Rancho Punta de los Reyes (Phelps)
Encyclopedia
Rancho Punta de los Reyes was a 13645 acres (55.2 km²) Mexican land grant
in present day Marin County, California
, given in 1836 by Governor Nicolás Gutiérrez
to James Richard Berry. The grant was east of Rancho Las Baulines
and south of Rancho Tomales y Baulines
.
(known as the "Inverness Pocket") of the Rancho Punta de los Reyes
grant, to Joseph Snook (1798–1848), grantee of Rancho San Bernardo
. When, in 1843, Rafael Garcia, the owner of adjacent Rancho Tomales y Baulines, moved his cattle onto Berry’s remaining land, Berry moved west, squatting on Antonio Osio’s Rancho Punta de los Reyes Sobrante
. In 1844, Berry sold Rancho Punta de los Reyes to Stephen Smith of Rancho Bodega
, to whom he owed money. Berry moved to John Martin’s Rancho Corte Madera de Novato
and died there in 1847. In 1848, Smith sold Rancho Punta de los Reyes to Bethuel Phelps.
With the cession
of California to the United States following the Mexican-American War, the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
provided that the land grants would be honored. As required by the Land Act of 1851, a claim for Rancho Punta de los Reyes was filed with the Public Land Commission
in 1853, and the grant was patented
to Bethuel Phelps in 1866.
In 1854, Bethuel Phelps sold Rancho Punta de los Reyes to Andrew Randall. Randall (1819–1856), a native of Rhode Island
, came to California on the U.S.S. Portsmouth in 1846. Randall was a geologist with medical training. He founded, and was elected chairman of the California Academy of Sciences
. In addition to Rancho Punta de los Reyes and Rancho Punta de los Reyes Sobrante
in Marin County, Randall was the claimant for Rancho Cañada de la Segunda
and Rancho San Lorenzo
in Monterey County
; and Rancho Aguas Frias
in Butte County
- a little over 110000 acres (445 km²). However, he had stretched his credit to the limit, and Randall could not or would not pay immediately. Joseph Hetherington, a creditor, undertook to force payment by hounding him on every occasion with insults and threats. Hetherington fatally shot Randall in a San Francisco hotel on July 24, 1856, and the Committee of Vigilance hanged Hetherington on July 29, 1856.
Ranchos of California
The Spanish, and later the Méxican government encouraged settlement of territory now known as California by the establishment of large land grants called ranchos, from which the English ranch is derived. Devoted to raising cattle and sheep, the owners of the ranchos attempted to pattern themselves...
in present day Marin County, California
Marin County, California
Marin County is a county located in the North San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. As of 2010, the population was 252,409. The county seat is San Rafael and the largest employer is the county government. Marin County is well...
, given in 1836 by Governor Nicolás Gutiérrez
Nicolás Gutiérrez
Lieutenant Colonel Nicolás Gutiérrez was a twice acting governor of Alta California in 1836 from January to May and July to November.Gutierrez served two abbreviated terms in less than a year as acting governor of Alta California in 1836...
to James Richard Berry. The grant was east of Rancho Las Baulines
Rancho Las Baulines
Rancho Las Baulines was a Mexican land grant in present day Marin County, California given in 1846 by Governor Pío Pico to Gregorio Briones. The grant extended around Bolinas Lagoon and encompassed present day Stinson Beach and Bolinas.-History:...
and south of Rancho Tomales y Baulines
Rancho Tomales y Baulines
Rancho Tomales y Baulines was a Mexican land grant in present day Marin County, California given in 1836 by Governor Nicolás Gutiérrez to Rafael Garcia. The grant extended south from Point Reyes Station along the Olema Valley and encompassed present day Olema and Garcia. -History:Rafael Garcia ...
.
History
James Richard Berry (–1847), an Irishman and a colonel in the Mexican army, came to California from Mexico. In 1836, Governor Gutierriez, granted Berry the eight square league Rancho Punta de los Reyes. In 1838, Berry sold the two square league portion along the western shore of Tomales BayTomales Bay
Tomales Bay is a long narrow inlet of the Pacific Ocean in Marin County in northern California in the United States. It is approximately 15 miles long and averages nearly 1.0 miles wide, effectively separating the Point Reyes Peninsula from the mainland of Marin County. It is located...
(known as the "Inverness Pocket") of the Rancho Punta de los Reyes
Rancho Punta de los Reyes (Randall)
Rancho Punta de los Reyes was a Mexican land grant in present day West Marin County, California given in 1836 by Governor Nicolás Gutiérrez to James Richard Berry, and re-granted in 1838 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to Joseph Snook...
grant, to Joseph Snook (1798–1848), grantee of Rancho San Bernardo
Rancho San Bernardo (Snook)
Rancho San Bernardo was a Mexican land grant in present day San Diego County, California with two square leagues given in 1842 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado and an additional two square leagues given in 1845 by Governor Pío Pico to José Francisco Snook...
. When, in 1843, Rafael Garcia, the owner of adjacent Rancho Tomales y Baulines, moved his cattle onto Berry’s remaining land, Berry moved west, squatting on Antonio Osio’s Rancho Punta de los Reyes Sobrante
Rancho Punta de los Reyes Sobrante
Rancho Punta de los Reyes Sobrante was a Mexican land grant in present day West Marin County, California given by Governor Manuel Micheltorena in 1843 to Antonio Maria Osio. The name means "Leftover of Point Reyes Ranch"...
. In 1844, Berry sold Rancho Punta de los Reyes to Stephen Smith of Rancho Bodega
Rancho Bodega
Rancho Bodega was a Mexican land grant in present day Sonoma County, California given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Stephen Smith. Bodega takes its name from the Peruvian explorer Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra who discovered Bodega Bay in 1775...
, to whom he owed money. Berry moved to John Martin’s Rancho Corte Madera de Novato
Rancho Corte Madera de Novato
Rancho Corte Madera de Novato was a Mexican land grant in present day Marin County, California given in 1839 by Governor Juan Alvarado to John Martin. The name means the "lumber mill of Novato"...
and died there in 1847. In 1848, Smith sold Rancho Punta de los Reyes to Bethuel Phelps.
With the cession
Mexican Cession
The Mexican Cession of 1848 is a historical name in the United States for the region of the present day southwestern United States that Mexico ceded to the U.S...
of California to the United States following the Mexican-American War, the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is the peace treaty, largely dictated by the United States to the interim government of a militarily occupied Mexico City, that ended the Mexican-American War on February 2, 1848...
provided that the land grants would be honored. As required by the Land Act of 1851, a claim for Rancho Punta de los Reyes was filed with the Public Land Commission
Public Land Commission
The Public Land Commission, a former agency of the United States government, was created following the admission of California as a state in 1850 . The Commission's purpose was to determine the validity of prior Spanish and Mexican land grants in California.California Senator William M...
in 1853, and the grant was patented
Land patent
A land patent is a land grant made patent by the sovereign lord over the land in question. To make a such a grant “patent”, such a sovereign lord must document the land grant, securely sign and seal the document and openly publish the same to the public for all to see...
to Bethuel Phelps in 1866.
In 1854, Bethuel Phelps sold Rancho Punta de los Reyes to Andrew Randall. Randall (1819–1856), a native of Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, came to California on the U.S.S. Portsmouth in 1846. Randall was a geologist with medical training. He founded, and was elected chairman of the California Academy of Sciences
California Academy of Sciences
The California Academy of Sciences is among the largest museums of natural history in the world. The academy began in 1853 as a learned society and still carries out a large amount of original research, with exhibits and education becoming significant endeavors of the museum during the twentieth...
. In addition to Rancho Punta de los Reyes and Rancho Punta de los Reyes Sobrante
Rancho Punta de los Reyes Sobrante
Rancho Punta de los Reyes Sobrante was a Mexican land grant in present day West Marin County, California given by Governor Manuel Micheltorena in 1843 to Antonio Maria Osio. The name means "Leftover of Point Reyes Ranch"...
in Marin County, Randall was the claimant for Rancho Cañada de la Segunda
Rancho Cañada de la Segunda
Rancho Cañada de la Segunda was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1839 by Governor José Castro to Lazaro Soto...
and Rancho San Lorenzo
Rancho San Lorenzo (Randall)
Rancho San Lorenzo was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1842 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Francisco Rico. The grant extended along San Lorenzo Creek in Peach Tree Valley.-History:...
in Monterey County
Monterey County, California
Monterey County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, its northwestern section forming the southern half of Monterey Bay. The northern half of the bay is in Santa Cruz County. As of 2010, the population was 415,057. The county seat and largest city is Salinas...
; and Rancho Aguas Frias
Rancho Aguas Frias
Rancho Aguas Frias was a Mexican land grant in present day Butte County, California given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Antonio Maria Osio and his son Salvador Osio. Aguas Frias means "cold water" in Spanish. The grant, located south of present day Chico, extended along the west...
in Butte County
Butte County, California
Butte County is a county located in the Central Valley of the US state of California, north of the state capital of Sacramento. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 220,000. The county seat is Oroville. Butte County is the "Land of Natural Wealth and Beauty."Butte County is watered by the...
- a little over 110000 acres (445 km²). However, he had stretched his credit to the limit, and Randall could not or would not pay immediately. Joseph Hetherington, a creditor, undertook to force payment by hounding him on every occasion with insults and threats. Hetherington fatally shot Randall in a San Francisco hotel on July 24, 1856, and the Committee of Vigilance hanged Hetherington on July 29, 1856.