The Finding Aid for the Edward English Chever Papers C057880

Language of Material: English

Contributing Institution: Society of California Pioneers

Title: Edward English Chever Papers

Identifier/Call Number: C057880

Physical Description: 1 folder 1 Folder (1 typed speech, 2 handwritten memoirs, 1 copy of typed manuscript)

Date (inclusive): 1898-1901

Abstract: This file includes a photocopy of the member's autobiographical reminiscence created as an institutional record for The Society of California Pioneers. The reminiscence contains excerpts from his travel diary that include map coordinates of his location and his impressions of the journey and the sights he encountered. Chever provides a very detailed account of this journey and also describes some of his experiences in California. These include his impressions of San Francisco, Sacramento, Sutters Fort, and Yuba City.

Three photographs (of daguerreotypes) dated 1848, 1854, and 1898 are included in this reminiscence. It is stated that the reminiscence was written at the request of the "California Historical Society". The account is Edward English Chever's detailed remembrance of his journey to California from Boston via the Straits of Magellan. He started his voyage aboard the "Saltillo", the first vessel to leave Boston for California, in 1848. This reminiscence contains excerpts from his travel diary that include map coordinates of his location and his impressions of the journey and the sights he encountered. Chever provides a very detailed account of this journey and also describes some of his experiences in California. These include his impressions of San Francisco, Sacramento, Sutters Fort, and Yuba City. He also describes his trip to Sacramento via the Sacramento River. The time period represented by this account is from December 1848 to September 1849. The history of Edward English Chever's family is the main topic of most of the files contents along with Mr. Chever's account of the settlement of Yuba City. Mr. Chever was one of the first white men to settle that region. He gives a physical description of the settlement, and mentions boats that were first used to transport cargo between Yuba City and San Francisco. He also briefly discusses the origins of the name "Yuba City". Also included within the file is a typed "paper read before the Society of California Pioneers on September 5th, 1898 which covers the "often overlooked" political wrangling that lead to the American Civil War. There is a digitized copy of these reminiscences in the Online Archive of California.

Edward E. Chever enlisted in Company H. 89th Regt. Ills. Infty Vols; He was discharged from the army at the close of the Civil War (May 1865). His father, James W. Chever commanded the Privateer "America" during the War of 1812, from 1812-1815. Along with Hon. Stephen C. Phillips, and J.W. Peele, Capt. J.W. Chever fitted out the Brig "Mary and Ellen, which sailed from Salem, Ma. October 27, 1848 and arrived in San Francisco March 28, 1849. E.E. Chever's brother, David A. Chever was a passenger on "Mary and Ellen" on that voyage. His paternal grandfather, James Chever, fought in the Revolutionary War in the land forces and also as a gunner's mate on the Continental Brig "Tyrannicide". The paternal ancestor of the Chevers in America was Ezekiel Chever who was born in London, England, Jan. 25, 1615. He came to America in 1637 and served as head of the Boston Latin School from its commencement. Philip English, a successful merchant who was later accused of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials, was another of E.E. Chever's ancestors. Edward English Chever was an early member of The Society of California Pioneers, and the Society has three institional records pertaining to him: Archives Record, Autobiography and Reminiscence, and a Mortuary Record.

Source and date of acquisition not known.

The Society of California Pioneers, 101 Montgomerey St. Suite 150, Presidio of San Francisco , San Francisco CA, 94129

The Edward English Chever Papers. The Society of California Pioneers.