The tragedy of Martina Castro
some of the early history of the Skyland area after Rancho Soquel’s augmentation was surveyed and officially divided into tracts by the court in 1864.
excerpts and pictures are from the book: The tragedy of Martina Castro which contains detailed timeline and lists of land transfers in the area of the Rancho and augmentation.
Casimero and Dario Amayo settle on the Summit
At some point in 1850, Casimero and Dario Amayo, two native Californios and brothers, settled on Rancho Soquel’s augmentation with their families near the headwaters of the creek that would later bear their name. Their homes were erected just to the west of where Lyman Burrell would later build Mountain Home (today, across Summit Road almost directly opposite the Burrell Schoolhouse, to the west of Loma Prieta Avenue). Because the brothers settled in the back country among the many giant redwood trees, several historians assume that they settled there to log. In actuality, the two were more active in homesteading and farming, cutting down a redwood tree only when it was in the way or if its wood was needed for something on the farm. Little of the two families’ activities are known except that they were some of the first to settle in the Summit area.
Land transfer from Augustus Noble to Craven Hester
Page 316-317:
For some unknown reason, Augustus Noble sold his remaining 1/24 claim to Rancho Soquel and Shoquel Augmentation, which he had previously purchased from the Catholic Church, to Craven Hester on August 7, 1858 Hester undoubtedly purchased this land to compensate for the School Land Warrant which had been floated to some other location in the state. By purchasing the property, he was able to remain legally on the land that he already occupied and on which he had made several improvements.
Land transfer from Luisa Lodge to Casimero and Dario Amayo
Page 380:
In a deed signed on October 17, 1860, Luisa and Jean Fourcade sold a 1/27 claim to Shoquel Augmentation to Casimero and Dario Amayo. The purpose of this deed was to ensure that the brothers and their families retained possession of the land that they had occupied for over ten years.
Land transfer from Luisa Lodge to Casimero and Dario Amayo
Page 392:
The deed signed on June 12, 1861 by Luisa and Jean Fourcade was identical to the deed they had signed on October 17, 1860, in which 1/27 of Luisa’s claim to Shoquel Augmentation was sold to Casimero and Dario Amayo
Page 392:
On June 13, 1861, Casimero and Dario Amayo answered the complaint regarding Shoquel Augmentation by agreeing that Frederick Hihn owned a 13/54 claim and that the area could not be divided and fairly partitioned among the respective owners. Since they had purchased their property the previous October, the Amayos had erected permanent structures including a house, corrals, fences, and other improvements situated about a half mile to the west of the portion of land occupied by Lyman Burrell.
Page 396:
CRAVEN P. HESTER is the owner in fee, and entitled to partition severalty of 1/48th part of the ranch. BENJAMIN FARLEY is the owner in fee, and entitled to partition severalty of 1/48th part of the ranch.
Page 397, Tragedy of Martina Castro
CASIMERO & DARIO AMAYO are the owner in fee, and entitled jointly to partition severalty to 1/27th part of the ranch.
Benjamin Farley pays debt to Craven Hester in full
Page 414:
On March 5, 1862, Benjamin Farley paid the remaining $162 that he owed Craven Hester for a 1/48 claim to Shoquel Augmentation. The amount had been outstanding since the original deed was signed on September 28, 1858.
Land transfer by Dario Amayo to Frederick Hihn and agreement between Hihn and Casimero Amayo
Page 468:
Either Frederick Hihn wanted to purchase Tract 20 in Shoquel Augmentation for its water and timber or Dario Amayo wanted to sell his half of the tract and move with his family. In any case, on February 13, 1864, Dario’s brother Casimero entered into an agreement with Hihn that allowed him to remain on Tract 20 and develop it for agricultural purposes as the timber was removed. Hihn, meanwhile, purchased all of Dario’s claim to the tract on February 22, granting him full ownership of the timber and water on the property.