James White was a 21 year old farmer from Quincy, MA. In 1849 he sailed from Boston around Cape Horn to San Francisco and the gold diggings of California. In all he spent 6 months at sea and a year in California. I've transcribed his journal and am publishing it here as well as on Amazon/Kindle and Apple/iBooks.
Sacramento City
Tuesday January 1st., 1850
A new year has commenced, and I wish with me and all related & all my friends a happy one. I am determined, if I have my health, to make it a profitable one. Yes, now is the time to make money. Baxter gives up again for want of confidence, not liking to begin small. I am willing to do anything that is honest to make money. Baxter offers to sell out to me. Determined to buy if he within reason. Bevins not p’d up yet. Expect $60 by dividend this week. Eaton offered to loan me one hundred.
Jan 2d.
Put out sign, house to let. Baxter offered his share of everything belonging to us to me for 250$. Offered him 200$. Sold at auction old clothes. Bought 22$ more than I expected. River falling to the satisfaction of speculators.
Thursday Jan. 3d.
Waiting for an offer for the house and see what the rush is for it. Reading Boston paper & Byron.
Friday Jan. 4th.
Cloudy. River falling. Had several calls for the house wanted to hire. Said they would call again. All of them determined to buy the house.
January 5th.
Rather a pleasant day for the season. It is said that the rainy season is about over by old settlers.
Today closed a bargain with Baxter for the house at 235$, payable 100$ the 15th of Feb. The remainder the 15th of March. If not paid then to draw interest of 3 percent to a month from dates. Let the house immediately after I closed the bargain for $100 a month, payable monthly in advance without $50 value of stove & lumber. I am in hopes to make something out of this speculation.
Sunday Jan. 6th.
Cloudy & rainy. Steamer arrived. Look for letters again as soon as the mail is assorted which takes about 3 weeks. Immense mails. Writing most of the day journal from packet book from when I was in the mines up to this time. Got to leave these comfortable quarters in the morning. Thought I would do this for fear I should not have another opportunity very soon.
Thursday Jan 7th. 1850
Vacated the house in the morning. Went down to the levies in search of a tent and place to put it. Did not succeed in finding one. Came home at noon. Found the men I let the building to wanted to be let off from their bargain as they found the building not large enough for their business. Charged them $25 damages. Gave me $20. Moved back. Stove etc. Had an offer for the house for one month in the afternoon of 105$. A little sorry I did not take up with it.
Received of G.H. Campbell last part of the dividend due me 70$. The whole and declared 138$. After such notions by the commissioners & Dr. Abbe and two law suits but against the Company by Tim Rex, one for not discharging the bricks & the other for fraudulently selling the vessel (the first against us). I say after trusting to one J.L.R--s as one of the most upright & honest of the Company who as proved a trader and by all accounts a consummate scamp, we may say that we are truly fortunate to get what we have got & thus ends any connection with the famous Edward Everett Company.
Towards night visited the post office as usual after the steamer arrived. Found a great number congregated for letters in a long. line. Took my station with the rest. Called for letters and to my great pleasure received two, one from each of my eldest brothers. I went home with a light heart & read them in Company with Baxter & Eaton. The letters dated Nov. 10th. tell of news both encouraging & pleasing. Never did I undergo such a change of feeling for the better. I must say that some of the news was not pleasing to me, but yet I expected it. I knew what the effects would be upon the minds of my parents & brothers and all others who read my letters. I expected gossip, both good and bad, but if those that are coming took a reverse opinion from mine, they will be sadly mistaken if they come here to dig it. But nevertheless, I am determined that what is left shall hear from me again in old Quincey the same as ever honestly & from actual experience.
Tuesday the 8th.
Stormy day---Sold 13$ worth of boards from surplus. Board out, houses to let. Had several applications for the house.
Wednesday the 9th.
Cloudy & rainy. River rising very fast at the rate of 5 inch an hour. Towards night broke over the banks of the river. At 9 PM knee deep in J street. Evacuated my house. Thought it would be in the house before morning. Moved into the City Crier’s house. Baxter concluded to stop in the house over night. Woke up in the morning. Found himself all afloat. Two inch of water.