[Los Angeles] Probate Court Documents of Joshua Bean, brother of Judge Roy Bean, Signed by Agustin Olvera

Probate Court Documents of Joshua Bean, brother of Judge Roy Bean, Signed by Agustin Olvera. 1852. 2pp.

Two handwritten documents, one on white lined paper and one on blue paper. Handwriting is legible. Both were folded three times and have moderate toning and soiling. One document has ¼ inch fold tears, not affecting content. Overall, very good condition.

Two Los Angeles County legal documents dated to 1852 regarding the estate of Joshua H. Bean, brother of Judge Roy Bean.

The court document written on lined white paper is signed by probate judge Agustin Olvera and is docketed on verso. This document contains a request for letters of administration for the estate of Joshua Bean to be granted to Alexander W. Hope and John F. Spencer(?). This document is dated to November 11th, 1852, just days after Bean’s passing.

Three names of note are seen in this document. Firstly, Joshua H. Bean (c. 1818-1852), mostly known for being the brother of famed Judge Roy Bean. Joshua Bean served as the last alcalde and first U.S. mayor of San Diego in 1850, held the rank of Major-general in the California state militia, and in 1851 moved to Los Angeles where he operated a saloon and store in the Mission San Gabriel. He was murdered near his saloon on November 7th, 1852.

Second is the judge, Agustin Olvera. Olvera was an important figure in early Los Angeles history. He arrived in California in 1834 and held various offices throughout Mexican administration. In 1850, after California was ceded to the United States, Olvera was elected as the first county judge of the newly formed County of Los Angeles. I fondly recall school field trips to Olvera Street, which according to Wikipedia, is "A small alley branching off of the Plaza, Wine Street. Its name was changed by City Council ordinance in 1877 to Olvera Street to honor Agustin Olvera, the first Superior Court Judge of Los Angeles County."

And finally, Alexander W. Hope (1820s - 1856), a physician, Los Angeles County sheriff, member of the Los Angeles Common Council and a state senator. In this court document he petitions for a letter of administration for Joshua Bean’s estate.

The second legal document is written on blue paper and is dated to December 14th, 1852. There is no content on verso. It is signed by Wilson W. Jones, clerk of the Probate Court of Los Angeles County, and H. R. Myles, deputy. It reads that by court order “Wilson W. Jones is hereby appointed Special Administration of the Estate of Joshua Bean Decd.” It then notes that this document was not sealed by the court. Wilson W. Jones (1826-1896) and Henry R. Myles were both members of the Los Angeles Common Council in the 1850s.

These documents record many notable names of early Los Angeles and are an important primary source for those interested in Los Angeles history or early California law. Very good. / None. Item #1924

Price: $1,950.00