(version January 23, 2026)
William Toombs bought from Alfred Briggs in 1866 the old Wooster Ranch, which we believe was probably an 80-acre land tract in White Rock Canyon in the N/2, SW/4 of Sec 34-T11N-R11E that was once owned by William Wooster (c.1812-1857) and his wife Mary. The Woosters had lived on this ranch, where they operated the Forest Sawmill, but when Mr. Wooster died on May 26, 1857, and was buried in the Old Placerville City Cemetery, he was in debt with a levy placed against the mill and property. Mary likely was forced to sell to settle debts, and Briggs probably bought the ranch from her as an investment. Briggs (1820-1907) was a politician, who from 1854 to 1862 served in the State Legislature for El Dorado County. He was also the local Federal Collector of Internal Revenue when he sold the ranch to William Toombs.
William subsequently added 160 acres more to the north side of the ranch, when he received a Federal Patent (full ownership) on Sept. 13, 1876, with Peter Nimon listed as grantee, and William as Nimon's assignee (Land Office Doc ID #1127). This patent was obtained under the Federal Land Bounty Act of 1855, which awarded 160-acre land grants to individuals who had served in the U.S. Military during a U.S. War. Peter Nimon/Neiman (1786-1860) of Berks County, Pennsylvania, was a veteran who had fought in the War of 1812, and the Federal Government awarded him the land grant without his ever having to set foot in California. When he wrote his will in 1860 he specified that his real estate be sold by his heirs, who transfered/sold the land grant on June 24 & 25, 1874 for $200 to William Toombs. Because Toombs was still required to reside on the property, and make specified improvements, it was not until Sept 13, 1876 that he finally received full ownership of the grant.
William then received a second patent on Feb. 10, 1881 (Doc ID #97076) for a plot of land on the south side of the ranch that increased the total acreage 320 acres. This patent was obtained under the so-called "Homestead Act of 1862", which awarded homesteads to U.S. citizens who resided on the property and made specified improvements to the land. This implies that either Toombs or William Wooster occupied the property in question fairly soon after then President Lincoln signed the Homestead Act. The ranch after this 1881 acquisition covered the entire W/2 of Sec. 34-T11N-R11E. The Woosters were forgotten, and the ranch became known as "Toombs White Rock Ranch" or as the "old Toombs Homestead". This is where William and Frances Toombs raised their children. A large part of the southern area of their ranch today is part of the vineyards for the Lava Cap Winery, which are located near the intersection of Fruitridge and Hassler Roads on the outskirts of Placerville.
The Toombs Ranch was ultimately divided equally between William's two sons. Charles Gilbert Toombs, the younger son, received the northernmost one-fourth (80 acres) of the ranch, and William Louis Toombs, the older son, received the southernmost 80 acres. The remaining 160 acres in the middle of the ranch was somehow divided between the two brothers. Charles in 1890 sold the northernmost 80 acres of his share of the ranch, and ultimately left the other 80 acres to his only son Albert, who is said to have lost it in a poker game in a Placerville bar. William Louis Toombs in 1902 still owned his half of the original Toombs Ranch, but he eventually sold most of that 160 acres to his oldest son Frank Toombs, who planted it in apple trees. Frank had no children, and he offered his apple orchard to his nephew Bob Carty, when Bob was looking for a farming venture to invest in, so that he could move his family out of Hollywood and into a rural setting. However, Bob declined the offer, and started a vineyard in Solano County instead. Sometime after the 1969 death of Frank Toombs, what remained of the Toombs Ranch was sold. His fruit orchard was replaced in 1981 by a vineyard, and the Lava Cap Winery Winery opened up on the site five years later.
William Toombs, Sr. was also a co-owner of the Thistle Placer Mine, in the SE/4 of Sec 33-T11N-R11E, which was located less than a half mile to the west of his White Rock Canyon home. This claim was made under the Mineral Law Act of July 26, 1866, which allowed U.S. Citizens and those who had declared their intentions to become citizens to stake claims to explore and occupy public mineral lands. William and four partners, one of whom was his son-in-law Michael Sexton, were awarded a patent (full ownership) on Sept. 23, 1876 to the 110-acre claim (Land Office Doc ID #1960). This mine was only two miles SSE of the White Rock Diggings, which was a hydraulic placer mine working the Blue Lead channel at White Rock Canyon. It is reported in Lindgren (1911) that the White Rock Diggings yielded $5,000,000 in gold (U.S.G.S. Prof. Paper 73, p. 172, 176-177. The Toombs family in 1905 still owned the Thistle Mine when we read that "the Toombs boys property at White Rock has been bonded for $15,000 to C.E. Seymour." Presumably the "Toombs boys" refers to William's sons William Louis Toombs and Charles Gilbert Toombs. The tables shown below are from the website of the Federal Bureau of Land Management, and show the Toombs family land grants, with neighboring Federal land grants.
The United States of America
To all to whom these presents shall come, Greetings:
Whereas, In pursuance to the Act of Congress, approved March 3, 1855, entitled, "An Act in addition to certain acts granting Bounty Land to certain Officers and Soldiers who have been engaged in the Military service of the United States," there has been deposited in the General Land Office Warrant No. 97076 , for 160 acres, in favor of Peter Nimon, Teamster, Pennsylvania Militia, War of 1812,
with evidence that the above has been duly located upon the South half of the North West quarter, and the North half of the Southwest quarter of Section Thirty four in Township Eleven North of Range Eleven East in the District of lands subject to sale of Sacramento California containing One Hundred and Sixty Acres
according to the Official Plat of the Survey of the said Land, returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General the said Warrant having been duly assigned to William Toombs in whose favor said Tract has been located.
Now know ye, That there is, therefore, granted by the United States unto the said
William Toombs, as assigned as aforesaid and to his heirs the tract of Land above described:
To have and to hold the said tract of Land, with the appurtenances thereof, unto the said
William Toombs, as assignee, as aforesaid and to his
heirs and assigns forever; subject to any vested and accrued water rights for mining, agricultural, manufacturing, or other purposes, and rights to ditches and reservoirs used in conneciton with such water rights, as may be recognized and acknowledged by the local customs, laws, and decisions of courts, and also subject to the right of the proprietor of a vein or lode to extract and remove his ore therefrom, should the same be found to penetrate or intersect the premises hereby granted, as provided by law.
In testimony whereof, P. Ulysses Grant, President of the
United States of America, have caused these letters to be made Patent, and the Seal
of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed.
Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, the Thirteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Seventy six, and of the Independance of the United States the one hundred and first.
BY THE PRESIDENT: U.S. Grant
By Wm. H. Crook acting Secretary, S.W. Clark, Recorder of the General Land Office.
Recorded, Vol. 679, Page 128
The United States of America
To all to whom these presents shall come, Greetings:
Whereas, there has been deposited in the General Land Office of the United States a Certificate of the Register of the Land Office at Sacramento, California , whereby it appears that, pursuant to the Act of Congress, approved 20th of May, 1862, "To secure Homesteads to actual Letters on the Public Domain," and the acts supplemntal thereto, the claim of William Toombs has been established and duly consumated in conformity to law, for the south half of the southwest corner of section thirty-four in township eleven north of range eleven east of Mount Diablo Meridian in California containing 80 acres
according to the Official Plat of the Survey of the said Land, returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General.
Now know ye, That there is, therefore, granted by the United States unto the said William Toombs
the tract of Land above described: To have and to hold the said tract of Land, with the appurtenances thereof, unto the said William Toombs and to his heirs and assigns forever; subject to any vested and accrued water rights for mining, agricultural, manufacturing, or other purposes, and rights to ditches and reservoirs used in conneciton with such water rights, as may be recognized and acknowledged by the local customs, laws, and decisions of courts, and also subject to the right of the proprietor of a vein or lode to extract and remove his ore therefrom, should the same be found to penetrate or intersect the premises hereby granted, as provided by law.
In testimony whereof, P. Rutherford B. Hays , President of the
United States of America, have caused these letters to be made Patent, and the Seal
of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed.
Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, the tenth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-one, and of the Independance of the United States the one hundred and fifth.
BY THE PRESIDENT: R.B. Hays
By Wm. H. Crook Secretary, S.W. Clark, Recorder of the General Land Office.
