Chittenden (H. W.) sea journal kept on board the Croton (built 1843; bark, 3m), 1848-1849

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Summary

Title:
H. W. Chittenden sea journal kept on board the Croton (built 1843; bark, 3m)
Dates:
1848-1849
Abstract:
The H. W. Chittenden sea journal kept on board the Croton (built 1843; bark, 3m), (SAFR 14299, HDC 0091), logs experiences during a journey from New York, New York to San Francisco, California, from January 16 to October 22, 1849 during the Gold Rush.
Extent:
1 item
Language:
In English.
Preferred citation:

[Item description], [Location within collection organization identified by Collection Number/Series Number/File Unit Number/Item Number], HDC0091 (SAFR 14299), H. W. Chittenden sea journal kept on board the Croton (built 1843; bark, 3m), San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

Background

Scope and content:

The H. W. Chittenden sea journal kept on board the Croton (built 1843; bark, 3m), (SAFR 14299, HDC 0091), logs experiences during a journey from New York, New York to San Francisco, California, from January 16 to October 22, 1849 during the Gold Rush.

Chittenden recorded his numerous impressions and feelings. He wrote regularly about the activities, behavior and health of passengers, having sea sickness and homesickness, the weather, longitude & latitude, behavior of the sails, quality of the course, observance of the Sabbath, food, landmarks, other ships, natural history along the way and the prospects of abundance to come. He also wrote poetry and commented on encounters with other cultures. There are lengthy descriptions of their Cape Horn passage, stops on St. Catherine's Island and Valparaiso. The journey took 195 days, 60 days more than expected. The CROTON (built 1843; bark, 3m) anchored in the port of San Francisco on July 29, 1849. After eight days in San Francisco, Chittenden writes three more pages about his trip up the Sacramento River. While destined for Sacramento, they stopped in Benicia enroute on 22 October 1849.

There are two entries in the journal unrelated to the journey. One is dated October 1, 1848, and headed "Upper Middletonm," "Miscellaneous Pieces on General Subjects" and another is dated October 28, 1848, titled "Description and Price of Waterwheel Built for Thomas Marthner" with a sketch of a wheel. There is also a "Recipe for Cholera" [an antidote]. There are a number of sketches in pencil throughout the volume. His sketches are labeled: Valparaiso Poney, St. Catherine's Island, St. Martine harbor, Diego Ramarez Islands, Cape Horn in the beginning of April 1849, Bark Croton, Bell Mountain, and Custom House in Valparaiso in early May 1849. The collection is fully processed and open for use without restrictions.

Biographical / historical:

Biography: H.W. Chittenden was from Middleton, Middlesex County of Connecticut.

Acquisition information:

SAFR-00001

The journal was donated to the San Francisco Maritime Museum in 1960 by Mr. Chittenden's granddaughter.

Processing information:

Note on Description: The descriptions in this collection guide were compiled using the best available sources of information. Such sources include the creator's annotations or descriptions, collection accession files, primary and secondary source material and subject matter experts. While every effort was made to provide accurate information, in the event that you find any errors in this guide please contact the reference staff in order for us to evaulate and make corrections to this guide. P lease cite the title and collection number in any correspondence with our staff.

Arrangement:

This is a collection of a single item.

Physical location:
San Francisco Maritime NHP, Historic Documents Department
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard .

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Processed by: Historic Documents Department Staff (You).
Date Prepared:
2012
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid derived from ICMS database and converted into xml from a template revised and updated by San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Historic Documents Department. 1/17/2012 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for use unless otherwise noted.

Terms of access:

Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the researcher's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.

Preferred citation:

[Item description], [Location within collection organization identified by Collection Number/Series Number/File Unit Number/Item Number], HDC0091 (SAFR 14299), H. W. Chittenden sea journal kept on board the Croton (built 1843; bark, 3m), San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

Location of this collection:
Building E, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123, US
Contact:
415-561-7030
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