USA > California > Contra Costa County > History of Contra Costa County, California, including its geography, geology, topography, climatography and description; together with a record of the Mexican grants also, incidents of pioneer life; and biographical sketches of early and prominent settlers and representative men > Part 28
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Aug. 4, 1868 .- B. R. Holliday to be Public Administrator, vice Small.
NOTES .- 1868-1869:
Feb. 1, 1809 .- L. H. Hastings to be Justice of the Peace, Township No. 2. Aug. 2, 1869 .-- J. L. Bromley to be County Assessor, vice Mathews, resigned.
NOTES .- 1869-1870:
Nov. 2, 1869 .- John Slitz to be Justice of the Peace, Township No. 2, vice Hastings, resigned.
Nov. 2, 1800 .- H. Ashbrook to be Justice of the |Pcacc, Township No. 3, vicc Hook, deceased.
Nov. 2, 1869 .-- A. W. Marble to be Constable, Township No. 3, vice Carter, resigned. Feb. 7, 1870 .- Thos. Johnson to be Constable, Township Nu. 2.
May 2, 1870 .- L. C. Wittenmyer to be County Clerk, etc., vice Markley, deceased,
247
John Tormey, Dist. 1.|
...
D. N. Sherburne, " 2.
D. N. Sherburne, " 2. 220
R. H. Wright, " 3.
C. W. Lander, Tp. No. 1.
D. N. Sherburne, " 2. R. H. Wright, " 3. IS. Allen, Tp. No. 1. S. C. Wilbur, 1.
490
141 R. B. Ifard " 3.
John C. Dodd, Tp. No. 1. 140
T. D. Palmer, =
1.
111 T. B. Palmer, .
1.
106
A. F. Dyer, 1.
Legislative History of Contra Costa County.
| John Tormey, Dist. 1.1 152 John Toriney, Dist. I ...
Jas. Tewksbury, Dist. 1. D. N. Sherburne, “ 2. R. B. Hard, " 3.
145
O. F. James, Tp. No. 1. A. F. Dyer, 1.
2. Chas. Woods, 2.
181
248
Table showing the Oficers of Contra Costa County, as compiled from the Records of the Court of Sessions und Boards of Supervisors, from 1850 to 1882 inclusive.
1870-1871.
1871-1872
1872-1873.
1873-1874.
1874-1875.
NAME OF OFFICE.
Nanie of Holder.
Vote.
Name of Holder.
Vote.
Name of Holder.
Vote.
Name of Holder.
Vote.
Name of Holder.
Vote.
Senator.
Jas. J. Green
David Goodale.
1093
David Goodale
David Goodale.
David Goodale
Member of Assembly. . J. H. Carothers
J. W. Galloway
1019
J. W. Galloway
A. W. Hammitt
770
A. W. Hammitt
District Judge .
S. H. Dwinelle.
S. H. Dwinelle.
1393
S. H. Dwinelle.
S. H. Dwinelle
S. H. Dwinelle
County Judge.
Mark Shepard.
C. W. Lander
760
C. W. Lander.
C. W. Lander
C. W. Lander
Superior Judge.
District Attorney ..
H. Mills.
H. Mills. .
998
H. Mills .
H. Mills.
812
H. Mills
County Clerk
L. C. Wittenmyer.
Geo. J. Bennett
1003
Geo. J. Bennett.
L. C. Wittenmyer.
977
L. C. Wittenmyer
L. C. Wittenmyer.
Geo. J. Bennett.
Geo. J. Bennett.
George J. Bennett.
801
Geo. J. Bennett
L. C. Wittenmyer
Geo. J. Bennett
Geo. J. Bennett
George J. Bennett.
Geo. J. Bennett
Sheriff .
Warren Brown
M. B. Ivory ..
993
M. B. Ivory.
M. B. Ivory ..
912
M. B. Ivory.
J. R. L. Smith.
J. R. L. Smith
M. B. Ivory.
M. B. Ivory.
J. R. L. Smith
1034
J. R. L. Smith.
J. R. L. Smith.
848
J. R. L. Smith
Assessor
Jas. Foster
Jas. Foster. .
1097
Jas. Foster
Jas. Foster
Jas. Foster
J. H. Livingston.
702
J. H. Livingston
J. H. Livingston
J. H. Livingston
Surveyor.
T. A. Talleyrand
Robert Hunt
083
Robert Hunt
R. Eddy ..
927
R. Eddy ..
Supt. of Schools
A. Thurber
H. S. Raven.
932
H. S: Raven
A. Thurber
776
A. Thurber
Pub. Admin'r. R. R. Brock.
R. R. Brock
1059
E. W. Hiller
E. W. Hiller
930
E. W. Hiller
Associate Justices, Court of Sessions. . . .
.
History of Contra Costa County.
Recorder
Auditor.
Tax Collector . J. R. L. Smith
Treasurer.
J. R. L. Smith.
Coroner.
C. A. Ruggles.
Supervisors
| John Tormey, Dist. 1. D. N. Sherburne, " 2.
John Tormey, Dist. 1. . D. N. Sherburne, 2 R. H. Wight, 3.
235
NOTE9,-1870-1871:
Nov. 25, 1870 .- Geo. A. Swain to be Constable, Tp. No. 3, vice Marble, resigned. June 12, 1871 .- John A. Bronson to be Justice of the Peace, Township No. 1, vice Wilbur, deceased.
NOTE9,-1871-1872:
Feb. 8, 1872 .- Dr. Chas, E. Holbrook to be County Physician.
Mar. 19, 1872,-E. W. Hiller to be Public Administrator, vice R. R. Brock, deceased. June 12, 1872 .- G. R. Oliver to be Justice of the Peace, Township No. 4. July 15, 1872 .- Thos. Johnson to be Constable, Tp. No. 2, vice Hardy, resigned.
NOTE8 .- 1872-1873:
Feb. 4, 1873 .- John G. Chase to be Constable, Tp. No. 3, vice Swain, deceased.
Ang. 5, 1873. - J. B. Abbott to be Justice of the Peace, Tp. No. 3, vice McNulty. NOTES .- 1873-1874:
Oct. 7, 1873 .- John H. Troy to be Constable, Township No. 3, vice Such, deceased. Oct. 7, 1873 .- Louis Dahnken to be Constable, Tp. No. 5, vice Chase, resigned.
Aug. 5, 1874 .- John Slitz to be Justice of the Peace, Tp. No. 2, vice Young, resigned. Ang. 5, 1874 .- Saml. Brown to be Justice of the Peace, Township No. 4. Aug. 5, 1874 .- Dr. J. H. Carothers to be County Physician, vice Holbrook, resigned. NOTE8 .- 1874-1875:
Feb. 1, 1875,-L. C. Woods to be Justice of the Peace, Tp. 5, vice Berry, absconded.
249
Legislative History of Contra Costa County.
Justices of the Peace.
17
D. Mayon,
H. Ashbrook,
3.
J. J. McNulty,
46. 3.
515
J. J. MeNulty,
G. R. Oliver,
4.
D. S. Carpenter,
4.
158
D. S. Carpenter,
4.
A. Pray,
4.
102
Saml. Brown,
4.
D. P. Mahan,
5.
135
D. P. Mahan,
5.
D. K. Berry,
66
5.
146
D. K. Berry,
=
5.
W. A. J. Gift, Tp. No. 1.
211
W. A. J. Gift, Tp. No. 1.
R. Thompson, Tp. No. 1.
1. W. A. J. Gift, Tp. No. 1. W. P. Baldwin, Jas. Hardy, 2.
180 225
W. P. Baldwin,
1.
John Wilcox,
1.
175
John Wilcox,
1.
W. P. Baldwin, 1.
2.
146
Thos. Johnson,
2.
Geo. Stone, 2.
2.
Thos. Litchfield, 2.
216
Thos. Litebfield,
2.
E. Roberts,
3.
Geo. A. Swain, 3.
359
Geo. A. Swain,
J. H. Troy,
3.
187
J. H. Troy,
3.
E. O. Perry,
3.
132
E. O. Perry,
3.
G. O. Chapman,
4.
167
G. O. Chapman,
4.
J. S. Perkins,
5.
205 |J. S. Perkins,
Louis Dahoken,
5.
190
Louis Dahnken, 5.
2. || John Tormey, Dist. 1. D. N. Sherburne, Philip Walker, 3.
370
Geo, P. Loucks, 3.
121
Geo. P. Loucks, 3.
Philip Walker, 4.
J. C. MeMaster,
5.
108
J. C. MeMaster, 5.
W. H. Ford, Tp. No. 1.
W. H. Ford, Tp. No. 1.
176
W. H. Ford, Tp. No. 1.
H. Allen, Tp. No. 1.
S. C. Wilbur,
1.
T. D. Palmer,
1.
194
T. D. Palmer,
1. T. D. Palmer,
1.
161
T. D. Palmer,
1.
J. R. Young,
2.
87
John Slitz,
2.
John Slitz, 4 6
2.
John Slitz,
2.
156 John Slitz,
2.
2. J. J. Kerr,
2.
160
J. J. Kerr, 2.
Chas, Woods, 2.
Chas. Woods, 2.
D. S. Carpenter, 3.
287
D. S. Carpenter,
3. 3. G. R. Oliver, Saml. Bacon,
3.
134
G. R. Oliver, 64
3.
3.
122
Saml. Bacon, 4
3.
Constables
M. M. Marble,
3
Geo. Such, 3.
344
Geo. Such,
A. Williams, 2.
183
A. Williams,
2.
Thos. Jobnson,
4
3.
3.
John Tormey, Dist. 1.
266 || John Tormey, Dist. 1. . . . . .. 69 D. N. Sherburne, " 2.
D. N. Sherburne, 2.
R H. Wight, 3.
Philip Walker, 4.
W. H. Ford, Tp. No. 1. 191
227 Chas. Woods,
W. A. J. Gift, Tp. No. 1.
209 Thos. Johnson,
2. Thos. Johnson, .€
250
Table showing the Officers of Contra Costa County, as compiled from the Records of the Court of Sessions and Boards of Supervisors, from 1850 to 1882 inclusive.
1875-1876.
1876 -- 1877.
1877-1878.
1878-1879.
1879-1880.
NAME OF OFFICE.
-
Name of Holder.
Vote.
Name of Holder.
Vote.
Name of Holder.
Vote.
Name of Holder.
Vote.
Name of Holder.
Vote.
Senator
Paul Shirley
1010
Paul Shirley
Paul Shirley .
Member of Assembly ..
Charles Wood.
1121
Charles Wood.
Albert J. Young .
1081
Albert J. Young
District Judge.
S. H. Dwinelle.
935
Thos. A. Brown,
Thos. A. Brown.
Thos. A. Brown
County Judge .
Thomas A. Brown.
1165
F. M. Warmcastle.
1040
F. M. Warmcastle ..
Jos. P. Jones
961
Jos. P. Jones
L. C. Wittenmyer.
1038
L. C. Wittenmyer ..
L. C. Wittenmyer
959
L. C. Wittenniyer
C. Ed. Miller ..
1105
C. Ed. Miller.
V. B. Russell
955
V. B. Russell. ..
C. Ed. Miller.
C. Ed. Miller ..
J. W. Darby ...
1038
M. H. Bailhache ..
077
M. H. Bailhache
D. P. Mahan ..
1074
D. P. Mahan,
D. P. Mahan.
1096
Fred. Wilkening .
1011
Fred. Wilkening
D. P. Mahan.
D. P. Mahan.
Tax-Collector .
Henry Gallagher
921
Henry Gallagher
R. B. Hathaway
1153
R. B. Hathaway
Treasurer.
A. Tyler .
1121
A. Tyler ..
Jas. Foster .
Jas. Foster .
J. M. Stow ..
1107
Assessor.
Jas. Foster
1011
Jas. Foster
E. W. Hiller
1036
R. M. Jones. .
R. W. Jones ..
1389 1075
Sup. of Schools
A. Thurber
1071
A. Thurber .
E. L. Wemple.
1039
E. L. Wemple ..
A. A. Bailey ..
Pub. Admin'r.
E. W. Hiller .
1000
E. W. Hiller.
E. W. Hiller
1008
E. W. Hiller
John W. Guy .
Associate Justices of the Ct. of Sessions ..
Patrick Tormey, Dist. 1.
283
Supervisors.
John Tormey, Dist. 1.
Walter Renwick, ..
2.
D. N. Sherburne,
2.
D. N. Sherburne, =
2.
Walter Renwick,
..
3.
W. B. English, ..
3.
188
W. B. English,
Geo. P. Loucks,
3.
197
Geo. P. Loucks,
3.
Philip Walker.
4.
Philip Walker, .4
4.
149
Philip Walker, J. C. McMaster,
J. C. MeMaster,
5.
J. C. McMaster,
5
J. C. McMaster,
5.
J. C. McMaster. 5.
W. H. Ford, Tp. No. 1.
325
Justices of the Peace. .
T. D. Palmer,
1.
T. D. Palmer, John Slitz,
:
2.
M. 11. Turner,
2.
142
M. H. Turner,
2.
M. H. Turner,
John Slitz,
64
2.
117
2.
145
J. J. Kerr,
=
2
Henry Shney, 2.
48
Henry Shuey,
2.
Henry Hurst,
=
2.
108
J. F. Harding, =
3.
56
J. F. Harding, 3.
3.
R. H. Latimer,
=
217
D. S. Carpenter,
4.
216
D. S. Carpenter,
4 .
D. S. Carpenter,
4.
217 D. S. Carpenter,
4.
A. W. Wall,
46
153
D. S. Woodruff,
4.
202
D. S. Woodruff, =
4.
Jas. Rankin,
4.
149 Jas. Rankin,
=
4.
H. Ingram,
A. Richardson, =
5.
86
A. Richardson,
5.
J. E. W. Carey,
5.
154
J. E. W. Carey,
5.
T. D. Uren, =
5.
108
T. D. Uren,
5.
T. D. Uren,
D.
149 T. D. Uren,
5.
H. B. Jewett,
5.
209
History of Contra Costa County.
306
W. H. Ford, Tp. No. 1.
205
W. H. Ford, Tp. No. 1.
1.
A. Rumrill,
1.
A. Rumrill,
1.
A. Rumrill,
# 1.
278
J. J. Kerr,
168
G. R. Oliver,
3.
91
=
3.
90
Sam. Bacon,
3.
Sam. Bacon,
3.
113
Sam. Bacon,
J. F. Harding,
3.
G. R. Oliver,
3.
62
Sam. Bacon,
4.
4.
248
J. P. Abbott,
4.
Philip Walker,
4.
223
Philip Walker,
4.
R. M. Jones ..
Surveyor ..
R. M. Jones.
1024
R. M. Jones ..
E. W. Hiller.
John W. Guy .
Coroner
E. W. Hiller
E. W. Hiller
John Tormey, Dist. 1.
285
Patrick Tormey, Dist. 1.
292 223
Patrick Tormey, Dist. 1.
2.
Walter Renwick 2
W. 11. Ford, Tp. No. 1.
W. H. Ford, Tp. No. 1.
180 181
113
2.
282
Superior Judge.
Eli R. Chase .
1071
District Attorney .
L. C. Wittenmyer.
1171
County Clerk.
C. Ed. Miller
1020
Recorder.
Auditor.
Sheriff.
Wm. Shney ..
1000
R. B. Hathaway,
1271
Paul Shirley
W. H. Sears
D. N. Sherburne.
1398
S. H. Dwinelle,
S. H. Dwinelle ..
S. H. Dwinelle.
Thos. A. Brown.
1010
-
3.
Geo. P. Loncks,
3
Constables. W. A. J. Gift, Tp. No. 1.| 153 W. A. J. Gift, Tp. No. 1.|. 180 John Wilcox,
W. A. J. Gift, Tp. No. 1. 1. David Rowell,
285
W. A. J. Gift, Tp. No. 1.|
W. A. J Gift, Tp. No. 1.1
186
John Wilcox, 1.
Thos. Johnson, 2.
174
Thes. Johnson,
2. Thos. Johnson, 2.
197 Thos. Johnson,
2. F. Sandford, 2.
217
A. Williams, 2.
132
A. Williams,
2. W. M. Simpson, “ 2.
268
W. M. Simpson, =
2.
W. W. Beauchamp. 2.
212
J. M. Pacheco, 3.
268
Alex. Nagel,
S.
L. A. Klose,
3.
77
C. H. Wells,
3.
R. B. Hemming, “ 3.
160
Henry Wells, 3.
175
Henry Wells,
=
3.
Wm. Bevert,
3.
162
Wm. Bevert,
3.
W. L. Bevert, 3.
32
R. G. Thomas, 4.
331
J. B. Jones,
=
4.
Jas. Sharp,
44
4.
232 Jas. Sharp,
.
J. Bendixon,
4.
187 J. Bendixon,
4.
Wm. Hughes,
4.
195
Paul Barclay,
4.
H. S. Green,
"
4.
181
J. G. Gann, =
5.
151
J. G. Gann,
5.
D. M. Pitts, -
5.
296
D. M. Pitts,
5.
D. M. Pitts,
5.
337
A. Moller,
5.
108
A. Moller,
5.
Thos. Irvin,
=
5.
281
Thog. Irvin,
5.
Thos. 1rvin,
5.
284
.
NOTE8 .- 1875-1876:
Sept. 6, 1875,-J. M. Pacheco to be Justice of the Peace, Township No. 3.
Jan. 1, 1870,-J. B. Jones to be Constable, Tp. Nu. 4, vice Thomas, deceased. May 1, 1876 .- Alex. Nagel to be Constable, Tp. No. 3, vice Pacheco, deceased. NOTE8 .- 1876-1877 :
May 7, 1877 .- Mf. H. Turner to be Justice of the Peace, Township No. 2. Aug. 6, 1877 .- J. C. Sharp to he Constable, Township Nu. 4, vice Jones, resigned. NOTES .- 1877-1878: -
Feb. 5, 1878 .- C. H. Wells to be Constable, Township No. 3, vice Klose, removed from the County.
Aug. 5, 1878 .- Paul Barclay to be Constable, Township No. 4, vice Hughes, resigned.
NOTES .- 1878-1870:
May 6, 1879 .- D. S. Woodruff to be Justice of the Peace, Township No. 4, vice Rankin, resigned.
NOTES .-- 1879-1880:
Sept. 16, 1879 .- T. A. McMahon to be County Surveyor, vice Jones, resigned. Feb. 25, 1880 .- T. A. McMahon to be County Surveyor, vice Jones, refused to qualify. Feb. 25, 1880 .- Jas. D. Darby to be County Auditor, vice J. W. Darby, deceased. May 3, 1880 .- John McPeake to be Constable, Tp. No. 1, vice Simpson, deceased. May 5, 1880 .- W. W. Beauchamp to be Justice of the Peace, Township No. 2, vice Hurst, failed to qualify.
June 30, 1880 .- D. S. Carpenter to be Justice of the Peace, Township No. 4, vice Ingram, resigned.
Sept. 21, 1880 .- J. E. W. Carey, to be Justice of the Peace, Township Nn. 5, vice Jewett, resigned.
251
Legislative History of Contra Costa County.
Jas. Simpson, 1.
162
David Rowell, 163
1.
4.
Thog. M. Williams" 4.
138
252
Table showing the Officers of Contra Costa County, as compiled from the Records of the Court of Sessions and Boards of Supervisors, from 1850 to 1882 inclusive.
1881-1882.
NAME OF GFFICE.
Name of Holdar.
Vote.
Name of Holder.
Vote.
Senator
W. H. Sears.
W. H. Sears.
Member of Assembly
Joseph P. Jones
1263
Joseph P. Jones.
District Judge ..
County Judge .
Superior Judge.
Thos. A. Brown
District Attorney
Eli R. Chase.
Eli R. Chase
County Clerk.
L. C. Wittenmyer
L. C. Wittenmyer
C. Ed. Miller.
C. Ed. Miller
Auditor
Jas. D. Darby.
Jas. D. Darby
D. P. Mahan
D. P. Mahan.
Tax-Collector
Wm. Shuey.
D. S. Carpenter
R. B. Hathaway.
R. B. Hathaway.
46
Assessor
J. M. Stow.
J. M. Stow.
Coroner
John W. Guy
John W. Guy.
Surveyor
T. A. McMahon
T. A. McMahon.
Superintendent of Schools
A. A Bailey
64 Public Administrator
John W. Gny
John W. Guy.
History of Contra Costa County.
Associate Justices of the Court of Sessions
1880-1881.
-
Thos. A. Brown.
Recorder
Sheriff
Treasurer,
A. A. Bailey
Supervisors ..
Patrick Tormey ..
District No. 1 ..
2.
286
D. N. Sherburne.
44
3 ..
Philip Walker.
4 ..
Philip Walker ..
=
5 ..
M. H. Bailhacbe
Township No. 1.
W. H. Ford
. Township No. 1 ..
128
M. H. Turner
1
146
Chas. Wood
2 ..
98
H. J. Wilson
3 ..
2
H. J. Wilson.
3.
J. F. Harding.
3 ..
Robert Hastie ..
4 ..
A. W. Wall .
4 ..
J. P. Abbott ..
b ..
R. Shipley.
6 ..
218
Constables ..
W. A. J. Gift ..
1.
W. A. J. Gift
1 ..
John McPeake.
1 ..
John McPeake
2
.
2.
#
R. B. Hemming.
3 ..
W. L. Bevert ..
3 ..
W. L. Bevert.
Thoe. M. Williams
4 ..
H. S. Green
.. .
H. S. Creen ..
46
..
D. M. Pitts
Chas. Peers
b.
Thos. Ervin
5. .
J. M. Sechan.
Jud. "
...
.
NOTES .-- 1880-1881:
Jan. 12, 1881 .- A Rumrill to be Justice of the Peace, Township No. 1. Jan. 12, 1881 .- S. F. Ramage to be Justice of the Peace, Township No. 2, vice Wood, failed to qualify. Jan. 12, 1881 .- J. F. Harding to be Justice of the Peace, Township No. 3. Jan. 12, 1881 .- A. W. Wall to be Justice of the Peace, Township No. 4. Jan. 12, 1881 .- J. P. Abbott to be Justice of the Peace, Township No. 5, vice Shipley, removed from the county.
NOTE8-1880-1881;
Jan. 12, 1881 .- J. E. W. Carey to be Justice of the Peace, Township No. 5.
Feb. 7, 1881 .- M. H. Bailbache to be Justice of the Peace, Township No. 1, vice Ford, deceased.
May 2, 1881 .- J. M. Seehan to be Constable, Judicial Township No. 6. Oct. 3, 1881 .- D. S. Carpenter to be County Tax Collector, vice Shuey, deceased. Nov.[ 9, 1881,-Chas. Peers to be Constable, Township No. 5, vice Ervin, resigned.
253
Legislative History of Contra Costa County.
Patrick Tormey ..
District No. 1 .. |
2 ..
D. N. Sherburne .
44
3. .
Warren B. English.
...
J. C. McMaster.
5
Justices of the Peace ..
A. Rumrill ...
M. H. Turner.
2.
S. F. Ramage.
2. .
Robert Hastie
4 ..
49
J. E. W. Carey.
5 ..
F. Sandford.
2.
F. Sandford
3.
R. B. Hemming.
Thos. M. Williams
D. M. Pitts .
64
J. C. MeMaster.
Warren B. English ..
254
History of Contra Costa County.
MEXICAN GRANTS.
Rancho Monte del Diablo-Rancho Laguna de Palos Colorados-Rancho San Pablo-Rancho Arroyo de las Nueces y Bolbones-Rancho Medanos-El Sobrante-Rancho Los Me- ganos-Rancho Acalanes-Canada de los Vaqueros-Las Juntas-Rancho San Ramon- Canada del Hambre-Las Bolsas del Hambre -- Pinole -- Boca de Canada del Pinole.
THE subject of the tenure of land in California, is one which is so little understood, that it has been deemed best to quote at length the following report on the subject of land titles in California, made in pursuance of in- structions from the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Interior, by William Carey Jones, published in Washington in the year 1850-a more exhaustive document it would be difficult to find.
On July 12, 1849, Mr. Jones had been appointed a " confidential agent of the Government, to proceed to Mexico and California, for the purpose of procuring information as to the condition of land titles in California." Pur- suant to these instructions he embarked from New York on the 17th July ; arriving at Chagres on the 29th, he at once proceeded to Panama, but got no opportunity, until that day month, of proceeding on his journey to this State. At length, on September 19th, he arrived at Monterey, the then capital of California. After visiting San José and San Francisco, he re- turned to Monterey, and there made arrangements for going by land to Los Angeles and San Diego, but finding this scheme impracticable on account of the rainy season, he made the voyage by steamer. On December 7th he left San Diego for Acapulco in Mexico, where he arrived on the 24th; on the 11th he left that city, and on the 18th embarked from Vera Cruz for Mobile. .
We now commence his report, believing that so able a document will prove of interest to the reader :
I,
TO THE MODE OF CREATING TITLES TO LAND, FROM THE FIRST INCEPTION TO THE PERFECT TITLE, AS PRACTICED BY MEXICO WITHIN THE PROVINCE OF CALIFORNIA.
All the grants of land made in California (except pueblo or village lots, and except, perhaps, some grants north of the Bay of San Francisco, as will be hereafter noticed), subsequent to the independence of Mexico, and after
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Mexican Grants.
the establishment of that government in California, were made by the dif- ferent political governors. The great majority of them were made subse- quent to January, 1832, and consequently under the Mexican Colonization Law of August 18, 1824, and the government regulations, adopted in pur- suance of the law dated November 21, 1828. In January, 1832, General José Figueroa became Governor of the then territory of California, under a commission from the government at Mexico, replacing Victoria, who, after having the year before displaced Echandrea, was himself driven out by a revolution. The installation of Figueroa restored quiet, after ten years of civil commotion, and was at a time when Mexico was making vigorous efforts to reduce and populate her distant territories, and consequently granting lands on a liberal scale. In the act of 1824, a league square (being 4,428 1000 100 acres) is the smallest measurement of rural property spoken of ; and of these leagues square, eleven (or nearly fifty thousand acres) might be conceded in a grant to one individual. By this law the States composing the federation were authorized to make special provision for colonization within their respective limits, and the colonization of the ter- ritories, " conformably to the principles of law " charged upon the Central Government. California was of the latter description, being designated a Territory in the Acta Constitutiva of the Mexican Federation, adopted January 31, 1824, and by the Constitution adopted 4th October of the same year .*
The colonization of California and granting lands therein, was, therefore, subsequent to the law of August 18, 1824, under the direction and control of the Central Government. That government, as already stated, gave regulations for the same November 21, 1828.
The directions were very simple. They gave the governors of the ter- ritories the exclusive faculty of making grants within the terms of the law -that is, to the extent of eleven leagues, or sitios, to individuals ; and colonization grants (more properly contracts)-that is, grants of larger tracts to empresarios, or persons who should undertake, for a consideration in land, to bring families to the country for the purpose of colonization. Grants of the first description, that is, to families or single persons, and not exceeding eleven sitios, were " not to be held definitely valid," until sanc- tioned by the Territorial Deputation. Those of the second class, that is, empresario or colonization grants (or contracts) required a like sanction by the Supreme Government. In case the concurrence of the Deputation was refused to a grant of the first mentioned class, the Governor should appeal, in favor of the grantee, from the Assembly to the Supreme Government.
* The political condition of California was changed by the Constitution of 29th December, and act for the division of the Republic into Departments of December 30, 1836. The two Californias then became a Department, the confederation being broken up and the States reduced to Departments. The same colonization system, bow- ever, seems to bave continned in California.
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History of Contra Costa County.
The "first inception" of the claim, pursuant to the regulations, and as practiced in California, was a petition to the Governor, praying for the grant, specifying usually the quantity of land asked, and designating its position, with some descriptive object or boundary, and also stating the age, country and vocation of the petitioner. Sometimes, also, (generally at the commencement of this system) a rude map or plan of the required grant, showing its shape and position, with reference to other tracts, or to natural objects, was presented with the petition. This practice, however, was gradually disused, and few of the grants made in late years have any other than a verbal description.
The next step was usually a reference of the petition, made on the margin by the Governor, to the prefect of the district, or other near local officer where the land petitioned for was situated, to know if it was vacant, and could be granted without injury to third persons or the public, and sometimes to know if the petitioner's account of himself was true. The reply (informe) of the prefect, or other officer, was written upon or attached to the petition, and the whole returned to the Governor. The reply being satisfactory, the Governor then issued the grant in form. On its receipt, or before, (often before the petition, even,) the party went into possession. It was not unfrequent, of late years, to omit the formality of sending the petition to the local authorities, and it was never requisite, if the Governor already possessed the necessary information concerning the land and the parties. In that case the grant followed immediately on the petition. Again, it sometimes happened that the reply of the local authority was not explicit, or that third persons intervened, and the grant was thus for some time delayed. With these qualifications, and covering the great majority of cases, the practice may be said to have been : 1. The petition ; 2. The reference to the prefect or alcalde ; 3. His report, or informe ; 4. the grant from the Governor.
" When filed, and how, and by whom recorded."
The originals of the petition and informe, and any other preliminary papers in the case, were filed, by the secretary, in the government archives, and with them a copy (the original being delivered to the grantee) of the grant; the whole attached together so as to form one document, entitled, collectively, an expediente. During the governorship of Figueroa, and some of his successors, that is, from May 22, 1833, to May 9, 1836, the grants were likewise recorded in a book kept for that purpose (as prescribed in the "regulations " above referred to) in the archives. Subsequent to that time there was no record, but a brief memorandum of the grant ; the expediente, however, being still filed. Grants were also sometimes regis- tered in the office of the prefect of the district where the lands lay; but the practice was not constant, nor the record generally in permanent form.
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Mexican Grants.
The next, and final step in the title was the approval of the grant by the Territorial Deputation (that is, the local legislature, afterward, when the territory was created into a Department, called the "Departmental Assembly.") For this purpose, it was the Governor's office to communicate the fact of the grant, and all information concerning it, to the Assembly. It was here referred to a committee (sometimes called a committee on vacant lands, sometimes on agriculture), who reported at a subsequent, sit- ting. The approval was seldom refused ; but there are many instances where the Governor omitted to communicate the grant to the Assembly, and it consequently remained unacted on. The approval of the Assembly obtained, it was usual for the secretary to deliver to the grantee, on appli- cation, a certificate of the fact ; but no other record or registration of it was kept than the written proceedings of the Assembly. There are no doubt instances, therefore, where the approval was in fact obtained, but a certifi- cate not applied for, and as the journals of the Assembly, now remaining in the archives, are very imperfect, it can hardly be doubted that many grants have received the approval of the Assembly, and no record of the fact now exists. Many grants were passed upon and approved by the Assembly in the Winter and Spring of 1846, as I discovered by loose memoranda, apparently made by the clerk of the Assembly for future en- try, and referring to the grants by their numbers-sometimes a dozen or more on a single small piece of paper, but of which I could find no other record.
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