PBA Galleries

3 leaves of blue lined paper. 25.5x20 cm (10x8").

Interesting gold rush document, wherein Seth M. Swain attests he was asked to "witness a call [Zack Winslow] was going to make on Mr. Bethel Phelps for some deeds of Benecia [sic] lots which deeds he said Mr. Phelps had given him a bond to give to him when he demanded them of him after the new survey of Benecia lots had been made..." Phelps claimed not to have the bonds at the time but promised to get them. Signed by Billings on the first leaf, and by Swain on the second, along with Deven N. Fisher and Charles Gilman as witnesses. An interesting document, with an attractive green silk ribbon and red wax seal.

Frederick H. Billings (1823-1890), was a New England lawyer and financier who later became President of the Northern Pacific Railroad. In 1848, during the California Gold Rush, he moved to San Francisco, becoming the city's first land claims lawyer. He later partnered with Henry Halleck, Trenor W. Park and others in the law firm of Halleck, Peachy & Billings.

Seth M. Swain was the captain (and/or owner?) of the ship Aurora, out of Nantucket, which arrived in San Francisco in July of 1849. 

Charles Gilman arrived in San Francisco from Baltimore on business in 1849, and established the first lodge of Freemasons on the Pacific Coast.