thirty-three tons, built for Cárlos Carrillo and William G. Dana for the coasting trade and for otter-catching. After certain delays and formalities, Echeandía granted the desired license for trade in August. José Carrillo was to be the captain, and the crew six men, more than half of whom must be Mexicans. Little is known respecting the career of this early — probably earliest — product of Californian ship-yards.[1]
Here I may introduce the romantic episode of Henry Fitch's marriage to a 'daughter of California,' a lady still living in 1880. The young American sailor had first arrived in 1826, and had soon surrendered to the charms of Doña Josefa, daughter of Joaquin Carrillo of San Diego, who in turn was won, as she states in a narrative written fifty years later,[2] by the handsome person and dashing manners of the captain. In 1827 he gave her a written promise of marriage. There were legal impediments on account of the fact that Fitch was a foreigner; but the young lady's parents approved the match, and a Dominican friar consented to perform the ceremony. It was hoped there would be no interference by either civil or ecclesiastical authorities, yet a degree of secrecy was observed.
- ↑ May 8, 1829, Echeandía orders the construction stopped until a proper permit is obtained. Dept. Rec., MS., vii. 166. May 29th, gives the permit. Register must be obtained through the com. of Sta Bárbara. Id., vii. 166. Aug. 12th, grants license for trading for one year. Id., vii. 215-16. May 13th, E. had written to Mex. on the subject. Id., vii. 10. Michael White, California, MS., p. 14-15, says that he built the schooner, with the aid of his cousin Henry Paine, for Capt. Guerra in 1830, out of materials saved from the wreck of the Danube; and that Thomas Robbins commanded her. After finishing this vessel, they built another of 99 tons for S. Gabriel, named the Guadalupe. A note in Robbins' Diary, MS., mentions the building of the Santa Bárbara in 1830, for Carrillo and Dana at La Goleta, or Hill's Rancho. The Danube appears not to have been wrecked until the spring of 1830, but this is not quite certain. In Carrillo (J.), Doc., MS., 25, 27, 32, it is stated that 'José el Americano' (Chapman) was at work on a schooner for P. Sanchez of S. Gabriel in Sept. 1833; and that Guerra resolved to build another from the wreck of the Danube, but gave up the idea at the end of the year.
- ↑ Fitch, Narracion de la Sra vinda del Capitan Enrique D. Fitch, MS., dictated in 1875 by the lady at Healdsburg for my use. Some original papers relating to the marriage are annexed, including an authenticated copy of the marriage certificate.
