In 1863, a Scottish immigrant, Sir Robert
Burnett, purchased Rancho Sausal Redondo and Rancho Aguaje de la Centinela from
Avila's heirs for $33,000. Ten years later in 1873, Burnett leased the ranch to
a Canadian, Daniel Freeman (not the American Daniel Freeman, who was the first
to file a claim under the Homestead Act of 1862). Burnett returned to Scotland.
Freeman moved his wife and three children onto the ranch and started growing
various crops. On May 4, 1885 Freeman bought the ranch from Burnett for
$140,000.
George H. Peck owned a lot of the
