Lanark County Residents involved in the California Gold Rush

Lanark County Residents involved in the California Gold Rush

A few notes on the men listed here:  I tried to do the best job possible of searching through the microfilms of early issues of the Perth Courier and the Lanark Herald (published under this name until May 9, 1851 and after that it was called Carleton Place Herald - I used the name “Carleton Place Herald” as a reference throughout.)  Not all issues were completely readable.  Not all issues were present on the microfilm.  I certainly could have missed names somewhere along the way. 

The names listed here are transcribed directly and spelled as they were printed.  I have known these papers to make mistakes in listing names from time to time.  Lanark County had many families with the same surname and had named their sons similarly (as in the case of John Patterson, see below) – and I would not be surprised if the paper listed a James when it was a John that left for California .  In some cases the hometown area of men was not mentioned.  I made the assumption that they were from Lanark County . 

I have copies of most of the notices and letters referred to below.  Please feel free to contact me if you would like a copy, or if you have more information about a Lanark County ancestor that went to California at this time.  I have listed some of the websites that I used for additional information at the end of this listing.

Received from Annie Stanley e-mail: [email protected]

Armstrong, ?: Notice from Carleton Place Herald ( Feb 12 1852 ) states that he left Lanark County for California on Jan 30, 1852 .  Said to be from Ramsay.

Bain, Alexander:  Alexander’s name is mentioned in a letter written (Oct. 15, 1854) by John Doherty that was published in the Carleton Place Herald on Dec 7, 1854 .  Mr. Bain is said to be the son of Daniel Bain of Ramsay.

Baird, Andrew: Notice from Carleton Place Herald (Feb 12, 1852) states that he left Lanark County for California on Jan 30, 1852 .  Said to be from Ramsay. Note: There were three Baird families that settled in Ramsay.

Beckwith, J: Mr. Beckwith is mentioned in a letter written by Henry O. Burritt from San Francisco on Aug 31, 1849 .  The letter was published in the Perth Courier on Nov 2, 1849 .  See entry for Henry O. Burritt.

Bowie, Langham: Notice from Perth Courier (March 26, 1852) that Mr. Langham left Lanark County on March 23 1852 .  Notice did not say where he was from. 

Burritt, Henry O.: A letter dated June 18, 1849 , published in the Perth Courier on Sept 21, 1849 locates Mr. Burritt in San Francisco , having arrived aboard the Steamship Oregon on June 13, 1849 .  Mr. Burritt is part of a group called the Ogdensburg Co. of 10.  The letter mentions a James Simpson, James Beckwith and a Mr. McCaffrey (I assume Mr. McCaffrey is Nathaniel McCaffrey, of Carleton Place .  The other two men may be from Lanark County , but there is no other data to back that up, I have included their names in this listing.)

Mr. Burritt also wrote two other letters that were published in the Perth Courier.  One is written on April 20, 1849 from Panama and published on July 6th, 1849 . The second is written from San Francisco , dated Aug 31, 1849 and published on Nov 2, 1849 .

Campbell, Alex:  A notice published in the Perth Courier (March 26, 1852) states that Mr. Campbell left the Lanark County area on March 23, 1852 .  Paper did not state where he was from.

Campbell, Dugald:  A notice published in the Perth Courier ( March 26, 1852 ) 1852 states that Mr. Campbell left the Lanark County area on March 23, 1852 . Paper did not state where he was from.

Campbell, Peter:  A notice published in the Perth Courier (March 26, 1852) states that Mr. Campbell left the Lanark County area on March 23, 1852 . Paper did not state where he was from.

Campbell, Thomas: A letter dated Dec 10, 1850 (written by John Glasscott) that was published in the Carleton Place Herald (March 7, 1851) states that Mr. Campbell, of Perth, was in California and noted as being one of Perth’s first settlers.

Cram, Peter: A notice published in the Carleton Place Herald (Jan 15, 1852) states that Mr. Cram left Lanark County for California , with Mr. Thomas Teskey on Jan 13, 1852 .  Notice states that Peter is the son of James Cram.  See obit for Peter Cram on this website.

Docherty, John: Also spelled Doherty.  From a letter dated March 26, 1851 (published in the Carleton Place Herald May 2, 1851 ) Mr. Docherty writes that he arrived in Chagres on March 20, 1851 .  He writes from New Grenada, Panama .  He traveled on the Steamship North American, leaving New York on March 11, 1851 .

The July 29, 1851 issue of the Perth Courier carries a letter from John Docherty, as he writes from Mazetlan.  His ship had been disabled between Panama and San Francisco .  Letter was dated April 15, 1851 . 

Still another letter, dated May 10th, 1851 (Perth Courier, July 29, 1851) John writes that he left Panama on April 15th 1851 aboard the Steamship Antelope.  Arrived San Francisco , May 29, 1851 (ref: San Francisco Passenger List, Vol 2, pg 151).  Name spelled Dougherty on ships list.

Published were two other letters.  One was dated July 27, 1853 from Nevada City, California (published in the Carleton Place Herald Sept 8, 1853) and a letter dated Oct 15, 1854 written from Volcano, California (published Dec 7, 1854 in the Carleton Place Herald).

Drynan, James: Notice from the Carleton Place Herald (Jan 29, 1852) states that Mr. Drynan left Lanark County on Jan 28, 1852 .  Mr. Drynan was from Ramsay.

Drynan, Robert: Notice from the Carleton Place Herald (Jan 29, 1852) states that Mr. Drynan left Lanark County on Jan 28, 1852 .  Mr. Drynan was from Ramsay.

Farquharson, D.: A letter dated Dec 10, 1850 (written by John Glasscott) that was published in the Carleton Place Herald (March 7, 1851) places Mr. Farquharson in either Mountain Ridge or Nelson’s Creek, California. 

Farquharson, James: A letter dated Dec 10, 1850 (written by John Glasscott) that was published in the Carleton Place Herald (March 7, 1851) places Mr. Farquharson in either Mountain Ridge or Nelson’s Creek, California. 

Glasscott, John:  Letter dated Dec 10, 1850 published in the Carleton Place Herald (March 7, 1851).  The Herald makes note that Mr. Glasscott had left about a year earlier.  The letter was written from Mountain Ridge , California .  Mr. Glascott is from Perth and had written the letter to his father.  A death notice from the Perth Courier, July 1, 1887 is on this website.

Glassford, Charles: Mr. Glassford’s name is mentioned in a letter written by Henry O. Burritt dated April 20, 1849 from Panama .  Mr. Glassford is said to be the son of Paul Glassford, Esq. of Perth .

Hodgins, ?: Notice from the Carleton Place Herald (Feb 12, 1852) states that Mr. Hodgins left the area about Jan 30, 1852 .  It is stated there that he is from Clarendon, Frontenac County .  He is listed here because he is from a group of 16, most of whom were from Lanark County that left on the same date.

Hutcheson, Mr.: Mentioned in a letter written by Nathaniel McCaffrey, of Carleton Place , that was published in the Carleton Place Herald (Dec 18, 1851).  The letter is dated Oct 20, 1851 and is written from Mokelumne Hill , California . 

Lang, ?:  Notice from the Carleton Place Herald ( 3/25/1852 ) states that Mr. Lang returned from Panama without ever making it to California .  Lack of funds was given as the reason. Mr. Lang was said to be from Ramsay.

Leckie, J:  Mentioned in a letter written by Nathaniel McCaffrey, of Carleton Place , that was published in the Carleton Place Herald (Dec 18, 1851).  The letter is dated Oct 20, 1851 and is written from Mokelumne Hill , California .  There is also a John Leckie who had signed a petition that was published  in the Lanark Herald, April 25, 1851 listing grievances of passengers of the steamship Brother Jonathan – this may or may not be the same man mentioned in the letter.  See Moffatt and Co. below. 

Lockheart, William: Mentioned in a letter published in the Carleton Place Herald, June 22, 1852 , that was written from Carleton Springs , California , June 6, 1852 (author unknown – see entry for Dr. Gavin Russell).  Letter states that Mr. Lockheart was in Sacremento City and from Canada – not specific to Lanark, but I thought to include his name anyway.

Lowe, John: Notice in the Carleton Place Herald (Feb 12, 1852) states that Mr. Lowe is from Pakenham and left with a group of about 15 others on or about Jan 30, 1852 .

Mansell, Thomas: Notice in the Carleton Place Herald (Feb 7, 1851) that Mr. Mansell left the Lanark area on Feb 5, 1852 .  Mr. Mansell was from Ramsay and his occupation is stated as a currier.  I found a Thomas Mansell (San Francisco Passenger Lists, Rassmussen, Vol 1) as arriving in San Francisco on April 2, 1851 aboard the Steamer Union.  Thomas Mansell had placed notices in the Carleton Place Herald in February to dissolve a partnership with Isaac Mansell and have any debts owed to him placed in the care of James Poole, editor of the Carleton Place Herald.  Thomas Mansell, John Patterson and Andrew Smith (all from Ramsay) were said to be the “advance guard” for Moffatt and Company, who left Carleton Place at the beginning of March 1851.  See Moffatt and Company below.

Nathaniel McCaffrey: A reprint from the Ogdensburgh Republican that ran in the Perth Courier (Mar 28, 1851) states that Mr. McCaffrey left there for California .  States also that Mr. McCaffrey had previously been to California in March of 1849.  Said to be from Carleton Place , perhaps a brother to Absolem McCaffrey (see Moffatt and Company). There is a Nathaniel McCaffrey in the 1852 Head of Household Census listing for Beckwith.

McDonald, Donald: Notice in the Carleton Place Herald (Jan 29, 1852), said to have left Carleton Place on Jan 28, 1852 .  Mr. McDonald is said to be from Beckwith, and a single man.

McFarlane, David: Notice in the Carleton Place Herald (Feb 12, 1852) states that Mr. McFarlane is from Ramsay and left with a group of about 15 others on or about Jan 30, 1852 .

McFarlane, James: Notice in the Carleton Place Herald (Feb 12, 1852) states that Mr. McFarlane is from Ramsay and left with a group of about 15 others on or about Jan 30, 1852 .

McFarlane, John: Notice in the Carleton Place Herald (Feb 12, 1852) states that Mr. McFarlane is from Clarendon, Frontenac County   and left on or about Jan 30, 1852 .  He is included here because he is from a group of 15 men, most of whom were from Lanark County that left on the same date.

McFarlane, Robert:  Notice in the Carleton Place Herald (Feb 12, 1852) states that Mr. McFarlane is from Clarendon, Frontenac County   and left on or about Jan 30, 1852 .  He is included here because he is from a group of 15 men, most of whom were from Lanark County that left on the same date.

McGregor, James: Notice in the Carleton Place Herald (Feb 12, 1852) states that Mr. McGregor is from Ramsay and left with a group of about 15 others on or about Jan 30, 1852 .

McLaren, Alexander: A letter that was written by William Muirhead was published in the Perth Courier (Nov 26, 1852). The letter was dated Nov 16, 1852 and written from Beckwith.  Mr. Muirhead was a nephew of Alexander McLaren.  The letter tells of the death of Alexander McLaren at Foster’s Bar along the Yuba River in California .  The two had left the Lanark area about a year prior to Alexander’s death (Beckwith: Irish and Scottish Identities in a Canadian Community 1816-1991, Glenn J. Lockwood, p 185).  This letter is published on this website.

McLean, J: Mentioned in a letter written by Nathaniel McCaffrey, of Carleton Place , that was published in the Carleton Place Herald (Dec 18, 1851).  The letter is dated Oct 20, 1851 and is written from Mokelumne Hill , California . 

McMillan, John: In a short article that ran in the June 17, 1852 issue of the Carleton Place Herald it states that Mr. McMillan left Carleton Place on June 11, 1851 and reached San Francisco on April 29, 1852 .  The article outlines how Mr. McMillan worked as he traveled to California – which is why it took him 10 ½ months to get there.

Moffatt, James: Notice in the Carleton Place Herald (Feb 12, 1852) states that Mr. Moffatt is from Ramsay and left with a group of about 15 others on or about Jan 30, 1852 .  This man is a brother of William Moffatt, who headed up Moffatt and Company (see below)  There is a J. Moffatt that is part of a ships passenger list that arrive aboard the Ship Margaret on May 15, 1852 (San Francisco Passenger Lists, Rassmussen, Vol 1)

Naismith, L: Notice in the Carleton Place Herald (Feb 12, 1852) states that Mr. Naismith is from Ramsay and left with a group of about 15 others on or about Jan 30, 1852 .  There is a Lawrence Naismith who lived in Ramsay about that time, but I don’t know if this is the same man.

James Patterson: Mentioned in a letter published in the Carleton Place Herald, June 22, 1852 , that was written from Carleton Springs , California , June 6, 1852 (author unknown – see entry for Dr. Gavin Russell).  Letter states that Mr. Patterson was in Sacramento City and from Canada – not specific to Lanark, but I thought to include his name anyway.

John Patterson: Notice in the Carleton Place Herald (Feb 7, 1851) that Mr. Patterson left the Lanark area on Feb 5, 1852 .  Mr. Patterson was from Ramsay and his occupation is stated as a Blacksmith.  I found a John Patterson (San Francisco Passenger Lists, Rassmussen, Vol 1) as arriving in San Francisco on April 2, 1851 aboard the Steamer Union.  This man, Thomas Mansell and Andrew Smith (all from Ramsay) were said to be the “advance guard” for Moffatt and Company, who left Carleton Place at the beginning of March 1851.  See Moffatt and Company below.  An obituary for John Patterson is on this website in Annie Stanley's – Almonte Gazette Obits.

Note: There was a second John Patterson living in the Ramsay area at the time.  I found an account of his accidental death in the May 16, 1851 issue of the Carleton Place Herald. 

Pattie, James: Notice in the Carleton Place Herald (Jan 29, 1852), said to have left Carleton Place on Jan 28, 1852 .  Mr. Pattie is said to be from Carleton Place , and a single man.  In the March 25, 1852 issue of the Carleton Place Herald a notice is printed that Mr. Pattie returned to Carleton Place from Panama , never having reached California .  Lack of funds was given as the reason.

Reid, Samuel: Notice in the Carleton Place Herald (Feb 12, 1852) states that Mr. Reid is from Ramsay and left with a group of about 15 others on or about Jan 30, 1852 .  In the March 25, 1852 issue of the Carleton Place Herald a notice is printed that Mr. Reid returned to Carleton Place from Panama , never having reached California .  Lack of funds was given as the reason.  See obit on this website.

Russell, Dr. Gavin: A notice in the April 15, 1852 issue of the Carleton Place Herald states that Dr. Russell has left for California .  On May 6, 1852 , June 3, 1852 and July 7, 1852 there are letters published in the Carleton Place Herald from Dr. Russell describing his journey to California .  On July 22, 1852 there is a letter published in the Carleton Place Herald from Carleton Springs , California (author unknown) that gives details about the death of Dr. Russell.  His death on June 3, 1852 in Sacramento City , California was attributed to Panama Fever and he died not long after arriving in California .  Dr. Russell had opened a practice in Carleton Place in 1846 (Beckwith: Irish and Scottish Identities in a Canadian Community 1816-1991, Glenn J. Lockwood, p 130), but had moved to Toronto at some point before he left for California.  There is a website listing the names of people buried in the Sacramento Old City Cemetery (https://sites.rootsweb.com/~casags/sg_cems_occ.htm).  Dr. Gavin is listed there as being 35 years of age when he died.

Scott, John: Notice in the Carleton Place Herald (Feb 12, 1852) states that Mr. Scott is from Ramsay and left with a group of about 15 others on or about Jan 30, 1852 . 

Shield, Mr.: A reprint from the Ogdensburg Republican that ran in the Perth Courier (Mar 28, 1851) states that Mr. Shield, of Smith’s Falls left there for California .  He was said to be traveling with Nathaniel McCaffrey and A. F. Patrick of Carleton Place .

Simpson, James: Mr. Simpson is mentioned in two letters from Henry O. Burritt.  The first letter is written from Panama , dated April 20, 1849 and published in the Perth Courier on July 6, 1849 .  The second letter is written Aug 31, 1849 and published in the Perth Courier on Nov 2, 1849 .  Mr. Simpson was said to be in Stockton , California .

Sinclair, Alexander: Notice in the Carleton Place Herald (Jan 29, 1852), said to have left Carleton Place on Jan 28, 1852 . 

Smith, Andrew: Notice in the Carleton Place Herald (Feb 7, 1851) that Mr. Smith left the Lanark area on Feb 5, 1852 .  Mr. Smith was from Ramsay and his occupation is stated as a Waggon-maker.  This man, Thomas Mansell and John Patterson (all from Ramsay) were said to be the “advance guard” for Moffatt and Company, who left Carleton Place at the beginning of March 1851. 

Smith, G: Notice from the Carleton Place Herald (March 7, 1851).  Paper did not state when Mr. Smith left or which town or village he was from. 

Smith, William: Notice in the Carleton Place Herald (Feb 12, 1852) states that Mr. Smith is from Ramsay and left with a group of about 15 others on or about Jan 30, 1852 . 

Snedden, John: Notice in the Carleton Place Herald (Feb 12, 1852) states that Mr. Snedden is from Ramsay and left with a group of about 15 others on or about Jan 30, 1852 . 

Stead, George: A notice published in the Perth Courier on March 26, 1852 states that Mr. Stead left the Lanark County area on March 23, 1852. Paper did not state where he was from, but since it was noted that a crowd had gathered to witness this (he name was listed along with 4 other men: Peter Campbell, Langham Bowie, Alexander Campbell and Dugald Campbell) departure, I am assuming they were local men.  A letter that has been transcribed and placed on the Lanark County Genweb site puts his arrival in California at Sept 1, 1852 .  The letter is dated Nov. 28, 1852 , written from Long Bar , California .  I found Mr. Stead’s name on a ships list (San Francisco Passenger Lists, Rassmussen, Vol 4, page 100) along with L. Bowie and D. Campbell on ship North America .  This was the only voyage that I found that had gone around Cape Horn of South America with stops in Rio de Janerio and Valpairso , Chile .  The voyage is said to have lasted 151 days. 

Teskey, Thomas: A notice published in the Carleton Place Herald on Jan 15, 1852 states that Mr. Teskey left Lanark County for California, with Mr. Peter Cram on Jan 13 1852. 

Thomson, John: A letter written from California from Mr. Thomson to his cousin in Port Sarnia was published in the March 24, 1853 issue of the Carleton Place Herald.  The paper makes note that John Thomson is the son of Andrew Thomson of Beckwith.

Tomlinson, Gilbert: Notice in the Carleton Place Herald (Jan 29, 1852), said to have left Carleton Place on Jan 28, 1852 . 

Moffatt and Company:  During the California Gold Rush Era, many men joined together with others to make the trip to the gold fields.  Some of these groups were more formal than others, some even were financed by people in their own hometowns.  A notice published in the Carleton Place Herald on Oct 23, 1851 reads

The names below are of men that I could attribute to a group that left the Lanark County area at the beginning of March, 1851.  From other notices in the Carleton Place Herald, I am led to believe that there were more men in the group, but only the names of the nine men that I have found reference to are listed here.

Even though the men may have had intentions of staying together as a group, many situations would occur along the way that would cause them to go their separate ways.  One situation, for example was that demand was very high for passage to San Francisco and space on the steamships was not always available to accommodate entire groups either in New York or at the Pacific side of Panama .  Also, once they arrived in California , decisions had to be made as to where to dig for the gold.  Men moved frequently according to the latest news of large finds of gold.   Some men decided against digging for gold and would pursue whatever their trade was at home.  Because most men were out at the diggings, tradesmen were in high demand and could garner high prices for their work. 

William Moffatt, age 31 at the time, carpenter, married: 

References: William Moffatt had signed a petition that was published in the Lanark Herald, April 25, 1851 listing grievances of passengers of the steamship Brother Jonathan.   The Steamship Brother Jonathan left on its maiden voyage from New York City on the 19th of March 1851 headed for Chagres , Panama .  The ship was advertised as ready to leave on the 15th of that month, which left the anxious men to wait for four days, probably at or near the docks in New York City .  Eight days into the voyage the ship was forced to pull into port at Baltimore for repairs on the 27th of March 1851 .  The passengers were held over in Baltimore until the 3rd of April 1851 .  A month or so had passed since they had left Lanark County and they were only in Baltimore .  These delays were part of the grievances listed in the petition.  The trip that took 56 days from Lanark County to San Francisco for the “advance guard” took the second group of men almost 150 days.  The prices for passage on the Brother Jonathan were $80.00 first class, $70.00 second class, and steerage, $40.00.  

William Moffatts’ California trip was noted on page 7 of “The David Moffatt Family of Carleton Place ” by Howard Morton Brown.  William Moffatt’s name is listed in the book San Francisco Ships Passenger Lists, Vol 2, Rasmussen, page 180 as arriving in San Francisco July 28, 1851 aboard the Steamer Ohio.  William Moffat’s name is on the  1852 Beckwith Head of Household listing*.

See obit for William Moffatt on this website.

Absolem McCaffrey, age 40, cooper

References: In a notice published in the Carleton Place Herald Feb 14, 1851 , Mr. McCaffrey expresses his intention of emigrating to California and asks those who are indebted to him to settle their accounts.  Mr. McCaffrey signed a petition published in the Lanark Herald, April 25, 1851 listing grievances of passengers of the steamship Brother Jonathan.  Mentioned in a letter written by Nathaniel McCaffrey, located at Mokelumne Hill , California (letter dated Oct 20, 1851 , published in the Carleton Place Herald Dec 18, 1851 ) Notice published on Jan 10, 1854 (Carleton Place Herald) states that Mr. McCaffrey had returned recently to Lanark County from California . Matched name to 1852 Beckwith Head of Household listing*.

Samuel Pittard, age 26, farmer

References: Published petition in Lanark Herald, April 25, 1851 listing grievances of passengers of the steamship Brother Jonathan.  Mentioned in a letter written by Nathaniel McCaffrey, located at Mokelumne Hill , California (letter dated Oct 20, 1851 , published in the Carleton Place Herald Dec 18, 1851 ).  Mr. Pittard was said to be in Sacramento at the time. Name found listed in the book San Francisco Ships Passenger Lists, Vol 2, Rasmussen, page 180 as arriving in San Francisco July 28, 1851 aboard the Steamer Ohio.  Matched name to 1852 Beckwith Head of Household listing*.

Andrew Fitzpatrick, age 36, shoemaker

References: Published petition in Lanark Herald, April 25, 1851 listing grievances of passengers of the steamship Brother Jonathan.  Mentioned in a letter written by Nathaniel McCaffrey, located at Mokelumne Hill , California (letter dated Oct 20, 1851 , published in the Carleton Place Herald Dec 18, 1851 ).  Matched name to 1852 Beckwith Head of Household listing.*

Walter Scott, age 22, tanner

Reference: Published petition in Lanark Herald, April 25, 1851 listing grievances of passengers of the steamship Brother Jonathan.  Name found listed in the book San Francisco Ships Passenger Lists, Vol. 2, Rasmussen, page 180 as arriving in San Francisco July 28, 1851 aboard the Steamer Ohio.  Matched name to 1852 Beckwith Head of Household listing.*

Ira Rose

Reference: Mr. Rose signed a published petition in Lanark Herald, April 25, 1851 listing grievances of passengers of the steamship Brother Jonathan.  Name found listed in the book San Francisco Ships Passenger Lists, Vol 2, Rasmussen, page 180 as arriving in San Francisco July 28, 1851 aboard the Steamer Ohio.  Shirley Atkinson, a Rose Family researcher was kind enough to share copies of transcribed letters from Henry and Ira Rose written while they were in California .  If any further information is requested or available for the Rose family, I will forward the request to Shirley. 

Henry Rose

Reference: Mr. Rose signed a published petition in Lanark Herald, April 25, 1851 listing grievances of passengers of the steamship Brother Jonathan. Name found listed in the book San Francisco Ships Passenger Lists, Vol 2, Rasmussen, page 180 as arriving in San Francisco July 28, 1851 aboard the Steamer Ohio.  Shirley Atkinson, a Rose Family researcher was kind enough to share copies of transcribed letters from the Henry and Ira Rose written while they were in California .

Aaron Cross

Reference: This man was mentioned in letters from Ira and Henry Rose that Rose Family researcher Shirley Atkinson was kind enough to share copies of with me. (Feb. 2004)

William Russell

References: Mr. Russell signed a petition that was published  in the Lanark Herald, April 25, 1851 listing grievances of passengers of the steamship Brother Jonathan.  Mentioned in a letter written by Nathaniel McCaffrey, located at Mokelumne Hill , California (letter dated Oct 20, 1851 , published in the Carleton Place Herald Dec 18, 1851 ).  There is also a letter published in the Carleton Place Herald written from Carleton Springs , California (author unknown) on July 22, 1852 that tells of the death of Dr. Gavin Russell and mentions that his brother – William – was in Sacramento on June 3, 1852 when his brother, Gavin, passed away.  

Websites for additional information:

http://shipwrecks.slc.ca.gov/Brother_Jonathan/Ships_History.htm: This article outlines the history of the Steamship Brother Jonathan.  It doesn’t mention the delays in the maiden voyage that I found through looking at microfilms of the New York Herald (March 1851).

http://www.pbs.org/goldrush/journey.html: Short explanation of how the gold rush miners got from the New York to San Francisco .

http://www.calgoldrush.com/: This website gives a good overview of the California Gold Rush experience.

http://www.ulster.net/~hrmm/steamboats/steam.html: To try and find out how the men from Lanark County traveled to New York – I found this website, thinking one of the possible routes was the Hudson River . 

http://www.collectionscanada.ca/8/18/index-e.html: A listing of Canadian newspapers available for Inter-library Loan from the Canadian National Archives.

http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/nysnp/nygcty.htm: A listing of newspapers on microfilm available for Inter-library Loan from the New York State Library. 

 

 Obituaries

Perth Courier, September 24, 1852

Fatal Accident in California - it is our painful duty to announce the death of our townsman Mr. William Moffatt, who left this about eighteen months ago, in search of a fortune in California .  It appears by what we have gathered from those who have returned, and by letters which have arrived, that he was one of a party of twelve  (ten of whom were from this neighborhood) who had been unsuccessfully prospecting for the precious metal, in the unsettled region, in the northern part of California.  The day preceded the accident, they met in with a party of native Indians, who were about commencing hostilities with another tribe, and were anxious to procure the assistance of our adventurers, which they properly declined to give.  Their close proximity to these belligerent tribes, made it necessary for them to continue their march with loaded firearms, as a precautionary measure against surprise.  As they were thus wending their way to the south, on the morning of the 16th of July, toiling up a steep ascent by an Indian trail through the mountains, the deceased being heavily burdened with his luggage, was carrying his loaded fowling piece by the muzzle, and using it as a walking stick to assist him on his way, when by some means, the gun went off, the charge entering his head, at the inside of the eye, and passing through the brain and upper part of the skull.  Although he continued to breathe after the accident for nearly an hour, he did not during that time manifest any sign of sensibility or consciousness.  As soon as life  was extinct, the party dug a deep grave, and consigned this body to its last resting place; placing at the head a slab, on which they cut an inscription telling his name.  About noon , the party sorrowfully turned their backs off the scene of the disaster, and with heavy hearts made for the settlements.  He has left a wife and three young children to deplore his loss - Carleton Place Herald.

Perth Courier, Feb 27, 1920

Obituary, Pg 6

Cram – One of the oldest landmarks of Carleton Place passed peacefully away on Wednesday, Feb. 18th, in the person of Mr. Peter Cram.  A year ago last September he suffered from a stroke of paralysis and after being laid up for some time recovered much of his old time vigor and again was able to make his calls among his friends about town.  His last visit down street was just before Christmas since which time he has kept to the house gradually becoming weaker until the flame of life flickered and went out.  Mr. Cram was born in Beckwith on Jan. 28, 1831 , on the farm now occupied by Mr. Fred Cram, and practically his whole life was spent in the immediate vicinity.  He remained on the farm till he was twenty-one when he became filled with the gold fever, the rush to California being then almost at the height and he joined in the procession westward.  He only remained in California two years when he returned home when he and his brother, the late John F. Cram, formed a partnership and went into the tanning and wool pulling business at Appleton , continuing for several years, until finally the firm dissolved, and Mr. John F. coming to Carleton Place and Peter remaining in Appleton .  Here he married Margaret Campbell, of Drummond in April, 1857, and a family of four children were born to them.  After continuing in business alone in Appleton for several years Mr. Cram finally moved to Perth in order to provide better educational facilities for his growing family and there he remained until 1882 when he came to Carleton Place and purchased a farm on the outskirts of the town, at that time now beautifully situated on High Street.  There he built a house and has since lived retired, reveling in his books – he was an omnivorous reader, exceptionally well posted on ancient and modern history as well as the current topics of the day.  In 1907 he and his wife celebrated their golden wedding and tow years later she passed away.  He is survived by his four children, Mr. J. A. C. at home; Mary C. – Mrs. Geo Waters, of Detroit ; Mr. John W., of Regina and (Annie) Mrs. Wm. Findlay of town, the latter at present spending the winter in California .  The funeral took place last Saturday afternoon to Pine Grove Cemetery – Carleton Place Central Canadian.

Carleton Place Herald, July 9, 1901

Obituary: James Moffatt, died July 6, 1901

The late James Moffatt was born in Brockville in October 1819, and was in his 82 year.  He was the fourth son of the late David Moffatt, who came to this country with the early settlers about that time and was the last member of the pioneering family.  Soon after his birth the family, which consisted of six sons and three daughters, removed to Carleton Place , where the father although by trade a wheelwright, took up land on the banks of the Mississippi , where Mr. George Porterfield now resides.  In 1843 he married Rosanna Reid, who survives him, with the sons, Samuel (Renfrew) and David, and daughters Mrs. James Cavers and Mrs. W. H. Allen. Four other children died in infancy.

Mr. Moffatt was a man of splendid physique and wonderful endurance.  In his youth he was an athlete of wide repute.  In 1853, during the gold fever, he went to California , where a younger brother, William, accidentally shot himself.  Some years later he made a second trip to the golden state.  By trade he was a carpenter, having served his apprenticeship with the late William Wilson of Appleton .  He resided in Almonte for a time, but succeeding to his father’s estate, he followed farming until about eighteen years ago, when he retired, since which time he and his life partner have lived in their comfortable little home on High Street West , part of the original homestead.

He was a Presbyterian, a member of the Zion Church and a Liberal. The funeral was to St. Fillan’s Cemetery.

Posted: 03 August, 2004