Manuscripts
Washington F. Davidson diary
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Indenture between Robert Walkinshaw, Benjamin Davidson, and William Hood and Samuel R. Throckmorton regarding land in Mendocino County, California
Manuscripts
Mortgage indenture regarding land in Mendocino County, California, once owned by the late William A. Richardson. The indenture describes that Richardson and his wife Maria in 1853 and 1854 "did convey. . . certain lands" in Mendocino County to Charles S. Compton and Donald Davidson, who in turn sold the land to Robert Walkinshaw, Benjamin Davidson, and William Hood. $35,000 was also paid to Richardson's heirs to clear debts on the estate, with those funds being held in trust for Julius May by Davidson, Samuel R. Throckmorton, and Davidson's attorney, Alexander Forbes. The indenture releases Throckmorton from claims on the land and also releases the land from any further mortgages or liens. Possibly in the handwriting of Benjamin Davidson. Signed by Davidson and by Forbes for Walkinshaw.
mssHM 72998
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George Washington Felt journal
Manuscripts
The journal covers Felt's voyages on board the ship Rival from Boston to San Francisco, San Francisco to Callao, Peru, and then from Callao to Hampton Roads. Felt gives great detail regarding the events on board the ship, fights among the crew, daily chores and duties, ships and locations passed, the weather and sea conditions, and the longitude and latitude of the ship. The last few pages of the journal are "reminiscences" Felt wrote after the voyage regarding his feelings about being a sailor and his memories of San Francisco (including a visit to a Chinese Temple), and Callao and the Chincha Islands, Peru. Scattered throughout the journal are sketches of ships drawn by Felt; also included is a photo of Felt.
mssHM 63174
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George S. Mathews diary
Manuscripts
The diary, which covers two journeys taken by George S. Mathews, was written from notes he took along the way. The first journey is Mathews' trek from Waverly, Iowa, to Portland, Oregon, via the Oregon Trail in 1865, and the second is a voyage from Oregon to New York City via Panama in 1866. There is little personal detail in the overland portion of the diary; Mathews took note of facts such as weather conditions, number of people in the wagon train, campsites, mileage, and locations passed such as Fort Laramie and Fort Dalles. He also mentions several Indian tribes, such as the Winnebago, the Brule, and the Nez Perce, and their contact with the pioneers and the military (he briefly mentions the Battle of Horse Creek, June 1865). The voyage portion of the diary gives great detail regarding the conditions on the voyage and Mathews' experiences in San Francisco and Panama. After the voyage section, are more notes and mileage lists regarding Mathews' overland journey to Oregon. Also included is a cabinet card photograph of George S. Mathews
mssHM 63161-63162
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Peter Andrew Clapsaddle diary
Manuscripts
In this diary, Clapsaddle writes daily entries while on his voyage from New York to San Francisco. In it. he talks about life on board the ship, seasickness, his asthma, three passengers dying on board, church services he attended and the meals he ate. He also gives the ship's position and course. He briefly mentions the ship's stops in Panama and Guatemala, the arrival in San Francisco and a job he obtained with the Evening telegram. With the diary is a typed biography of Clapsaddle, outline of his voyage, map of his voyage and typescript of the diary.
mssHM 75101
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George Washington Bean diary
Manuscripts
Typescript of Bean's 1855-1856 diary, which details interactions between Mormon missionaries at Las Vegas, New Mexico, and local Indians, including baptisms, trade, and some hostilities. Included are Bean's account of a journey from Las Vegas to California across the Mojave in October-November 1855 (which included stops in San Bernardino, Los Angeles, the San Gabriel Mission, and El Monte) and of travels between Las Vegas and the "Colorado Muddy" in 1856. Bean also references an encounter with the "murderers" of J.W. Gunnison, an Army captain killed in an Indian massacre in 1853; remarks on the camp visit of explorers Jules Remy and Julius Lucius Brenchley, who published "A Journey to Great Salt Lake City" in 1861; mentions his attendance of a performance of J.H. Martineau's "Missouri Persecutions;" and describes various interactions with Las Vegas Mission President William Bringhurst. The diary concludes with a series of prayers/poems dedicated to "The Wives and Families of the L.V. Missionaries," "The Pioneers of '47," and "Pres. B. Young and His Counselors," as well as the minutes of a meeting held "under the Bowery" at Las Vegas on June 24, 1856 and minutes of a celebration of the Fourth of July at Las Vegas, and a song entitled, "I Got Drunk Again."
mssHM 72278
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Jairus Beal diary
Manuscripts
The journal covers the voyage on the barque Apthorp from New York to Havana, then to Antwerp and then to Boston. Beal talks about the voyage and his crew members, but also reminisces about his youth and childhood days, talks about religion and his religious beliefs. He makes a few comments about his experience in Havana. Parts of the journal are written to Beal's wife; he often talks about their marriage, the prospect of having children and relationships and love in general. The second half of his journal is a daily log of the voyage starting March 31 and ending August 26 after their arrival in Sydney. Beal gives the ship's position, wind conditions, etc.
mssHM 72868