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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October 11, 1831-July 4, 1906

Arrived in San Francisco via whaling bark Victor, February 1853
Rescued from wreck of SS Independence

James R. Willoughby was long numbered among Ventura county's largest landholders and stockmen, owning thirteen thousand acres of land and raising sheep, shorthorn cattle and draft horse on an extensive scale.

He was born in Windham count, Conn., son of William F. and Phoebe (CAREY) Willoughby. The family numbered twelve children. James R. Willoughby acquired his education in the public schools of his native state and spent the period of his minority on the home farm.

He engaged passage on the steamer Northern Light on Jan 20, 1853, and later boarded the steamer Independence of San Francisco via the Nicaragua route. This ill-fated vessel was wrecked and burned, and two hundred of the four hundred and fifty passengers were drowned. With others, Mr. Willoughby was cast upon the island of Margarita, from which place he and his companions were carried to San Francisco by the whaling barque Victor.

Without a hat to cover his head, having lost all his baggage, Mr. Willoughby began seeking employment, and for a time he worked at odd jobs in San Francisco. Subsequently he turned his attention to the buying of cattle and hogs and eventually built up a large wholesale butcher business in the city of San Francisco, where he continued to succeed for twenty-nine years.

He went south on a buying trip in 1865 and was so impressed with the advantages and possibilities of Ventura that he purchased sixty- five hundred acres of ex-mission land here. After leaving San Francisco to take up his permanent abode in the county, Mr. Willoughby increased his holdings to thirteen thousand acres and became a stock breeder. He was treasurer and a director of the Peoples Lumber Co. of Ventura from its organization until the time of his death and became widely recognized as one of the leading, influential and highly esteemed citizens of the community.

Mr. Willoughby wedded Mary E. Holloway. To them were born four sons and a daughter, namely: William.F., Abbie, George D., Charles R. and James. With Rena Roberts, his second wife, Willoughby had two children: Rena and Otis H.

Mr. Willoughby was chosen by his fellow townsmen of positions of public trust and responsibility. He served as chairman of the county central committee, filled the office of county supervisor for two terms and was city trustee for one term.

Buried at Ventura Cemetery, Ventura, California.

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Page: http://www.maritimeheritage.org/vips/willoughbyJames
Date Entered: January 2000
Source: Geographicus, Newspaper Archives, Daily Alta California and History of Ventura County, pp 286

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