Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821, but continued the practice of awarding land grants. Unlike Spanish land grants, which were only permisos, or permissions to occupy, the Mexican government granted full ownership of the property.
To receive a land grant, applicants had to comply with certain requirements:
Rancho Boca de Santa Monica was a 6656-acre tract of land encompassing what is now the city of Santa Monica, Brentwood, the Pacific Palisades, and parts of Topanga Canyon in the western Los Angeles area of California. Ysidro Reyes, grandson of Francisco Reyes, and his friend, blacksmith Francisco Marquez, met the requirements for ownership and were granted Rancho Boca de Santa Monica in 1839.
Rancheros raised cattle, selling hides and tallow to proprietors who sailed up and down the California coast. They were superior horsemen and often ran their horses in high wager races. They were warm and welcoming to visitors, and enjoyed religious celebrations and fiestas with family and friends.
Francisco Marquez died in 1852, leaving his portion of the rancho to his wife and 5 children. Ysidro Reyes died 11 years later in 1863. He left his portion to his widow, Maria Antonia. She sold her portion to developer and railroad magnate Robert Baker in 1875. The 5 Marquez children and Robert Baker now each owned a 1/6 undivided interest in Rancho Boca de Santa Monica. Baker had plans of his own, so he sued to partition the land. The suit took years to wind its way through litigation, and the final partition was ordered in 1881. The partition left Baker with a large coastal parcel, which he used to create the town of Santa Monica.
After the partition, life on the rancho continued as usual for the Marquez heirs. However, over the years, cattle ranching had become much less profitable. Taxes and expenses were high and profits low. The Marquez heirs eventually had no choice but to sell.
During the 1920’s, most of the Marquez heirs sold their land to the Santa Monica Land & Water Company, a noted developer. They subdivided the land for a residential housing development. Although the Marquez heirs continued to live in the area, they no longer owned the land on which they lived.