Easterby (Capt. Anthony Y.) Memoir, 1818 to 1885

Printable guide [HTML]

Summary

Title:
Easterby, Capt. Anthony Y., Memoir
Dates:
1818 to 1885
Creators:
Easterby, Anthony Y., Captain, 1818-1893
Abstract:
Captain Easterby Memoir was dictated by him to family members in Napa during 1885. The memoir is handwritten in ink in a bound lined journal. The handwritten is generally very legible. It covers 133 pages. The narrative is well written with good descriptions and detail on people and events The memoir is begins with Easterby's school years and home life in Surrey, England, then moves to his maritime career, covering voyages across the Atlantic to Canada and the Carribean; throughout the Mediterrain including Eygpt, Turkey, the Black Sea and Italy; and voyages to South East Asia and China. He was the 1st Captain of the Screw Vessel Levantine. In 1848 he moved to Chile as a captain for the South Pacific Navigation Company. In August of that year news of the Gold Discovery in California was received from Admiral James Schench on his way to Washington DC. In November he arrived in San Francisco with a ship full of merchandise from Chile. He provides outstanding description of early San Francisco and life in the city at that time. The journal includes descriptions of early gold mining in the Southern Sierra in 1849. In 1850 he an his partners developed and extensive storage business in San Francisco using an fleet of ships in the Bay and expanded into trade and other ventures. Descriptions of the fires of the early 1850. In 1854, they had sold all of there commercial interests in San Francisco and moved to Napa with his new wife.
Extent:
1.0 folder Bound journal, 133 pages.
Language:
Preferred citation:

Capt. Anthony Y. Easterby, Memoir, The Society of California Pioneers

Background

Scope and content:

Captain Easterby Memoir was dictated by him to family members in Napa during 1885. The memoir is handwritten in ink in a bound lined journal. The handwritten is generally very legible. It covers 133 pages. The narrative is well written with good descriptions and detail on people and events

The memoir is begins with Easterby's school years and home life in Surrey, England, then moves to his maritime career, covering voyages across the Atlantic to Canada and the Carribean; throughout the Mediterrain including Eygpt, Turkey, the Black Sea and Italy; and voyages to South East Asia and China. He was the 1st Captain of the Screw Vessel Levantine. In 1848 he moved to Chile as a captain for the South Pacific Navigation Company. In August of that year news of the Gold Discovery in California was received from Admiral James Schench on his way to Washington DC. In November he arrived in San Francisco with a ship full of merchandise from Chile. He provides outstanding description of early San Francisco and life in the city at that time. The journal includes descriptions of early gold mining in the Southern Sierra in 1849. In 1850 he an his partners developed and extensive storage business in San Francisco using an fleet of ships in the Bay and expanded into trade and other ventures. Descriptions of the fires of the early 1850. In 1854, they had sold all of there commercial interests in San Francisco and moved to Napa with his new wife.

Biographical / historical:

Captain Anthony Y. Easterby was born in Surrey, England in 1818. At the age of 14, he set out to sea, visiting the Mediterranean, Chile, and Panama before arriving in California in 1848. While in California, Captain Easterby set up several businesses in San Francisco, Sonoma, Fresno, and Napa City. He married Emily Gray, sister of his business partner Francis Gray, in San Francisco on November 5, 1853. Mr. Easterby was involved in the founding of the Fresno Canal and Irrigation Company in 1871, and was also the President of the Napa Valley Railroad, as well as a member of the Masonic Order, Knights of Templar, and Knights of Malta. He died in Napa, California in June of 1893. Captain Frank Gray was the brother-in-law of Captain Easterby and accompanied him to San Francisco, California in 1847-48. Other members of the Easterby family include John Easterby, Emily Gray Easterby (wife), Mrs. S. T. Easterby, E. G. Easterby, and Jane Easterby. Although no substantial biographical and/or genealogical information could be found, these members are assumed to be related to Captain Easterby and Captain Gray.

Acquisition information:
Donor and date of acquisition unknown
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Nick Scales
Date Prepared:
Oct 12, 2015
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2015-12-29T12:26-0800

Access and use

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions on access

Collection open for research

Preferred citation:

Capt. Anthony Y. Easterby, Memoir, The Society of California Pioneers

Location of this collection:
300 Fourth Street
San Francisco, CA 94107, US
Contact:
(415) 957-1849 ext. 160
mmdevine@californiapioneers.org
Website