Finding aid of the Easterby, Capt. Anthony Y., Memior C058786
Finding aid prepared by Nick Scales
Society of California Pioneers
Oct 12, 2015
300 Fourth Street
San Francisco, CA, 94107-1272
(415) 959-1849
pkeats@californiapioneers.org
Title: Easterby, Capt. Anthony Y., Memoir
Identifier/Call Number: C058786
Contributing Institution:
Society of California Pioneers
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.0 folder
Bound journal, 133 pages.
Date: 1818 to 1885
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.
creator:
Easterby, Anthony Y., Captain, 1818-1893
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.
Related Archival Materials note
1. Obituary & other documents of Captain A. Y. Easterby in The Society of California Pioneers Biography Files 2. Easterby
and Co. Ledger (C004808.3 & C004808.4) 3. Easterby Papers before 1848, England (C005498) 4. Additional Easterby Papers (C005499)
5. Committee of Vigilance membership certificate of Anthony Easterby, 1851 (C007857) 6. Frank Gray Easterby, Captain in the
Battalion of University Cadets, 1878 (C015862) 7. Captain A.Y. Easterby Memoir & Letters - all copies (C058838) 8. Accounting
ledgers of Easterby and Company 1870 (C057853) 9. Easterby Legal Papers (C057914) 10. Anthony Easterby Handwritten Memoir
(C058786) 11. Esterby Family Papers (C005500) 12, SoCP Biography File - Obituary dated June 24 1893
Existence and Location of Originals note
The Society of California Pioneers
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Donor and date of acquisition unknown
Capt. Anthony Y. Easterby, Memoir, The Society of California Pioneers
There are no restrictions on access
Collection open for research
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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Catesby, Ap, Commodore
Downes, Tom, Captain
Forbes, Alexander, 1778-1862
Gray, Frank, Captain
Gray, Frederick T, Dr.
Laffer, Edmund
Leavenworth, Alcalde
Lick, James, 1796-1876
Marryat, Frank S. , ( Frank Samuel ), 1826-1855
McAllister, Matthew Hall, 1800-1865
Plume, J. V.
Ross, D. L.
Schench, James F, Admiral
Stout, Captain
Tewlsbury
Thomas, J. B., Capt
Vischer, Edmund
California, Northern - History - 19th century.
California, Northern-History-19th century.
California--History--1846-1850
Gold mines and mining -- California -- History.
San Francisco (Calif.)--Commerce.
Ships.
Voyages and travels -- 19th century
Voyages to the Pacific coast