Robertson, W. R. (William Robert), 1860-1933

Epithet: Lieutenant-Colonel

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001302.0x0000c0

Epithet: Scottish merchant

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001302.0x0000c8

William Robertson was a contemporary of the Arctic explorer and whaler William Penny (b 1809)

From the guide to the William Robertson collection, 1852-1854, (Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge)

Epithet: of Melbourne

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001302.0x0000c6

Epithet: steward to Sir H Verney, 2nd Baronet

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001302.0x0000ca

Epithet: 1845

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001302.0x0000bb

Historical or Biographical Note

Biography. The following Christy family biographies refer to James Christy, Robert F. Christy, John Washington Salman and William Robertson.

Biographies: James Christy was born on May 4, 1827 at Baltimore, Maryland. He apprenticed as a blacksmith to Mr. John Washington Salman of Philadelphia, Pa. In 1846. At the beginning of the California Gold Rush, Mr. Salman bought the fifty-foot schooner GENERAL GEORGE CADWALADER, and he, Mr. Christy, and four other men sailed from Philadelphia to San Francisco though the Straits of Magellan in 1849. They arrived in San Francisco on March 24, 1850. Christy married Elizabeth Hipple of Philadelphia in San Francisco on September 11, 1851. They lived in San Francisco, and by 1871 they had four children: Samuel Benedict (b. August 8, 1853), Sarah Elizabeth (b. September 21, 1856) Hattie (d.o.b. unknown), and James Robert (b. March 7, 1865). The journal makes a reference to "five children," one of which apparently died at a very young age. James Christy set up shop as a blacksmith and shipsmith In 1850. He is listed in Langley's San Francisco Directory of 1868 as a "shipsmith, cor. Napa and Michigan" living on "Mississippi nr. Mariposa." In 1879 he is in the same trade at an different location, "Berry, Bet. Third and Fourth." James Christy is listed as a smith, shipsmith, or blacksmith as late as 1901, when his residence changes to 1226 18th. He died in 1902.

Robert F. Christy. Little is known of the life of Robert F. Christy, beyond the fact that he too was a shipsmith. He is listed in Langley's San Francisco Directory of 1868 as a blacksmith at Vulcan Iron Works. He tried his hand at gold mining. He was a member of Knickerbocker Fire Company #5; and a founding member of San Francisco Masonic Lodge #1.

John Washington Salman was a shipsmith in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When news reached the East Coast of the discovery of gold in California, he purchased a small schooner, the GENERAL GEORGE CADWALADER, and engaged the services of a competent master, William Robertson, for the voyage to California. The voyage to San Francisco via the Straits of Magellan lasted from September 20, 1849 to March 24, 1850. After arrival, Salman engaged the CADWALADER in the coastal and river trade under Robertson's command. He died on August 22, 1850, after a long illness, and before many of his California plans became reality.

William Robertson was the first mate on the British bark MAGNET in 1845-1846. He was in command of the small schooner GENERAL GEORGE CADWALADER on her voyage from Philadelphia to San Francisco. Subsequently, he took CADWALADER up the coast on voyages to the Trinity River, and up the Sacramento River to Sacramento City.

From the guide to the Christy Family papers, 1846-1938, 1846-1865, (San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Historic Documents Department)