Don Jose de Ortega Chapter

National Society Daughters of the
American Revolution

Canoga Park, California

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Chapter History

The Don Jose de Ortega Chapter of the NSDAR was organized October 9, 1970 at the Andres Pico Adobe, Mission Hills.. There were 24 chapter members; Mrs. Harry Fisher was Organizing Regent. Commandante Don Jose de Ortega, 1734-1798, was the ancestor, 5th generation grandfather, of member Marcia Havens Stowers. The chapter was eventually situated in Canoga Park in the West San Fernando Valley, California.

Jose Francisco de Ortega was a child "of honorable lineage and robust health," born in Zelaya, Guanajuato, New Spain, 1734. Although we know little about his childhood and teen years, on October 1, 1755, he enlisted as a soldier at the royal Presidio of Nuestra Senora de Loreto, Antigua, California. Rising rapidly through the ranks, he became a Lieutenant in 1773.

He married Dona Maria Antonia Victoria Carrillo, born 1741. She lived on his Refugio Ranch with their ten children while Ortega traveled in the service of New Spain. Ortega was commissioned "Explorer of the Trails" in Portola's 1769 expedition from San Diego to Monterey. He was the chief scout on the expedition that culminated in the Spanish discovery of San Francisco Bay.

In 1775, while exciting events were taking place on the other side of the continent, Ortega, Commandante at San Diego, went with Fray Lausen and twelve soldiers to explore the site which became Mission San Juan Capistrano. This Mission holds an account of his military record.

He assisted in the founding of Mission San Buenaventura and the Royal Presidio at Santa Barbara. En route from Santa Inez to Santa Barbara, February 3, 1798, Don Jose, by this time a Brevit Captain, died. They buried him in Santa Barbara the following day. Dona Maria is buried at the Presidio; his body was reinterred at the Mission. There, a plaque donated by the chapter named in his honor commemorates this hard working, greatly trusted and much traveled Commandante.

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Site last updated 08 August 2008