Confirming Rancho Guenoc (Coyote Valley of Lake County) To Its New American Owners
Finely executed plat map and contemporary example of the official United States General Land Office confirmation of ownership of 21,220 of land commonly known as Rancho Guenoc to A.A. Ritchie and P.S. Forbes, originally executed by William Denton in June 1857 and signed in facsimile by J.W. Mandeville, US. Surveyor General for California on June 30, 1858 and October 29, 1860 and approved by US. District Court Judge Ogden Hoffman Jr. on April 17, 1863. The plat map is accompanied by an description of the land and final certification signed by Andrew Johnson (secretarial) and Edward D. Neill on May 22, 1865.
Originally drawn by pioneer surveyor and mapmaker William Denton, the accompanying plat map illustrates a large section of Lake County, much of which is now Coyote County.
The map shows covers a stretch of the Rio de los Collayomi (Putah Creek) an Indian Rancheria and "Sterling's House" (Robert Henry Sterling, the white first settler in the Coyote Valley).
The text includes a lengthy multi-page description of the results of the survey of the Rancho.
Sterling's House
Rancho Guenoc
Rancho Guenoc covered almost the entire Coyote Valley, which includes Guenoc. It extended from the small mountains north of Middletown to the current southern edge of Spruce Grove Road and Hidden Valley Lake. The area spanned west to the furthest bend of Putah Creek, eastward, and then southward, including the land that is now home to the Guenoc winery and vineyards.
Robert Henry Sterling, notable for constructing the Stone House, the oldest building in Lake County, California, is a figure of historical significance in the region. Born in New York City in 1829, Sterling's early life was characterized by extensive maritime experience, starting from the age of 14, which included multiple global voyages. His maritime career led him to California in 1849 amid the Gold Rush, where he transitioned from seafaring to various roles, including mining and ship management.
In 1852, Sterling moved to Lake County, hired by Capt. A. A. Ritchie to oversee two large ranchos. This marked a significant chapter in his life, culminating in the construction of the Stone House in 1854, alongside Capt. R. Steele. This structure, now a State Historical Monument and museum, reflects the early settlement and architectural history of Lake County. Sterling and his wife, Lydia Jane Wheaton, the first white woman reported to live in Coyote Valley, resided in this house following their wedding.
Sterling's professional life extended beyond Lake County following the sale of the Guenoc property after Ritchie's death in 1856. He and his family relocated to Napa, where Sterling engaged in various business and civic endeavors, including the lumber industry and serving as a postmaster from 1890 to 1894. His contributions to the Napa community are noted, including his involvement with the local historical society.
Colonel William Denton was born on July 27, 1828, in Harrowby, England, to parents William Smith Denton and Sarah Nixon, and was one of their seventeen children.
Denton moved to the United States during the Gold Rush and worked as a civil engineer, surveying land for the United States. Notably, he led a survye in Death Valley and the Amargosa Desert region.
From 1858 to 1860, he surveyed the Sea of Cortes and the coastal region of Sonora with Federico Fitch. During this time, he likely met his future wife, Elena Cano de los Rios, when their ship stopped in her hometown of Mulege, Mexico. They married in 1860 on the English battleship “The Cleo” in La Paz, Mexico.
Elena was born on May 8, 1845, in Mulege, Mexico. William and Elena had eight children: Eleana, William Smith, Oscar Allan, Sarah Brent, Paul Isham, Alexander Marion, Maria Soldad, and Morgan Gascoigne. In 1874, the family moved to San Diego, and William worked as a land surveyor in Baja California for the International Colonization Company until 1886. He became a Mexican citizen in 1894 and owned significant property and mines in Northern Baja California.
The San Diego History Center holds the Denton Family Papers, which include family history, estate documents, and William and Alexander's business records, including land surveys and maps of Baja California. The collection holds William's Mexican naturalization papers, land deeds, and documents from the International Colonization Company.