Finding aid of the Jabez D. Hawks Diary C059290
Finding aid prepared by Carolee Gilligan Wheeler
Society of California Pioneers
08/07/2003
300 Fourth Street
San Francisco, CA, 94107-1272
(415) 959-1849
pkeats@californiapioneers.org
Title: Hawks, Jabez D. Diary
Identifier/Call Number: C059290
Contributing Institution:
Society of California Pioneers
Language of Material:
English
Container: B001620
Container: C059290
Physical Description:
1.0 folder
(1 diary)
Date: 1849
Abstract: This diary is a daily account, written by Jabez Davis Hawks, of the trials his party endured when they left the schooner “San
Juan” at San Domingo on August 11, 1849, and set out on foot for San Diego. The party initially had trouble obtaining mules
and horses to pack their belongings; later, their guide stole a mule and abandoned them in unfamiliar surroundings. The resulting
hunger and dehydration caused some of the horses to die. Eventually the party did reach San Diego on October 2, 1849, where
they boarded a ship for San Francisco. The journey concluded on October 10, 1849, when their ship docked in San Francisco.
creator:
Hawks, Jabez Davis, 1811-1869
Conditions Governing Access note
Collection open for research.
There are no restrictions on access.
Jabez D. Hawks Diary. The Society of California Pioneers.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Donor and date of acquisition unknown.
Jabez Davis Hawks was born in Richfield, Otsego, New York on 11/21/1811 to James Hawks and Laura Davis. He passed away on
05/11/1869 in San Francisco, California.
The author’s account of his travels, written in the front of the diary: “The ‘San Juan’ was bot [sic] by J.D. Hawks and T.M.
Kones for $24.00 and started for San Francisco from Panama April 21, 1849—in 49 days we made the port of Acapulco—Left Acapulco
June 21. On the 11th of August 10 passengers left to go by land to San Diego—the schooner arrived at San Francisco [unreadable]
the latter part of December. The ‘San Juan’ was 23 tons [burden]—and the passengers and crew suffered very much for want of
provisions and water—being on an allowance of ½ pint of water per day for some three weeks, with a very short supply of provisions—the
whole of the party arrived safely in San Francisco and in good health. This is one of the smallest schooners or ships that
have performed so long a passage.”
This diary is a daily account, written by Jabez Davis Hawks, of the trials his party endured when they left the schooner “San
Juan” at San Domingo on August 11, 1849, and set out on foot for San Diego. The party initially had trouble obtaining mules
and horses to pack their belongings; later, their guide stole a mule and abandoned them in unfamiliar surroundings. The resulting
hunger and dehydration caused some of the horses to die. Eventually the party did reach San Diego on October 2, 1849, where
they boarded a ship for San Francisco. The journey concluded on October 10, 1849, when their ship docked in San Francisco.
The diary begins with a list of passengers upon the “San Juan,” followed by a list of those in the party that left the ship.
Hawks writes of the food they are able to find, their troubles with the pack animals, foraging for mussels and wild plants,
and drinking salty water they obtain by digging holes. Hawks wrote a description of every mission and ranch they visited,
and in some cases drew illustrations. Daily entries were made in pencil and were later written over, in the same hand, in
pen. Pencil drawings of Rancho Santa Martha, San Gertrude Mission, San Borgia Church, El Rosario Mission (including a drawing
of the ruins of the church and the “Wm. Emmis Casa”), and El Descanso [?]. Accounts records, language translations (days of
the week, cooking and eating terms), and lists of provisions and supplies are included. The handwriting is very small but
legible in most places, although it does deteriorate significantly in the final entries. The last entry is in pencil and nearly
illegible.
Existence and Location of Originals note
The Society of California Pioneers, 300 Fourth Street, San Francisco, CA, 94107.
Existence and Location of Copies note
C058011 - Typed transcript of diary.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Missions--Mexico--Baja California (Peninsula)
Pioneers--California--History--19th century
San Francisco (Calif.)
Voyages and travels -- 19th century