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that said land is known under the name of "Rancho de German;"
is situate in the present county of Mendocino, north of the fort
Ross, and is bounded as follows: Commencing at a point on the
coast of the Pacific ocean about one and a half league north of the fort
Ross, where the "Arroyo Dichoatta" empties in the sea; thence
running along the low-water mark of the Pacific ocean to the
mouth of the "Arroyo Valale;" thence along the middle of said
arroyo southerly about two leagues and a half; thence in the
nearest direction to the Sierra; thence along the ridge of the Sierra
Telsmite at a distance of three quarters of a league from the sea-
shore, about two leagues and a half to a point due east of the
mouth of the Arroyo Dichatta first above named; thence due west
to the place of beginning; containing five square leagues, more or
less. And
And your petitioners further say, that the said Ernest Rufus
has in the possession of said land since he obtained the per-
mission of occupancy by the alcalde aforesaid, and that your peti-
tioners succeeded said Rufus in the possession and ownership there-
of on the days of his said conveyances to them; that they are not
aware of the existence of any title conflicting with or superior to
their own. They therefore claim to be the legal owners of said
land, and pray that your honorable body will confirm and validate
their claim and title thereto.

CLARKE, TAYLOR & BECKH,
Atty's for Petitioners.

Filed in office April 27th, 1852. (Signed)

GEO. FISHER, Sec'y.

Deposition of Ernest Rufus.

OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF LAND COMMISSIONERS

FOR CALIFORNIA, San Francisco, April 28, 1852.

On this day, before me, Harry J. Thornton, one of the commissioners for ascertaining and settling private land claims in California, came Ernest Rufus, a witness produced in behalf of the claimants, Charles Meyer et al., whose petition is No. 199 on the docket of said commissioners. The witness, being duly sworn, testified as follows-the law agent of the United States was notified, and attended by Mr. Greenhow:

Questions by Claimant.

Quest. 1. What is your name, age, and place of residence? Ans. My name is Ernest Rufus; my age 40 years; my place of residence Sonoma, State of California.

Quest. 2. Do you know the land claimed in this petition?
Ans. I do.

Quest. 3. State if you obtained a grant for it, and at what time?

Ans. I did obtain a grant for it in April, 1846, from Pio Pico, at that time governor of California.

Quest. 4. Have you examined page 4 and the first part of page 5 of document marked (C,) purporting to be a translation of the copy of said grant contained in the espediente, a certified copy of which is on file in this case, marked "B?" If so, state whether the same is a correct translation of the grant made by Pio Pico to you?

Ans. I have examined the said pages on the said document, and I think it is a correct translation, having compared it with the original grant now shown to me.

Quest. 4. Are you acquainted with the handwriting of Pio Pico? and if so, state whether the signature to said grant is the genuine signature of said Pico; and if so, at what time was said grant signed by him?

Ans. I am acquainted with the handwriting of Pio Pico, and know it to be his signature, as I saw him sign it; I know it to have been signed in the month of April, 1846.

Quest. 5. State whether you took possession of and made improvements on the land granted; and if so, at which time and to what extent?

Ans. I had possession of the land before I asked for the grant, and continued in possession until I sold it to the present petitioners in 1849. I built a dwelling-house and several Indian habitations, and grist-mill. The house and the Indians' huts were completed within one year from the time of getting the grant, and the mill was in such a state of forwardness that it was completed within fifteen months after the grant was made. I had placed some four hundred cattle and horses on it in the course of the first year after the grant, and by the time I sold it they had increased to 850. I cultivated in grain about forty acres of land.

Quest. 6. At the time you obtained the grant had you become a naturalized citizen of the Mexican republic?

Ans. I had; I obtained my naturalization papers in May, 1844, from Governor Micheltorena.

Quest. 7. State if you found any difficulty in getting your grant on account of your not being a native citizen of Mexico?

Ans. Upon my application for this land, I was informed that, from its situation in relation to the seacoast, I could not obtain the grant, although a naturalized citizen, unless certain things had been done by me, such as bearing arms for the country, or having done service as civil officer, or had introduced some useful art or manufacture; I was informed distinctly by the secretary that grants of land so situated could not be made, except to native citizens or to naturalized citizens, unless they possessed some of the qualifications above mentioned. Whereupon I proved by Andreas Pico and Juan Castañeda, who were officers then in the California service, that I

had served as a lieutenant with Micheltorena against Castro and his party under a commission of lieutenant obtained from Micheltorena; and that I continued in service some twelve or fifteen months.

Quest. 8. State whether the present claimants took possession of the land upon their purchase from you; and if so, whether they are now in possession as the recognised owners?

Ans. They did take possession of it, and hold it at present.

Questions by the United States Law Agent.

Quest. 1. Did you receive the title now presented from Governor Pico himself, or from any one else?

Ans. I received it from himself at the time when he signed it. Quest. 2. From whom did you receive the act of confirmation by the assembly?

Ans. I did not receive it.

Quest. 3. Why did you not receive it?

Ans. Because the assembly was not in session at the time I got the grant.

Quest. 4. Do you know that the title was confirmed by the assembly; and if so, when?

Ans. I heard, accidentally, that it was confirmed, but was not sure of it.

Quest. 5. Did you remain at Angeles during all the time of the session of the assembly after receiving your title?

Ans. Immediately on receiving my grant I left Los Angeles for my land, at which time the assembly was not in session.

Quest. 6. Do you know that the assembly was in session at Angeles after you left that place?

Ans. I understood that it was, from some Californians.

Quest. 7. Did you ever receive juridical possession of your land? Ans. I made application to the alcalde of Sonoma for juridical possession of the land; he told me that he would have occasion to survey other lands in that neighborhood soon; but the American war breaking out, he was removed from his office before he did so.

Quest. 8. When you served as lieutenant under Micheltorena against Castro, did you not also serve against Pio Pico, the governor from whom you received your grant?

Ans. I did, but he was not governor when I served against him.

Quest. 9. Did you believe that he had authority, as governor, to grant your title?

Ans. I did believe that he had authority to make a grant, and that his grant was good, because it was said that he had been recognised as governor of California by the Mexican government. ERNEST RUFUS.

The law agent present.

Subscribed and sworn to before me the 28th of April, 1852.
HARRY J. THORNTON,

Com'r, &c.

Filed in office April 28th, 1852.

(Signed)

GEO. FISHER, Sec'y.

1846.

Espediente promovido por Don Ernesto Rufus en pretencion del terreno nombrado German.

507.

S'or alcalde lo. de Sonoma: Ernesto Rufus, naturalizado Mejicano y arecinda do en esta frontera de Sonoma, ante V. con debido respecto y como mejor hallá lugar en d'ro digo q. teniendo un numero considerable de ganado y caballos, y careciendo de un terreno proprio para su seguridad, solicito de V. se digne conceder me licencia provisional para q1. pueda fabricar casa y meta mis bienes en el paraje valdio llama rancho de Ross, mientras occuro al gobierno para conseguir legalmente los titulos.

Por tanto a V. suplico se digne acceder á mi pedido de q. recibire gracia.

Ross, Julio 21, de 1845.

ERNESTO RUFUS.

No va en papel sellado por no haver lo en este lugar.

Jusg'o de Sonoma.

Perede ocupar lo provisi onalmente la parte interesada por el termino de un año, y si complido el tiempo no se presentare con su titulos legales sera denunciable como valdio.

Sonoma, Julio 21, de 1845.

JOSÉ DE LA ROSA.

[Here follows map―original, page 12.]

Pio Pico, vocal decano de la Asamblea Departamental y Gobernador provicional de las Californias.

Por cuanto Dn. Ernesto Rufus, ciudadano Mejicano por naturalizacion, ha pretendido para su beneficio personal el paraje nombrado

rancho de German, en las fronteras de Sonoma al Norte, de este departamento y mas arriba del establecimiento de Ross q. ocuparan los Rusos practicados previamente los averiguaciones consernientes: usando de las facultades q. me son conferidas á nombre de la nacion Mejicana he venido por decreto de este dia en concederle el espresado terreno declarandole la propriedad de el por las presentes letras de conformidad con la ley de 18 de Agosto, de 1824, y reglamento de 21 de Noviembre, de 1828, a reserva de la aprobacion de la ex’ma asamblea departamental y bajo las condiciones siguientes.

10. Podra cercarlo sin perjudicar las travecias, caminos y servidumbres lo disfrutara libre y esclusivamente, destinandolo al uso cultivo q. mas le acomode.

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20. Solicitara del Juez respectivo le de la posecion juridica en virtud de este despacho por el eual se demarcaran los linderos con las mojeneras necessarios.

30. El terreno de q. le hace donacion es puramente el de cinco sitios de ganado mayor El Juez q. lo posecione lo hara medir conformes á ordenanza quedando el sobrante q. resulte á la nacion pa. los usos que sean convenientes.

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En consecuencia mando q. teniendose el presente titulo por firme validero. Se tome razon de el en el libro a q. corresponda y se entreque al interesado para su resguardo y demas fines. Dado en la ciudad de los Angeles, este papel comun por falta de sellado á ocho de Abril, de mil ochocientos cuarenta y seis.

ANGELES, Mayo 8o, de 1846.

Dado cuenta en sesion de hoy con este espediente mando pasar

á la comision de terrenos valdios.

AUGUSTIN OLVERA, Secretario.

Ex'mo S'or Gob'or:

PIO PICO, Presidente.

Ernesto Rufus, natural de Alemania, y naturalizado en la republica como consta en la adjunta carta, anté V. E. respectuosamente y como mas haya lugar en derecho me presento y digo, que en el año pasado me concedia el s'or alcalde de Sonoma, ocupar provisionalmente el terreno conocido con el nombre de rancho de Ross, q. ocuparon los Rusos en aquella frontera manifestando á V. E. que hay la equivocacion en la instancia q. presenté al solicitar dicho torreno de haberse presto el rancho de Ross, debiendo ser el rancho de German como consta en el disceno que debidamente accompano y como este al esperar el termino q. se mesenalo para solicitar el titulo correspondente de que caresco.

A. V. ocurro suplicando le tenga la condad de mandarse me estienda aquel documento de cuya gracia y espero mereser vivire

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