old stories

Alpine History Mystery for November 2013 SOLVED! – How Cockney Bill Found a Wife

Mystery SOLVED!! Cockney Bill was a toughened old salt who left London at the age of 15 to sail the seas. In 1836, when his ship landed in San Diego, Bill had seen enough of the sea-faring life and decided to stay in San Diego. He eventually found his way east to the Valle de las Viejas and purchased 17,000 acres. Here he set up his Rancho where he raised grain and ran a stage stop. It was a lonely life for Bill and he longed so much for a wife and family. But with just a handful of settlers…