Was There a Vallejo-Soto Conspiracy?

After the Mexican War, despite the promises of the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo ending the war, grantees in California had to prove the legitimacy of their grant. Teodora Soto received a grant from Gov. Alvarado. The relationship to Mariano Vallejo becomes significant as the history of the Canada del Hambre land grant is reviewed. Since Mariano Vallejo was the uncle of Governor Alvarado, who granted the land to Teodora and her soldier husband, it is likely that the governor felt some family connection. When her ownership was first challenged, it was Vallejo’s testimony that made the case for the validity of the grant by testifying that he had seen the actual paperwork backing up her grant.