Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado

Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado. Martina Castro de Alvarado. Marker: , Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado , 02/14/1809 – 7/13/1882 , Juan Bautista Valentin Alvarado y Vallejo was born in Monterey, Alta California under Spanish rule. His family came with the Portola-Serra Expedition to settle Alta California for Spain in 1769. Losing his father shortly after birth, Juan B. Alvarado was educated along with his uncle Mariano G. Vallejo under Spanish tutelage. He is known as the first native-born son to serve as Governor of Mexican California between 1836-1842. During his tenure in public office Spanish Missions promoted civic improvements, fostered education, issued multiple land grants, dealt with the advent of American immigration, and takeover in the mid 1840s. He retired in San Pablo, California after the US takeover, on land belonging to the family of his wife Martina Castro de Alvarado. Juan Alvarado then became a rancher, businessman and testified in court numerous times to deal with the many entangled legal titles granted under the Spanish and Mexican government. His children went on to have successful lives and benefitted from the programs he established as Governor. Governor Alvarado died in 1882 in San Pablo. The adobe home is now a California Landmark., Martina Castro de Alvarado , 11/11/1814-5/16/1875 , Maria Martina Castro de Alvarado was the daughter of Francisco Maria Castro of Rancho San Pablo. Martina’s grandparents immigrated to California with the famed Juan Bautista de Anza Settler Expedition of 1775-1776. Martina married Governor Juan B. Alvarado in 1839 at Mission Santa Clara. They resided in the Gubernatorial mansion in the capital of Monterey during his 1836-1842 tenure. They retired to her family property of Rancho San Pablo soon after United States annexation of California. , Martina inherited the San Pablo adobe home and more than half of the almost 16,000 acre Rancho San Pablo when her mother Doña Gabriela Castro died in 1851. Juan and Martina helped the village of San Pablo grow and prosper, including donating property to the residents to build and establish St. Paul’s Catholic Church. She was “a lady much beloved for her many endearing graces of character.” Martina Castro Alvarado died in 1875 and on the day of her funeral, business in San Pablo was suspended. , Headstone: , Alvarado , Castro , Gov. Juan Bautista Valentin Alvarado , Born: Feb. 14, 1809, Monterey, CA , Died: July 13, 1882, San Pablo, CA
Governor of Alta California 1836-1842, Maria Martina Castro de Alvarado , Born: Nov. 11, 1814, San Francisco, CA , Died: May 16, 1875, San Pablo, CA , Married August 24, 1839, Valentin Alvarado, Son, Died 1861; Age 7 , John B. Alvarado, Grandson, Died Feb. 13, 1872, Age 3-mths, 10 days , Lolita Alvarado, Granddaughter, Died May 18, 1873, Age 16 , Maria Celinda Alvarado, Daughter, Died March 1875, Age 23.