"Consequences of California Mania" Historic Nantucket article from the Nantucket Historical Association

Originally published in the Historic Nantucket, Vol 48, no. 3 (Summer 1999), p. 25-26

Consequences of California Mania: Nantucket and the Whaling Industry
By Judith Downey

THE NEWS OF GOLD BEING DISCOVERED IN California reached Nantucket's shores in late 1848. There, as in the rest of the country, the lure of riches took a strong hold. By the end of 1849, more than five hundred Nantucket men had ventured West to seek their fortunes. The toll on the whaling industry, both for the island and on the whole, was marked. More than forty-two whaleships were withdrawn from the industry for the specific purpose of being refitted to carry goods and passengers to the goldfields. In addition, numerous whaleships in pursuit of oil were lured away by gold and many men deserted their vessels midway through the voyage to seek gold.

Several companies based on shares were organized on Nantucket for the purpose of purchasing a vessel, making the passage around the Horn to San Francisco, and then on to the minefields to find gold. For the most part, the company names adopted reflected either where they were from, such as the Nantucket Mining & Trading Co., or the name of the vessel purchased, such as Sarah Parker Mining Co. No. 1.

Nantucketers also joined companies that were formed in other ports such as New Bedford. Others elected to go on the commercial routes from New York to Chagres, Panama, cross the isthmus and then aboard another steamer to San Francisco.

The companies formed were business ventures not only to move people but also goods to California. In reviewing the account books for the companies, there are frames for houses and buildings, windows and doors coded to the buildings, and even the pots and pans to be used for these structures. In some cases vessels also had small steamers aboard to be used to move the goods up the river to the mines. The companies established constitutions and bylaws setting out their business structures.

One of the companies formed on Nantucket was the Astor Mining Co. The shareholders purchased the ship Henry Astor of Nantucket, which had just returned from a whaling voyage in October of 1848. Within their constitution is stated the duties of the captain as well as the director and sub-directors. It also mandated that no liquor would be allowed and that a proper Sabbath would be kept. The Henry Astor took on board the captain, three mates, forty-four seamen, a cook, a steward, and a physician. In addition, she carried fifteen passengers. During the voyage, according to the constitution, "It is agreed the company shall occupy their time on the passage from here to California, in preparing tents, boats, houses, implements, and other fixtures, which may be required for their comfort and operations in California." She sailed in March 1849 and was among the first to depart from Nantucket.

At the same time that the companies were being formed and whaleships were being converted, there was growing concern within the whaling industry. Whaling agents feared that as news of the discovery reached their vessels in the Pacific they would lose men. Frederick Coleman Sanford was one such agent, in the partnership of Field & Sanford. Sanford wrote to David Bunker, master of the ship Lexington of Nantucket while on a whaling voyage, and apprised him of the gold situation and how it was affecting the whaling industry. In a letter dated January 16, 1849, Sanford wrote: "Every ship's taken from the business of whaling as fast as they come in, to go to California, the Aurora sailed last week with passengers from here, Seth Swain master and 100 ships from other ports, provisions we hear are very high at San Francisco ..." Later in the month, Sanford instructed Bunker, "I write to say the fever for California 'Gold digging' is all the rage now, and thinking it would derange you people in the same way. I think it would be well to keep clear of the coast, recruit at the Marquesas till the rage is over."

The following month, Sanford again warned Bunker "if there be danger of the men's running away on the coast in consequence of California mania, they are mad here and I don't see why they will not be there." In the same letter he also wrote "Nothing very remarkable in town affairs, most of the boys are bound for California to seek fortunes, Henry Astor sails soon with George F. Joy as master & 40 are on shares the company are on their own hook. Aurora went from here sometime ago with 20 passengers. Frances B. Folger is to take 50 from here in Ship Russell on shares to dig etc. in California, but depend on it you will make more clear money if you get a voyage of sperm oil."

The concern was so great in the whaling industry that a letter with news of the events, written in the South Pacific by Frances Coffin aboard the ship Cristobal Colon and dated December 12, 1849, was issued as a printed circular with a notice at the bottom: "N.B. copy of original for the perusal of Master of Whalers in the Pacific." In his letter to George Starbuck of Nantucket, Coffin wrote, "Firstly I see so many of our townsmen going headlong to the devil, I would willingly stop them if I could. The ship Rose of Nantucket was in Valparaiso December the 6th and to all appearances is going up the spout. I saw captain Miller, and asked him what he intended to do, he said he should sell his oil, and casks, and all other traps and take freight for California ..." Coffin strongly advised Miller against this — to no avail. He reported on several other whaleships that had also abandoned whaling.

The Gold Rush was such an event for Nantucket and made such an impact on the community that it was well documented. Jethro C. Brock compiled a list of individuals who went to California. This list appeared in two formats. First as a broadside entitled A Correct List of Persons Belonging to Nantucket, Now in California, or on Their Way There. This was published on September 3, 1849, by Hussey & Robinson of the Mirror. One caveat Brock notes was "It will be seen that this list comprises the names of many persons who are natives of Nantucket, that have not resided upon the island for a number of years." The second format was printed as a booklet that was expanded to include the list of persons who had returned. This booklet was published by Brock in January 1850 and survives in several versions, including a copy in the collections of the Nantucket Historical Association. It is interesting to note in reviewing the list that few women left Nantucket to go to the goldfields. The women listed appear to be the wives of captains or mates while evidence from other ports indicates that numerous women went to be with families or even to set up their own businesses with services such as washing or cooking.

The shared experiences created a lasting bond for the men who went to the goldfields. Once they returned home, organizations made up of the California pioneers were formed. In the collections of many historical societies, including the Nantucket Historical Association, are membership certificates and badges from reunions and conventions.

The "California mania," as Sanford called it, was a pivotal event in the nation's history. The whaling industry was changed forever. It also proved to be an important event in the lives of the men who participated in it as recorded in their obituaries and in the papers they left behind.

Judith Dowtiey is the librarian at the Old Dartmouth Historical Society - New Bedford Whaling Museum. She is also curator of the New Bedford Whaling Museum's exhibition Whalers Go West: The Lure of Gold.