The Maritime Heritage Project ~~ International Harbors Travel

This site started with my daughter's family tree homework project in 1998. The Project has taken us around the world in search of family. Our generational tree is now 5'x4' and goes back to the 1700s in Maine, and prior to that to Ireland, Wales and Germany. A family tree is a marvelous way to keep your family connected; just click on the image below to start yours.

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Arrived in San Francisco on the
SS Oregon, April 1, 1849
Last Alcalde and First Mayor of San Francisco

John W. Geary was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.

He received the attention of the U.S. Government through his military skill in the war with the Mexican States. As a result, President Polk, on January 22, 1849, appointed Colonel Geary postmaster of San Francisco, with powers to create postoffices, appoint postmasters, establish mail routes, and make contracts for carrying the mails throughout California.

The story of their journey across Panama was well-detailed in the Annals of San Francisco, 1966, compiled by Dorothy H. Huggins (works first published in 1855 and 1939).

On February 1, 1849, with his wife and child, he left New York for Chagres in the steamer Falcon on her second trip. Their grueling crossing of the Isthmus took several days. At Panama, they waited more than two weeks for Pacific Mail Line’s Oregon, which was rounding the horn, having left New York on December 2, 1848. The Oregon put into Panama on February 23, 1849, where more than 1200 passengers, all bound for California gold mines, were waiting to board her. She left Panama March 13, 1849 with 250 additional passengers, and reached San Francisco on April 1, 1849.

The Colonel secured a room at Montgomery and Washington for post office purposes. And began to distribute the 5,000 letters that had already arrived. He performed most of the work himself as laborers were getting about $16 a day.

Because of the primitive, unsafe nature of San Francisco during its early years, he sent his family home, including his newly born son. He opened an auction and commission business: Geary, Van Vorhees and Sutton.

Against his protestations, popular vote elected him First Alcalde on August 1, 1849. He immediately established a police force, established order in the theretofore unrestrained city, and even established a chain-gang whose were used to improve public streets. The first City Charter was adopted May 1, 1850, and Colonel Geary was elected mayor by a large vote.

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Page: http://www.maritimeheritage.org/vips/gearyJohn
Date Entered: Between 1998 and 2008
Source: Geographicus, Newspaper Archives, Daily Alta California, Family Papers, Historical Records, Submissions from Researchers

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Research and WebDesign: D. Blethen Adams Levy
Contact: D. Blethen Adams Levy
www.MaritimeHeritage.org and www.InternationalHarbors.com
1001 Bridgeway, Suite 410
Sausalito, California 94965 U.S.A.