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Finely executed manuscript survey of a portion of Rancho Pinole, dated September 1883, with the name Wm. Minto, Deputy, at the right center.
The map includes the Martinez, Pacheco and Vine Hill areas.
William Minto, (1837 to 1919) was born in Annan, Scotland. Minto did survey work for the General Land Office, in the State of California, for 39 years. His first survey contract was issued on August 9, 1871, and his last recorded survey with the General Land Office is dated July 12, 1910. The surveys executed by William Minto span the entire length of California and are located on or near the following places: Van Nuys, Beverly Hills, Whittier, Alhambra, Santa Margarita, Berkley, Santa Ana, El Cajon, Costa Mesa, Cedarville, Fort Bidwell, Likely, Madeline, Davis Creek, Paradise, Butte City, Glenn, Durham, Parkfield, Priest Valley, Hopland, Cloverdale, Laguna Beach, Porterville, Viola, Healdsburg, Mount Whitney, San Juan Capistrano, Yorba Linda, Susanville, Observation Peak, Red Bluff, McCloud, Mount Shasta, King City, San Bernardino, Fontana, Riverside, Mammoth Lakes, Palo Alto, Palomar Mountain, Trona, Hemet, Quincy, Santa Monica, Beaumont, San Jacinto, Pomona, Portola, Oakland, San Pablo, San Leandro, Point Sal, Palm Springs, Banning, and Clearlake.
Minto was also indicted as a member of the infamous Benson Syndicate that performed fraudulent surveys through the West. According to the Annual Report of the Commissioner of the General Land Office for the year 1887, Minto was paid over $60,000 dollars for work performed for the syndicate.
