Greer, John, 1808-1885.

Captain John Greer was born in Ireland in 1808 and died in 1885 at his home near Mayfield (later Palo Alto), Calif. At the age of 18 he went to sea and rose to command ships in the commercial trade. In 1849 he commanded a passenger vessel from Montevideo to California, whereupon he joined the gold rush and for a short time was located in Sacramento. In 1850 he married Maria Luisa Soto (1822-1883), daughter of a prominent California family and the widow of English officer John Coppinger. Capt. Greer served as Justice of the Peace at Woodside, Associate Justice of the Court of Session for San Francisco County, 1851-1853, and held the latter position in San Mateo County from 1858-1859.

From the description of Greer family papers, circa 1839-1935. (University of California, Berkeley). WorldCat record id: 743387809