Clift (Amos) papers, 1850-1860

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Summary

Title:
Amos Clift papers
Dates:
1850-1860
Creators:
Clift, Amos, 1830-1887
Abstract:
Extent:
3 folders
Language:
Preferred citation:

Amos Clift papers. San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco History Center

Background

Scope and content:

One folder includes an account book for (Robert) Folger & (Amos) Clift, Sacramento commission merchants, for the period April-August 1850. Another folder holds 23 letters by Amos Clift, Jr. dating 1850-1860, the bulk of which are written to his father, Amos Clift, and to his brother, Horace Clift, both of Mystic River, Connecticut. The earliest letter (1850) is from Amos to Fanny Morse, Bridgeport. With the exception of the 1850 letter, which discusses gold mining, Clift’s correspondence centers on gaining federal employment, either as a lighthouse keeper, or in the Custom House, San Francisco. He hopes to get endorsements from Connecticut Governor Isaac Toucey, and from Milton S. Latham, Collector of the Port of San Francisco. Clift’s fourth letter mentions his temporary position as light keeper at Point Bonita. Three of the letters also have notes appended by Lodowick Latham Sawyer, messenger in the Custom House, and one of these joint letters is addressed to Groton, Connecticut assemblyman David A. Daboll. In July 1858 Clift is appointed light keeper on the Farallon Islands. Letters following this discuss communication difficulties, provisioning, shipwrecks, the conduct of a lighthouse keeper, road building on the island, fishing, boredom, wildlife (including rabbits), and the Egg Company on the island and its conflict with the federal government. His last letter discusses the war between the Egg Company and the light keepers. A third folder includes typewritten transcriptions of the letters and account book.

Biographical / historical:

Amos Clift, Jr. was born in Connecticut and came to California in 1850. He joined with Robert M. Folger as commission merchants in Sacramento, but he left the partnership in April 1851; Folger sued Clift in 1852. After this, Clift made at least one trip to Tahiti, then settled in San Francisco. After his term as lighthouse keeper on the Farallon Islands, he returned to Connecticut. He served in the Union army in the Civil War, married Hannah Morse in 1861, and died in Washington, DC in 1887.

Acquisition information:
Purchase?

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid created by San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco History Center staff.
Date Prepared:
1850-1860
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using Record Express for OAC5 on July 14, 2025, 2:54 p.m.

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours, with photographs available during Photo Desk hours. Collections that are stored offsite should be requested 48 hours in advance.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.

Preferred citation:

Amos Clift papers. San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco History Center

Location of this collection:
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102, US
Contact:
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
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