Page 29 - Historical Study of Yerba Buena Island, Treasure Island and Their Buildings

construction of the barracks and parade grounds. Suprisingly, a mastodon tusk was also found in
the Y erba Buena Island shoals during the building of the Bay Bridge. (Ref. V.)

1.2.2 Private Ownership Era, 1835-1867

Governor Figueroa died in December of 1835. Supposedly a Captain Gorham Nye used his
vessel, the Fama (or perhaps the Avon), to transport the Governor's body from Monterey to
Santa Barbara. Once there, it was expected to be transferred immediately to Mexico for final
internment. For his services, Captain Nye was given a paper from the Mexican government
" ... certifying that he was the sole owner of Yerba Buena Island." Captain Nye regarded this
paper as a gift deed and occupied the island as his home port. (Ref. S.) As research indicates,
the accounting of this event appears to be flawed in that there is no evidence proving Captain
Nye ever used the island as a base. Rather all accountings indicate that he allowed Nathan Spear
to use the island. In return Captain Nye had free access to the wood and goats of the island, for
which Mr. Spear would have otherwise charged a fee. Another twist to this story is that
Governor Figueroa's body never actually left Santa Barbara, but was instead buried in a crypt
under the sanctuary of the Mission San Carlos Borromeo (Carmelo). The Governor's remains
were found in his wooden coffin at the Mission in 1911. To this day, his remains are still located
at the mission. (Ref. 0).

Captain Nye transported goats from the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) to the San Francisco Bay
Area on the brig Bolivar Liberdora. Subsequently, a flock of these goats were introduced to
Yerba Buena Island in late 1836 or early 1837 by Nathan Spear. There they freely roamed. As
needed to supply ships, a Mr. Fuller was employed to trap and butcher the goats. He also
supplied visiting ships with the wood of the California Oak trees that grew on the island.
Eventually this resulted in the island's deforestation. Because Nathan Spear continued to use the
island as if it were his personal property, it soon became known to the neighboring people as
"Spear Island". Spear claimed ownership of Yerba l:luena Island by way of the Mexican
prescription method. This method allows ownership based on use of the land. In 1849, Nathan
Spear sold the island to Edward King, the Harbormaster of the Port of San Francisco, who had
big plans for the island. His plans included a town, named "Spearsville," to be located on the
east side of the island. During his ownership, the island was virtually uninhabited, except for the
goats which had survived after Mr. Fuller left in the late 1840's.

Early in 1849, William Bernard, later famous as "Barnacle Bill", and a friend landed on Yerba
Buena Island. After exploring the island they found it uninhabited, except for the goats, and they
both soon left. Although Bill returned years later (approximately 1881) as the caretaker for the
Army post which was abandoned in 1879, he was never involved in claiming ownership of the
island. Later in 1849, two gentlemen named Jennings and Thomas Dowling occupied the island.
In January, 1850, Dowlings filed a claim by right of occupancy and improvement with the
Recorders Office. In 1852, Jennings also filed a claim for his portion of the island. They both
filed under the Land Act of 1850. Because the City of San Francisco passed the Van Ness Act
and since Yerba Buena Island was within the San Francisco City limits, Jennings and Dowling
again refiled their claim in 1855. The Van Ness Act was passed " ... for quieting the land titles in
the City of San Francisco". This act, which disregarded all Mexican land grants, gave titles to
those who occupied land within the borders of the City of San Francisco.

1-6 Historical Study ofYerba Buena Island, September 1, 1995
Treasure Island, and their Buildings