José Francisco Ortega

José Francisco Ortega (1734 – February 1798) was a Spanish-Mexican soldier and early settler of Alta California. A member of the Portola expedition in 1769, Ortega stayed on to become the patriarch of an important Californio family.

Early life

Ortega was born in 1734 at Celaya, Guanajuanto, Mexico, where he worked as a warehouse clerk. Little else is known about his youth. In 1755 he enlisted and served at the Royal Presidio at Misión Nuestra Señora de Loreto in Baja California. In 1759 Ortega married María Antonia Victoria Carrillo (ca. 1741 - May 1803). Some time after being promoted to sergeant, Ortega left the army to mine in Baja California and became alcalde (mayor) of the mining camps placed on the peninsula. Ortega rejoined the army in 1768, recruited by Portola to join his expedition.

Alta California

Sergeant Ortega was the chief scout on Gaspar de Portolà's 2nd land expedition to Alta California in 1769. He led a scouting party that encountered San Francisco Bay, and was probably the first European to see it on November 1, 1769.[1]

In 1773 Ortega became Lieutenant and Commandant of the Presidio of San Diego, a post he held until 1781. Previously he was Acting Commandant from July 1771 in the absence of Pedro Fages. As Commandant he went with Fray Fermín Lasuén and twelve soldiers to explore the site chosen for Mission San Juan Capistrano. Ortega was a favorite of the missionaries, including Junípero Serra. In the spring of 1782, Ortega was on the expedition that founded Mission San Buenaventura and the Presidio of Santa Barbara. Ortega became the first Commandant of the Presidio of Santa Barbara that year, and remained until 1784. During 1787–1791 he was Commandant of the Presidio of Monterey,and in 1792 the Commandant of the Presidio in Loreto.[2]

Retirement

In 1795 he retired as brevet captain with 40 years of service. Ortega was given a Spanish "land concession" in 1794, which he named Rancho Nuestra Señora del Refugio (Rancho Refugio) near Santa Barbara. He built his ranch here, but didn't enjoy it long. On February 3, 1798, Ortega fell from his horse and died at age 65 near the Indian village of Casil at Refugio Beach. He was buried at Mission Santa Barbara the following day.[3][4]

Family

Ortega's descendants became one of the prominent Californio families. His son Ygnacio was the 1809 grantee of Rancho San Ysidro. Daughter Maria de Guadalupe married the naturalized American Joseph John Chapman. A granddaughter married the Scot John Gilroy, namesake of Gilroy, California.

References

  1. ↑ Hoover, Mildred Brooke; Kyle, Douglas E. (2002). Historic spots in California. Stanford University Press. p. 349.
  2. ↑ Don Jose Francisco de Ortega
  3. ↑ "Death Record BP-00056". Early California Population Project. Huntington Library. Retrieved 15 Jan 2012.
  4. ↑ Geiger, Maynard (2008). God's Acre at Mission Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara, CA: Old Mission Santa Barbara. p. 8.