Murphy's Ranch, also called Murphy's Corral, is a historical site in Elk Grove, California in Sacramento County. The site of Murphy's Ranch is a California Historical Landmark No. 680 listed on May 11, 1959. At Murphy's Ranch on June 10, 1846, was the start of the Bear Flag Revolt and Bear Flag Rebellion.
History
American pioneer and mountain man, Ezekial Merritt, was the leader of a group of about 12 pioneers and settlers, that were able to overpower the troops of Lieutenant Francisco Arce and took a large number of Mexican soldiers horses that were in the corral of the Murphy Ranch. The soldiers were taking the horses to Mexican troops in San Jose's Mission Santa Clara from Mission San Rafael. The Mexican soldiers had stop for the night to rest the horses. Ezekial Merritt group was called the Bear Flaggers. The next main event in the Bear Flag Rebellion was on June 14, 1846, in Sonoma, the taking of the Mexican administrative capital. Thus the founding of the California Republic that lasted from June 14, 1846, to July 9, 1846. Americans Independence declared from Mexico on June 14, 1846, and the Americans occupied Sonoma July 9, 1846. The arrival of United States Navy ships with leader John D. Sloat on July 10, ended the California Republic as Sloat claimed California for the United States. The arrival John C. Frémont and Robert F. Stockton, also ended the short lived California Republic. For his actions and bravery Frémont promoted Ezekial Merritt to Captain of the California Battalion, a job he manager poorly.
Martin Murphy
The Murphy ranch was owned by Martin Murphy Jr. (1807-1884), located north of the Cosumnes River in Elk Grove. Martin Murphy was in a wagon train that was the first to cross the Sierras in 1844. The wagon train was made up of the Stephenson family, Townsend family and the Murphy family. The Stephens–Townsend–Murphy Party wagon train used strong oxen to pull the covered wagons. Donner Party crossed the Sierras using the same route as Murphy, but started to late. Murphy was one of the rescue group members that helped the Donner Party. The routed would be later used for the Railroads. Murphy's Ranch was near the Monterey Trail, it led from New Helvetia (later called Sutter's Fort) to Monterey the Mexican capital in California. In 1849 Murphy moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, at the invite of good friend Charles Maria Weber (Carlos Maria Weber). Helen Murphy, the youngest daughter of Martin Sr., married Weber, the founder of the city of Stockton. Martin Murphy founded what is toady called city of Sunnyvale after buying Rancho Ojo del Agua de la Coche and starting a wheat farm and ranch, named Bay View. At the Sunnyvale Heritage Park Museum is a copy of his home. Murphy father, Martin Murphy Sr., (1785-1865) is known for founding the townn of San Martin South of San Jose. Martin Murphy Sr. was born in Ferns, Ireland Murphy sons John Murphy and Daniel Murphy found gold and started a mining town called Murphys, California, California Historical Landmark no. 275. In 1851, Daniel married Maria Fisher, of the neighboring Rancho Laguna Seca.
Historical marker
There are a number of historical markers in California about the Murphy Family's impact on Murphy California. The Santa Clara County Parks Department has a marker in San Martin, California at 2080 East San Martin Avenue. The Pioneering Murphy Family marker reads: