Finding aid of the Henry Lewis Ford Papers C058851
Finding aid prepared by Michael Lange
Society of California Pioneers
01/22/2014
300 Fourth Street
San Francisco, CA, 94107-1272
(415) 959-1849
pkeats@californiapioneers.org
Title: Ford, Henry Lewis Papers
Identifier/Call Number: C058851
Contributing Institution:
Society of California Pioneers
Language of Material:
English
Container: B001392
Container: C058851
Physical Description:
1.0 folder
(2 letters, 2 typed transcripts, 1 newspaper clipping, 1 published genealogy)
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1854
Date (inclusive): 1854-1956
Abstract: Contains two letters, one newspaper clipping and a genealogy of the descendants of William Ford. The first letter is addressed
to Sam Brannan and is a recounting of his memories of the Bear Flag Revolt. The second is an undated, unaddressed letter recounting
his memories of the Battle of Natividad. The newspaper clipping is dated 6/05/1950 and is about Henry L. Ford's new grave
marker. The genealogy does not appear to deal with this Henry Lewis Ford, but another by the same name.
creator:
Ford, Henry L. (Henry Lewis), 1822-1860
Conditions Governing Access note
Collection open for research.
There are no restrictions on access.
Henry L. Ford Papers. The Society of California Pioneers.
Related Archival Materials note
The Society of California Pioneers (SCP) owned the original Bear Flag, until it burned in the Earthquake and Fire of 1906.
SCP still owns photographs of the original flag, both color (hand-tinted) and black & white (C001790), as well as a flag replica
(C001791).
SCP also owns a composite painting of Ford in front of the original flag, made from a daguerreotype of Ford (print in SCP
collection) and photo of original Bear Flag; painted for Col. Fred B. Rogers (C001023), and a painting of the men of the Revolt
raising the flag (C014928).
Other manuscripts and documents related to the Bear Flag and the Bear Flag Revolt owned by SCP are: 1. Bear Flag Revolt document;
description of materials used in making the flag, signed William L. Todd & A. H. Gillespie (C004067). 2. "The Bear Flags /
An Account of Their Making by the Historian of the Pioneer Society" by John S. Hittell (C047731).
The genealogy was a gift of Colonel F.B. Rogers. The other material is donor and date of acquisition unknown.
Henry Lewis Ford was born in North Conway, New Hampshire on 08/24/1822, and arrived in California in 1842, and took part in
the Bear Flag Revolt in 1846, and is generally credited as the "designer" of the flag. He joined the Society of California
Pioneers in 1850 as a resident of Sacramento. He died by an accidental discharge of his own pistol on 07/02/1860 in Round
Valley, California.
The Bear Flag Revolt - Thirty-three settlers in Sonoma, assisted by volunteers from among the American settlers and Vacqueros
from the many haciendas in the Sacramento River valley, captured the Mexican garrison of Sonoma and raised a homemade flag
with a bear and star (the "Bear Flag") to symbolize their taking control. The words "California Republic" appeared on the
flag but were never officially adopted by the insurgents. Their actions were later called the "Bear Flag Revolt." As part
of the Sonoma garrison, the rebels captured the Commandant of Northern California, General Vallejo, who openly endorsed the
inevitability of the annexation of California by the United States. Vallejo was sent to Sutter's Fort in the Sacramento River
valley, where he was kept a prisoner until 08/01/1846. The Republic's first and only president was William B. Ide, whose administration
lasted twenty-five days. On 06/23/1846, Frémont arrived with sixty soldiers and took command in the name of the United States.
The Bear Flag was replaced by the Stars and Stripes. The "republic" disbanded and Ide enlisted in the U.S. forces as a private.
The Mexican governor sent 55 men to attempt to crush the rebellion, but General José Castro's forces were defeated at the
Battle of Olompali. Unknown to Frémont and the Bear Flag supporters, war had already been formally declared on 05/13/1846,
but the news did not reach California until early July, when the frigate USS Savannah and the two sloops, USS Cyane and USS
Levant, of the United States Navy captured Monterey, California.
The first letter is handwritten by Henry Ford, dated 2/08/1854, and is addressed to Sam Brannan. In the letter Ford discusses
his role in the Bear Flag revolt, recounting why he joined up with the men to capture General Vallejo at Sonoma, the subsequent
retaliation of the Mexican forces, and his heroic ride of over 100 miles in a single day to release two of his kidnapped men
culminating in the Battle of Olómpali. Also included is a typed transcription of this letter. The second letter is handwritten
by Henry Ford, undated, and unaddressed. The letter is titled "The Battle of Salinas" and recounts both his role and the history
of what is now known as the Battle of Natividad. It appears that the letter is incomplete, as it is not signed and after the
narrative on the fourth page is unfinished. Also included is a typed transcription of this letter. Also included is a newspaper
clipping from the Redwood-Journal-Press-Dispatch (Ukiah, California) dated 06/05/1950. The article discusses the laying of
a new bronze plaque on Henry Ford's grave, to commemorate all he did for the state of California. Some biographical information
about Ford is included in the article. An unbound, published manuscript titled "Ford History and Genealogy Including Allied
Families - One Line of Descendants of William Ford Who Landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts, November 20, 1621" compiled by Frederick
William Ford and published in 1956. It appears that this Ford family genealogy is not of the same Ford family as Henry Lewis
Ford. The genealogy was a gift of Colonel F.B. Rogers.
Existence and Location of Originals note
The Society of California Pioneers, 300 Fourth Street, San Francisco, CA, 94107.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Brannan, Sam, 1819-1889
Castro, José Antonio, 1808-1860
Frémont, John Charles, 1813-1890
Ide, William Brown, 1796-1852
Merritt, Ezekiel, fl. 1846
Micheltorena, Manuel, 1802-1853
Stockton, Robert Field, 1795-1866
Vallejo, Mariano Guadalupe, 1808-1890
Bear Flag Revolt, 1846
California--History--1846-1850
California. Governor (1842-1845 : Micheltorena)