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John Clarke Jaques letters, 1849-1852.
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Title:
John Clarke Jaques letters, 1849-1852Creator/Contributor:
Jaques, John Clarke, 1813-1852, creator, creator.Abstract:
Seventy-six original letters and transcriptions of seventy-seven letters (transcribed by Joan Jaques Sextro, great-great granddaughter
of John Clarke Jaques) documenting in detail John Clarke Jaques' land/sea voyage to San Francisco and his experience as a
miner in various locations in California between 1849 and 1852. The letters are mostly addressed to Jaques' wife, Susan, and
sent in care of John Dikeman (Susan's father) in Brooklyn, New York. The letters begin in June 1849 , first documenting John
Clarke Jaques' trip via steamer to Panama, his journey across the Isthmus, and his voyage via steamer to San Francisco. Included
are two drawings by Jaques of his trip by donkey across the Isthmus. The letters continue in September and October 1849 from
Mormon Island and Coloma, California. Between November 1849 and July 1850, Jaques is writing to his wife from San Francisco.
By August 1850, he is in Middle Fork of the American River and in Georgetown. Between September 28, 1850 and January 10, 1851,
he is writing again from San Francisco. During most of 1851, Jaques is in a range of places in the gold country, including
Spanish Dry Diggings, Middle Fork, Shinanigan Bar, and Canion Creek. By November 23, 1851, Jaques is at Yankee Jim's Dry Diggings
in Placer County. Jaques dies at Yankee Jim's Dry Diggings on May 23, 1852. The final letter in the collection, from a man
named Achilles Wilkerson, provides Jaques' wife with the details of her husband's last days and his death.
Date:
1849 (issued)Subject:
Voyages to the Pacific coast -- Personal narrativesVoyages to the Pacific coast
Gold miners -- California
Gold mines and mining -- California
Gold miners
Gold mines and mining
Voyages to the Pacific coast
California -- Gold discoveries
California -- History -- 1846-1850
California -- History -- 1850-1950
California
Crescent City (Steamship)
Crescent City (Steamship)
Jaques, John Clarke -- 1813-1852 -- Archives
Note:
Gift of Joan Jacques Sextro; 2022.
According to information obtained by The Bancroft Library from the creator's great-great granddaughter, Joan Jaques Sextro,
John Clarke Jaques was born in New York City on November 9, 1813. On June 30, 1849, John left his wife, Susan, and son for
California. He travelled first via ship to Panama, crossed the Isthmus and then sailed to San Francisco. His letters show
that Jaques was on Morman Island, Coloma, San Francisco, Middle Fork of the American River, Georgetown, Spanish Dry Diggings,
Shinanigan Bar, Canion Creek, and Yankee Jim's Dry Diggings. He died in Yankee Jims Dry Diggins on May 23, 1852, possibly
from lead poisoning ingested from the canned food he prepared. Additional research has revealed that before his journey to
California, John and his wife lived in Brooklyn, New York with Susan's father, attorney John Dikeman.
John Clarke Jaques letters, BANC MSS 2022/225, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
In English.
Type:
Archives.History.
Personal narratives.
Physical Description:
print
0.4 (1
Language:
English