The birth pangs of Soquel Village | Ross Eric Gibson, Local History
"Martina Castro was the first woman in California to apply for a Spanish land grant, becoming the county's largest landholder," writes Ross Eric Gibson. "She ended up with two grants, Soquel in 1833 and the Augmentation in 1844, reaching from the bay to Loma Prieta Peak, totaling 34,470 acres. Her brother-in-law Francisco Rodriguez followed her lead, gaining Rancho Rodeo in 1834."
Source: santacruzsentinel.com