SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 1892

1892 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA LETTER - ALASKA IMPROVEMENT CO -

Handwritten letter of James Eva, Aug. 31, 1892, SF, to daughter E. M. Eva at Mills Seminary, Alameda, CA with interesting commentary regarding the school head:

"Yours came to hand and was glad to know you were well and not sorry that Mrs. Mills sits on you sometimes as you may need all little correction sometimes and the old lady is not very heavy."


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Sacramento California 1861

Letter dated Sacramento (California), Oct 9 1861, from "Nathan," a sheep rancher, to his brother, "Benjamin," with an excellent reference to slavery and the Civil War. It reads, in part, as follows.

"I have been in the City for a few days making a market for my wool. We sheared this fall about 6000 lbs., but the price is very low and it only amounts to $600, after deducting the amount paid for shearing. I hope by another spring we will get enough from our wool to pay the boys for herding the sheep and then the thing will begin to look like a paying business ... Emily [who had remained in the east with his son] is a real good wife (and here let me say I wish you had as good a one) and I am highly blessed in having her ... She is of a very happy disposition, not easily thrown off her ballance. Always disposed to make the best of everything and contribute to the happiness of those around ... I have not much to write about concerning the War. As you are much nearer the center of atrocities than I am, you must, of course, be better posted, but one thing I can claim an equal interest ... I am sure there is no one more loyal than I am and I would hang the last Rebel who resisted the laws of the U.S. I would wipe out the last Negro slave from the Sunny South [meaning actually that he would eliminate slavery) a year of jubilee [would] break any yoke and since the prejudice of this vile rebellion [is] so low in the estimation of the coming generation that Benedict Arnold's name would shine gloriously when compared with theirs. Of the final result I have no fears ... Think of me when you see the flag at the Elm Tree ... I would take off my hat and give it three cheers and perhaps I may do it when I get out to the Ranch ... [signed] Nathan."

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San Francisco 1859

Business letter, dated San Francisco, California, August 4, 1859, from bookseller J. Q. A. WARREN at 149 Clay Street, San Francisco, to publishers G. & C. Merriam requesting a price list and catalogue, and questioning when their Dictionaries will be arriving. An illegible notation from Merriam is found at the bottom.

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Suisun California

Letter from C.K Wells of Suisun, California, to "Dear Friends". Dated June 14, [circa 1855], the letter contains the well written observations of a young man who made the trip by sea from New York, across the Isthmus of Panama, and then to California on another vessel. The letter begins with great detail of the voyage to Panama, a well described trip across the Isthmus on the Panama Railroad, and the 22 day voyage to San Francisco aboard a crowded ship with poor accomodation. He then traveled by boat and stagecoach from San Francisco to the farm of friends at Suisun, north of San Francisco, and settled into farming. A wonderful and productive country, Wells describes large numbers of cattle and horses which must be branded by their owners as they are allowed to wander, and must be rounded up from time to time, the cutting and threshing of wheat, the great climate . He also notes the poor condition of housing and barns compared to Vermont, and claims no place in California can compare. He claims very few people are better off for coming to California, and there are not many religious opportunities. Asks for news from home, "should be very happy to do myself up in this envelope and find myself taken out in your old kitchen".


Ebay Item number:190371234293

1859 California gold miner's letter

1859 California gold miner's letter sent from Forbestown, California in Butte County back home to George G Swett in Hampden Maine.

Forbestown Butte County June 15, '59 Dear Friends, I will write a few lines now to let you know how I be. I have prospected until I got tired and I did not find anything to pay me so I hired out at a mill. I had worked about a week and was unfortunate enough to jam the end of my finger off on my right hand. It will probably lay me up 4 to 6 weeks and then I shall go to work again. I hope this will find you well. Please excuse for I can not hold my pen very good.

William Swett .

Ebay Item number:330402075173

Cincinnati, Ohio 1849

Letter from Cincinnati, Ohio, Feb 1 1849, from Archibald A. Irwin Jr. to "Mrs. Colonel Arian," at Madison.
Reading in part, as follows: "My nephew Wm. Henry Harrison will sojourn in your goodly town for a day or two. I promise he is a clever fellow. Be kind enough to introduce him to my good friend Miss Mary Esther and also tell the Col that he is going to California & wishes some of your citizens to join the expedition, to which he has attached himself. It is in command of Lieut Woodhull Schenck of the U.S. Navy, one of the very best officers our Navy can boast of ... [signed] Arch. A. Irwin Jr. ..."

This interesting letter is for sale on Ebay Item number:250520001619

Sonoma, California 1853

Sonoma, California, Jul 22 1853, from Thomas J. B. Hubbard, in the heart of the Gold Rush country, to his sister, Julia B. Hubbard, Fulton, Oswego County, New York, blue Columbia, Cal., Jul 29 1853, postmark, postage stamp has been removed. Complains of feeling dull, contrasting "Home" with the "trials and perplexities of a life in California ... Though I can't say that I regret that I came to this country, if it has been connected with something which was not altogether pleasant. Yet man must learn to take the evil with the good & mix them to suit himself ... with one exception California has been more than it ever has been. There has been some commotion since gambling has been stopped than at any previous time. Every night we hear or a murder & some times 3 or 4. This is confined to the Southern mines. A man is not safe traveling for they will take a man's life for 2 shillings any time. I hear [there] was a most brutal murder committed a few nights ago. An old man by the name of Kitsen was killed by a young fellow called Worth from Virginia for something that he had said in regard to Bosonton's assassination. My health is first rate -- never better ... the mill has plenty to eat & enough to which is a glorious thing, for it keeps me out of perotinus. But it is the good imes a coming & I will pick up all the past privations & square the books ... direct [letters to] Sonoma, Tuolumne Co.Cal ... [signed] Thomas J. B. Hubbard ..."

This great old letter is for sale on Ebay
Item number:
250500889442

1856 LITTLE VALLEY, NY LETTER - KANSAS, BORDER RUFFIANISM

Letter from Charles Freeman in Little Valley [Cattaraugus County, New York], Aug. 20, 1854. to niece and nephew [Elisha Freeman.] Nearly two pages on "Bleeding Kansas".
In part:

"I sometimes wish you lived in some other state, where you could enjoy freedom of speech, although I rejoice that there are so many in St. Louis that do not go with Border Ruffianism.";
"...the whole world appears to be in commotion. Look at Congress. There is much more excitement, knock down and murder, than anything that is good. Look at California, all confusion murder & hanging - What does all this mean..."
"One thing I verily believe, which is, that God is about to bring this human curse called slavery to a crisis, for although I live in Cattaraugus, yet we have papers giving inteligence...and my observations teaches me this, that every move which of late the South are making, is completely calculated to cut their own throats...there is hardly a Northern State, that has not sons...which have fell marters to freedom, by the hand of those cursed Border Ruffians and their blood begins to cry to us, from Kansas..."

This interesting letter is for sale on Ebay Item number: 230351915550.

Delware Letter re Joel Jenks, Gold Rush, California 1850

First Record of letter of the Miner 49er Joel Jenks. Joel went to Rough and Ready, California. And wrote letters to his Father Ahab and his wife Minerva. Ahab kept the letters which were then passed down through Sarah (Ahab’s grand-daughter) to the family.

Letter 1 of 5 of the Ahab Jenks letter collection.

Delaware, Jany. 30 1850 (no corrections to the original text-transcribed as seen)

Mr. Joel Jinks (Jenks)

Sir, I am making preparations to go to California in the spring with a company that is going there from here. They intend to go over land route. I can take a hand with me and if you wish to go along you can have the privelage, furnishing your own clothes, which in the outfit is estimated at fifty dollars.

The conditions of the outfit of those two hand that I now have there is-- after furnishing there entyer outfit cloths and all--- which amounted to some two hundred dollars a pese. They are to give me on half of all they make for two years.

Now, if you can furnish your clothes which is one fourth of the whole outfit for one man an give me one half of all nete prosedes for eighteen months from the time we start from here. I should like to have you go along with me. I make you the first offer for there has been at least one half dozen applied to me all ready for the chanse to go. Perhaps you can arrange with your wife’s brothers to keep your wife untill youcould send something home for her support which you can do before the end of the first year. Come over or let me know immediately.

Yours,
J. Storm
(Storm was married to Joel Jenks Sister.

Joel went with this outfit. Apparently his first wife had passed away
and he had remarried Minerva.Joel Jenks was married a second time to Minerva Hoover who is the stepmother of Sarah Jinks (Lake).The Post Mark on the letter (the back of the Page reads:
Mrs. Minerva Jinks
Johnstown
Licking county Ohio
There is no stamp on the letter.
(Written with a quill pen with great flourish)

I found J Jenks in a Book of Wagon Train Manefests from Independence.The book was in the Apple Valley, CA Library. The Mormon Geneologist showed me the book and helped me find the record of the trip.

This is the travel record (by letters written) of one Joel Jenks who went to the gold fields of California, and died in Rough and Ready, California.

Submitter: Donald "Spencer" Deal plucknpick@hotmail.com

John Prince Knight. San Francisco California Letters

1850s San Francisco California Letters Item number: 330180082954

38 Pre Civil War Handwritten Letters. Most to: John Prince Knight. San Francisco California. And a few to other family members in Massachusetts. From: Most from Family Members & a few friends. Most from Boston & a few from other cities like Brighton, Germantown and one from Burlington College. & few other cities 1850 - 1866. Most later 1850s to early 1860s. [ 18 with year dates either on postmarks or letterheads & 20 without year dates] Mentions In Part: Visiting & Visitors - Wine bottle broke in Franks hand quite badly across the palm while drawing the cork - Sarahs wedding anf who attended - Henry Baldwin out in Brighton is engaged to a Sheep Killers daughter - Sleighing has been good - There is to be an ? immense cast at the Foundry and we expect several friends over to see the sight - The Brother Cup is perfect both in shape & color I can't imagine how it could have come such a distance - Daisy and Anna are playing and shaking the table so I can't write - Baby Daisy has Lung Fever, Dr. Channing - Trips to Brighton Massachusetts and New York City - Lydia talks of having a Ambrotype taken soon - Mr. Hooker took his dinner to the Mill to be ready for the train - Social at the House, all you will need is plenty of Light, you have lamps enough for the whole house but we have no oil, the can is at the Mill, got the Church cookery - Gift of a rocking chair - Goat attacked by dogs, men to the rescue - Their old friend Capt. Thomson died of cancer - Sick in bed for a number of weeks - Lovely Easter & Easter Sunday with flowers - New family dog named Dash, followed our old potato man came to see us - We had the house illuminated one night. A splendid procession formed on this street just in front of the house. The firing of the Cannon shook the house and caused one of the little ? lamp to fall from a bar on one of the front windows in my room ....., I threw a clock and shawl over the flames without sucess..... - It is prudent for you to be on the Wharf all night alone? - Writer updates John on all of the trees. The English Walnut you planted is eight feet high, Devils Walking Stick is about seven feet high ..... - Mr. Alger took us all over to the Foundry to see a large boiler for a Steam Ship cast - Mother died, I arrived the second day after the funeral - Mr. Bray has been making me a pair of skates from a mismatched old pair he found in the house. He took off the runners, fixed them onto a pair of Mahogany soles which he cut out very nicely .... & More.

This batch of John Prince Knight. San Francisco California Letters is for sale on Ebay. If you want to have a look or place a bid just follow the links to Ebay.

Diary of Tully Crosby Brewster on board Ship Charlotte of Boston, 1848-1850 Massachusetts

This leather covered diary is hardbound and is a bit over 100 pages, or a total of 200 pages front and back

The diary is identified clearly in manuscript on the back fly page-- Tully Crosby Brewster [Massachusetts]

The diary entries begin with October 13, 1848 and end with June 19, 1850. Also included with the diary is a beautifully written, 4-page tipped in letter dated January 10, 1843,by the hand of Captain Crosby, addressed from London to his brother and sister, in Brewster, Massachusetts.

The following are just few of the highlights of the entries in this diary. The excerpts were chosen at random. You will learn from this brief list of entries that Captain Crosby was a brave man, sailing the treacherous mighty deep time after time, experiencing utter despair and frustration. He was a devoutly religious man so much so he heaps guilt upon himself for repairing masts on the Sabbath. But at the same time he and his crew wage utter brutality against the poor sea creatures, the whale and the porpoise.

October 13, 1848

I left my home at a late hour of the night to go forth and seek bread for the wife and little ones, whom God hath given me, to follow the profession which in my youth I so unwisely chose. I am one of those people who do business upon the might waters, who go down to the deep in ships, and there behold the wonders of the Lord & . I go because my duty calls me, yet my soul will dwell with you [my wife and children]. On the 14th, arrived in Boston, passed the day there. But in the evening I take cars for New York, and after a pleasant passage through the sound in the Empire State, I arrive safe &

Wednesday, January 27th, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston
a high rolling sea at 6 p.m. It commences to blow again. Took in said as required and & we had to take all off but close reefed main top said and fore topmost stay sail. Midnight, a tremendous gale of wind & and the sea was terrific. May god have mercy on us... A heavy sea & filled the decks fore and aft and came nigh washing the whole watch off deck. On e many was swept from the bows of the ship, under the spars and was some bruised, passengers necessary was washed away & . It is indeed a very heavy gale, and the sea seems frightful .

Monday, January 31st, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston

we passed close along side of a squid, a laying on the top of the water. I should think him 20 to 25 feet long and as large as a house the larges I ever saw, though I have heard of them much larger .

Sunday, February the 4th, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston

we feel at times as if there was no one so unfortunate as we are, but we know when we exercise our better judgment that there is many worse off, by far, yet we feel bad, we are making a very long passage, and our freight is of the loveliest kind. The heavy winds which are continually so spitefully against us is a striping us of all our sails, or rather is straining and tearing them to pieces. We fear that our employees will get tired of our hard luck, but we must do our best and have [left] the result to God .

Sunday, February the 11th, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston

we find by looking back in this our Journal that this is the twelfth gale of wind that we have experienced since we left port, that has caused us to have our ship too under close reefed main top sail and I think we have been laid too, about 13 days & Midnight calm. It is truly strange how sudden these N gales die down to a calm. In one or two hours from a gale to a perfect calm, all the latter part it is calm and clear and we are obliged to turn all of the watch onto work to repair sails, although it is a Sabbath day, we feel that it is our duty, yet we hate to work, or set men to work on the Lords day, but we have had a dreadful time, and our sails have all got split and strained to pieces and if we don t take the advantage of the good weather, we fear we shall lose them. Our Father, who art in heaven, again we are permitted through thy mercy to behold another Sabbath day. Although we have been at work all the day, upon our sail & c., we felt that it was our duty, and if we have sinned in thy sight, we pray that we may be forgiven, surely we have not meant it for sin, nor have we done it thinking light of thy Command, which requires of us not to work, neither ourselves or our servants, but we have looked upon it as work of necessity. And, our Master and Savior taught us that if we have an ass & that falls in the ditch, it is lawful to pull them out on the Sabbath day. True, such was not our state, but our sails have fallen in to very rough weather, and we feel that we are acting upon the same principle by taking advantage of a moderate day to repair them. Since this is only the third or fourth moderate day we have had out of 44 days, yet Father we do not wish to justify ourselves before thee, for we know that we have often done things that are forbidden in thy sacred work and left undone things that we are commanded to do.

Thursday, February the 15th, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston & standing to the South to get clear of the Gulf where we find we have been for the last two days, although we have been from 60 to 120 miles south of where we ever knew the gulf to be before in this longitude, but everything has undergone a change apparently since we passed these parts before.

Midnight - a tremendous gale with lightning, thunder, and much rain. Oh God, have mercy on us, for surely we fear our good little ship will not be able to stand it much longer. We have now washed away our head sails, and started our head and main rail, and we fear our head will go altogether as the knees are gone, and if it does, we fear it will start a leak .

Saturday, February the 17th, 1849
Ship Monterey of Boston

Wonderful to relate we have not had to close reef our top sails for 24 hours. May god be praised for this blessing. At 10 a.m., we passed as bale of Cotton floating close along side of the ship, and some pieces of ship s bull works, the Cotton had not been long in the water. Some poor fellow no doubt had his decks swept about here during the late heavy gales. We still pray for a fair wind and may God her our prayers at last, and save us .

Thursday, February 22, 1849

Ship Monterey of Boston
Washington s Birthday.

when it blows, it always blows against us, and when it is calm, of course, we can do nothing, and we are almost ready to despair & surely there must be some cause for all this detention, and for so many, many disappointments, for when our hears are for the moment encouraged with the appearance of a fair wind, lo, and behold it is only for a moment for soon it is all withdrawn from us .

March 15th, 1849
In Baltimore
Ship Monterey of Boston

All of this 24 hours we have a thick rainy, foggy weather, but in the after part of the day, we commence discharging some of our cargo crates, and we hope and pray that tomorrow we may have a better day. Saw Mr. Paul Leans just from [here] from Boston and had a long talk with him about Boston friends there. Nothing new occurring this day & . Saturday, March the 20th, 1849Still in BaltimoreShip Monterey of Boston & Tolerable pleasant, but on Monday, the 20th, much rain which continues for two or three days, but we chartered the Ship for Liverpool to William Mankin. On the 25th had a letter from my wife and she was sick. Complains of weakness, cough, & c. and writes very discouraging. Oh, my Father in Heaven, what can this be, my fears are great, but in thee I put my trust. I immediately sent on for another Master for the ship for not for worlds would I go to sea and leave her sick. On the 29th had a letter saying Capt. George Dunbar is to take the ship, which I am glad to hear. He is a good fellow. On the 2nd of April, Capt Dunbar got on, expected to find the ship ready, but we had not began to load. I have trouble to get my fright as the rates have declined. I fear that Mr. Mankin will lose money by the ship. On the 11th we got her loaded and on the morning of the 12th started her off, and at the same time I started for home. Passed the evening and night in Philadelphia with Mr. Freeman, left next morning and arrived at New York. Left same evening, and the next day I got safe home with my dearly beloved family. Found my wife feeble indeed. But in a few days we start off for a town down east which proves a great benefit to her & . All the month of July and June, I was employed with Carpenters at work making alteration in my house. On the 10th of August, the Monterey arrived in Boston. I went up and took charge, got her Cargo out and I was taken down sick with bowel complaint. Was one week sick in Charlestown. Got a little better, went home and was taken with relapse. Found I should not be able to go in the ship, she being ready for Rio de Janeiro, sent up my old friend and neighbor Thacker, who I was glad to hear got the ship. She sailed on the 3rd of September. On the 20th of September, my health having been recovered, had letter from Mr. Lincoln to come to Boston. Went up on the 22nd, made an agreement to take the old ship Charlotte for a voyage to California.

Saturday, December 29th, 1849
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

At 4 p.m. we spoke to the Bark, Leonoria. Off and from Liverpool, England, 23 days for Demerana (?), he complains with us that we are so far south and no trade winds. He wishes us a pleasant passage, a plenty of Gold & c., for which we are much obliged and wish him the same with all of our heart & [Barque (or Bark) A barque is square-rigged at fore and main masts, and differs from a ship in having no top, and carrying only fore-and-aft sails at her mizzenmast. She has at least three masts. All of them are rigged with at least three square sails each, except for the stern most one, which is rigged with fore-and-aft sails. The wooden three-masted barque was a common sight in the port of san Francisco in the middle of the 19th century. Barques were important in California's early development. Until the fast, elegant clippers and huge steamers began arriving in 1850-1851, barques, ships and brigs carried huge cargo loads from around the world. ]

Tuesday, January the 1st, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

All hail Happy New Year! We greet you with the warmth and sincerity of an old friend. Yet we acknowledge that we are perfect strangers. But then we have been expecting you, and knew in reason that you would come about this time, January 1st. Well, you find poor Pill Garlick here on board of the old Charlotte, bobbing off for California, all down upon one side with the NE trade winds all from the SW. We hope friend fifty that we shall be good friends, and that we shall prosper much better under your administration than we did under the reign of your elder sister Queen 49. Yet we know that we even then was permitted to live, and sometimes took much comfort, but our gains in a Worldly sense was small .

Friday, January the 4th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

At 5 p.m., spoke [with] the schooner S.D. Bailey, & bound for San Francisco, all well, intended to touch at St. Cruz, Cape Verd, passengers on board of her all in high glee. They gave us three cheers as they passed across our stern. We wish them good luck and hope God will prosper them and give them abundance of Gold, and return all those who desire it in safety to their fatherland, again in safety .

Wednesday, January the 15th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

There is an American Hermaphrodite Brig within a main top sail & a coming up with us as they all do. We have only seen one vessel yet but what passed us, and this one will soon no doubt. But we are dragging along slowly all down upon our side. We have crossed the equator & . [Hermaphrodite Brigantine--If a ship has two masts, the foremast square rigged and the main mast fore-and-aft rigged, it can be called a hermaphrodite brig or a brigantine. Calling it a brigantine is a bit wrong, because the true brigantine should also have square sails on her main topmast. The brigantine must not, however, have a main course, because then it is called a brig and does not belong to the family of schooners since its main sail is not a fore-and-aft sail.]

Thursday, January the 17th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

The Brig Crocas of and for Gardner Mc Cane up and spoke with us. 39 days out for California . He says he has spoke with two or three vessels before and he was to the east of them all

Wednesday, January the 23rd, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

It is dreadful hot weather, and I am troubled with one of my bilious starts (bowel complaint?), but hope by the mercy of God soon to be well again. Have taken some of the wonderful Brandwiths pills .

Thursday, January the 16th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

spoke to the ship Em? & from New Bedford, 80 days out on a whaling cruise. Had 400 bbls oil and three noble, large whales then turned up which the boats was then trying to get along side. Two of them already fast to the ship. Monstrous looking they are. And it is wonderful to think of the power of man to subdue all other creatures unto himself. But all under God must it be done.
Thursday, July the 20th , 1850

Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

There is an American ship and Brig in Company. I expect they are bound to the Gold Regions, and I wish them much success .


Sunday, July the 24th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

The Bark Emma, camp up and spoke and passed us. Reported 67 days from Bath for the Gold Regions. Full of passengers, and the little Bark sailed like a witch, while our good old Charlotte moves slow and graceful, as well the Charlotte should .

Wednesday, March the 6th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

Wonderful events have this morning transpired. Mr. Lincoln our second officer has been all the voyage a trying to catch a porpoise. Was fortunate enough to hit one and draw blood. And although he did not save him, yet he is wonderfully elated, and is sharpening up his iron, and woe to the porpoises that now come nigh us, for blood is now drawn and the battle is fairly begun

Wednesday, March the 13th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

thank our heavenly Father for every little that we gain on our course helps to carry us from this Cape Horn of which we have had enough for one cruise.

Sunday, March the 24th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

ship laying and laboring in a tremendous sea, within 50 miles of the western entrance to the Straights of Magellan

Wednesday, March the 31st, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

yet we feel thankful indeed that we can say that we have got clear of the Cape Horn without any material accident, though we have had a rough and long time of it, yet we flatter ourselves that we have got clear with as little damage and most any of the California craft, and we pray that we may be as fortunate the rest of the voyage.

Monday, April the 8th, 1850
Towards the Pacific
Ship Charlotte of Boston

this voyage we had a strong hope that we should have reached Valparaiso before this time, and as the first part of our passage was so prosperous, that hope was strengthened, but since we got up with Cape Horn, we have indeed had a hard time of it, although through the mercy of a kind providence, we have been preserved alive, and have not met with any serious accident, and we are now only 400 miles from Valparaiso .

Monday, April the 14th, 1850
ANCHORED AT VALPARAISO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

Monday morning went on shore and found to my great regret that there is no letters for me to be found here from any part, and I further find that there is no prospect of my selling the cargo on any part of it h ere to advantage so that I have no course to pursue but to continue on the San Francisco and the prospect does not look very flattering even there, but we must go

Friday, April the 26th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCSICO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

at midday there was a large whale one of the largest species came along side of the ship so near as to rub his sides against the bottom of the ship and continued to pass under the bottom from one side to the other, occasionally blowing close beside us and throwing his flukes about to our no great satisfaction, until we shot a Rifle Ball into his head when he left us in double quick time


Wednesday, March the 6th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

hand variously employed in ship s duty & myself reading Doctor Allcot s novel, Reformer, but think as I ever have that the said Doctor Allcot is an ass, and I don t believe he thinks half what he writes true. Still he says some good things as who many not who writes so much

Wednesday, May the 8th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

O how time flies away. It seems all most impossible, but such is the fact. We had hopes of being a little nearer to California when this day came around, but we had such a cruel hard, and long time off of Cape Horn which causes us to be no further on now

Thursday, May the 9th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

hands employed in painting ship, cleaning iron work & . The weather is getting very hot, and we feel somewhat the effects of it operating upon our digestive organs. We have a craving appetite, and have not strengths of mind enough to curb its desires, when we know it hurts us to eat so much. Well, of people will dance, they ought to pay the fiddler

Monday, May the 12th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

Clear, pleasant weather all sail out low and aloft, and our good ole ship is a doing the best she can towards reaching California

Monday, May the 13th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

all hands employed scrubbing and scraping ship outside making ready for painting myself and Mr. Gould, passenger, practicing pistol and rifle shooting, the weather is very warm. Indeed the heat is very oppressive. We have one man sick threatened with fever

Tuesday, May 14th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

hands employed painting ship outside, I had some high words with my mate Mr. Gillson. He provokes me all the passage, I suppose he wants to aggravate me to discharge him when the ship arrives, and heaven knows he may go for it. If I can t have an officer who will pay a little respect towards me as master of the ship, I don t want any. And I am quite sure that he does not, and he boasts of not caring a d**** whether he gives me satisfaction or not. I am sure of one thing and that is; that I never tried to treat a mate better than I have him, and I never had one who took such improper advantage of good treatment before, and I am sure I never had such improper advantage of good treatment before and I am sure I never had such abusive language from any one before. I could put him off duty, but this would be just what he would like, besides I am not disposed to do his duty for him, and as our voyage cannot be more than 20 or 50 days longer, I pray that God may give me patience. I hope to treat him in a proper manner, and deport myself toward him as becomes a gentleman and Christian. God knows I wish him no harm, but I pray that he may possess a better disposition. I am sure he will one day regret the abusive language that he has used toward me. But he has many things to repent of. He boast of having taken many Negroes from their native land to the West Indies and sold them, and swears he will do it again, one day. This will rise up in judgment again him

Sunday, May the 26th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

we are now within 1200 miles of San Francisco

Monday, June the 4th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

a high rolling sea, all of which continues all the 24 hours, just as it has for the last nine days & but I expect it is fair for some people, and we ought to be content. But our philosophy has got pretty much used up into fiddle strings, and we wish to Heaven we could get on fair wind to take us to San Francisco for we want to see the Elephant, and satisfy ourselves whether that animal has got horns or not. Cause folks says he has

Tuesday, June the 18th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

at 9 a.m., the Baltimore schooner called C.A. Slicer came up and spoke to us she left Valparaiso eight days after us, and she came up and passed us like a bird

Wednesday, June the 19th, 1850
ON TO SAN FRANCISCO
Ship Charlotte of Boston

the Schooner that passed us yesterday is still in sight. We came up with some in the night, we begin to get some of the California weather, and our hope soon to get a fair breeze t take us in for we are truly sick of this long passage.

Tuesday, June the 20th, 1850
NEAR THE PORT OF SAN FRANCISCO~LAST DIARY ENTRY
Ship Charlotte of Boston

Commenced with a light air from WNW, nearly calm. All sails set low and aloft. Our ship a moving on her course about 4 knots an hour, which continues all the 24 hours nearly the same. The Schooner that we spoke to on the 18th is still in sight. She gets way ahead of us in the day time, but at night, we come up with her, and find her near us in the morning. We hope soon to reach our port, and as we now are a drawing nigh, we pray God to give us clear weather and direct our courses right and keep us in safety & Amen

Lydia Giles, San Francisco California, 1881

~1880 OVERLAND JOURNEY~SAN FRANCISCO~MARITIME~

“When I have good pen and some better paper, I will write you of the Rocky Mountains, the Plains, the Hills and Valleys, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains that we crossed coming here. If anyone had told me a year ago that I would come Overland to California, I would not have believed it, would you?”

Lydia Ann Giles,
San Francisco, California,
July 10, 1881

Two great letters written by an exciting and adventurous, female sailor, and pioneer who made the Overland journey through the Sierra Nevadas in 1880. The letters are written by Lydia Ann Giles and addressed for the most part to family members in Tenants Harbor, Maine. She sailed the world over with her husband, Captain Henry Giles who worked for J. M. Grace & Company, San Franscisco, shipping and commission merchants

LYDIA'S FIRST LETTER TO HER SISTER
***Oakland, California--July the 10th, 1881***

“Dear Sister-- Will write you a few lines this evening. I arrived here all right—was eight days—got along nicely. Was sick a week after I got here. Had a bad cold-cough and sore throat. I was not on deck for a week. Was over to San Francisco yesterday.

Sherry and I took the afternoon to ourselves and had a good walk. Took the car and went to Laurel Hill Cemetery. It is a beautiful place. [Laurel Hill Cemetery founded in 1854 is no longer in existence. Also formerly known as Lone Mountain Cemetery, San Francisco County, it was sadly forgotten and left to the vandals. Many of San Francisco’s pioneering politicians were buried there. Many of the bodies were moved and retinterred at Laurel Hill Mound, Cypress Lawn, Colma.] Then we took the steam car and went home with Mr. Chapman[of J. F. Chapman & Co., shipping and commission merchants, San Franscisco] to Sea and spent the evening. His wife was a Levensaller. She has two brothers here.

Capt. Wallace sailed yesterday. The ‘Gibson’ lays at the same wharf we do. Mrs. Speed has spent one day with me and I have been one day there. Henry has a bad cold; other ways, his health is good. He likes the long voyages very much.

I had a letter from Leann yesterday. Said there was a present waiting for her when she got home. A real silver butter dish. Had a bail to it and a place to lay the knife on the side. It was from Edward Gleason, a cousin. Henry has sent her a pair of blankets. Had them made to order. Her name wove in the border. I did not see them, but they must have been very nice. Mr. Chapman is going to give me a pair and Mr. Levensaller will give me a pair.

We intend to go to William Long someday after Henry gets over his cold. He lives at Shawood, a small town back of here. When I have good pen and some better paper, I will write you of the Rocky Mountains, the Plains, the Hills and Valleys, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains that we crossed coming here. If anyone had told me a year ago that I would come Overland to California, I would not have believed it, would you?

Henry says he will send Joe’s pipe by mail. We have two nice great hogs on board. Write as soon as you get this and write all the news. Kiss Eddie for me.

My love to all and a good share to yourself.
Yours affectionately. L. A. Giles.
Henry sends his regards.”

Lydia Giles, 1882

Letter written by an exciting and adventurous, female sailor, and pioneer who made the Overland journey through the Sierra Nevadas in 1880. The letters are written by Lydia Ann Giles and addressed for the most part to family members in Tenants Harbor, Maine. She sailed the world over with her husband, Captain Henry Giles who worked for J. M. Grace & Company, San Franscisco, shipping and commission merchants

LYDIA'S SECOND LETTER TO HER SISTER
***Liverpool, England--July the 13th, 1882***

My very dear sister Will commence a letter to you to say we are nearly ready for sea. Shall said about the 17th . I have received one letter from you and quite a number of papers. Hope I will get another letter before we said. I though I would not come home this time as my health is good and they all seem to be getting along well enough without me.

Henry is well and has got quite a corporation on his. He sends his regards to you and Joseph. Captain Speed and wife are staying with us now. Their ship is in the Graving Dock. .We stayed with them when our ship was in the Graving Dock. We had rather stay on the ship than board on shore. Captain Murphy has stayed us one night.

We have been off sight seeing over to London and Buxton. Captain speed and wife, Henry and I, Mr. Fox and wife met us in Buxton. Went to Madame Tussaud’s Wax Works in London. Rode through the principal streets over London bridge and Westminster bridge, through Hyde Park, round Roblen Row. Several times saw through the Tower of London. Stood on the spot where Anne Boleyn was beheaded. Saw the block and beheading axe and headsman’s mask. Was in the dungeon where Guy Fawkes was imprisoned and where the Royal Children were murdered—the two sons of Edward the Fourth. The instruments of torture, saw the crown jewels as Aunt T. B. says they were immense. Went to Windsor, was through Windsor Castle, all but the grounds, private apartments. From Duxton we went to Bakewell Church. This sacred pile is very ancient. Tradition assigns it a date anterior to the conquest. The old Nave is supposed to have re-erected about 1100, upon a still older foundation.

..... I hope you will not think that I have taken this large sheet to write the history of England on, but if you would like it, I will write a few descriptions of these places when I have more time. I came back very tired, but well satisfied. Enjoyed every minute of it. Although my lame knee ached very bad, being on my feet so much.

Our friends Mr. Gracie and wife, Mr. Meeks and wife, took us to Prescott in company with Capt. Speed and wife. Had a pleasant time. I sent you a paper with a necktie. Hope you got it all right. Tell Eddie I got him a Monkey in London. Not a live one. Kiss him for me. Will send it to Eddie by mail from San Francisco. Take good care of yourself and don’t go round among the sick too much. Laura is coming down to make you a visit soon. Don’t let her go round too much.

My love, best wishes to you.
Write to San Francisco in care of J.W. Grace & Co. Write about the first of November. I will send for a paper when we leave by the Pilot,.

Many thanks for the Opinions, your affectionate Sister, L. A. Giles.
Had a present of 17 Round Books and a case of scissors with my name on them in gilt….”