Ships in the Port of San Francisco 1852: The Maritime Heritage Project Captains, Ships, Passengers in 1800s California

JANUARY

January 1: U.S.M. Steamship Northerner. Captain H. Randall, Esq. 14 days 20 hours from Panama, via intermediate ports. Merchandise to E. Knight. 500 passengers.
January 1: Schooner Golden Rule. Captain Van Name. 14 days from Honolulu. Cargo: 8 casks, 22 bbls whale oil and three packages merchandise to J. McCarty. Passengers: Bradley; S. Brannan; Doherty; J. Fowler; John Franklin; Gleason; S. May; S.H. Richy; Segula; Mr. Scovill, lady and child; Mr. Selover, lady and nephew; Swasey; Taylor; Turner; Franklin Whitney; G. Whitney; and 25 unidentified in steerage.
January 2: Steamship Gold Hunter. Captain Bodfish. 23 days from San Juan via Acapulco and San Diego. To R.J. Vandewater. 200 passengers.
January 2: Barque Lysia. Brazilian. Captain Barbazan. 55 days from Valparaiso. Merchandise to J. Garret & Co. 100 passengers
January 2: Barque Sultan. Captain Welch. 190 days from Bordeaux via Valparaiso (50 days). Merchandise to J. Maury, Jr. 2 passengers.
January 9: Vessels listed as in the harbor, "not moored in accordance with the regulations of the port . . . thereby endangering themselves and others, near them, besides risking the loss or damage of their cargoes:" Brig Gilbert Jamison; Storeship Ocean Hero; Schooner Piedmonte; Storeship Cyrus; Storeship Anne; Barque Rowland; Brig Othello; Storeship Canton; Barque Marie; Brig Ocean; Schooner Capacity; Ship George Thatcher; Storeship Galileo; Barque Burnham; Brig Challenge; Storeship Regulus; Barque San Francisco; Storeship Rob Roy; Barque Martha; Barque Russell; Barque Evelina; Barque Powhatan; Barque J.J. Cobb; Brig Mary Helen; Storeship Siroc; Brig Charlotte; Storeship Wm. & James; Barque Juno; Brig Palermo; Ship Bazar; Barque Backus; Steamer El Dorado; Storeship Elizabeth; Ship Nile; Storeship John Adams; Steamer Washington; Barque Canada; Ship Ontaro; Barque Edward; Brig Tepic; Ship Seini; Barque John Farnworth; Brig E.P. Wolf; Storeship Damariscott; Ship Elizabeth.
January 10: Schooner L.M. Yale, Captain Buckman, from Tahiti. Passage: Departed Tahiti on November 30, 1851. Cargo: 40,000 oranges and 2,000 limes. Passengers: S.A. Dunn; J. Miner; D. Monroe; J. Moses; J.C. Bense; C.L. Morrelle; P. Linch; Mrs. Linch; J.E. Hathaway.
January 10: Schooner Laura Bevan, Captain Pierce, 16 ays from Lahaina, Sandwich Islands. Cargo: 5000 gallons Polar oil, 250 bbls potatoes, 100 bunches of bananas, 13,000 oranges, 18 hogs, 4,000 coconuts and 4 bags of coffee. Passengers: G.F. Putnam; B. Palmer.
January 13: Clipper ship Comet, Captain E.C. Gardiner, 100 days from New York. She left New York in October 1851 and was the first of a small fleet of these vessels enroute to San Francisco. She was scheduled to sail from San Francisco to Canton, China and thence to London. Cargo: 3 piano-fortes, 20 rolls carpet, nails, oysters, 2 boats, 24 carriage wheels, 1 case pistols, 18 wagons, 6 lumber wagons, cheese and assorted goods. Passengers: Rev. E. Corwin and lady; J.J. Gage; Mrs. Washburn; Mrs. U. Valler and two children; Mrs. Speckles and two children; W.H. Appleman and lady; A.G. Perry; A.A. Branda; J. Coddington.
January 14: Clipper ship John Wade, Captain Willis, 126 days from Boston, Massachusetts. Anchored off North Beach in San Francisco Harbor. Experienced continued head winds on the voyage and was 71 days to Cape Horn and 16 days from the line to San Francisco. Captain Willis is formerly of ship Hannibal. Dimensions of the John Wade are: 640 tons, 145 ' length, breadth of beam 31', depth of hold 17'. This vessel built at Medford, Massachusetts by Mr. H.S. Cudworth. The John Wade was off the mouth of San Francisco harbor for three days. Cargo: One fire engine, one plough, two anvils, tins of venison, cider, chocolate, rum, iron shutters, one safe, wine, furniture, boots, 10 kegs of lead, pork, shovels and assorted goods. Passengers: Capt. C. Hover, lady and three children; Mrs. Remington and two children; Mrs. Fieldsted; A. Haskins; G.W. Newman; Mrs. E. White, two children and servant.
January 15: Helen A. Miller, Captain Galt, 152 days from Baltimore, Maryland, via Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Leaving Rio on October 19, 1852. Cargo: Pepper sauce, yeast powder, mustard, hams, beds, ale and porter, bacon, shovels and assorted cargo. Passengers: Mrs. Dyer; Mrs. Trust; Mrs. Latimer.
January 18: Brig J.B. Lunt, Captain Daggett, from New York via Astoria, Oregon (7 days). Cargo: 21,600 feet oak plank, 21,000 feet lumber and 2,400 bushels of potatoes. Passengers: W. Adams; J.F. Miller; R.W. Cussan; J. Janney; R.C. Smith; R.J. Cresson

FEBRUARY

February 5: Clipper Golden Gate. Captain Trumen. 113 days from New York via Cape Horn. She ran 290 miles in one day during the journey. Cargo: Butter, glassware, soap, shovels, vices, 38 anvils, shoes and boots, pipes and tobacco, 53 plates of boiler iron, 2 wagons, 1 keg shot and balls, horseshoes, 203 tons coal, wine, boots and assorted goods. Passengers: Mr. Sabatie; Mrs. Reed, son and three daughters.

MARCH

March 4: Barque Augusta, Captain Barnett. 200 days from London, England, via Falkland Islands. Cargo: 50 cases glass, 200 tons coal, 1 case flannel, 636 bags of oats, 900 bags barley, 100 cans oil (type not specified), 430 casks beer, 1 safe, and a large quantity of gin, wine, brandy and cordial. Passengers: Mr. F. Abell; R. Carter; Mrs. Elizabeth Greenwood; Master John Greenwood; Mrs. Elizabeth Maester; Mr. Charles Pace and lady; ten unidentified in steerage.
March 8: Clipper Northern Light. Captain Bailey. 109 days from Boston, Massachusetts. Cargo: 2 boxes liquor pumps, 10 tons and 146 plates of pig iron, 94 bars iron, 1 scale, 50 boxes lamps, 1 case steel, 6 wagons, 1 coach, 234 boxes furniture, 62 packages glassware, 15 boxes oil cloth, 63 anvile, saddlery, gunny bags, 110 tons coal, 3 whippletrees, 50 plough castings, 12 plough braces, 110 bbls. cement, 265 doors, 1 boiler, drugs, boots, liquor, seeds and candles. 19 passengers.
March 10: Ship Tarolinta. Captain Cave. 56 days from Valparaiso, Chile. She brought word that the emigration from Chile to California has amounted to nearly 1000 individuals that have sailed from the port of Valparaiso. Disturbances in mining and agricultural districts contributed to the movement. Cargo: 8000 fanagas of barley. Passengers: Mr. W.W. Snelling, H. Woodward, and 25 unidentified in steerage.

MAY

May 2: British ship Satellite, Markham, 53 days from Valparaiso, coal &c to E.D. Heatly & Co. 13 passengers
May 2: British barque Cape Breton, Reed, 80 days from San Antonio (Chile). Barley to Larco & Co. 3 passengers.
May 2: British barque British Merchant, Wilkinson, 61 day sfrom Valparaiso. Coal & to master. 58 passengers
May 2: Schooner Velasco, Worth, 36 days from Huaina (Society Islands). 200,000 oranges to order. Sailed in company with schooner Julius Ringle for this port.
May 2: Schooner Fides, Carlton, 36 days from Tahiti. Oranges & to E.P. Adams
May 2: Schooner Sophia, Baldwin. 39 days from Tahiti. Oranges to S. Knott
May 2: Schooner Gazelle, Stoddard. 18 days from Lahaina. Merchandise to master.
May 9: Ship Oxnard, Hinckley, 150 days from Boston. Merchandise and 2 passengers, to Macondray & Co.
May 7: British ship Rajasthan, Anderson. 55 days from Hongkong. Merchandise to Macondray & Co. 320 passengers. Anchored off North Beach.
May 10: Peruvian ship Maria, Captain Adams, 44 days from Panama. Cargo: In ballast. Passengers: Mr. W.B. Spencer and lady; 92 unidentified in steerage.
May 11: British ship Robert Small, Small, 53 days from Hongkong with 8500 tiles to order. 378 passengers. Left ship Witchcraft, Rogers, for this port in two days, and others before reported. Anchored off North Beach.
May 12: Dutch barque Echo, DeLaney, 183 days from Amsterdam, via Valparaiso 76 days. Merchandise to Gildermeester, DeFremery & Co. Anchored opposite Griffin's wharf.
May 15: Schooner Edward L. Frost, Captain Hempsted, 19 days from Lahaina, Sandwich Islands. Cargo: Produce, 90 bbls polar oil, syrup, sugar, 6 tons of coal. Passenger: Mr. E.D. Newell.
May 20: United States revenue cutter Frolic, Douglas Ottinger, commander, left San Diego, May 7th. Memoranda: J.R. Rartlette, Esq., of the boundary commission, and party, expected to leave in four or five days. Steamship Constitution was waiting for coal; passengers generally in health. Schr Mexico, sailed on the 7th, bound to the southward. May 11th, left at Santa Barbara, brig Fremont, dischg; schr Sophia, with sheep from Santa Rosa Island for San Francisco, put into Santa Barbara for provisions and water; on the 15th, left steamer Ohio, at San Luis Obispo, schr Laura Bevan sailed from Monterey on the 18th, bound to the southward; left at that port May 19th, steamer McKim, machinery out of order. No vessels at Santa Cruz.
May 20: Clipper ship Seaman's Bride, Myrrick, 152 days from New York, via Valparaiso 42 days. Merchandise to order. Memoranda: Carried away her foremast and fore and mizzen topgallant mast in a heavy squall on the night of 29th Feb. and put into Valparaiso to repair damages. The ship Pactolus, Dowd, with passengers for this port sailed march 15; barque Carib, Ripley, for this port a few days previous. French ship Courier de India from Bordeaux with passengers for this port do; May 11th, lat 28 14, long 128, saw Mexican brig Jupiter, 10 days from Mazatlan, for this port with passengers; 18th, inst., saw a large clipper ship steering for this port. Six passengers: Miss Josephine Lafaver, Messrs G. Legard, E.P. Roney, E. Scott, F. Gabler, and Mr. Fagard.
May 20: Ship Mechanic's Own, Burgess, 150 days from New York. Merchandise to order. Passengers: Henry F. Dunham and lady; W.H. Hall, lady and child; Albert Campe and lady; Mrs. J.B. Price, four children and servant; Mrs. W.O. Wilson and child; Miss Catharine Valley; Miss John van Orden; Theo Ovington; Wm. Sandford; Nath'l M. Sellich; Hypolite Piemot; Joseph S. Pierson; Juel Pache; Alphonse Lecount; Peter Bocrat; Henry Groron; Francis Pache; Henry W. Wilgers.
May 20: Peruvian ship Maria, Adams, 44 days from Panama, in ballast, to Hellman Brothers & Co. 94 passengers. One female. Mr. W.B. Spencer and lady; 92 in the steerage. Anchored off Griffin's Wharf.
May 20: Brig Dracut, Loper, 75 days from Valparaiso. Coal to N. Miller. Ten passengers: Mr. P. Pratt and lady, R. Allen, J. Brown, M. Lopez, J. Beal, A. Ryard, P. Rello, R. Lord and J. Loomis. Anchored off Griffin's Wharf.
May 20: Brig Clarendon, Vinsent, 48 days from Mazatlan, via Santa Barbara, 8 days. In ballast to order. 78 passengers; 49 females: Mr. H. Julien, J. Landroff, Amelia Olsen, 75 in the steerage.
May 21: Brig Dudley, Yates, 68 days from Panama, via Acapulco, April 13, in ballast, to Wood & West. Passengers: 111, 3 females.
May 21: British Brig Sir Charles Napier, Webster, 90 days from Panama. 260 tons coals, to Montefiore & Burgoyne. Passengers: 217, 6 females, 36 died on the passage
May 22: Mexican brig Jupiter, Captain Thomas, 25 days from Mazatlan, Mexico. Cargo: 10 bbls eggs, 2 bags merchandise, and 13 cases merchandise. Passengers: H. Canoe; J. Thompson; C. Thompson; ? Pomarc; W. Gumin; W. Hay; Madame Torret; F. Alecander; S. Clapp; J.S. Jenkins.

JUNE

June 9: Iowa, Peruvian, type not listed. Captain Washburn. 54 days from Hong Kong, China. Cargo: 100 cases of trunks, 3275 packages sugar, 1334 packages of rice, and 62 and 62 packages merchandise. Passengers: W. F. Hunting and 377 unidentified in steerage (probably Chinese passengers)
June 9: Hawaiian brig Eagle, Captain Newell, 26 days from Oahu, Sandwich Islands. Cargo: 32 bbls beef, 228 bags coffee, 77 boxes saleratus, 20 bags of moss and 5 cases unspecified merchandise. Passengers: Mrs. L. Adolphus; Mrs. Mary Ann McCloskey; J. Flintoff and lady; ? Drosont; Mrs. Elizabeth S. Owen; James Cummiford; Mrs. Eliza Fox; Miss Mary Ann Fox; Mrs. Lucy Calhoun; M.J. Riley.

JULY

July 4: Clipper Ship Staghound, Captain Eehm. 124 days from New York. Merchandise to Hussey, Bond & Hale. Passengers: F. Hall; H.E. Hall; W.T. Fisk; H.A. Parker; A. P. Flint; J.C. Brown; G.W. Brown; R.H. Brown; C.L. Cruise; J.J. Cruise; J.H. Tombs; A.H. Tombs; G.F. Butman.
July 4: Clipper ship Sea Nymph, Captain Hale. 120 days from New York. Merchandise to DeWitt & Harrison. 12 passengers: J.D. Pierson and lady; Master W. Pierson; Miss Clara Pierson; W. Brome and lady; Miss E.P. Broom; J. Rohr and lady; F. Clark; O. Dickinson. (Note: Brome and Broom may be the same family, with one a misspelling.)
July 4: Ship Argonaut, Captain Nott. 134 days from Boston. Merchandise to Flint, Peabody & Co. 7 passengers: Mrs. Nott; G.A. Curtis (may be C.A. Curtis); G.O. Dodd; W. Floyd; M.L. Washburn; E.B. Shaw; G. Farram (may be G. Farrarr) Daily Alta California, July 13, 1852: ARRIVAL OF CLIPPERS: The Sea Nymph, Argonaut and Staghound are among the numerous arrivals which are reported in our paper this morning. They have all been looked for during the past week, though not supposed to have been over due, as many of the same class of an earlier date from the Atlantic are still out. These ships have done well, and their passages may be considered good. The season of the year is much against a rapid run from the Atlantic to the Pacific, as is usual, and which may be seen by the reports in another column. The Staghound had three skysails set for eighty-eight days, and was within one thousand miles of this port on the 14th ult. The Argonaut and Sea Nymph report similar weather. We shall no doubt have another fleet to report in our next publication, as well as some wild transactions in merchandise. Speculation is rife in nearly all descriptions of goods by these vessels, the arrival of which only happily relieves the want of many articles, without depressing the market or effecting prices. Indiscreet speculators may possibly suffer.
July 5: Ship Kate Hayes, Captain Maurian. 146 days from New York. Merchandise to Dana Bros. & Co. 23 passengers: R. Barney and lady; W. Ceanage and lady; P.E. Ward and lady; S.E. Smith and lady; M. Rainy, lady adn two children; Miss Berry; O.W. Miller; A. Braby, W. Wright; J. Smith; J.C. Higginson; J. White, G.E. Sewell; J. Thompson; E. Carroll, F. Dunham.
July 5: Barque Henriette, Dutch. Captain Wilson. From Amsterdam via Valparaiso. Merchandise to Gildemeester, De Fremary & Co. 19 passengers, 7 females: A.F. Hoog; Delamere; A. Meyer; C.F. Edlefesen; and 15 in steerage.
July 6: Ship Leontine (Brem), Captain Arianne. From Lisbon via Rio de Janeiro. Wines, etc., to J.B. Wyan.
July 10: Hamburg Brig Johanna Cristophe, Classen. 66 days from Panama. Anchored off North Beach. Merchandise to Cordis, Stiffen & Co.; P. Zadig; D. Classen; Hellman Bros; Hautter, Haines & Co.; Dupuy, Foulkes & Co. Passengers: M. Schwab, lady and four children
July: Ship Ellen Foster from Boston. Passengers: Mrs. A. Hanley and two children; Mrs. Scaley and son; Mrs. Swan and daughter; Mrs. Dean; Mrs. Wadsworth and two sons; Mrs. McDonald and two children; Messrs. M'Donald, Russell, H.F. Balch; Eugene Vaughn, wife and two children of Boston.
July 12: Ship Eastern State, Kilburn, 150 days from New York. Merchandise to master. Memoranda: March 11th, lat 4 48S, long 29 W, sprung foremast, was compelled to put into Rio for repairs. Lay there 25 days. Sailed from Rio April 9th, in company with the ship Racehound for this port. Anchored off North Beach. Cargo included iron, wire, safes, wheels, machinery, lead pipe, ploughs, bellows, hubs, 50 drums codfish, soap, matches, sarsaparilla, candles, currants, 63 pkgs agricultural implements, 2 threshing machines, 147,000 feet lumber . . . Passengers: E. Grant, Jr.; L. M Patridge; L. M. Ellis; J. Mudgen; R.T. Grant; E. Page, ; L. Colins; Jas. Cox; K.B. Crockett; R.H. Frost; A. Todd; J.A. Burton; E. Clarke; D. Thompson; Geo. Moll; J. Clyan
July 12: French Ship Tormont, Captain Dount. 202 days from Bordeaux, via Valpraiso 66 days. Wines, etc., to V. Marziou & Co. 259 passengers
July 12: Barque Ellen Hastler, Poustle. 70 days from Realejo. Anchored off North Beach. Cargo includes 58 cks brandy, 35 bbls flour, 211 cs port wine, 261 cs. malaga wine, 56 cs. marcales wine, 57 cks muscat, 221 casks and 380 cs white wine, 50 cs. brandy fruits, 40 cs. wormwood, 8 cs. playing cards, 27 cs. white vinegar, 57 sacks corks, 20 cs. sardines, 75 cs champagne wine, 681 cks 374 cs red wine, 1 quantity iron, 4 quantity bricks, 50 cks red wine, 280 casks brady, 1600 caskets 50 cases liquors, 50 cases sardines, 1 case chocolate. Merchandise to Halster, Baines & Co. 2 passengers: Saml Orm; Thomas Mouen.
July 12: Schr Suerto, Hazard. 64 days from Punta Arenas, coffee to M. Alsua. 3 passengers.
July: Clipper ship Sea Serpent. Daily Alta California, July 13, 1852. This magnificent ship has made the best passage of the season, 112 days from New York, beating the fleet of clippers now due, whose average passage already amounts to about 124 days. She was built at Portsmouth, N.H. by Geo. Haynes, Esq., the famous builder of the Witch of the Wave, that has excited the admiration of the Londoners, both by her unrivalled passage of 90 days from China, and her symmetrical proportions. Mr. Raynes is also the builder and architect of the Typhoon, which it will be recollected, made a voyage to Europe in 12 days. He has orders now for four clippers, the same model with the Witch of the Wave, and has forwarded her model by request to the Board of Admiralty in England.
July 16, 1852, Daily Alta California: HEAVY ARRIVAL OF PASSENGERS VIA CAPE HORN.--Reference to our shipping memoranda will show the arrival of the ship Gov. Morton, from New York, after a passage of one hundred and twenty-four days, having on board one hundred and eight passengers. This is the largest number of passengers that has arrived in one ship by the way of Cape Horn in many months. It recalls the days of early emigration to California when a Cape Horn passage was the most comfortable trip to the gold mines, and when ship loads were borne hither in crazy old hulks, which it always seemed quite miraculous should have survived the journey. The names of the passengers of the Gov. Morton will be found in another column.

AUGUST

August 11: Clipper ship Grecian arrived from around the Horn with 330 passengers. Two died enroute and one had fallen overboard.

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