A guide to the Logbook and documents, 1848-1851

Processed by: Historic Documents Department Staff (Bailey).
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
Building E, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
Phone: 415-561-7030
Fax: 415-556-3540
SAFR_Historic_Documents@nps.gov
URL: http://www.nps.gov/safr
2012

A Guide to the Logbook and documents

HDC0028

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, National Park Service
2012, National Park Service

Title: Logbook and documents
Date: 1848-1851
Identifier/Call Number: HDC0028 (SAFR 13574)
Physical Description: 7 items
Repository: San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Historic Documents Department
Building E, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
Abstract: Logbook and documents (SAFR 13574, HDC 28) is comprised of one volume with a sketch, negatives, and passenger list tucked inside. The logbook was maintained by the same indiividual throughout five voyages documented. The rough log details one voyage of the NIANTIC, three voyages of the MARY WILDER and one voyage of the HUNTINGTON from 1848 to 1850. This collection has been processed to the collection level and is open for use without restrictions.
Physical Location: San Francisco Maritime NHP, Historic Documents Department
Language(s): In English.

Access

This collection is open for use unless otherwise noted.

Publication and Use Rights

Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the researcher's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.

Processing Note

Note on Description: The descriptions in this collection guide were compiled using the best available sources of information. Such sources include the creator's annotations or descriptions, collection accession files, primary and secondary source material and subject matter experts. While every effort was made to provide accurate information, in the event that you find any errors in this guide please contact the reference staff in order for us to evaulate and make corrections to this guide. P lease cite the title and collection number in any correspondence with our staff.

Preferred Citation

[Item description], [Location within collection organization identified by Collection Number/Series Number/File Unit Number/Item Number], HDC0028 (SAFR 13574), Logbook and documents, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

Acquisition Information

SAFR-00001
This collection was transferred from Golden Gate National Recreation Area to San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.

Historical or Biographical Note

The NIANTIC was a three masted, bluff-bowed ship built in 1835 in Chatham, CT. She was approximately 119' in length, and 32' wide, and rated at 451 tons. She was originally engaged in the China trade and as a packet. From 1844 to 1847, the NIANTIC was engaged in whaling off New Zealand. In September, 1848, The NIANTIC left Warren, R.I. for the west coast. Enroute, she stopped in Panama to pick up additional passengers for San Francisco who had crossed the isthmus. The NIANTIC arrived San Francisco on July 5, 1849. It was anchored at what is now Clay and Sansome Streets, and eventually became land bound and used as a store ship and later as a rooming house. In 1851, the ship was burned to the ground, and the Niantic Hotel was built upon the portion of the hull remaining. As late as 1978, when a new building was constructed on this site, many artifacts from the NIANTIC were found and brought into the museum collections.
The MARY WILDER was a brig built in 1848 in Pittsdon, Maine. She sailed on January 25th, 1849 from Boston and arrived on August 9th, 1849 in San Francisco, carrying 50 passengers and under the command of Captain Mulliken. After arrival the ship mainly traded up to Oregon. Eventually she was sold to German owners in Bremen, and renamed the Nord See in 1869.
The HUNTINGTON was a bark build in 1847 in Baltimore, by J.A. Robb. She was classed at 385 tons, and was owned by Corner & Sons.

Collection Scope and Content

Logbook and documents (SAFR 13574, HDC 28) is comprised of one volume with a sketch, negatives, and passenger list tucked inside. The logbook was maintained by the same indiividual throughout five voyages documented. The rough log details one voyage of the NIANTIC, three voyages of the MARY WILDER and one voyage of the HUNTINGTON from 1848 to 1850. This collection has been processed to the collection level and is open for use without restrictions.
The Ship NIANTIC left Warren, Rhode Island on September 16, 1848, sailed around Cape Horn, and arrived in San Francisco on 5 July 1849. Enroute, the vessel stopped in Western Panama. Entries for the NIANTIC end 12 July 1849. On the title page of the log is a sketch of the "Ship Niantic receiving herr passengers at Panama." This collection also includes passenger lists from the Niantic.
The log entries of the first trip, a whaling voyage, of the Brig MARY WILDER begins on 5 October 1849 in San Francisco. The vessel travels to the Columbia River and returned to San Francisco on 15 October 1849. The second voyage began 1 April 1850 from San Francisco and arrived int he Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) on 21 April 1850. They stayed in Hawaii until 7 June when the return voyage to San Francisco started. Arrival in San Francisco was on 29 June 1850. Entries for the third voyage end in China on 18 December 1850 after departing San Francisco on 12 November1850. This voyage also sailed by way of the Hawaiin Islands.
The logkeeper boarded the HUNTINGTON in Sahnghai, where he left the MARY WILDER. T.W. Jones was the Master. The HUNTINGTON left for New York on 1 January 1851. The last entry for this voyage is 27 April 1851 at Latitiude 31 North, Longitude 67 West.
Daily entries are generally short and record wind, latitude and longitude, course, sailing handling and mention of other vessels.

Collection Arrangement

This is a collection comprised of seven items.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Whaling
Gold Rush--California--1840-1850
Niantic (ship, 3m)
Huntington (bark)
Mary Wilder (brig)
Hawaii
Logbook