▁of ▁José ▁Jo aqu ín ▁Castro ▁of ▁Ran cho ▁San ▁And rés . ▁Maj ors ' ▁new ▁status ▁as ▁a ▁Mexican ▁citiz en ▁and ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Castro ▁family ▁allowed ▁him ▁to ▁apply ▁for ▁and ▁receive ▁the ▁grant ▁of ▁Ran cho ▁San ▁Ag ust in ▁( today ' s ▁Scot ts ▁Valley ). ▁Maj ors ▁then ▁acted ▁as ▁middle man ▁to ▁obtain ▁the ▁additional ▁grant ▁of ▁Ran cho ▁Z ay ante ▁for ▁Graham , ▁who ▁was ▁not ▁a ▁Mexican ▁citiz en ▁and ▁therefore ▁was ▁not ▁allowed ▁to ▁own ▁land . ▁In ▁ 1 8 5 2 , ▁Maj ors ▁test ified ▁before ▁the ▁Public ▁Land ▁Commission ▁saying , ▁" It ▁was ▁granted ▁in ▁my ▁name ▁because ▁I ▁was ▁a ▁Mexican ▁citiz en ▁and ▁could ▁hold ▁land ▁but ▁I ▁held ▁it ▁for ▁Graham ▁and ▁others ▁who , ▁not ▁being ▁citizens , ▁could ▁not ▁hold ▁it ▁in ▁their ▁name ." ▁ ▁Graham ’ s ▁reputation ▁would ▁probably ▁have ▁pre cluded ▁him ▁from ▁ach ieving ▁Mexican ▁citizens hip , ▁and ▁his ▁personal ▁pre jud ices ▁prevent ed ▁him ▁from ▁applying . ▁ ▁With ▁the ▁c ession ▁of ▁California ▁to ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁following ▁the ▁Mexican - American ▁War , ▁the ▁ 1 8 4 8 ▁Tre aty ▁of ▁Gu ad alu pe ▁H idal go ▁provided ▁that ▁the ▁land ▁gr ants ▁would ▁be ▁hon ored . ▁ ▁As ▁required ▁by ▁the ▁Land ▁Act ▁of ▁ 1 8 5 1 , ▁a ▁claim ▁for ▁Ran cho ▁Z ay ante ▁was ▁file d ▁with ▁the ▁Public ▁Land ▁Commission