California Interstate 580 crosses the San Francisco Bay via the Richmond-San Rafel bridge with Contra Costa’s Richmond on one end and Marin County’s San Rafael at the other end. However, right at the tip of the peninsula, near San Rafael, sits Point San Quentin and the little community that shares its name.
Of course, for most people, the name San Quentin evokes thoughts and images of the storied prison and its infamous tales of notorious prisoners, daring escape attempts and archaic conditions.
While some may know that San Quentin is the state’s oldest prison, I would venture to say that the majority of people don’t know how the prison got its name.
If you guessed that it took the name from Point San Quentin, then you would be correct. However, what they don’t teach you in California public schools is how the region earned the name San Quentin in the first place.
The answer dates back to the early 19th century, and a fierce Coast Miwok warrior who defended his people, and their way of life, against the establishments that were trying to take it all away – the California Missions.
Quintin, Chief Marin’s Lieutenant
Quintin, also spelled Quinten or Quintun, appears in historical records circa 1823. From what little documentation there is of him, we learn that he was a fearless Costal Miwok warrior who was viewed as the sub-chief, lieutenant, or right-hand man of Chief Marin.
In fact, Quintin was directly tied to Marin’s escape from the Missions in 1823, and also aided his leader in Mission raids over the next year. While they didn’t kill anyone, Marin and Quintin did burn down several Mission buildings.
It should also be noted that in 1824, the Chumash revolted against the Missions in Southern California and overthrew three of them. The horrific treatment of Native Americans by the Missions, produced numerous rebellions, skirmishes, and tragedies.
Marin remained on the run for 18 months, and hid out on small islands in the Bay, which were later renamed the Marin Islands. He had plenty of help from Quintin and his Coast Miwok people along with other tribes, as well.
Mexico, who was in control of California by 1821, after their independence from Spain, dispatched Lieutenant Ignacio (Ygnacio) Martinez and his sub-lieutenant Jose Sanchez to find and capture Marin.
Eventually, things came to a head between the Mexican Army and Quintin’s warriors in 1824.
The Battle of Punta de Quintin
Most of the details we find about Quintin, and this battle, come from General M.G. Vallejo in a letter sent to the Overland Monthly (Sonoma) in September 1874. His letter detailing how San Quentin got its name, and was reprinted in a December 1, 1874, Sacramento Bee article.
According to General Vallejo, who became one of California’s earliest amateur historians of sorts, states that Martinez’s army also had the assistance of Marcelo who Vallejo claimed was a chief of the tribes (Cholognes and Bolgones) living at Mount Diablo.
If I had to guess, Vallejo is talking about the Chalon tribe, who were a division of the Ohlone (Costanoan) people. As for the “Bolgones,” I am not sure who the former Mexican Army General was talking about.
In regards to Marcelo, there was an Ohlone man with that name, who was the son of a headman of the San Francisco-Solano district. After the Missions were abolished, Marcelo received a land grant of more than 2,200 acres known as the Rancho Ulistac.
On a side note: a large Ohlone village located in the area was also named Ulistac. And, today’s Ulistac Natural Area in Santa Clara shares that honor.
Of course, the few Native Americans that had Mexican land grants, had them stolen in the American courts after California became a state.
It’s important to distinguish who Marcelo most likely was, because he would’ve been a key asset to Lieutenant Martinez, especially when traveling through California Native American lands looking for Chief Marin and Quintin. If this is the same Marcelo (and I think it is), then he would’ve also carried status and prestige among many of the tribes residing in the region.
When Martinez’s army landed on the peninsula, he was met with “an equally strong resistance from Captain Quintin, Marin’s sub-chief, and a brave, daring warrior.”
Vallejo went on to report that Martinez, although he had less soldiers than Quintin, was “favored by fortune” and captured the chief on the rocky outcrop overlooking the Bay.
Quintin was taken back to San Francisco (Mission Dolores), where he was detained for two years and “at the end of which he was set at liberty, there being no longer any doubt that the whites could rely on his promises.”
But that’s not all that we learn of Quintin. Vallejo went on to detail how the brave warrior was a good sailor and became a skipper.
Circa 1840, Vallejo ended up placing Quintin in charge of his best ship. Prior to giving the Coast Miwok warrior this position, he sought counsel from the same Marcelo that helped the Mexican Army and from Chief Solano. The latter was one of Vallejo’s friends and closest allies.
Quintin’s duties as the ship’s captain, were to make runs between Sonoma Creek and Yerba Buena (San Francisco).
From “Punta de Quintin” to “San Quentin”
Following Quintin’s capture at that coastal point, locals began referring to the location as “Punta de Quintin” or “Quintin Point.”
Over time, the American settlers added “San” to it and modified the spelling on Quintin’s name. They assumed that all California names of Spanish origin had a “San” in front of it. Thus “Punta de San Quentin” became the new name of this site despite Quintin not being a saint, but a Native American warrior.
The Birth of California’s Oldest Prison
Fast forward to 1851-1852, the new state saw a dramatic increase in crime following the Gold Rush. California lacked a permanent prison despite the influx of criminal activity.
Initially, authorities placed convicts aboard the Waban, which was a ship anchored off Angel Island. Unfortunately, that led to escapes and other issues.
State officials wanted to build a prison on Angel Island, but it was under Federal governance. So, they eventually turned their attention toward Punta de San Quentin, with a little coaxing from the landowner.
At the time, the entire peninsula was part of the Rancho Punta de Quentin land grant that was nearly 9,000 acres in size. By 1852, the latest owner, Ben Buckalew, was “inspiring” the state officials to look at the Point for the new prison. The state bought 20 acres at a $10,000 price tag and began a multi-year construction of San Quentin Prison.
Coastal Miwok Legacy
The San Quentin peninsula’s history predates the prison by centuries. It belonged to the Coast Miwok long before European contact. Marin, Quintin and countless other Native Americans lived on and defended this land until the very end.
Today, the legacy of Quintin, although often overlooked, still lives on in the name of the peninsula, small community, and prison.
Symbolically, Quintin lost his freedom at that peninsula after being taken prisoner. It’s ironic that a prison ended up being built there thirty years after his battle with the Mexican Army.
What About Chief Marin?
In my Chief Marin article, I discussed at length his role in this region and what led to Marin County being named after him. Additionally, it was General Vallejo who bestowed that honor upon him while making recommendations for the names of California locations.
It’s also believed that Chief Marin was captured in the Punta de Quintin battle, as well, or soon after.
What About Lieutenant Martinez?
There’s no doubt that capturing Quintin, and most likely Chief Marin, were resume boosting accomplishments for Lieutenant Martinez. Eventually, he would become the fourth Alcalde of Yerba Buena in 1837.
In 1842, he was granted Rancho El Pinole which was over 17,000 acres in size and located in present-day Contra Costa County. Martinez died in 1848. He was posthumously honored with the town of Martinez, California, being named after him.
Sources
California Supreme Court Historical Society. (2024, Fall/Winter). San Quentin Prison’s birth story.
Keshun Tate. (2012, February 2). San Quentin State Prison: 161 years of prison history. San Quentin News.
Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Coast Miwok.
FoundSF. (n.d.). San Quentin Prison: The origins of the California “corrections” system.
The Sacramento Bee. (1874, December 1). Origin of San Quentin.
Alley, Bowen & Co. Publishers. (1880). History of Marin County, California: Including its geography, geology, topography, and climatography.
