No family contributed more to the early development of San Mateo than that of John Parrott.
Born in 1811, John Parrott began his career as a merchant and later served as a U.S. Consul in Mazatlán, Mexico. By the time he arrived in San Francisco during the Gold Rush in 1850, he was already a man of considerable means. There, he established one of the city’s leading banking enterprises and quickly became a prominent figure in its business community.
Within a few years, Parrott had become one of the largest landowners in San Francisco’s downtown district. His investments included the Spring Valley Water Company, where he eventually became the largest shareholder, as well as positions on the board of the San Francisco Gas Company and major holdings in the New Almaden Quicksilver Mine.
Parrott was also a pioneer in international trade. He became one of California’s first major importers of Asian rice and sugar, while also bringing green coffee from Central America. In addition, he owned and operated a fleet of ships used to export wheat grown on his 18,000-acre ranch in Butte County.
In 1853, while in Mobile, Alabama to purchase ships, Parrott met and married Abby Eastman Meagher. The couple returned to San Francisco, where he built an elegant home for her on Rincon Hill, then one of the city’s most fashionable neighborhoods.
Though highly visible, the Parrotts largely kept to themselves. They were known for their refined and reserved lifestyle, raising eight children—six daughters and two sons. Tragically, one son, John Frederick Parrott, died in infancy.
When Parrott arrived in San Francisco, he brought with him two children born in Mazatlán to different mothers. He acknowledged and provided for both, ensuring they were well educated and fully included in family life. His daughter Magdalena later married a prominent San Francisco surgeon. His son Tiburcio, educated in England and Europe, eventually succeeded his father in managing the family’s business interests. After retiring, Tiburcio established a vineyard in Napa Valley.
In 1859, seeking a summer retreat south of San Francisco, Parrott purchased the Brookside estate from Captain Frederick William Macondray, located along the County Road in San Mateo. He gradually expanded the property to approximately 400 acres, naming it “Baywood.” A decade later, he replaced the original house with one of the Peninsula’s most elegant residences. The Parrott family came to be regarded as one of the most prominent between San Francisco and Menlo Park.
Although devout Roman Catholics, the Parrotts were deeply committed to the broader community. In addition to supporting Catholic institutions, they contributed generously to the construction of the Episcopal Church of St. Matthew and to the Bishop Armitage Orphanage. Their philanthropy left a lasting impact throughout both San Mateo and San Francisco.
In his later years, John Parrott lived primarily in San Mateo. Suffering from severe arthritis, he died in 1884 following an asthmatic attack. Abby Parrott went on to become widely admired for her charitable work and was regarded as one of California’s most beloved philanthropists. She passed away at Baywood in 1917 at the age of 88. Her funeral at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church was among the largest ever held in San Mateo.
Today, John and Abby Parrott, along with several of their children and grandchildren, are entombed at St. John’s Cemetery.