Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Saville, Sarah Patterson, fl. 1857
- Abstract:
- These 7 folders contain correspondence to George W Patterson from family and business associates in the time period from 1849 to 1859. The subject matter of the letters is either family,local news or business matters. George Patterson received these letters starting just after he arrived in California, during the time that he was working in the mines and establishing the Patterson Ranch from lands that were originally part of Mission San Jose.
- Extent:
- 7.0 folder (49 papers)
- Language:
- Preferred citation:
-
GW Patterson Papers, The Society of California Pioneers
Background
- Scope and content:
-
Folder 1: Correspondence (20 letters), mainly from Sarah/Sallie Patterson Saville (George's sister), dated 1849-1857, regarding daily life in Lafayette, Indiana. Also includes one letter (08/17/1857) from Sarah's new husband, John Saville, introducing himself to George.
Folder 2: Correspondence (7 letters) from Jeremiah Patterson (George's brother) to George, dated 1849-1856, regarding family issues. Includes: 03/25/1850 - Letter contains news of US Congress issues regarding slavery and also the state of Indiana voting to change the state constitution; 04/05/1854 – Letter to Patterson with information about his quarrel with B.L. Tea; 11/04/1855 – News about Jeremiah Patterson’s second marriage and the birth of their son.
Folder 3: Business Papers (7 letters, 1 cancelled check), dated 1850-1857. Includes: information on payments of outstanding debts owed to Patterson; cancelled check to Amos White; 06/04/1850 – Tea advises Patterson that should he be successful in the mines, Patterson should feel inclined to have Tea invest his half of the money for half of the profits.
Folder 4: General Correspondence (2 letters), dated 1849, 1852.
Folder 5: Family Correspondence. General correspondence regarding daily life from his brother Harrison Patterson. Includes a school report by Harrison (04/03/1854) entitled "Insects". Also includes a funeral notice for W.H.H. Patterson (no date).
Folder 6: Correspondence from Chauncy Jones (6 letters), 1854-1855. Chauncy Jones, a friend and business associate of Patterson, delivers many different scenarios, looking for advice and help on his business dealings.
Folder 7: Correspondence from George Washington Patterson (2 letters), dated 1859 and unknown. 04/15/1859 – Letter to Andrew Henry regarding trip back from New York, also includes general Info. Not Dated – To E.H. Dyer Alvarado. Correspondence regarding boundary lines of property.
- Biographical / historical:
-
George Washington Patterson was born in East Berlin, PA on July 27, 1822. He arrived in San Francisco on August 29, 1849 by ship from Mazatlan. He tried his hand at mining but in January of 1851 he came to Alameda County to pursue farming and ranching and acquiring land. Over the years he acquired over 3000 acres of land that was once part of Mission San Jose, where the town of Fremont now stands. He also ended up owning and operating the 10,000 acre Patterson Cattle Ranch in Livermore. He passed away on 09/12/1895 in Centerville, California. The lands he owned were farmed by 3 generations of Pattersons. Ardenwood Historic Farm is a 200 acre park operated by the East Bay Regional Park District and contains the original house and farm buildings.
- Acquisition information:
- Donald Patterson, Atherton, CA
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Collection open for research.
- Terms of access:
-
There are no restrictions on access.
- Preferred citation:
-
GW Patterson Papers, The Society of California Pioneers
- Location of this collection:
-
300 Fourth StreetSan Francisco, CA 94107, US
- Contact:
- (415) 957-1849 ext. 160