Rancho Punta de los Reyes (Randall) 1.51

Rancho Punta de los Reyes was a 8878acre Mexican land grant in present-day western 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. The grant extended along the west side of Tomales Bay and encompassed present day Inverness.HistoryJames Richard Berry, an Irishman and a colonel in the Mexican army came to California from Mexico. In 1836, Governor Gutierriez, granted him the eight square league Rancho Punta de los Reyes. In 1838, Berry sold the two square league portion along the western shore of Tomales Bay of the Rancho Punta de los Reyes grant to Joseph Snook, grantee of Rancho San Bernardo. The sale of the grant was illegal under Mexican law. After receiving advice, Snook 'denounced' this tract of Berry's grant, and got it re-granted to him by Governor Alvarado in 1839."Snook officially denounced the land he had unofficially bought from Berry. Berry officially acceded to the denouncement of the land he had unofficially sold to Snook. In June 1839, the land was officially regranted to Snook, and Berry officially retained the remainder of his land, with Snook's money unofficially in his pocket."Soon after, in 1839, Snook sold Rancho Punta de los Reyes to Antonio Osio of Rancho Punta de los Reyes Sobrante, and returned to San Diego County with his wife.