juan Pedro (Dec. 7, bap. 9, 1849 [BP Baptism 01971]-Dec. 20, 1928)
- María Luísa Clara (1851-1870)
- Pascualina (1853-Jan. 24, 1895)