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William Benitz | Page last modified: |
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William Benitz | Page last modified: |
William first announced the rancho and fort were for sale in the Daily Alta California, on June 10, 1865. The sale did not take place until March & April, 1867 (detailed below).
The following table lists William’s sales and gifts of land he made during 1860-1867 when disposing of Rancho de Muniz and Fort Ross. (For lists of all his real estate transactions, see our pages by county: Sonoma & Shasta, and Alameda).
He sold Rancho de Muniz, including Fort Ross, for a total of: U$D 67,000 (Per USCPI, 2024: 2¼ millon).
| Date | Description | Size | Value $ | From: | Document | To: | Other Party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rancho Muniz (Sonoma) & Fort Ross — (See ranch maps) | ||||||||||
| 04-Feb-60 | Muniz Rancho: Per US survey, approved 4 Oct., 1859. | 17,761 a. 7,188 h. |
-- | US Board of Land Commissioners |
Patent | Issued to: | Manuel Torres | |||
| 11-Aug-60 | SE corner, along Russian River, up to Sheep Rancho Creek | 1,500 a. 607 h. |
3,000 | William Benitz | Indenture Book 10, p.472 |
Buyer: | John Orr Flan Sheridan |
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| 02-Jul-66 | SE corner along Russian River, from Sheep Rancho Creek. | 1,907 a. 772 h. |
7,500 | William Bennitz | Indenture Book 19, p.137 |
Buyer: | Arthur Thing Samuel Rien |
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| 28-Aug-66 | 215 acres (in Timber Cove), grant to bro-in-law | 215 a. 87 h. |
0 | William Benitz | Indenture Book 51, p.287 |
Gift to: | John Kolmer | |||
| 28-Aug-66 | 502 acres (in Timber Cove), next to Kolmer | 502 a. 203 h. |
1,500 | Wm. Benitz | Indenture Book 19, p.481 |
Buyer: | Wm. R. Miller Wm. Allison |
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| 28-Aug-66 | NW 103 acres (in Timber Cove) | 103 a. 42 h. |
0 | Wm. Benitz | Indenture Book 19, p.581 |
Gift to: | Franziska Blanchard | |||
| 01-Mar-67 | North half (+/-) of Muniz Rancho, including Fort Ross proper, & associated buildings, & orchards. | 7,000 a. 2,833 h. |
30,000 | William Benitz | Indenture Book 20, p.129 |
Buyer: | James Dixon | |||
| 03-Apr-67 | South half (+/-) of Muniz Rancho, excluding that sold to others. | 7,000 a. 2,833 h. |
25,000 | William Benitz | Indenture Book 20, p.175 |
Buyer: | Charles J. Fairfax | |||
| 20-Sep-73 | North half of Muniz Rancho, correcting the sale to Dixon. | 2,500 a. 1,012 h. |
1 | William Bennitz | Indenture Book 44, p.256 |
Quit Claim to: |
George W. Call | |||
See the Aquisition of Rancho Muniz & Fort Ross.
“Commencing at the South East corner of said Rancho [Muniz] at a post marked M.52 in U.S. Patent to said Rancho, thence northerly along the east boundary line of said Rancho about one and five eigths of a mile to a point in said line half way between the two branches of the Fresh Water Arroyo that runs to the “Sheep Ranch”, first of said branches being marked “Branch” and thte other “Fresh Water Arroyo” in said patent, thence in a direct line to the junction of said branches, thence down the “Fresh Water Arroyo” near the place called the “Sheep Ranch” to Russian River near a tree marked “Alder Tree M. 57”, thence up said Russian River to the place of beginning, containing about fifteen hundred acres of land, more or less.”
NOTE “___” = illegible; “...” = omitted list of compass directions and short distances along rivers, measured in chains (chs) & yards (1 chain = 22 yards).
“Beginning at Alder tree 12 inches in diameter on the right bank of the Russian River and on the left bank of a creek known as the “Sheep Rancho Creek” and Station Number Fifty seven of the Official survey of the Muniz Rancho; thence running (Variation Mag. 1” 115’E) along the mmeandering of the right bank of the Russian River the following course and distance from the Course No 57 to course N. 69. both inclusion acending to the official survey of said Muniz Rancho viz: S.64° 15’ ... to the mouth of a creek, thence leavinfg the Russian River at N. 48° 45’ E.6.50 chs, ... to the centre of a Creek, thence up the centre of said creek the following course and distancces viz: N.4° 15’ E. 22,67 chs ... to the intersection of the Northerly line of the “Muniz” Rancho, thence leaving the creek and running along the northerly line of said Rancho S.54° E.___, 35 chs, to a point midway between both creeks and northward corner of a track of land belonging to John Orr, thence S. 23° 45’ 6.10 chs to the junction of said two creeks, thence down the centre of creek and along the westerly boundary of said Orr’s tract the following course and distances viz, ... , to the place of beginning containing Nineteen hundred and seven acres of land more or less, together with all and singular the ___ here lands and appendenances, ___ belonging or in ___ appertaining and the ___, remainder, rents, ___ and profits thereof.”
(NOTES: 1 chain = 100 links = 22 yards; “...” = omitted shoreline.)
“Beginning at a stake in the shore of the Pacific Ocean said stake being the South East corner of a tract of land sold to Messrs Miller and Allison and a part of the “Muniz Rancho” then from said stake runmay (a variation of the magnetic needle 16° 05’ East) along the meanders of the shore of said Ocean the following courses and distances Viz: ...[SE shoreline]... to a stake in a large cluster of rocks on the bank of a deep gulch; thence leaving the Pacific Ocean North forty seven degrees fifteen minutes East eighteen chains and fifteen links to a ditch pine tree 30 inches in diameter thence North forty-nine degrees East five chains and seventy eight links to a spruce pine tree 24 inches in diameter thence North seventy seven degrees fifteen minutes East thirty four chains and eighty eight links to a pine tree 36 inches in diameter thence North thirty three degrees fifteen minutes East seventeen chains to a leaning Madrone tree 24 inches in diameter thence North eighty one degrees fifteen minutes East twochains and ninety three links to a madrone tree 36 inches in diameter and corner to a tract of land sold to Messms Millers and Allison thnce along the Southery boundary of said tract of landn North seventeen degries forty nine minutes east four chains and seventy five links thence North thrity degrees forty five minutes West thirteen chains and fifty links, thence along the Easterly boundary of said Miller and Allison tract South fifty six degrees forty five minutes West seventy one chains to place of beginning Containing five hundred and fifteen acres of land more or less.”
“...if the said John Colmer should die without lawful issue then the above described tract of land together with all and singular the appurtenances thereto belonging on in anywise appertaining is to revert back to said Wm Benitz his heirs and assigns.”
(NOTES: 1 chain = 100 links = 22 yards; “...” = omitted shoreline.)
“Beginning at a Mountain Oak Tree 26 inches in diameter, said Oak tree being on the northern boundary of the “Muniz Rancho”, and East sixty one chains, fiftry links from the NorthWest corner and Station Number Fifty of the Official survey of said rancho, and is the North East corner of a tract of land belonging to Mrs Blanchard. Thence running Variation of the magnetic needle 16° 05’ E. along said northern boundary East One hundred and twentyfour chains, fifty links, thence South Forty eight Degrees west, Fifty seven chains seventy five links to a Madrone tree, 36 inches in diameter, and South East course of a Tract of land belonging to John Kolmer, thence along the easterly line of land of said Kolmer’s haib [??], North, seventeen Degrees, forty five minutes East, four chains, seventy five links; thence north Thirty degrees, forty five Minutes West Thirteen chaions fifty links to said Kolmer’s North East corner [??], thence along the Northerly boundary of said Kolmer’s tract of land South Fifty six degrees forty five minutes West, Seventy One chains to the shore of the Pacific Ocean; thence along the meanders of said shore the following courses and distances, ...(shoreline)... to a stake and South East course of a tract of land belonging to Mrs Blanchard; thence leaving the Pacific Ocean and running along the Easterly boundary of the tract of land of said Blanchard, North, thirty five degrees, thirty minutes East, thiry six chains to place of beginning, containing Five hundred and two acres of land, more or less.”
(NOTES: 1 chain = 100 links = 22 yards; “...” = omitted shoreline.)
“Beginning at a pine tree 27 inches in diameter on the shore of the Pacific Ocean, said tree beinng the north west corner of the “Muniz Rancho” and station Number Fifty of the Official survey of said Rancho, thence running Nansbeonos [??] of the Magnetic Needle 16° 15’ E. along the northerly boundary of said Rancho East sixty One chains fifty links to a Mountain Oak tree 26 inches in diameter marked B, thence South Thirty five degrees thirty minutes west Thirty six chains to the shore of the Pacific Ocean, thence along the meanders of said shore, the following courses and distances, viz: ...[shoreline]... to place of beginning, containing One hundred and three acres of land more or less.”
“All that tract of land in the County of Sonoma, State of California being part of the Rancho Muniz and bounded and described as follows: Commencing at a gate near the centre of said Rancho and near Benitz Station United States Coast survey – which station is marked by a cross, thence following the present fence in a South Westerly direction to the coast to the Southerly line of land belonging to John Coleman, thence following said Coleman’s line to the Southerly line of land belonging to Miller & Allison thence following said Miller & Allison’s Southerly line to the Northerly Patent line Easterly to station Post marked T 8 N R 12 West J.S.-17M51 - thence along said Patent line Southeasterly to a point from which a straight line Southeasterly to a point from which a straight line drawn Southwesterly at right angles to said Patent line will strike the easterly side of said Gate and the point of beginning, being the Northwesterly porion of said Rancho and containing seven thousand acres more or less.
“All that portion of the “Rancho Muniz” sometimes called Fort Ross Rancho, situate in the County of Sonoma, State of California, and lorended [??] and described as follows to wit, On the North West by the portion of said rancho, sold and conveyed in the month of March AD. 1867, by said Benitz to James Dixon, South West by the Pacific Ocean, Sout East by the so called Russian River Jenner Creek, and lands sold and conveyed by said Benitz to Arthur Thing, and Samuel Rien, and North East by the United States Patent line of said rancho Muniz, Containing by estimation <7000> Seven thousand acres more or less.”
“...all that certain parcel of land situate and bounded and particularly described as follows, to wit. Comencing at the middle or summit of a Knoll pr Natural Mound on the coast where the “Muniz Rancho” borders upon the Pacific Ocean, which knoll or mound is situated 4 chains more or less in the northeresterly direction from post marked 20 on the official survey of said “Muniz Rancho” said point of commencement being just South of the mouth of an Arroyo and about one half mile southeasterly from Old Fort Ross. Thence following the Patent line of said Rancho along the Coast bordering upon said Pacific Ocean in a north westerly direction to the southerly line of land belonging to John Kohlmer Thence North easterly along the southerly line of said Kohlmers land to where said line intersects the line of Miller and Allisons land thence North 48° East following Miller and Allisons south easterly line 57 chains and 75 links to the North Patent line of said “Muniz Rancho” Thence east along said last named patent line 133 chains and to corner of said Rancho. Thence south 54° East. along the north easterly patent line of said Rancho to a point from which the said point of commencement bears south 36° West Thence south 36° west to the point of commencement Containing 2500 acres more or less.”
© Peter Benitz (Benitz Family)