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Elisur H. Rogers journal

 Collection
Identifier: MSN/EA 8001-01-B

Scope and Contents

The journal is a single bound volume (26 cm.) of 57 leaves, with 113 pages of entries in Rogers' hand. It covers just under nine months, from the Montague's departure from New Haven on 23 January 1849 to the middle of the following October. Entries appear for most days during that span, and vary in length from around 25 words to 300 or more. About three-fourths of the content pertains to the sea voyage to San Francisco, describing affairs aboard ship, the progress of the voyage, natural history, and a number of landfalls (including one at Rio de Janeiro). Much of the content from California relates to Rogers' own health and that of other members of the company, who began to succumb to disease in early August. The journal breaks off abruptly in the midst of the entry for 15 October.

Dates

  • Creation: 1849

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright status for collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Biographical / Historical

Elisur (or Elizur) H. Rogers was born on 1 May 1825, the son of Abijah H. Rogers and Harriet Chidsey of North Branford, New Haven County, Connecticut. In January 1849 Rogers, then a resident of North Bristol, left Connecticut for the California gold fields, as a member of a joint-stock company called the Montague Mining and Trading Association. He was among 50-odd members (enumerated in the New Haven Register for 24 January 1849) who sailed for California on the schooner G. H. Montague; they made the passage from New Haven to San Francisco via Cape Horn in just over five months (23 January to 27 June 1849). From San Francisco the Montague ascended the Sacramento River to its tributary the Feather, whence many of the company set out for the mines. Rogers himself was plagued by illness, possibly dysentery, from early July, and could do little productive labor. He died on 15 November, by which time many other members had fallen sick and died, and the company, apparently, had been dissolved.

Extent

1 volume

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

A manuscript journal kept by Connecticut native Elisur H. Rogers from 23 January to 15 October 1849, recording his experiences on a trip to the California gold fields.

Title
Elisur H. Rogers Journal
Status
Edited Full Draft
Author
George Rugg
Date
January 2009
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the University of Notre Dame Rare Books & Special Collections Repository

Contact:
102 Hesburgh Library
Notre Dame IN 46556
574-631-0290