Who Is Branciforte 1797

Villa de Branciforte was the least successful of the early pueblos in Spanish California, founded in 1797 near downtown Santa Cruz.  The pueblo was inspired by the viceroy of New Spain, the Marqués of Branciforte, and California Governor Diego de Borica. Their idea was to establish a new type of pueblo in California using retired soldiers and their families. The soldiers would become self-supporting colonists and also provide a ready reserve of additional military forces to defend the province. Unfortunately, no retired soldiers could be induced to come to Northern California.

The site for the new pueblo also was problematic. The governor selected a location adjoining the lands of Mission Santa Cruz, but the missionary priests bitterly objected. Also the funds for founding the town were hopelessly inadequate.  Nearly all of the forty original settlers of the pueblo were men convicted of petty crimes elsewhere in New Spain and banished to California. Not surprisingly, the pueblo did not flourish. In 1802 the government suspended all further support for Branciforte.

Alas. Today the memory of El Villa de Branciforte barely stays alive through the efforts of a dedicated group of Clampers who have taken upon themselves to preserve the history of a special time and place in California.  Branciforte would like to thank Monterey Viejo 1846 for giving us the Territory of Santa Cruz County in 1997.

 

 

Humbugs Of Branciforte

#1  Gil “Mother Hen” Sanchez

#2  Victor “2V” Veloz

#3  Noel “Dicktater” Allen

#4  Bob “Broad Brush” Niebling

#5  Warren “WWII” White

#6  Mike “Ringer” Ferreira

#7  Arte “Consigliore” Grames

#8  Tom “Jasper” Cannell

#9  Bill “Tea Bag” Cook

#10  Wendell “Well Read” Read

#11  “Smokey” Jim Turnidge

#12  “Captain Ken” Gilbert

#13  Wayne “Scooter” Winningham

#14  Dave “Grumpy” Wendt

#15 Tony “Triple T” Brassfield

#16 “Clamper Jim” Cirner

Ancient and Honorable Order of

 E Clampus Vitus

Branciforte Chapter 1797