San Juan Bautista in San Benito County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

MISSING

SEE LOCATION SECTION

Patrick and Margaret Breen

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, January 17, 2013

1. Patrick and Margaret Breen Marker

Inscription. In Memoriam
Patrick and Margaret Breen These pioneers left county Carlow, Ireland, in 1828. By 1845 they were owners of a farm in Iowa Territory.

Heading westward again, they joined the Donnor Party, whose heroic struggles to survive the winter of 1846 in the snows of the Sierra Nevada is widely known.

In February 1848 the indomitable Breen family became the first English-speaking settlers in this valley. Patrick Breen died at San Juan Bautista in 1868, Margaret in 1874. They are buried on the hill above this marker.

Erected 1968 by San Juan Bautista Historical Socieity.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1848.

Location. Marker is missing. It was located near 36° 50.752′ N, 121° 32.699′ W. Marker was in San Juan Bautista, California, in San Benito County. It was on Monterey Street west of Church Street, on the right when traveling west. The marker is located at the San Juan Bautista-Campo Santo Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 75 Monterey Street, San Juan Bautista CA 95045, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was on Central Coast

and specifically on the Coast Ranges.

It was also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it was in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least

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8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Campo Santo (a few steps from this marker); San Juan Bautista WW II Veterans (a few steps from this marker); Marentis House (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Carl M. Luck Gas Station (approx. ¼ mile away); Jim Jack’s Cabin (approx. ¼ mile away); Fremont Peak (approx. 0.3 miles away); Safety Follows Wisdom (approx. 0.3 miles away); Old School House (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Juan Bautista.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, January 17, 2013

2. Patrick and Margaret Breen Marker

The Graves of Patrick and Margaret Breen and other family members image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, January 17, 2013

3. The Graves of Patrick and Margaret Breen and other family members

Credits. This page was last revised on June 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 20, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,045 times since then and 34 times this year. Last updated on June 5, 2026, by James King of San Miguel, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 20, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.