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.
Saturday 16th.
Worked in store as usual all day. Sold considerable. Dudley sold on leaving every morning. Did not pay me today.
Feb. 17th. 1850
Sunday kept at home cleaning up etc. reading & writing etc.
Monday Feb 18th.
Went to the store. Stayed all day.
Tuesday ditto ditto
Wednesday Feb 20th.
Moved aboard brig Taranto.
21st 22 & 23rd on board. Business increased. Mary Dudley paid me for labor done $18.00 Agreed pay me $4 for day next week.
Sunday 24th.
Sold my house today to Gerry & Co. for 175$. Loosing in trade about $125.00.
Monday Feb 25th.
Continued at work with Dudley.
Tuesday Feb 26th.
Read letter from Nathan on business. Says he sends goods by the steamer that leaves N. York the last of January (Look for the goods last of May) directed to this place via San Francisco. Answered it & sent by private hand a gent from S. Boston.
March 1st., 1850
Continued at work all last week. Pd me $24.
Sunday March 2d.
March 19th.
Bought a specimen of gold weighing 216$. Gave 224$. Very handsome indeed. Bought it intended for [?]
March 20th, 1850
No steamer. Not arrived. Looking anxiously for letters. Still at work for Mr. Dudley. Averaging $8 p’r day.
25th.
Steamer arrived. Brought only half the mail. Let the remainder on Isthmus. Sent letter to Nathan by the return steamer for San Francisco.
28th
Received no letters from home. Expect it was among those that were left. Sent a letter to Mother. Long letter. Both of them.
April 1st, 1850
No letters from home this steamer. Expect them every day by steamer. Tennessee or Sarah Sands. Still at work for M. Dudley. Averaging $10 pr day.
April 11th. Offered a chance to go up the river to keep store in the mines by a Mr. Damon. Offer of going in to business with him by putting in $400. He had $2000. Concluded to think of it & give him an answer at night or next morning.
April 12th, 1850
Concluded to go up the river, at any rate, & look round & see what the chances were. Closed a bargain with Mr. Damon to go up and do business for him at $8 p’r day from this date & he pay all expenses. Stopped work for Dudley.
April13th
Trying to go up the river. Buying & packing etc etc etc. Well led up with Mr. Dudley. Had no trouble . Offered me chance to come back if I wished to at the same rate. Let Mr. Dudley have my specimen of gold to keep till I called for it. Was to have it at par if I concluded to let it go. He was to give me $20 extra.