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 10th
River still rising rapidly. Boats, long, & whale, and every thing that would bear up a man was in use conveying passengers & luggage. More than two thirds of the inhabitants are drowned out. Hotels were filled to a jam board from 8 to 10 dollars a day.
Amused by stories from Mr. Hyers & all hands. All getting tired of being shut up in prison. Discussed the matter wether it would alter the destination of this place. Thought it would not but would put people on their guard in buying & getting their houses up higher.
Monday Jan. 14th.
Water commend falling. Fell four inch in the course of the day. Beautiful day. Deus Pro Nobis [Sometimes translated as God is with us]. Wrote letters & or commenced to Father & Frank & L.P.
Tuesday 15
Water continued to recede but slowly. On account of the water could not send letters by the 15.
Wednesday 16
Water slowly falling & continued to fall slowly up to the 24th when it ceased running over its banks, & up to that time business dull & nothing of importance transpired. Did no damage to the house. Concluded to start for the mines if I could let or sell the house.
Tue. 25
Moved into the house. Rained but had no effect upon the river.
26 & 27th.
Rainy disagreeable days. Sent letters home by the Adams & express. Business dull . No ac’ts from the mines.
January 28th, 1850
Business dull. Got acquainted with F.P. Knight. Fine little fellow. He & Baxter came to stop with me till I got rid of the house.
29th.
Received letters from Father & George in one envelope. Answered them by Louis & Co. Express to San Francisco. Highly gratified to receive letters from Father, the first I received.
30th & 31st.
Beautiful day. Business began to stir.
Friday Feb. 1st.
Pleasant day doing nothing but read & waiting for an opportunity to let my house or.
Saturday 2nd.
Beautiful day. River falling. $200.00 subscribed by citizens toward levying the city in.
Sunday 3d.
Foggy. Took a walk with Knight & Baxter out to the fort. The whole place tenanted. Some twenty tenements. Grass had started & the field looked quite green.
Monday 4th.
Foggy & gloomy. No applications for my house. Business quite brisk. Roads open to the mines. Flattering act’s from the mines which there are some doubts about. Some of the miners experienced considerable snow at Georgetown, four feet of snow. Concluded I would try & get something to do.
Tuesday Feb. 12th, 1850
Got a situation in N.A.M. Dudley auction room. Terms to pay me so much a day as fast as business increased. To pay me in proportion first day. Paid me $2. Worked or stayed in store while he was out selling Real Estate half day.
Wed'y 13th
Went down early in the morning. Dudley out all the forenoon. Did not sell much for a good reason. Was not much to sell. Liked the situation thus far. Paid me $3.00 this day.
Thursday 14th.
Went to the store (situated on J between 2d & 3rd streets). As usual, sold today seventy or eighty dollars worth. Did not have to work very hard. P’d me 3$
Friday 15th.
Pretty busy in forenoon selling potatoes etc, & done a good days work. P’d 3$