Joaquin Valenzuela

Joaquin Valenzuela (182?-1853) was a Sonoran fortyniner, that came to California in 1849, during the California Gold Rush, with a small band of people from the vicinity of their hometown with Joaquin Murrieta. He subsequent became one of the leaders of the Five Joaquins Gang. Family sources said he died in 1853, at the hands of the California Rangers instead of being hung in San Luis Obispo by local vigilantes in 1858.

Life

Joaquin Valenzuela and his brothers were born in Pueblo de Murrieta on the Rancho Tapizuelas, in southern Sonora near the border with Sinaloa. He and his brothers were cousins of Joaquin Murrieta. Joaquin Valenzuela came to California with his four brothers in 1849, with Joaquin Murrieta and his fiance Rosa Féliz and three of her brothers, two of Joaquin Murrieta's Murrieta cousins Joaquin Juan and Martin Murrieta, and several other men from Pueblo de Murrieta and its vicinity on the Rancho Tapizuelas. He later became one of the leaders of the Five Joaquins Gang, responsible for leading the gang's organized gathering of mustangs and stolen horses in California, and with his brother Teodoro, for their transport to and sale in Sonora.[1]:134

The Daily Alta California, reported on August 5, 1853 about Captain Love returning from the fight on the Cantua:

SAN JOAQUIN NEWS.
...
Joaquin's Band -— By the correspondence of the San Joaquin Republican we learn that Capt. Love arrived in Mariposa on Sunday with the head of Joaqain and a hand of one of his band, reserved in spirits, furnished by the surgeons of Fort Miller. Four of the bandits were slain in the fight, several others were severely wounded, and none of the Rangers were wounded. They bring one prisoner; another escaped and was drowned in the San Joaquin.[2]

Joaquin Valenzuela was one of the slain.

Death

Joaquin Valenzuela is said by various surviving gang members or their descendants to have been one of the several gang members killed by the California Rangers during their attack on the gang at the Arroyo Cantua, on July 25, 1853.[1]:69-70,128,134,139,272,355-356 Joaquin Valenzuela's brother Jesus Valenzuela had a nickname dating from his childhood in Pueblo de Murrieta, Ocho Moreno, and was also one of the named Five Joaquins Gang members, known to the State of California as Joaquin Ocomorenia. Jesus took his brothers name as an alias after Joaquin Valenzuela was killed at the Cantua. Jesus became an acknowledged associate of Jack Powers but still called himself Ocomorenia. Jesus was arrested and hung in San Luis Obispo by the San Luis Obispo Vigilance Committee in 1858, for the crimes of his brother while with Joaquin Murrieta. The vigilantes believed Jesus was Joaquin Valenzuela or Joaquin Ochomorenio, his brother.[1]:133-134[3]:296 The vigilantes believed Jesus Valenzuela had escaped their punishment for his crimes with the gang of Pio Linares at Rancho San Juan Capistrano del Camate.[3]:298

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Frank F. Latta, Joaquin Murrieta and His Horse Gangs, Bear State Books. Santa Cruz, California. 1980. xv,685 pages. Illustrated with numerous photos. Index. Photographic front end-papers.
  2. ↑ Daily Alta California, Volume 4, Number 205, 5 August 1853, p.2,col.2, SAN JOAQUIN NEWS, Joaquin's Band
  3. 1 2 Angel, Myron; History of San Luis Obispo County, California; with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Thompson & West, Oakland, 1883
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