Majors, Joseph L.: Difference between revisions

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'''Joseph Ladd Majors''' was a frontiersman/trapper who came to the Santa Cruz area ~1840. Through marriage into the [[Castro family]], he acquired the land grant that became [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rancho_San_Agustin ''Rancho San Agustin''] from his new brother-in-law [[Bolcoff, Josef|Jose Bolcoff]].
'''Joseph Ladd Majors''' ([https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36709850/joseph-ladd-majors 1804-1868]) was a frontiersman/trapper who came to the Santa Cruz area ~1840. Through marriage into the [[Castro family]], he acquired the land grant that became [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rancho_San_Agustin ''Rancho San Agustin''] from his new brother-in-law [[Bolcoff, Josef|Jose Bolcoff]]. Soon after, Majors acted as proxy allowing fellow frontiersman [[Graham, Isaac|Isaac Graham]] to buy the adjacent ''Rancho Zayante''. As a naturalized Mexican citizen, although Majors was initially arrested in the 1840 "Graham Affair", he was not imprisoned. He did later (1842), however, sign a grievance letter (Elliott, p.10) against the Alta California/Mexico government written by ten men - including Graham - who were imprisoned and/or otherwise involved in the 1840 arrest.  
* [[History Pages: 7 - The Frontiersmen]]
* [[History Pages: 7 - The Frontiersmen]]
* [[Santa Cruz: The Early Years (1980 book)]], 107-109
* [[Santa Cruz: The Early Years (1980 book)]], 107-109
* [[The Joseph Majors story: Santa Cruz ranchero & American alcalde (2005 book)]]
* [[:Category:Pokriots, Marion Dale|Marion Pokriots]], [[The Joseph Majors story: Santa Cruz ranchero & American alcalde (2005 book)]]
* Son Robert died from a wound suffered in a famous gunfight in front of what is now Lulu Carpenter's on Pacific Avenue (''SWC'' Chapter Five, item 4).
* Son John P. was a Soc. of Pioneers member.
* In 1850 Majors was elected to be first County Treasurer.
* Two Majors grandsons, Tom and Joe, bought ranch land up the coast in 1917. The ranch gave its name to today's [[Majors Creek]].
 
Rowland gives Majors' Spanish name as Jose Mechas.


[[Category:Persons]]
[[Category:Persons]]
[[Category:1840-1849 arrivals]]
[[Category:County officers 1850-1891]]
[[Category:1889 Hatch map]]
[[Category:Persons in Society of Pioneers]]
[[Category:Persons in Elliott]]
[[Category:Persons in Elliott]]
[[Category:1840-1849 arrivals]]
[[Category:Persons in Rowland]]
[[Category:Persons in Rowland]]
[[Category:Persons in Sidewalk Companion]]
[[Category:Persons in Sidewalk Companion]]
[[Category:Old Holy Cross Cemetery]]

Latest revision as of 20:13, 15 November 2025

Joseph Ladd Majors (1804-1868) was a frontiersman/trapper who came to the Santa Cruz area ~1840. Through marriage into the Castro family, he acquired the land grant that became Rancho San Agustin from his new brother-in-law Jose Bolcoff. Soon after, Majors acted as proxy allowing fellow frontiersman Isaac Graham to buy the adjacent Rancho Zayante. As a naturalized Mexican citizen, although Majors was initially arrested in the 1840 "Graham Affair", he was not imprisoned. He did later (1842), however, sign a grievance letter (Elliott, p.10) against the Alta California/Mexico government written by ten men - including Graham - who were imprisoned and/or otherwise involved in the 1840 arrest.

Rowland gives Majors' Spanish name as Jose Mechas.