Finding Aid of the Robert Birnie Memoir C057717
Finding aid prepared by K. Ransick and C. Miller
Society of California Pioneers
July 12, 2011
300 Fourth Street
San Francisco, CA, 94107-1272
(415) 959-1849
pkeats@californiapioneers.org
Title: Birnie, Robert, Memoirs
Identifier/Call Number: C057717
Contributing Institution:
Society of California Pioneers
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.0 folder
1 item
Date (inclusive): 1824-1859
Abstract: The folder contains a memoir of Robert Birnie’s life and experiences in pioneer California.
creator:
Birnie, Robert
There are no restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Access note
Collection is open for research
Robert Bernie Memoir, 1824-1859, The Society of California Pioneers
The folder contains a 13-page memoir of Robert Birnie’s life and experiences in pioneer California. He discusses the life
and career of his father, James Birnie, in the Hudson’s Bay Company, his own attempts at gold mining, and his travels between
Los Angeles, Oregon and Vancouver.
Robert Birnie was born in Astoria, Oregon on February 7th, 1824. Birnie was the son of Scottish immigrants. In 1841, he was
appointed a clerk in the Hudson’s Bay Company and sent to California in the Yerba Buena area. While on business in San Francisco
in 1848, he saw the first lot of gold dust brought down by W. L. Brannam. After a few successful mining expeditions, Bernie
experienced some losses. He married an heir of the Welch family in 1850 and tried his hand, unsuccessfully, at farming in
Contra Costa County. After his failed attempts in farming, Birnie turned to real estate in the city of Oakland.
Related Archival Materials note
Institutional Records: Arrival in California, Sept. 13, 1841 Action Date, June 7, 1869
Existence and Location of Originals note
The Society of California Pioneers, 300 Fourth Street, San Francisco, CA, 94107
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Hudson's Bay Company.
Pioneers--California
San Francisco Bay Area (Calif.)--History