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Manuscripts
This journal includes some pages of accounting from 1843-1848, with the bulk focused on the author's voyage from Boston to California. Journal was rebound October 1983. Includes separated binding.
mssHM 47354
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Manuscripts
Journal of Marcus Baker during his trip to California aboard the bark William Joy and his life thereafter near Sacramento. The journal begins when Baker left New York in January 1849. In his journal, Baker writes in detail about his voyage and the weather conditions, his visit to Rio de Janeiro (which includes comments upon the political, social and religious aspects of the city), the ship's arrival in San Francisco in the summer of 1849, his relocation to Sacramento, life in California, fires and floods, gold mining, and his loneliness due to separation from his family. After becoming a farmer, Baker writes much about agriculture in California, including details about the state's climate, environment, topography, and geology. Accompanying the journal are three items: letter by Edward Suffern to Marcus Baker (1850 February 3), an agreement between Marcus Baker and several others in the creation of Baker Farr & Co., Sacramento (1850 July 19), and a letter by Marcus Baker to "My dear E" (1852 March 12), probably his wife. The volume also contains pencil sketches by Baker, several of which are of Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro.
mssHM 83830
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Manuscripts
Journal (facsimile) kept by Charles H. Ellis on the brig North Bend, from Boston, Massachusetts, to San Francisco, California, in 1849. With some correspodence.
mssHM 44937-44943
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Manuscripts
This sea journal records the travels of Captain Moses J. Mulliken in New England, to California, and to Singapore. The journal begins with tracking local voyages to and from Boston, New York, Wilmington (South Carolina), Newburyport (Massachusetts), Bath (Maine), Havana, and Charleston (South Carolina). Most of these records revolve around bookkeeping for costs and tracking of cargo (mainly box shooks and lumber). The majority of the journal itself consists of more detailed accounts of several long voyages, including those from Boston to San Francisco on board the "Mary Wilder" from January to August 1849 (with stops on Quiriquina Island and in Conception, Chile); from Boston to Sacramento City on board the "Rachel Stevens" (out of Pitston, Maine) from March to August 1850; from New York to San Francisco on board the "Mary and Jane" from May to December 1852 (including a stop in Valparasio, Chile); and a journey from San Francisco to Singapore via the North Pacific and from Penang back to New York from February to November 1853, also on board the "Mary and Jane." While many of Mulliken's entries focus on recording the ship's headings and weather conditions, there are also a number of personal passages. Most of these revolve around Mulliken's perceived failings as a ship's captain and reflections on his life's regrets and hopes to do his "duty to God." Also included in the journal is a newspaper clipping with a poem written "upon arriving at the Island of San Fernandes, May 4, 1849;" a copy of shipping instructions from Daniel Deshon to Mulliken, dated November 5, 1847; a description of a rule for finding time by the setting sun; and several sketches of ports, including an annotated sketch of San Francisco towards Humbolt Bay.
mssHM 72342
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Manuscripts
Four of these letters are written by Edgar Jacob (1883) to his family back in England. His letters were written from Rimouski, Québec, Iowa, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Tejon Ranch and Bakersfield, California. In his letters from Salt Lake City Edgar describes the city, talks about the Mormons and the building of their Tabernacle. Edgar also discusses Americans, their customs and religion. His last letter was written while visiting his brother Augustus at Bakersfield and the Tejon Ranch region (after he had taken up ranching). Edgar talks about ranch life, the sheep, the Indians living near the ranch and General Edward Beale. The three letters by Augustus Jacob (1873-1874) were written to his father and sister Edith from San Francisco and Laguna Ranch, California. He talks about the people he meets, life in California and the sights he sees. He also writes in great detail about ranch life and sheep raising in California and his trip from Jamaica to San Francisco.
mssHM 70984-70990
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Manuscripts
Although these manuscripts are unsigned, their style, art work, tone, humor and handwriting, suggest that they may be written by Abraham Leech. The two issues of the "Jamaica Journal & Reporter" are dated November 25, 1846 and November 1847. They discuss the Mexican-American war and United States politics during that period through articles and hand-drawn cartoons. The newspapers specifically talk about the war, Colonel Santa Anna, the US and Mexican governments, Wall Street financier Jacob Barker, Reverend Colonel James Hazard Perry, and events happening in Jamaica.
mssHM 72094-72095