S2 Episode 1 Part 1 William Heath Davis Part 1 1822 - 1838

There are only a few foreigners who lived in Yerba Buena, Alta California, long enough to see the province go from Spanish, to Mexican, to American rule. A person who lived through all that, would have a unique perspective of early Yerba Buena, and California history. 

William Heath Davis, is the most famous Yerba Buena/San Francisco resident, you’ve never heard of.

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Transcript

Prologue

Welcome to Season 2 of Monkey Block! In Season 1, we covered the beginning of California’s occupation starting with the Spanish, in 1776, and ended with Mexico’s Alta California in 1846.

I want to start Season 2 by revisiting some of the already covered Yerba Buena history, but, this time, from a firsthand perspective. 

There are only a few foreigners who lived in Yerba Buena, Alta California, long enough to see the province go from Spanish, to Mexican, to American rule. A person who lived through all that, would have a unique perspective of early Yerba Buena, and California history. 

William Heath Davis, is the most famous Yerba Buena/San Francisco resident, you’ve never heard of.

During the 1840s, Davis was one the most well-regarded Americans, living in Yerba Buena, of the pre gold, Alta California. He was well respected, successful, influential. But, his name and memory faded into the background of San Francisco’s history. Additionally, he’s the original founding father of New Town San Diego, San Leandro, and almost the same could be said of Oakland. 

Davis’ memoir/diary “Seventy-Five Years in California”, reads like a who’s who of early California history. He knew, and did business with, just about every Yerba Buena resident I’ve mentioned so far. All of them, actually, now that I think about it. Yeah, all of them.  

The only way to tell Davis’ story, is to directly relay Yerba Buena and early San Francisco’s history. He’s ‘that’ ingrained in all the politics, the business, the people, and the stories of the time. There’s so much to tell, because Davis liked to write, and capture his history. He was also involved in a lot of business deals, and was close friends with lots of important people, who’s names I’ve mentioned in Season 1. So, there’s a lot of content left for posterity. It’s been a fascinating venture, learning about him.

Davis’ story helped me connect the early California and Yerba Buena dots. His story brought the history of Yerba Buena, to life, as he was either directly involved, or witness to, every Yerba Buena story I’ve previously conveyed. 

Having said that, I’m only to tell Davis’ story up until 1846, which is where I left off in Season 1. That’s going to cover topics I’ve previously described. But, this will be from an insider’s view, which is helpful to understanding the place and time.

Today’s episode is possible with the help of the San Francisco Main Library, and the 6th Floor staff. This is the history floor, so, if you like San Francisco history, and want to see rare archival material, you need to visit them. Trust me.

Today’s episode is mostly based on “Seventy Five Years in California” by William Heath Davis, and also, “An American in California, The Biography of William Heath Davis 1822 – 1909” by Andrew F. Rolle.

So, Davis’ story starts with his father, Captain William Heath Davis Senior. There’s a lot of backstory to tell, today. Are you ready? Here we go. 

His Father

By 1811, Captain William Heath Davis Senior was an accomplished Boston based, merchant ship's captain, involved in the California Coast trade for sea-otter skins. Davis Junior believed his father was one of the first Boston traders in California – if not actually the first one! (I’m not going to research this point, so, I’ll just leave it with Davis’ thoughts, and my disclaimer, that I can’t substantiate that claim.) The majority of the American ships coming to California were from Boston, so it’s not totally impossible.

Davis Senior was a popular, and successful merchant, fluent in Spanish, having studied Spanish at school, in Boston, which indicates his father was a man of means, and education. This would also explain, at least some of, Davis Senior’s success, in the early days of California trading. Recall, Davis Senior started trading in California in 1811, and I’m aware of trading in the San Francisco Bay as early as 1813, so this is during the Mission period of California. 

A charming legacy about Davis Senior, was how well know he was for inviting the California missionaries, government officials, and rancheros, on his ship, and providing them with presents, and luxuries, from his ship’s store. Please take note, I’m saying the ship’s store, because at this time, in California, we don’t have merchant stores on land. (I’ll say more on that later.)

Don Ygnacio Martinez , told Davis Junior about his visits with Davis’ father. Martinez recounted being "overwhelmed with the kindness, and entertainment, he was met with, on board Davis Senior’s vessel and that he could only accept half of what was offered, with such grace and generosity. 

To me, this generosity also sounds like getting in the good graces of the those you pay cargo taxes to, but also a way to distract the cargo tax collectors. It was a known strategy to entertain on one part of the ship, while your crew smuggled the cargo out the other side of the ship! Another tactic, before pulling into port, was to move half your merchandise to a ship that already paid the cargo fees and taxes, (because, money already collected for that ship), then come back to the ship, and retrieve your merchandise. Or, leave your merchandise on shore, just far enough from the actual location to pay fees, then pay a reduced amount of the fees, based on what you still have onboard, then go back and retrieve your items. The most boring of all the strategies was to just bride the inspector/tax collector.

My favorite strategy, was to delay the inspectors, by leaving them, unattended, in a room, on the ship, that was well stocked with fine brandy and cigars. Genius, I tell ya! I love that!

Davis Senior was well-known for being a smuggler, so, I might not be from the truth, with my hunch. But, it was a win-win, in some cases, so who’s complaining?

Davis Junior never forgot that story, about the father he never knew, and would adopt much of his father’s life as a merchant, and his legacy, with the same "grace and generosity". Wink-wink. Because Davis Senior was so well known, and liked, all along the California Coast, Davis Junior learned a lot about his father, directly from the people who knew him. And, that was a lot of people. Which is an endearing legacy to leave behind to a son who wants to know about the father he never met.

Hannah Holmes

Davis Junior’s mother, Hannah Holmes, also has an interesting background. She was half Hawaiian and grew up in the Sandwich Islands.

Hannah Holmes was the daughter of Oliver Holmes, an early shipping pioneer to the New England, China and Northwest American trade, via the Sandwich Islands. (I’m sensing a trend, here.) 

Hannah’s father, Oliver Holmes, made the Sandwich Islands his permanent residence, after two years of traveling to Hawaii, and ingrained himself in the culture, and was at one point, granted governorship of Oahu, by King Kamehameha I, becoming the third governor of Oahu. 

Oliver Holmes, as governor, goes on to marry into the royal Hawaiian family, by marrying princess, Mahi Kalanihoʻoulumokuikekai, daughter of a High Chief of Koʻolau. (I apologize to anyone I offended, with my pronunciation. I’m clearly outside of my Spanish comfort zone.)

William Heath Davis Junior, is ¼ Kanaka (of Hawaiian blood), which is a detail of his personal life, he kept mostly to himself, for, what I’m sure were political and social reasons. 

Sidenote: Hawaiians, in Alta California, were seen, and utilized, very similarly to the Indians. That is to say … slave labor. 

With history, you have to consider place and time. And, that was a place that used Hawaiians as slave labor, during a time, when, despite being the son, and stepson, of very accomplished and respected merchant traders, Davis chose to keep his quarter Kanaka to himself …. 

Davis did make a point of letting people know he was named after his honorable father, and his uncle, another William Davis. He proudly let people know his uncle was one of George Washington’s generals, and his stepfather, John Coffin, was one of the first Bostonian families, who’s relative was said to be the first person to step foot off the Mayflower onto Plymouth Rock. (If that last point is true, that’s extraordinary.)

Davis Junior presented the affluent, 3/4 Anglo American side of himself, but failed to mention the 1/4th Kanaka side. 

Class and social standing were put forward, but not his royal Kanaka blood. Interesting, but I guess, not surprising.

Step Father

As I mentioned, Davis Senior died when Davis Junior was a year old. John Coffin, Davis Junior’s stepfather, was a (no surprise) successful shipping merchant in Honolulu. Coffin was a close friend of Davis Senior, so after Davis’ death, he married Davis Junior’s mother, Hannah Holmes. 

Davis Junior grew up in Hawaii, with his mother and stepfather, well ingrained in the culture and the society.  

In 1831, now, nine years old, Davis Junior travels to California, for the first time, with his stepfather. And visits for a second time in 1833. For perspective, Davis would have witnessed California’s slowly dying Mission system, which was the opposite end of the Mission period spectrum, than his father. 

Coffin was well remembered for caring for Davis, as if Davis was his own son. That shows respect to Davis Senior, that his close friend would care for his friend’s family, after his death.

Okay, backstory is almost done.

From this point, forward, when I say Davis, I will mean Davis Junior. 

Now, for a quick detour.

Nathan Spear

The Missions had historically served as mini trading posts for the hide and tallow trading. But, after the Mission Secularization, there was a void. Nowhere to trade goods, until … 

In 1831, the same year Davis visits California for the first time, Nathan Spear and his partners, create, possibly, California’s first land-based merchant store, in Monterey, versus the currently existing ship- based merchant stores. The stores were on the incoming/visiting ships, which made trading very temporary.  

It makes perfect sense to open the Merchant Store in Monterey, where ships are legally required to stop and pay cargo taxes and fees. That’s assuming you don’t bypass Monterey and go straight to Yerba Buena … Or, that you do stop in Monterey, but execute one of Davis Senior’s tactics.

The idea to open a permanent merchant store on land was a game changer for Californios, and the existing trading business. Californios were no longer at the mercy of getting word of an arriving ship, and having to rush to the waterfront to meet incoming ships for hide and tallow trading. Some people were traveling far distances, to get to the ships, and if you weren’t among the first traders with the ships, you had to pick from what was left, if anything at all.

Having a permanent store meant people could buy their silks, shoes, furniture, musical instruments, sugar, coconuts, cigars, brandy, etc., any day the store was open.

It was also advantageous to the ships, as they didn’t have to rely on people hearing about their arrival, to conduct trading. It also provided a reliable, and safe, place to dock your ship.

Spear, and company, found a niche market, being the go-between for the trading ships, and the Californios.

California banknotes, aka dried cow hides, were used as currency, but Spear also used actual currency. Without a doubt, the Californios had sophisticated taste, and not enough hides and tallow to support their lifestyle, (Champagne taste on a hide and tallow budget?) so credit was just about always extended to permanent Californios. “You owe me 200 cow hides, or 5 live steer, for this piano, and xyz amount of tallow.” (I just made up that amount. I have no idea how many hides or pounds of tallow would buy a piano.)

The moral of that story was the Californios traded hides and tallow with the store. The store would use the hide and tallow to trade for goods from the ships, then turn around, and trade the items to back to the Californios, for more hides and tallow.

All of this background is interesting, but there’s a Yerba Buena connection, in three, two, one …

Spear, a major player in California’s growing hide and tallow trading business, had a falling out with the other partners, and realized there was an untapped opportunity in the already existing Yerba Buena trading business. 

Sidenote: For reference, Yerba Buena was formally established in 1835.

So, in 1838, Spear leaves Monterey, and along with new business partners,  Jacob Primer Lease, and William Sturgis Hinkley, opens a merchant store in the business developing, but not population growing, Yerba Buena. The store was located on the northwest corner of current day Clay and Montgomery streets. This area was once a beach, that in the near future would be called Montgomery Beach, once there was a Montgomery Street.

Nathan Spear and his business partners are among the first settlers/inhabitants of Yerba Buena. 

Roll call on Yerba Buena in 1838. We have William Richardson, Juana Briones, Jacob Primer Leese, William Sturgis Hinkley, John C. Fuller, Jose Cacares … and Nathan Spear. 

Official deeds show Nathan Spear owns Lot #2 and Lot # 19 1/2. The store was on Lot #2. The earliest record I can find is stating Spear owns these lots in 1847, but we know where his store was located in 1838, on Lot #2, so … I have to assume there weren’t records for this, but this was commonly accepted as his lots. Unfortunately, in one of the many fires of early Yerba Buena and  San Francisco, many records were lost.   

Half of the Yerba Buena households owned this new store! But, they didn’t open up a store just to sell to four other families. 

The number of buildings, and the population of Yerba Buena were never indicative of the commerce coming in and out of the cove. This store catered to the incoming ships, and the travelling Californios, who lived farther out.

I found a very telling letter from Don Francisco de Haro, which captures the place and time, Yerba Buena in October 1838.

Haro, Francisco de. “Letter of Francisco de Haro to the Five Merchants of Yerba Buena.” California Historical Society Quarterly 14, no. 2 (1935): 121–22. https://doi.org/10.2307/25160573.

The letter states that the only five men in Yerba Buena, on October 29, 1838, are being called to act as a guard, at the crumbling Mission Dolores, as there wasn’t a jail yet. 

The five men in Yerba Buena, everyone except Juana Briones, are called to guard Jose Antonio Galindo, who was guilty of murdering Jose Peralta. 

But, this must have gone over like a lead balloon, because three months later, de Haro writes a letter to the Governor, asking for assistance in this matter.

DE HARO TO GOVERNOR JUAN B. ALVARADO*

 Juzgado [Tribunal] of San Francisco*

From the scattered condition of the inhabitants of the place, from the fact, that each one has his agricultural, and stock interests, at a great distance [from this place], the results are that there are very few remaining to guard the criminal, Jose Anto. Galindo, and these [persons] cannot spare the time from their personal business. 

These facts induce me to consult your Excellency, in relation to the removal of the said Galindo, to the Pueblo of San Jose, since at that place there is a "pueblo unido" [united people], possessing the means of obtaining assistance, and other circumstances, wanting, at this place, such as a jail and means of subsistence; for these reasons I think it advisable to remove said Galindo to San Jose. 

Your Excellency will be pleased, however, to resolve in relation to the matter, and determine what is necessary to be done in the premises.

 God and Liberty.  Francisco De Haro. 
  San Francisco, February 27th, 1839.

This was all, actually, written in Spanish. The letter calls out all the men living in Yerba Buena, all five of them. And, it points out that Yerba Buena doesn’t have a jail. Crime was very low, to non existent, so a jail wasn’t needed. I didn’t look into the murder of Jose Peralta, but Jose Antonio Galindo was a multi lot owner in Yerba Buena. His name came up a few times in the early official records.

This is all interesting, but this episode is about William Heath Davis, so the connection is …?

Nathan Spear, is Davis’ uncle by marriage. 

In 1838, the year the Yerba Buena store opens, 17 year old Davis, arrives in Yerba Buena and begins working at his uncle’s store, as the main shopkeeper, dropping out of school in the Sandwich Islands, against his stepfather’s strongly expressed wishes. 

An interesting sidenote, when de Haro wrote that letter about the five guards, Davis, now a resident of Yerba Buena, was 17 years old, and that was likely why Davis wasn’t being asked to be a sixth guard at Mission Dolores.

Would you look at that? I’m out of time for today, and I’m just getting started on the life and times of William Heath Davis. So, a second episode on Davis will be coming up, very soon!

Epilogue

Davis is intimately linked to Yerba Buena history, and, to tell his story, is to relay the story of Yerba Buena, from a personal position. And, that’s what I plan to do in my next episode. 

To recap, Davis comes from a line of merchant traders. His generational family ties to merchant shipping put him ahead of other shipping merchant traders in the Boston, the Sandwich Islands, and California Coast. 

Davis inherits a leg up in California, and Yerba Buena, via his late father’s favorable reputation, and his uncle’s successful trading business. Davis’ life was set up for success, whether he stayed in the Sandwich Islands, went to college in New England, or … moved to the budding waterfront town of Yerba Buena.

But, for now, Davis is a fresh faced teenager, newly arrived from the Sandwich Islands, with a promising job at a merchant store, in a waterfront town, that is about to explode. 

In my next episode, I’ll cover Davis’ life from 1838 – 1846. Additionally, dear listener, now with the Covid restrictions loosening up, I will start using a new way of bringing history to life. So, tune into my next episode to learn more, as we venture into the story of Yerba Buena, and William Heath Davis. 

Closing

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