Rancho San Bernardo (Snook)
Rancho San Bernardo was a 17,763-acre (71.88 km2) 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. The grant was between present-day Escondido and Poway, and encompassed present-day Rancho Bernardo, 4S Ranch, the San Pasqual Valley, and Lake Hodges.
Joseph Snook (1798–1848), an Englishman, had been since 1824 a mariner along the Mexican coast, in the employ of Virmond, as master of the English brig Avacucho and later of the Mexican brig Catalina. In 1833, he became a Mexican citizen, and changed his name to Jose Francisco Snook. In 1837, Snook married Maria Antonia Alvarado (1811–), daughter of Juan Bautista Alvarado, grantee of Rancho Rincon del Diablo, which formed the north boundary of Rancho San Bernardo. In 1838, Snook and his wife took over an 8,800-acre (36 km2) portion (known as the “Inverness Pocket”) of Berry’s Rancho Punta de los Reyes grant near Tomales Bay, and eventually gained title to it from Governor Alvarado. In 1839, Snook sold this land to Antonio Osio, and they returned to San Diego County. By 1842, Snook had received the two square league Rancho San Bernardo land grant from Governor Alvarado. In 1845 Snook convinced Governor Pico to add two square leagues. While Snook was away at sea, the rancho became the site of the 1846 Mexican–American War Battle of San Pasqual. Snook died in 1848 and his widow married Henry Clayton, who came to San Diego with the Mexican boundary survey.
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