On October 4, 1821 a land grant of 4,394 acres was issued by
Pablo Vincente de Sola, the last Spanish governor of California,
to Josè Loreto Higuera.  Higuera was a descendent of Ygnacio
Anastacio Higuera who had arrived with the de Anza party.  
Higuera named his land, Rancho Los Tularcitos ("place of the
little tule marshes") although early deeds show it as "Rancho
San Ignatio". The rancho stretched from the confluence of Calera
and Pennitencia creeks in the northwest to a large white oak
tree that marked its southeastern corner (this tree stood just
east of the intersection of modern day Calaveras Blvd and Abel
Street). South of Rancho Los Tularcitos was the land of Pueblo
de San José. The land grant was renewed by Mexican Governor Juan
B. Alvarado on February 18, 1839. When the United States
acquired California as part of the Mexican Cession, an
application was filed with the federal government to a patent
and this was issued on July 8, 1870.     Margarita was the
daughter of Valentin Higuera and Maria Ma