James White was a 21 year old farmer from Quincy, MA. In 1849 he sailed from Boston around Cape Horn to San Francisco and the gold diggings of California. In all he spent 6 months at sea and a year in California. I've transcribed his journal and am publishing it here as well as on Amazon/Kindle and Apple/iBooks.
This is one of the most interesting weeks in the year and a half long journal.
Friday, June 8th
In Lat. 5º 28' Long. 117º 01'. A light wind from the south all day. Lost the Trades. Light rain squalls from the west.
This morning witnessed what is called a tide rip caused by two currents meeting. One setting from the east at the rate of forty miles a day. Saw tonight the mariners friend, the North Star. Fast losing the brilliant constellations of the South. Loosing the Southern Cross etc. Lost sight of the Magellan Clouds.
We are fast making latitude when we expected a calm. We are truly fortunate for once. The sun is melting hot. The Capt. is having the ship fixed up in good shape. The rigging tarred which is not a very pleasant job to sailors. The decks are begin caulked etc.
Saturday, June 9th
In Lat. 7º 16' Long. 118º 12'. Commenced warm & cloudy. A light wind from the south. Tonight Jack Dayer had his California Rangers out well equipped for camp duty, knapsacks etc. They paraded the decks with fife & tin pans making quite a show & causing a good laugh.
Sunday June 10th
In Lat. 8º 51' Long. 118º 50'. Light wind from the SW all day and night. Light showers.
Had religious services as usual. Mr. Bradley requested that all should attend meeting the next two Sundays as they would probably be the last we should witness onboard, and would probably be the last we should all meet together for divine worship. All hands are busily fixing up be ready to start for the gold diggings. Writing letters etc. Tonight the sailors caught three or four skip jacks.
Monday June 11th
In Lat. 9º 54' Long. 119º 12'. Commenced cloudy with refreshing showers. Wind from the W. Rather light.
I felt rather lazy and disagreeable all day. Great washing day for all hands. Thought I should like to roam in the garden of home. Thought of the pleasant warm days. How I used to enjoy myself in looking at the luxuriant growth of trees etc. Thought of the Sundays with old friends. Thought of my particular female friend F.G.B. who lies now dead & mouldering in that uncharted spot Mount Auburn. Lively girl thou art goen. Mourn thy friends who knew thy good qualities and worth. Time can not efface from my memory thy loveliness.
Lovely girl thou art goen
Yes thy earthly course is run
Friends who knew thee are left to mourn
For thy loss till death is done
On that fair mount thy art laid
Where many a flower had their turn
Kind friends are weeping o'r thee
Gay birds are warbling on thy grave "return
Sweet girl, return"
Notes:
The word goen occurs repeatedly in this journal. According to the Oxford English Dictionary goen is a form of gone.
F.G.B. is likely Frances G. Blackstock who was interred 9/1/1845 in an unmarked grave in Mount Auburn Cemetery.
Tuesday, June 12th
In Lat. 10º 41' Long. 120º 01'. Strong breezes all night and all day from the SSW from that to the N and E. At eve calm. Imagined if this was the touch of the Trades, we should be there soon.
Today spoke and boarded the hemaphrodite brig Neptune by boat about fifty tons from Calais, bound to San Francisco. She told large stories concerning the gold fields. Said that there was 35 hundred waiting for passage at Panama. Spoke the above vessel.
Wednesday June 13th
In Lat.11º 04' Long. 120º 05'. Light variable winds all day. Very sultry. Heavy showers from the W. The Neptune in sight.
Thought if the stories she told were true, that very many never would see San Francisco. She also said that there was three hundred sail of vessels lying in the harbor of San Francisco. Thought that this was rather erroneous. She had not heard of so large companies going as ours. Seemed rather surprised when told we had engines for boats etc. onboard. She was twenty eight days out. Had 20 passengers & crew onboard. Rather a dull sailor. We left her out of sight at night in a heavy shower. Saw no more of her, only part of the forenoon next day.
Thursday, June 14th
In Lat 12º 40' Long. 119º 11'. Light variable winds all day. Making slow progress. Very hot. Heavy showers with refreshing breezes. All of this pleasant weather.
The time is improved. The sound of anvil is heard every hour when pleasant. Work and get ready for immediate action. Last night the Directors had a meeting and appointed John Alexander & three others to go on an exploring expedition immediately after getting to get a good situation for the Company to camp and operate upon. Appointed Mr Groves and six others to explore the river etc. for gold with ? apparatus. Voted that they should keep a journal of their daily operations.
I think it will take them longer to explore than they imagine. Some talk as though they were going right on as though to port and explore and be entered operations in a fortnight's time, but they will get greatly mistaken. It is a great country. The rivers are many, and the sand bars & snags are many, and it needs a great deal of precaution & good judgement.
More next Sunday. Not long now before they reach San Francisco.