A guide to the Christy Family papers, 1846-1938

Processed by: Historic Documents Department Staff.
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
Building E, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
Phone: 415-561-7030
Fax: 415-556-3540
SAFR_Historic_Documents@nps.gov
URL: http://www.nps.gov/safr
2012

A Guide to the Christy Family papers

HDC0004

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, National Park Service
2012, National Park Service

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.

Access

This collection is open for use unless otherwise noted.

Publication and Use Rights

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Processing Note

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.

Preferred Citation

[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

Acquisition Information

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.

Collection Scope and Content

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.

Collection Arrangement

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