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.
Thursday, July 12th.
Benicia on board Ship Edward Everett. This morning about four o'clock a party of eighty left for the gold mines including those that are to come back with the boat of which there are fifteen. Three in each boat. The long boat carried the provisions. The two surf boats and two flat boats carried the men and baggage. They went away in good spirits with wind & tide in their favor.
Last night we had a meeting and voted in Timothy Rix member of the Company on account of the peculiar circumstances connected with his joining the Company when we left Boston, his manly deportment onboard since we left. He was admitted by paying the sum required by the laws of the Company.
Friday, July 13th
Benicia on board Ship. Today commenced building the steam scow. Got the lumber out yesterday, built a forge and a temporary building for shade. I was put on the list to help build or to assist (a rather poor carpenter). This afternoon went across the river with five or six others to get a few knees for the boat etc. Found to our great pleasure a plenty of Live Oak timber. All the hills as far as the eye could reach covered with a species of wild oats which the herds & herds of cattle. This at this season of the year is dried and parched up. The only verdure to be seen is the Live Oak.
Saturday, July 14th
Benicia on board ship. Thus far the climate we have experienced in California has been delightful, somewhat beyond my expectations. A dry and healthful breeze sweeps over the hills from the sea every day. My health is good. My appetite is good and, if this is the climate they have the year round, I wonder not at the stories I have read and heard told of the age that people live to in California. What I wonder most at is that people have not found and emigrated to this delightful and golden country years & years before this. But the tide of immigration that will flow here in 1849 & 50 will make up for a country. Yes, in less than one year steamers will be plying up and down these beautiful waters, and these now Indian deserted hills will be peopled by the intelligent and enterprising Americans, and soon the sound of the heavy church bells & the clattering of machinery will be heard on the banks of these placid and smooth waters, and as if by magic a new world will spring up that will far exceed all others.
Saturday night this was truly the end of a hard weeks work.
Sunday July 15th
Benicia onboard ship. As many of our men attended church at Benicia as. As our numbers are smaller, we probably shall have no more religious services onboard. Mr. Benton has gone to the mines with the party that has gone. A party of five of our men started for Mt. Diablo early this morning. What they make out is hard to tell, but I think they will not reach the mts as I should judge it was fifteen miles off. Sunday eve, a party of our men went today and got a very fat bullock, the best beef I ever saw. Another party went a fishing and got a number which were very nice. Several thousand acres of dried oats was burnt over today.
Monday, July 16th
Beautiful day. Worked on the steam boat. Made bad work in altering her. Foreman Mr. Rodriey was not sure in the first place. Today sent a letter by gentleman going to N.Y by friend Mears. Heard the steamer had arrived. Commenced writing letters.
July 17th.
Worked on the scows.
July 18th.
Making ready to go to the gold mines. Wrote to father & T. Chamber.