Henry Perry letters
Abstract
Letters (Jan. 24, 1849-May 28, 1850) written from New York City, Rio de Janeiro, Valparaiso, San Francisco, and Sacramento by Henry Perry to his Bridgeport family (parents Mr. and Mrs. David Perry, sister Emmeline, and brothers Alf, Tom, and Frederick), regarding his experiences en route to San Francisco, his return voyage from Hawaii, and economic and living conditions in gold rush San Francisco and Sacramento. Of particular interest are accounts of robberies in Sacramento, and pen drawings of miner attire, accommodations, and implements. Also news of family acquaintances in California and requests for newspapers and news of family and friends in Connecticut.
Dates
- Creation: 1849-1850
Creator
- Perry, Henry (Person)
Biographical / Historical
Bridgeport, Conn., native and California gold rush participant. Perry embarked from New York City on Feb. 25, 1849, sailed around Cape Horn, with stops in South America at Rio de Janeiro and Valparaiso, and arrived in San Francisco during August or early September. With Egbert Wiltsie, Perry soon sailed to Hawaii to sell a stock of goods, and returned to San Francisco in March, 1850. By May he was clerking at the firm of Harney and Wiltsie in Sacramento and had also set up a provision store with a partner, Billy B.
Extent
0.1 Linear Feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Ownership and Custodial History
Forms part of the Edward E. Ayer Manuscript Collection (Newberry Library)
Bibliographic References
Butler, R.L. Checklist of Mss. in the Ayer Coll., 709
Subject
- Edward E. Ayer Manuscript Collection (Newberry Library) (Organization)
- Perry family -- Correspondence (Family)
- Perry, Henry -- Correspondence (Person)
Genre / Form
- Correspondence -- California, Northern -- 1801-1850
- Correspondence -- New York (State) -- 1801-1850
- Correspondence -- South America -- 1801-1850
- Travel literature -- Brazil -- Rio de Janeiro -- 1801-1850
- Travel literature -- California, Northern -- 1801-1850
- Travel literature -- Hawaii -- 1801-1850
Geographic
- California, Northern -- Description and travel
- Hawaii -- Description and travel
- Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) -- Description and travel
Topical
- Brothers and sisters -- United States -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
- Clerks -- California -- Sacramento -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
- Families -- Connecticut -- Bridgeport -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
- Frontier and pioneer life -- California -- Sources
- Gold mines and mining -- California, Northern -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
- Manuscripts, American
- Merchants -- California -- Sacramento -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
- Pen drawing, American -- 19th century
- Pioneers -- California, Northern -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
- Voyages to the Pacific coast
- Status
- Catalog Record Only
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the The Newberry Library - Modern Manuscripts and Archives Repository
60 West Walton Street
Chicago Illinois 60610 United States
312-255-3512
reference@newberry.org