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Finding Aid of the Captain Elliott Libbey Depositions C058490
C058490  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Conditions Governing Access note
  • Conditions Governing Use note
  • Preferred Citation note
  • Donor
  • Biographical/Historical note
  • Scope and Contents note
  • Existence and Location of Originals note

  • Title: Libbey, Captain Elliott Depositions
    Identifier/Call Number: C058490
    Contributing Institution: Society of California Pioneers
    Language of Material: English
    Container: B001627
    Container: C058490
    Physical Description: 1.0 folder 55 page handwritten original document ribbon bound sealed with the wax seal of the British Consul
    Date (bulk): Bulk, 1845
    Date (inclusive): 1845, 1854
    Abstract: Handwritten depositions taken by "Her Britannic Majesty Vice Consul California" James Alexander Forbes in October of 1845, realting to the attack of Captain Elliott Libbey on 10/11/1845 by Californios. This bopund set of documents is entitled: “Documents relative to the outrage committed upon Captain Elliott Libbey of the American Barque Tasso at San Francisco California."
    creator: Forbes, James Alexander, 1804?-1881

    Conditions Governing Access note

    Collection open for research.

    Conditions Governing Use note

    There are no restrictions on access.

    Preferred Citation note

    Captain Elliott Libbey Depositions. The Society of California Pioneers.

    Donor

    Donor and Date of acquisition unknown.

    Biographical/Historical note

    Elliott Libbey was Captain of the American barque "Tasso" in 1845, he survived his wounds from the attack on 10/11/1845. No further information is known.
    James Alexander Forbes (01/06/1805–05/06/1881) was the British vice-consul to Mexican California, as well as the first British consul to the U.S. state of California. He built a flour mill outside of San Jose, California (now known as Forbes Mill), and that land eventually became the basis of the town of Los Gatos.
    Thomas Oliver Larkin (09/16/1802-10/27/1858) was an early American businessman in Alta California, and was appointed to be the United States' first and only consul to Mexican Alta California. After the Mexican-American War ended in 1848, Larkin moved to San Francisco, and was a signer of the original California Constitution.

    Scope and Contents note

    This 55 page original handwritten document is bound with ribbon and marked with the wax seal of the British Consul. It contains 12 signed depositions given to the British Vice Consul in Yerba Buena on October 13, 1845 concerning the attack of Captain Elliott Libbey, Master of the American Barque "Tasso" on the night of October 11, 1845. Captain Libbey was severely wounded by two stab wounds and a saber blow to the head, and left for dead on the street. He was rescued by Antonio Osio and taken to the home of Nathan Spear. The attack was undertaken by 8 Californios who claimed they were under orders by the California Subprefect.
    The depositions are from: Captain Elliott Libbey - Master of the American Barque "Tasso", Captain Peter Peterson - Master of the American Ship "Admittance", Captain William Richardson - Captain of the Port, Nathan Spear, Robert Ridley, D. Miguel Pedrona, Henry Bishop, William Fisher - Owner of the Mexican Brig "Maria Teresa", Kimakahi - Sandwich Island seaman, Maapu - alias Jim, Sandwich Island Seaman.
    Also includes a note regarding the outcome of the depositions from Thomas Larkin, 04/15/1854.

    Existence and Location of Originals note

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

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Larkin, Thomas Oliver, 1802-1858
    Libbey, Elliott, Captain, fl. 1845
    California, Northern - History - 19th century.
    San Francisco Bay Area (Calif.)--History
    San Francisco Bay Area (Calif.)--Social conditions
    Ships.