Finding Aid of the Captain Elliott Libbey Depositions C058490
Finding aid prepared by Nick Scales
Society of California Pioneers
05/07/2013
300 Fourth Street
San Francisco, CA, 94107-1272
(415) 959-1849
pkeats@californiapioneers.org
Title: Libbey, Captain Elliott Depositions
Identifier/Call Number: C058490
Contributing Institution:
Society of California Pioneers
Language of Material:
English
Container: B001627
Container: C058490
Physical Description:
1.0 folder
55 page handwritten original document ribbon bound sealed with the wax seal of the British Consul
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1845
Date (inclusive): 1845, 1854
Abstract: Handwritten depositions taken by "Her Britannic Majesty Vice Consul California" James Alexander Forbes in October of 1845,
realting to the attack of Captain Elliott Libbey on 10/11/1845 by Californios. This bopund set of documents is entitled: “Documents
relative to the outrage committed upon Captain Elliott Libbey of the American Barque Tasso at San Francisco California."
creator:
Forbes, James Alexander, 1804?-1881
Conditions Governing Access note
Collection open for research.
There are no restrictions on access.
Captain Elliott Libbey Depositions. The Society of California Pioneers.
Donor and Date of acquisition unknown.
Elliott Libbey was Captain of the American barque "Tasso" in 1845, he survived his wounds from the attack on 10/11/1845. No
further information is known.
James Alexander Forbes (01/06/1805–05/06/1881) was the British vice-consul to Mexican California, as well as the first British
consul to the U.S. state of California. He built a flour mill outside of San Jose, California (now known as Forbes Mill),
and that land eventually became the basis of the town of Los Gatos.
Thomas Oliver Larkin (09/16/1802-10/27/1858) was an early American businessman in Alta California, and was appointed to be
the United States' first and only consul to Mexican Alta California. After the Mexican-American War ended in 1848, Larkin
moved to San Francisco, and was a signer of the original California Constitution.
This 55 page original handwritten document is bound with ribbon and marked with the wax seal of the British Consul. It contains
12 signed depositions given to the British Vice Consul in Yerba Buena on October 13, 1845 concerning the attack of Captain
Elliott Libbey, Master of the American Barque "Tasso" on the night of October 11, 1845. Captain Libbey was severely wounded
by two stab wounds and a saber blow to the head, and left for dead on the street. He was rescued by Antonio Osio and taken
to the home of Nathan Spear. The attack was undertaken by 8 Californios who claimed they were under orders by the California
Subprefect.
The depositions are from: Captain Elliott Libbey - Master of the American Barque "Tasso", Captain Peter Peterson - Master
of the American Ship "Admittance", Captain William Richardson - Captain of the Port, Nathan Spear, Robert Ridley, D. Miguel
Pedrona, Henry Bishop, William Fisher - Owner of the Mexican Brig "Maria Teresa", Kimakahi - Sandwich Island seaman, Maapu
- alias Jim, Sandwich Island Seaman.
Also includes a note regarding the outcome of the depositions from Thomas Larkin, 04/15/1854.
Existence and Location of Originals note
The Society of California Pioneers, 300 Fourth St, San Francisco, CA 94107.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Larkin, Thomas Oliver, 1802-1858
Libbey, Elliott, Captain, fl. 1845
California, Northern - History - 19th century.
San Francisco Bay Area (Calif.)--History
San Francisco Bay Area (Calif.)--Social conditions
Ships.