The Maritime Heritage Project.
Ships in San Francisco during the 1800s.


Very Important Passengers Arriving in the Port of San Francisco During the 1800s
° SEARCH
° GUESTS
° LOG/LISTS
° IN PORT
° CAPTAINS
° VIPS
° SHIPS
° PORTS
° BOOKS
° NEWS
° HISTORY
° RESOURCES
° DONATIONS
° HOME

Banner - Ancestry.com

This site started with my daughter's family tree homework project ten years ago. It 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.


Recommended Reading.
Books can be ordered just by clicking on a cover.


The Pratt Name in HistoryThe Pratt Name in History.

San Francisco: Port of Gold
William Martin Camp
An image of the cover of Port of Gold is not available. However, I have this book and it is a well-written history of San Francisco penned by a Berkeley author in 1947. It opens with a list of the Officers of the Society of California Pioneers. Some illustrations are included in the book.

Annals of San Francisco.
The Annals of San Francisco by Frank Soule, John H. Gihon, James Nisbet
Originally published 1855. Many illustrations.


The Barbary Coast: An Informal History of the San Francisco Underworld
Herbert Asbury
Asbury's history of the Barbary Coast properly begins with the gold rush to California in 1849..."

Travel with InternationalHarbors.com
Travel with InternationalHarbors.com

Banner - Ancestry.com
through Ancestry.com
General William Henry Pratt, warden of the port of San Francisco and one of the oldest pioneers in California, died Saturday night at his home in Easton after an illness of several weeks.

General Pratt arrived in San Francisco from his home in New York February 28, 1849, on the California, the first steamer to enter the Golden Gate. He began mining on the Middle fork of the American River.

He returned to this city at the beginning of the rainy season and sailed for New York to bring back with him a consignment of merchandise. The cargo came safely to San Francisco, but was lost upon its landing in the great fire of 1850. Undaunted by this misfortune, he took up his residence in Georgetown, where he was again burned out, this time losing all his personal possessions. His business prospered, nevertheless, and he eventually became the owner of the telegraph line between Coloma and Iowa hill, also engaging in banking.

In 1855 he was one of the organizers of the Republican Party in El Dorado County. He was present at Lincoln's inauguration and Lincoln appointed him receiver of the United States land office at Eureka. Governor Stanford appointed him a Lieutenant in the first battalion of California Mountaineers, organized to put down Indian disturbances in the Northern part of the State.

Under the administration of President Grant General Pratt was made agent of the Hoopa Valley Reservation, serving until President Arthur made him collector of customs at Eureka. He was United States Surveyor General under Harrison and then returned to his mercantile business until made port warden by Governor Gillett in 1908.

General Pratt is survived by his widow who was Miss Caroline Pearson and whom he married at Georgetown in 1855. Also surviving him are seven children -four sons and three daughters - William P. Pratt and Walter H. Pratt of Eureka, *Leland S. Pratt of Sacramento, Charles C. Pratt and Mrs. J.A. Lewandowski of San Francisco, *Mrs. Carrie Manson of Easton and Mrs. E. W. Clapp of Tucson, Arizona.

He was a life member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, the Pioneers of California and of Colonel Whipple post, Grand Army of the Republic, of Eureka. He was 84 years old.

*Note: Mrs. Carrie Manson was the widow of Captain Homer Manson Master of the Steamer Humboldt, the Bark Uncle John, and the Schooner Oceania Vance (aboard which he died on August 7, 1897. He was buried at sea.)

To Top of Page


Page: http://www.maritimeheritage.org/vips/whPratt
Date Entered: May 27, 2006
Source: Daily Alta California, SF Call, November 6, 1911, provided by Matt Chisholm


Research and WebDesign: D.A. Levy
Contact: D.A. Levy
www.MaritimeHeritage.org
Post Office Box 2878
Sausalito, California 94966
U.S.A.