Title:
George F. Chamberlain letters: to his father Isaac, Roxbury, Mass., 1849-1852
Creator/Contributor:
Chamberlain, George F., creator
Abstract:
Letters from George F. Chamberlain (in Callao, San Francisco, Dry Town, Sacramento, Dry Creek, and Mokelumne Hill) to his
father Isaac Chamberlain in Roxbury, Mass. describe life in California during the gold rush. Chamberlain describes the voyage
around the horn as a crew member and includes a detailed account of entertainments and indoctrination rites for those first
crossing the equator. Once in San Francisco he describes the town, its demographics of ethnic groups and bachelors, houses
and tents, departure of the ship's crew for the mines, operations and rates aboard Henry Leland's schooner Lone Star, gold
availability, high prices and wages, and the fate of certain overland parties. Other subjects include rains and flooding,
the Sacramento river, Collins Cushman & Co., Kit Carson's visit to San Francisco, mining, hanging and other frontier "justice,"
California politics, and the weather. One letter is written on an illustrated lettersheet showing San Francisco in 1851.
Date:
1849 (issued)
Subject:
n-us-ca
Leland, Henry P. (Henry Perry) -- 1828-1868
Lone Star (Schooner)
Initiation rites
Voyages to the Pacific coast
Mines and mineral resources -- California
Gold mines and mining -- California
Shipping -- California
Vigilance committees -- California
San Francisco (Calif.) -- Description and travel
Mokelumne Hill (Calif.)
Sacramento River (Calif.)
Type:
Pictorial lettersheets.
Physical Description:
print
1 portfolio (.1 linear ft.)
Language:
English
Identifier:
BANC MSS 99/55 cLOCAL
Origin:
California