Description
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.
Background
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.