User:Asiaticus/sandbox/Francisco Felipe Badillo

Francisco Felipe Badillo, (1786 - 1859) born in Spanish Nueva España, was a political prisoner sent to Alta California in 1825, after his release he became the owner of a gambling house and a vecino in Santa Barbara. Later he became a ranchero that was granted Rancho Pecho y Islay in 1842 that he then sold in 1844. He also owned a small rancho in the vicinity of modern Carpinteria, California where he was hung by persons unknown with his sixteen year old son on August 24, 1859. The Badillo hangings triggered a civil disturbance between the native Californio population and the recently immigrated Americans in the county, that would require U.S. Army troops to quell.

Early Life
Francisco Felipe Badillo was born about 1786 in San Juan Teotihuacán, Nueva España. According to the 1850 U.S. Federal census, Francisco Badillo was living in Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, CA, born about 1787 in Mexico. According to the 1852 California Census he was then age 66, making his birth date in 1786.

Prior to coming to Alta California, Badillo was one of the companions of Vicente Gomez, 'el capador', described by Bankroft as: "a fiend in human form, thief and assassin, who is said never to have spared nor failed to torture any man, woman, or child of Spanish blood that fell into his hands..."

Francisco Badillo arrived on the ship Morelos in 1825 with sixteen other criminals. Badillo was sentenced to 10 years of Presidio work in chains, or to be shot without hesitation or formality should he venture to move from the spot where he might be put to work. According to his own admission, Badillo had been a highway robber in Mexico, and spoke freely and boastfully of his crimes.

During this time of incarceration, Francisco Badillo married Petra Garcia June 11, 1830, in the Mission Presidio of Santa Barbara. His daughter from his first wife Petra Garcia, was Tomasa Badillo, and she was later married to Pedro Abelar [de Ablar], who was the son in law that was in partnership with him at the time of his death. His first wife subsequently died and he then later married her sister Rafaela Garcia, at the same Mission Presidio. Both of his wives were, daughters of Carlos Garcia and of Maria de Carmen Ayala, related to the influential Carrillo and Ayala Ranchero families of Santa Barbara".

In 1833, while still a prisoner, he had been charged with a new robbery, but escaped punishment and when his time had expired in 1835 he was set at liberty. Francisco Badillo married the daughter of a well to do family in Santa Barbara, Rafaela Garcia on September 5, 1835. Rafaela received a deed from her mother to the property on the west side of State street, the second lot below Canon Perdido.

In 1852 Francisco deeded "all that lot, messuage or tenement his property with the house and buildings erected thereon, having thirty-five vara frontage on State street.....for and in consideration of the natural love and affection which he, Fancisco Badillo, hath and beareth to his legitimate wife, Rafaela Garcia de Badillo." This may have been where Rafaela was living at the time of the hanging of Badillo and his son as some accounts speak of a party of Carpenterians going to her home in Santa Barbara.

Vecino and Ranchero
After his release Badillo became the owner of a gambling house and a vecino in Santa Barbara. In 1838, Badillo came to the attention of José Antonio Carrillo and Governor Carlos Antonio Carrillo during their attempt to seize Santa Barbara, during the struggle with Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado for control of Alta California in 1837-38. He had a plan for its capture that had found favor with them. This relationship seems to have paid off when in 1843 he was granted Mission San Luis Obispo lands for the Rancho Pecho Y Islay by Governor Manuel Micheltorena. No sooner had his title been confirmed in 1844, than he sold the Rancho to James Scott and John Wilson that also purchased the Rancho Cañada de los Osos from Victor Pantaleon Linares. The grants were consolidated in the 1845 grant of Rancho Cañada de los Osos y Pecho y Islay by Governor Pío Pico, to James Scott and John Wilson.

In 1850-51, Badillo is recoded a paying a business licence to sell liquors at his Monte House. Pedro Manuel de Abelar, Badillo's later business partner and son in law, took out a business licence in 1851.

From the city of Santa Barbara Rafaela Garcia de Badillo had bought, for thirty dollars, a tract of land "being situate between the Rancho of Las Ortegas and the Carpenteria, being known as Paraje de Toro" (residence of the bull). A tract of land "east of the Carpenteria stream" was deeded in 1853 to Rafaela Garcia de Badillo for four hundred dollars by Fancisco and Dolores Davis Arias. Land in Carpenteria was also in the name of her husband. In 1853 Fancisco Badillo and Peter Dianblar [this may have been Pedro Manuel de Abelar, who married his daughter, Tomasa, from his first marriage to Petra Garcia] sold for one hundred dollars sixteen acres fronting the Ventura road to Henry McDonohue whose land adjoined it.

Thus it would seem that Badillo had a certain standing in the community that compensated in a measure for his evil reputation.

Per 1852 California State Census Francisco Badillo is living in Santa Barbara County, age 66, born abt 1786 Mexico Head Married Monte-Dealer, spouse name Rafaela.

In 1859, Badillo had a ranch in Carpenteria, a Monte House in Santa Barbara as well as other property. He was also in business with his son in law buying and selling property. He was not a poor man.

Death and its aftermath
Francisco Felipe Badillo was found hung at about 4 a.m. in the morning of August 24, 1859 in the woods near his house, in what is now Carpenteria. Also, hung was one of his sons, Eduardo Antonio Badillo, who was only 16 years old. Badillo's body with that of his son were found hanging to a tree with their feet very near the ground.