Collection Guide
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A guide to the Christy Family papers, 1846-1938
HDC0004 (SAFR 14021)
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Table of contents
Title: Christy Family papers
Date: 1846-1938
Date (bulk): 1846-1865
Identifier/Call Number: HDC0004 (SAFR 14021)
Creator/Collector:
Robertson, William
Salman, John Washington
Christy, Robert F.
Christy, James
Physical Description:
30 items
Repository:
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Historic Documents Department
Building E, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
Abstract: The Christy Family papers (SAFR 14021, HDC 4) consists of a family history, legal records and correspondence; the log of the
schooner GENERAL GEORGE CADWALADER; assorted inventories, manifests and other business records pertaining to John Washington
Salman; and correspondence of Captain William Robertson.
Physical Location: San Francisco Maritime NHP, Historic Documents Department
Language(s):
In English.
This collection is open for use unless otherwise noted.
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.
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.
[Item description], [Location within collection organization identified by Collection Number/Series Number/File Unit Number/Item
Number], HDC0004 (SAFR 14021), Christy Family papers, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
SAFR-00001
Golden Gate National Recreation Area transferred these materials to San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.
Historical or Biographical Note
Biography. The following Christy family biographies refer to James Christy, Robert F. Christy, John Washington Salman and
William Robertson.
Biographies:
James Christy was born on May 4, 1827 at Baltimore, Maryland. He apprenticed as a blacksmith to Mr. John Washington Salman
of Philadelphia, Pa. In 1846. At the beginning of the California Gold Rush, Mr. Salman bought the fifty-foot schooner GENERAL
GEORGE CADWALADER, and he, Mr. Christy, and four other men sailed from Philadelphia to San Francisco though the Straits of
Magellan in 1849. They arrived in San Francisco on March 24, 1850. Christy married Elizabeth Hipple of Philadelphia in San
Francisco on September 11, 1851. They lived in San Francisco, and by 1871 they had four children: Samuel Benedict (b. August
8, 1853), Sarah Elizabeth (b. September 21, 1856) Hattie (d.o.b. unknown), and James Robert (b. March 7, 1865). The journal
makes a reference to "five children," one of which apparently died at a very young age. James Christy set up shop as a blacksmith
and shipsmith In 1850. He is listed in Langley's San Francisco Directory of 1868 as a "shipsmith, cor. Napa and Michigan"
living on
"Mississippi nr. Mariposa." In 1879 he is in the same trade at an different location, "Berry, Bet. Third and Fourth." James
Christy is listed as a smith, shipsmith, or blacksmith as late as 1901, when his residence changes to 1226 18th. He died in
1902.
Robert F. Christy. Little is known of the life of Robert F. Christy, beyond the fact that he too was a shipsmith. He is listed
in Langley's San Francisco Directory of 1868 as a blacksmith at Vulcan Iron Works. He tried his hand at gold mining. He was
a member of Knickerbocker Fire Company #5; and a founding member of San Francisco Masonic Lodge #1.
John Washington Salman was a shipsmith in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When news reached the East Coast of the discovery of
gold in California, he purchased a small schooner, the GENERAL GEORGE CADWALADER, and engaged the services of a competent
master, William Robertson, for the voyage to California. The voyage to San Francisco via the Straits of Magellan lasted from
September 20, 1849 to March 24, 1850. After arrival, Salman engaged the CADWALADER in the coastal and river trade under Robertson's
command. He died on August 22, 1850, after a long illness, and before many of his California plans became reality.
William Robertson was the first mate on the British bark MAGNET in 1845-1846. He was in command of the small schooner GENERAL
GEORGE CADWALADER on her voyage from Philadelphia to San Francisco. Subsequently, he took CADWALADER up the coast on voyages
to the Trinity River, and up the Sacramento River to Sacramento City.
The Christy Family papers (SAFR 14021, HDC 4) consists of a family history, legal records and correspondence; the log of the
schooner GENERAL GEORGE CADWALADER; assorted inventories, manifests and other business records pertaining to John Washington
Salman; and correspondence of Captain William Robertson.
The log records the events of a Gold Rush voyage to San Francisco including daily position, weather, sea conditions and shipboard
work. Correspondence refers mostly to personal events and business enterprise in Gold Rush San Francisco. This collection
is available for use without restrictions.
The contents of this collection are arranged into five folders.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Gold Rush--California--1840-1850
The Christy Family
General George Cadwalader (schooner)
Logbooks
Genealogy
Shipsmith