Marcelina Leonis

Other Events:

• Other Information: Marcelina was the only child of Miguel and Espiritu Leonis. She died at the age of 20 from smallpox. Marcelina was named after Espiritu's aunt, the wife of Urbano. Her father loved her dearly and ensured that she had the best of everything. After her death her father was distraught and went over to an old oak tree at the rear of his adobe. He tied a rope around his neck and flung the other end of the rope over a large branch. He climbed upon his horse and tried his best to get the horse to gallop from beneath him, but his horse would not budge until he had dismounted; at which time it took off running. Marcelina's father was so angered by his botched attempt to take his own life that he stormed off to his barn, grabbed a saw, and immediately cut down the branch. Marcelina had one half brother, Juan Menendez.

Other Events:

• Residence: Address:
  1887 Los Angeles City Directory
  Summit (near 1st St.), Los Angeles, Occupation: Orchardist
• Courtcase: #761 Leonis v. Sepulveda 12/22/1860 #1776 Odon v. Leonis 12/23/1881 #1789 Leonis v. Dominguez et al 3/22/1871 #2169 Bouton v. Leonis & Odon 1873 #2212 Jaureguy v. Leonis 1873 #3420 J. Leonis v. Mariluis & Bastanchury 1876 #3598 Leonis v. Alexander 9/11/1877 #3907 Huarte et al v. Lazzarovich, Leonis 5/12/1877 #4500 Dominguez et al v. Miguel Leonis 7/15/1878 #2703 Amestoy v. Amestoy 1875 #4456 Leonis v. Lazarrovich et al 5/23/1878 #4457 Leonis v. Lazarrovich et al 5/23/1878 #5071 Goyeneche v. Leonis, Elario 6/2/1879 #5289 Leonis v. Rocha et al #5421 Leonis v. Seebold 1/17/1880 #4494 Leonis v. Gerkins 12/7/1878 #4518 Leonis v. Lazzarovich 4/9/1879 #5061 Oxarart v. Lopez, Leonis et al 11/6/1879 #5066 Leonis v. Morris & Wolfskill 5/22/1879 #4605 Vallet v. Leonis, Marscarel & Behasque 1/21/1879 #2399 Leonis, Amestoy, Save v. Sanguinetti et al #4831 Alladio v. Leonis 5/5/1886 #1819 Lopez v. Leonis & Robles 9/23/1882 #1919 Lopez v. Dominguez 11/9/1882 #2292 Burns et al v. Oxarart et al 5/12/1883 #613 Rios v. Leonis 9/11/1880 #3959 Leonis v. Rocha 4/7/1885 #4633 Leonis v. Palma y Mesa 12/7/1885 #4714 Leonis v. Alladio 12/9/1885 #5444 Leonis v. Leffingwell 10/16/1886 #2819 Ordoqui v. Irilarry 12/5/1883 #4164 Mesa v. Leonis 6/17/1885 #8595 Leonis v. Amestoy et al 9/5/1888 #9972 Roth v. Leonis & Goytino #9993 Leonis v. Hargrave 11/12/1888 #9556 Leonis v. Stanfinger 1/15/1889 #9555 Leonis v. Sansom 1/15/1889 #10972 Leonis v. Branscom 7/12/1889 #9992 Leonis v. Goytino 3/12/1889 #23873 Mesnager v. Robarts et al 8/8/1895 #15181 Rogers v. Duhart 4/28/1891 #11488 Estate of Leonis
• LA Miscellaneous: 1/13/1880 Bilderain & Leonis Bill of Sale Book 4 Page 206 6/23/1876 Felipe Garnier & Leonis Agreement of Judgement Book 3 Page 233 12/2/1871 ? & Leonis Book 2 Page 163
• Tax Assessments: TA 1861: 4 gentle horses = $60, 11 unbroken horses = $66, 1 California ox = $10, 200 cattle = $1200, 60 Common sheep = $45. TA1870-71: 1,400 improved sheep = $2,100, 8 rams = $20, 4 California horses = 100, 15 mares= $150, 4 California mules = $100, 7 unbroken mules = $105, 7 California cows = $140, 180 stock cattle = $1,800, 1 Jack = $30, 1 wagon = $80, harness = $15, 1,000 acres (Rancho El Escorpion) = $750, Adobe house = $200, improvements = $250. TA 1875 = (El Escorpion) 1,760 acres of land = $3,400, solvent debt = $3,000, 1 spring wagon = $100, harness = $10, saddle = $8, 5 spanish horses = $125, 6 mixed cows = $120, 35 stock cattle = $280, 1,500 graded sheep = $3,000, 1,500 common sheep = $3,250, dog = $5, furniture = $30.
• Title Deeds: 1/18/1868 Grantee Andres Pico 9-397 10/3/1861 Grantor Joaquin Romero 5-412 1/31/1871 Grantor Polonia Dominguez 16-231 12/2/1871 Grantor Antonio Jaureguy 18-450 3/2/1871 Grantee Espiritu Chijulla 16-365 3/17/1873 Grantor Bouton Mar. F. et ux? 24-220 10/30/1873 Grantor Chapman A.B. et al 26-416 10/30/1873 Grantor Glassell et al 26-416 1/23/1871 Grantor Odon (an Indian) 16-200 5/30/1874 Grantee D. Botiller 2-539 3/3/1873 Grantor Cecilio Tapia 24-84 5/17/1876 Grantee Pasqual Harotcarena 47-24 5/23/1876 Grantee John Benner 47-95 7/20/1877 Grantee Fred H. Ellsworth 55-249 10/15/1877 Grantee Fred H. Ellsworth 57-215 8/17/1876 Grantee Samuel Hellman 49-6 5/17/1876 Grantor L. Wolfskill 47-11 4/12/1876 Grantor L. Wolfskill 47-8 11/16/1876 Grantee B. COhn & Juan R. de Ramirez 49 121-135 1/4/1877 Grantee Francisco Ybarra, Lopez 49-590,591 9/14/1877 Grantee P. Harotcarena 57-47 2/21/1878 Grantee Rodney Hudson 60-231 3/2/1875 Grantor T.A. Sanchez 36-256 4/23/1875 Grantor Alexander Weill 34-489 6/12/1876 Grantor Isaac Norton 44-509 5/27/1876 Grantor Louis Roeder 44-446 5/17/1876 Grantee Joseph Vallet 47-26 5/27/1876 Grantee V. Wolfenstein et al 47-95 1/6/1880 Grantee George Cummings 71-412 3/8/1881 Grantor Juan Irilarry 78-183 6/28/1880 Grantor Guadalupe V. de Rocha (by sheriff) 78-259 8/17/1881 Grantor Jose Mascarel 80-607 9/12/1881 Grantor V.A. Hoover 81-590 5/23/1878 Grantor J. Lazzarevich 61-635 12/31/1877 Grantor Guadalupe Rocha 64-133 12/19/1878 Grantor G.F. Gerkins 65-358 8/12/1879 Grantor G.F. Gerkins 69-129 11/22/1879 Grantor Rafael Reyes 70-324 12/5/1879 Grantor George Cummings 71-182 1/19/1880 Grantor B. Cohn 71-493 1/19/1880 Grantor MC Santa Cruz et ux 71-491 8/17/1880 Grantee Xavier Behasque 76-214 1/6/1880 Grantee Thomas R. Bard 79-528 9/4/1880 Grantee Jose Mascarel 76-538 4/4/1882 Grantor Isaac N. Moore 88-143 3/25/1882 Grantee H. Nadeau 87-477 1/3/1883 Grantee Pierre Andares 98-360 2/17/1883 Grantor Francisco Lopez 101-65 4/23/1883 Grantor George A. Dorbinson et al 103-439 11/30/1883 Grantee Jose Mascarel 113-410 10/12/1883 Grantee Petra Acinade Johnson 110-479 9/20/1883 Grantor Vicente Valdez (agent) 110-275 3/8/1881 Grantor Juan Irilarry 78-183 11/28/1883 Grantor Jose Mascarel 115-133 6-582 Grantee William H. Workman (Trustee) 110-475
• French Benevolent Society: 03 Sep 1864; Record #218
• Naturalization: 15 Jul 1867; also 8/26/1859 Book 89 Page 262
• Brands: 1874; Book 3 Page 389 & 390 Page 144

Notes:

Birth:
There is no record on this date in the registers of Cambo, however, there is a Jean born to these parents on 5/11/1824. It is possible that is the correct birth date for Michel. More research necessary.

Courtcase:
He was brother to John (Jean Cadet), Jean, Michel, Marianne & Dominique.
He came to Los Angeles in 1850s.
In 1877 Leonis claimed to have bought some sheep from Behasque.
He bought 4,000 sheep with Jean Goyeneche from Juan Elario who was insolvent, they divided them.
Jose Mascarel was his attorney in fact and they had numerous business ventures together.
He owned an area called "Leonis Tract" from which he rented residences.
He owned Rancho Las Virgenes in 1885.
John Lazzarovich was an interpreter in Basque in on of Leonis' cases (1885).
J.P. Goytino was his nephew.
I.W. Hellman, President of Farmers & Merchants Bank & attorney, claimed the Leonis had an extraordinary memory and that he did not speak English but conversed in Spanish.
In 1891, Jury determined the Nettie Pryor was illegitimate daughter of Miguel but he did not publicly acknowledge her, so she did not receive any part of his estate.


The estate of Miguel Leonis was greatly disputed. Members of his family in France came to Los Angeles to claim a portion of his his estate including the following:
Anna Leonis, daughter of Dominique Leonis and Jeanne Baylle, a resident of Bayonne, France and 19 in 1895. She received some property and was involved in court cases because of it but had to sell it in 1896 to pay debt.
Jean Baptiste Leonis, son of Dominique Leonis and Jeanne Baylle, resident of Sare, France in 1895. He received property from estate and was involved in court cases due to it
John (Jean Cadet) Leonis, born 1820 died 1906, married to Francoise and child Jean Baptiste was residing in Los Angeles in 1890 due to estate. He claimed to be the Jean Leonis to recieve $15,000 in Miguel's will but Biscailuz disproved this. The money was put back into the estate since Jean Leonis was deceased.
Marianne Leonis, born 1840, sister to Miguel Leonis, married to Bonette in 1898, possibly mother to Jean Baptiste Leonis. She recieved property in the estate and involved in court cases due to it.
Michel Leonis, brother, born 1822, a widower in 1898 and retired customs officer, his children Marie & Irma, both of Bayonne, France. He came to Los Angeles in 1890 to care for estate and was attorney in fact for niece Anna and nephew Jean Baptiste. He went back to France by 1893.

Jean married Espiritu Chijulla on Yes, date unknown. Espiritu was born in 1836 in San Fernando, California; died on 10 May 1906 in Los Angeles County, California. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
They were not married.

Other Events:

• Occupation: He was a Prepose Douanier de Brigade or Customs Officer

Notes:

Birth:
His parents were Gratian de Leonis and Florence de Chemia of Baigorry. Birth information noted on his marriage record.

Jean married Marie Etcheverry on 30 Sep 1818 in Cambo-les-Bains, France. Marie was born on 31 Jan 1794 in Doyhanetcheverria, Cambo-les-Bains, France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Her birth information was noted on her marriage record and was actually 12 Pluviose An II.

Her parents were Dominique Etcheverry, carpenter and Gratianne Fagalde.

Her parents were Dominique Etcheverry, carpenter and Gratianne Fagalde.

Notes:

Birth:
Gratian de Leoniz, son of Jean de Leoniz and Marie d'Iribarne, owners of the house of Aoerreca.
His godparents were Gratian de Leoniz, paternal uncle and Gratiane d'Iribarne of Suhescun, maternal aunt.

Died:
Gratian Leonis, 85 years old, married to Florence Chalies, renters of the house of Chemia, died in his house in the quartier of Mitchelenia.

Gratian married Florence Tambourin or Chalies on 3 Jun 1788 in Chemia, St. Etienne de Baigorry, France. Florence (daughter of Miguel Tambourin or Salies and Florence Apecetche) was born on 25 Jan 1772 in Chemia, St. Etienne de Baigorry, France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Florence de Tambourinarena, daughter of Michel de Tambourinarena and Florence d'Apecetche, owners of the house of Chemiarena in Michelena.
Her godparents were Jean de Tamborinarena, paternal grandfather and Florence, owner of the house of Goiheneche of Iholdy.

Notes:

Married:
Gratian, cadet of the house of Agorerreca in the quartier of St. Etienne and Marie, inheritor of the house of Chemia.
Witnesses were Jean Leonis, brother of the groom, Jean Leonis, cousin of the groom, Jean Leonis, uncle of the groom and Charles Biscay, young owner of Legassa.