Vicenta Francisca Chapman y Villa was baptized at the Los Angeles Plaza Church July 7, 1849. She was the daughter of José Juan de los Angeles Chapman y Ortega and Josefa Antonia Villa y Váldez. Her parents were married at Mission San Gabriel September 1, 1844 (SG Marriage 01980). She was a grand-daughter of José Juan (Joseph John) Chapman and María de Guadalupe Ortega y Sánchez (1799-1860). She was the older sister of Juan José Ignacio Chapman y Villa, whom she helped raise and who is also buried in this cemetery. She married "William Mantaux" (William "Guillermo" Mutau) at the Los Angeles Plaza Church April 6, 1868 (LA Marriage 00325), and settled on his homestead outside Williams in Colusa County, California, later that same year. They soon abandoned this homestead ("pursued by vigilantes" according to family lore) and set up camp in a remote valley in the Sespe Wilderness that eventually assumed another variant of her husband's surname: Mutau Flat (34.63N, -119.05W). Mutau Creek, which passes through the valley, also uses this version of his surname. In September 1872 she gave birth to Guillermo Mutaw, Jr. A few months later she registered the family's brand and earmarks in 1873 (Ventura County Marks and Brands, Book 3). To provide additional income, her brother Juan worked as a "stock handler" (vaquero) at neighboring Rancho Sespe. Returning home from Rancho Sespe the evening of July 5, 1874, Juan found Guillermo drunk and especially abusive. Guillermo apparently had a "mean streak" and Juan did not appreciate the way Guillermo was treating her; Vicenta was seven months pregnant. An argument ensued and harsh words were exchanged. Guillermo threatened to kill Juan and reached for his rifle, but Juan was quicker on the draw. Her husband lingered for a few days, dying on July 8. William "Guillermo" Mutau was buried in the yard not far from the house. The Ventura County Coroner conducted an inquest into the matter and concluded that Juan had acted in self defense.* A couple of months later she gave birth to Adelina and Juan later moved to Rancho La Ballona (now Venice) to live with his mother and sisters, María Cipriana and Senida Soíla, taking her son, Guillermo Mutaw, Jr., with him (1880 US Census). Family lore tells of frequent visits to the Mutau ranch by notorious Californio outlaws, who were given sanctuary there "as long as they didn't come inside the house," according to Adelina's daughter Isabel (Lugo) Wilson. One of those outlaws, Francisco "Menito" Lugo, was the uncle of Juan Alfredo Lugo, her daughter Adelina's future husband and Isabel's father. After her husband's death the family fell into debt and the taxes went unpaid. A Ventura County delinquent tax list for 1875-76 shows Mutau's estate consisted of 12 horses and 200 head of cattle. She filed a homestead patent for a portion of Mutau Flat in 1881, which was granted February 1, 1882 (BLM Govt. Land Office, CACAAA 076506; 34.6423N, -119.0416W). Mutau Flat and her homestead were acquired by former Los Angeles County Sheriff James "Santiago" Thompson shortly thereafter. This isolated property is still privately owned and entirely surrounded by the Los Padres National Forest and the Sespe Wilderness. Leaving "the Mutau," Vicenta lived at Saticoy long enough to have four children with Lesandro García before purchasing land on the former Rancho la Ballona. By 1887 Vicenta and her children were living on that parcel, today bounded by Lincoln Boulevard to the west, Walgrove Avenue to the east, Lake Street to the south, and Marine Street to the north; an area that now includes Penmar Park and Penmar Golf Course. A strip of this property between Marine and Dewey was sold to Sylvia Louise Sessions and became part of Santa Monica, the rest of the property now lies in Los Angeles. She had two more children with widower Pedro Badillo, Francisco in 1888 and Juan in 1892. She was living there with her son Francisco in 1910, and remained there until her death in 1920 (1910, 1920 US Census).

*See: Ventura County Coroner's Inquest No. 4, dated July 17, 1874; Ventura County Probate Record P000015.

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Children (all used the surname "Mutaw"):

(with Mutau at Mutau Flat)

- Guillermo, jr. (Sep 10, 1872-Apr 26, 1911)

- Adelina Maria (Sep 3, 1874-May 30, 1942; married Juan Alfredo Lugo y Machado at Santa Monica, Apr 13, 1903)

(with Lesandro García at Saticoy)

- Eloísa (September 1879-After 1920; married A. Domínguez)

- Josefa (February 1881-After 1930; m. Francisco Cota y Machado at Los Angeles, Nov. 27, 1917; ch: Francisco [Dec. 31, 1919-Apr. 25, 1963]; later owned what is now Penmar Golf Course)

- Lesandro (Jun 29, 1883-Aug 9, 1930; married Flora Olivera y Cota [May 3, 1885-May 19, 1949])

- Stillborn, 1885

(with Pedro Badillo at Ballona [Palms])

- Francisco "Frank" A., Sr. (Dec 18, 1888-Jun 28, 1963; married Charlotte "Lottie" Anne Brackett y Durey [Dec. 24,1892-Feb. 19,1967] at Los Angeles May 13, 1916; ch: Frank A., jr. [Oct. 21, 1917-Jul. 15, 1996], William R. [Feb. 28, 1919-Jun. 20, 1977], Eloisa Jane [Aug. 11, 1920-Jan. 1, 1992; m. ..?.. Shelton], Vincent Paul [Jun. 30, 1923-Sep. 1, 1997], and Mary Ann [Aug. 25, 1925-Jul. 13, 1983; m. Becktold and McKee])

- Juan Chapman "John" (Jul 16, 1892-Aug 2, 1973, Van Nuys; m. [1] Jesusita "Susan" Bojórquez y Garde at Los Angeles Dec 7, 1910, div. by 1920, no children; m. [2] Myldred Florence Brooks at Los Angeles Mar. 29, 1920, div. by 1935, son Richard; m. [3] Jessie Alice Black at Los Angeles in 1935, dau. Judith)

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DEATHS.

MUTAW. At Marine and Santa Monica [Lincoln] boulevard, Venice, May 3, Mrs. Vicenta Chapman Mutaw, beloved mother of Lesandro, Francisco and John Mutaw; Mrs. John Lugo, Mrs. A. Dominguez and Mrs. F. Cota, a native of California, aged 71 years. Funeral from the above residence, Wednesday, May 5, at 9 a.m. Requiem mass at St. Clement's Church, Ocean Park at 9:30 a.m. Robert Sharp & Son, Venice, directors.

(Los Angeles Times, May 4, 1920)

(Research and biography by Steve)