General Vallejo’s descendants, gathered on the steps of their ancestral home. Bottom row, from right to left: Eleanor Cayler, Ben Cayler, Diana Riggs, Martha McGettigan Platon, Will Cayler, Annelise Hill, Kai Hill and Emmeline Hill. Top row, left to right: David W. Hill, Paul Cayler, Rickey M. Garcia, Nate D’Anna, Earl S. Douglass, Earl S. Douglass Jr., Greg Riggs, Steve Gantner, and Greg Kincaid.
After Sonoma’s Fourth of July parade, Gen. Mariano G. Vallejo’s descendants were invited by the Sonoma/Petaluma State Historic Park Association and Docent Council to attend a luncheon in their honor at the General Vallejo Home State Park.
Around 50 direct descendents of the famous general had a lovely time enjoying hot dogs, salad, watermelon, soft drinks and wine donated by Sonoma City Councilman August Sebastiani. Many stories of the General were told, and descendants were pleased to meet and speak with cousins from all over California.
Descendants were particularly pleased to hear that San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom had declared July 4 “General Vallejo Day!” The counties of Sonoma and Solano had also sent proclamations, as did the California State Assembly, the U.S. Congress, and there was even a letter from California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Martha Ann McGettigan, great-great granddaughter of the general, attended the luncheon. “It was a wonderful event; I much enjoyed catching up with all the other descendents, and want to give special thanks for the lovely food … Hearing the proclamations read was quite exciting, all while sitting underneath the same orange trees that the General himself planted and sat under!”
Lina Lorda, professional genealogist and Carrillo family researcher, helped contact the descendants and attended the luncheon.
“I really liked the way descendants from different branches of the family got together and spent time getting to know each other. I have an e-mail already from one of them saying that the experience left them feeling ‘very grounded.’”
There was talk about another gathering of the descendants, perhaps for the Vintage Festival in September. Plans for a “descendant’s float” have already begun.
