Rancho Punta de los Reyes (Randall) facts for kids
Rancho Punta de los Reyes was a very large piece of land, about 8,878 acres (35.93 km²), in what is now western Marin County, California. This land was part of a Mexican land grant. It was first given out in 1836 by Governor Nicolás Gutiérrez to James Richard Berry. Later, in 1838, Governor Juan B. Alvarado re-granted it to Joseph Snook. The ranch stretched along the west side of Tomales Bay and included the area where Inverness is today.
History of the Rancho
James Richard Berry, who was from Ireland and a colonel in the Mexican army, came to California. In 1836, Governor Gutiérrez gave him the large Rancho Punta de los Reyes.
In 1838, Berry sold a part of this ranch to Joseph Snook. This part was about two square leagues along the western shore of Tomales Bay. It was known as the "Inverness Pocket." Joseph Snook (1798–1848) also owned another ranch called Rancho San Bernardo.
However, selling this land was against Mexican law at the time. After getting advice, Snook officially reported that Berry's sale was not allowed. So, Governor Alvarado officially re-granted this part of the land to Snook in 1839. This meant the land was now legally Snook's.
Soon after, in 1839, Snook sold Rancho Punta de los Reyes to Antonio Osio. Osio was the owner of Rancho Punta de los Reyes Sobrante, another nearby ranch. After selling the land, Snook and his wife moved back to San Diego County.
Antonio Osio then sold Rancho Punta de los Reyes to Andrew Randall. Andrew Randall (1819–1856) was from Rhode Island. He came to California in 1849 as a new customs inspector for Monterey. Randall was a smart businessman and also studied geology. He helped start the California Academy of Sciences and was its first chairman.
Besides Rancho Punta de los Reyes and Rancho Punta de los Reyes Sobrante in Marin County, Randall also claimed other large ranches. These included Rancho Cañada de la Segunda and Rancho San Lorenzo in Monterey County, and Rancho Aguas Frias in Butte County. He owned a total of over 110,000 acres (445 km²). However, he had borrowed a lot of money and faced many financial difficulties. Sadly, he passed away in 1856.
After the Mexican-American War, California became part of the United States. The 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo said that the land grants given by Mexico would still be honored. Because of a law called the Land Act of 1851, a claim for Rancho Punta de los Reyes was made in 1853. The land was officially given to Andrew Randall in 1860.
