{"id":94251,"date":"2023-09-06T09:25:08","date_gmt":"2023-09-06T13:25:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=94251"},"modified":"2023-09-29T09:44:09","modified_gmt":"2023-09-29T13:44:09","slug":"letters-from-california-gold-rush-49er-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/letters-from-california-gold-rush-49er-part-2.html","title":{"rendered":"Letters from California Gold Rush \u201849er\u2019 (part 2)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/em><\/strong>: In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry tells more stories about the California Gold Rush, based on letters a 49er, Francis Henry Nicholson, wrote to his fianc\u00e9e, Elizabeth \u201cLizzie\u201d Charles. Melissa is a genealogist who has a blog, AnceStory Archives<\/a>, and a Facebook group, New England Family Genealogy and History<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Today I continue with my series \u201cLetters from California Gold Rush \u201849er.\u2019\u201d William Luckow, a client, shared a large collection of letters written by his ancestor Francis Henry Nicholson, who was among the many Americans who got the \u201cgold rush fever<\/a>\u201d and headed out to California to make his fortune in 1849.<\/p>\n

\"Photos:<\/a>
Photos: Elizabeth \u201cLizzie\u201d (Charles) Nicholson (1836-1912) and her husband Francis Henry Nicholson (1829-1884). Credit: William Luckow.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Many of the letters were written to his future wife Elizabeth \u201cLizzie\u201d Charles. In his letters Francis referenced several miners and their families, many from New York and New England. His letters offer a window into the history of the miners\u2019 social and economic world.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:<\/a>
Photo: Nevada City, California, c. 1856. Credit: Julia Ann Rudolf; Nevada Mining History; Wikimedia Commons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here is a snippet from one letter written by Francis from Nevada City, California, on 21 May 1858:<\/p>\n

\u2026Hank Kinney has bought back into some diggings at Relief Hill<\/a> \u2013 which are reported as being pretty good claims\u2026 Mr. Van Dusen is again solvent. Has paid all his debts & reports his family well \u2013 Td Lambert was down also \u2013 is well and doing well \u2013 within the last three weeks there have been killed on Woolsey\u2019s Flat two men \u2013 neither of whom I was acquainted with \u2013 Ned is at work in his claims at Woolsey\u2019s and doing splendidly here \u2013 F. & Merriman are collecting toll on the new road \u2013 they failed to make trade with the County. Buck Gnar was buried up once \u2013 but fortunately escaped injury. Sam Funk is living at Woolsey\u2019s \u2013 has bought into Van Dusen\u2019s claims \u2013 They also say that Hank Kinney spends a great deal of time at father-in-law Arnold\u2019s house \u2013 something may grow out of it, but I think nothing serious \u2013 Well I believe that is all the items I have now \u2013 with this exception \u2013 the dancing community are rather busy \u2013 Madam & Ada Clark are teaching at Cherokee.<\/p>\n

Enclosed you will find a copy of invitation issued by Geo Turney for a ball to which I have received some pressing [requests] to attend but I shall not \u2013 Mrs. Geo Turney was down here the other day at Madam Clarks \u2013 she looks very well\u2026<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

To begin, an 1850 census<\/a> lists Francis living at a hotel in Louisville, El Dorado County, California. In the same census is \u201cHank,\u201d born Henry Lee Kinney (1830-1893), listed living at the same hotel with the profession of a miner.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:<\/a>
Photo: 1850 census, showing listings for Francis H. Nicholson and Henry L. Kinney. Source: GenealogyBank.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Henry was the son of Charles Babcock Kinney and Sophia Knox. His ancestors include early New England settlers Captain William Trask, Thomas Putnam, Henry Kenny, Captain William Marston, Capt. James Babcock, William Knox, and Captain James Avery<\/a>.<\/p>\n

He also has a connection to John Chubb, who helped the colonial dames erect an illegal meeting house<\/a> and was often cited in the court docs, including dressing above his station in great boots<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Here is another letter from Francis to Lizzie dated a year later, on 29 June 1859, written from Arnold\u2019s Ranch, California.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:<\/a>
Photo: letter from Francis Nicholson to Lizzie Charles, dated 29 June 1859. Credit: William Luckow.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Francis attended the wedding of Hank Kinney and Emma Clara Arnold, daughter of Henry Benedict Arnold and Sarah Tyron Sizer. Henry Arnold was known for his prosperous farm ranch and the large apples produced there. Emma descends from Massachusetts stock, including Dudley<\/a>, Hubbard, Boardman, and Mayflower<\/em> passenger Stephen Hopkins<\/a>.<\/p>\n

My own Dear Lizzie:<\/p>\n

Hank Kinney was married this morning at 5 o\u2019clock and started with his bride Emma for San Francisco \u2013 and I suppose to Oregon. The ceremony was in my mind a complete farce \u2013 a perfect burlesque on the Holy vows due matrimony \u2013 A Justice of the Peace from Orleans Flat performed the farce.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I believe Francis\u2019 objections to the marriage were due to the gap in the couple\u2019s ages, as well as Hank\u2019s mounting debts \u2013 which may have been a prompter to marry into a prominent family.<\/p>\n

I found their wedding announcement in the Daily National Democrat<\/em>, and the nuptials brought on a side of drama.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Daily National Democrat (Marysville, California), 6 July 1859, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This article reported:<\/p>\n

One of those very interesting affairs \u2013 a marriage \u2013 took place yesterday morning at Arnold\u2019s Ranch, on the Back-bone Turnpike, at 6\u00bd o\u2019clock A.M. The names of the parties are Miss Emma Arnold and Mr. Henry Kinney. It is said a warm attachment existed between the parties for over a year, and owing to the kindness of Squire Post, who, for $10 cash, has made perfect their cohesive proclivities, it is to be hoped their thermometer of affection may continue to range at about 100. Mr. Kinney, owing to the crowded condition of this State in all departments of trade, and the risk attending a settlement in it with a beautiful young wife, as soon as the matrimonial job was over with, departed with his bride to the Bay City, intending to embark thence to Washington Territory. But, as soon it became known to his creditors that he had wedded and absconded, warrants were issued by those unkind people.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Francis also mentioned in his 29 June 1859 letter \u201cSam Arnold & Lady.\u201d Samuel Arnold was Emma\u2019s uncle, and his lady would be his wife, Sarah Westcott Bush<\/a>, daughter of Leonard Bush and Lydia Sackett.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:<\/a>
Photo: Samuel Arnold (1829-1864), son of Joseph Arnold and Clarinda Hubbard, taken in 1861 by Edouart\u2019s Gallery, No. 634 Washington Street, San Francisco, California. Samuel was working for Wells Fargo Co. as an officer for the Gold Hill, Nevada, branch at the time. He also served as town marshal for Gold Hill City. Courtesy of Hebert Richards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Henry and Emma had children who left descendants. She married again after Henry died, to George Sneath, and had more children with him.<\/p>\n

Emma\u2019s father Henry Arnold rebuilt a hotel in Lake City (aka Arnold\u2019s Ranch), previously owned by the Bell brothers, that was destroyed by a fire in 1859 \u2013 and held several prominent balls.<\/p>\n

Here is one ball mentioned in the Hydraulic Press<\/em> in June 1861, noting the \u201cbrilliant and satisfactory\u201d time had by many young folks from the Nevada City area.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Hydraulic Press (North San Juan, California), 20 July 1861, page 4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Next up I will cover subjects from Francis\u2019 letters: Madame Clark, a dance instructor, and her famous balls. Her daughter married a Wilder from New England. And Lafayette Van Dusen, who descends from the New York Knickerbocker family and married a Hinckley who descends from Plymouth\u2019s Gov. Thomas Hinckley<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To be continued\u2026<\/p>\n

Explore over 330 years of newspapers and historical records in GenealogyBank. Discover your family story! Start a 7-Day Free Trial<\/a><\/p>\n

Note on the header image:<\/em><\/strong> river mining for gold on the North Fork of the American River, California, ca.1853. Credit: George H. Johnson; the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art; Wikimedia Commons.<\/p>\n

Related Articles:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n