Finding aid of the George Washington Patterson Papers C058566

Title: Patterson, George Washington Papers

Identifier/Call Number: C058566

Contributing Institution: Society of California Pioneers

Language of Material: English

Container: B001629

Container: C058566

Physical Description: 7.0 folder (49 papers)

Date (inclusive): 1849-1859

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.

creator: Saville, Sarah Patterson, fl. 1857

Collection open for research.

There are no restrictions on access.

GW Patterson Papers, The Society of California Pioneers

Donald Patterson, Atherton, CA

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.

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.

The Society of California Pioneers, 300 Fourth Street, San Francisco, CA, 94107

Patterson Mining Collection: C004786 - Pioneer Pulp & Paper Co. Letters. C004787 - Henry Lund Co., and William Lund Co. Letters. C004788 - Patterson Hydrology Surveys; Englebright records, James Ott. C004789 - Patterson Files. C004790 - Patterson Files. C004791 - Patterson Files. C004793 - Patterson Files. C004794 - Patterson Letters. C004795 - Patterson Letters. C004796 - Waggoner field notes; A Manual of the Principal Instruments used in American Engineering and Surveying Manufactured by W. & L. E. Gurley, Troy, N.Y. 23rd edition, 1878. C004797 - Patterson & Waggoner Letters. C004798 - Patterson Time Books and Files. C004799 - Patterson Files and Water Records. C004800 - Patterson Pacific Gas and Electric; Water. C004801 - Patterson, North Bloomfield Gravel and Mining Company. C004802 - Patterson Ranch Collection, 95-139. C011073 - Marriage Certificate of George Patterson and Clara Hawley, 07/11/1877. C012281 - Patterson Mining Company Records. C012282 - Patterson Papers (141-160) and Oral History Tapes. C012284 - Patterson, North Bloomfield Gravel and Mining Company 1869 - 1874. C012290 - W. F. Englebright, Correspondence as Congressman. C012291 - Patterson Mining Collection Mines (S - So). C012292 - Patterson Mining Collection Mines (Gi - K). C012293 - Patterson Mining Company Misc. Ledgers. C012294 - Waggoner Records, misc. C012295 - Taylor Foundry and Engineering; Grass Valley Garage; Placer Motor Sales. C012296 - Misc. Ledger. C012297 - Waggoner Records; Field Notes: Surveys of Townships. C012299 - Patterson Mining Collection Mines (Sp - Z). C012306 - Patterson Photographs and One Badge. C012307 - Cash Book, Payroll: China Gang; Nevada City Council; ledgers, cash books, bylaws, letters, product reports. C012310 - Patterson Mining Collection Mines (Bal - Cl). C012311 - Waggoner Scrapbooks. C012320 - North Bloomfield Mining. C012394 - Water Receipts, Documents, Spec. Diagrams, Bible, English Grammar, Catalogs. C012423 - Milton Mining Co. Ledgers, Water Records. C012529 - Dues receipt for Life Membership in the Society of California Pioneers for George W. Patterson, Dated 11/01/1865. C055133 - Patterson Ranch Papers; Correspondence 1925; Lawsuit: Munyon & RR (1875-89); Eagle River Mining (photos); Time Book (1895); Ledgers, Receipts. C055134 - Patterson Ranch papers: Deeds, Land Titles, Indentures between George W. Patterson and Various people; Maps, Court Documents. C058919 - History of Rancho Potrero de los Cerritos (Patterson Ranch).