sion to occupy a beach lot on Montgomery street near Commercial, where he erected a large and substantial frame structure. In 1838 the trail to the mission was widened into a very rough wagon road; and Rosalía Leese began life as the first child born at Yerba Buena, on April 15th.
Leese dissolved his partnership with Spear and Hinckley this year, and Spear, after vain efforts to secure the store on the beach, obtained permission to occupy another lot a little farther north, at the corner of Clay and Montgomery, with a ship’s house landed from the Kent. Leese tried to prevent the success of this scheme, and even went so far as to offer to give his building, if its location was to be made the 'pretext for illegal concessions by the alcalde,' to the government for a custom-house;[1] but this offer was not accepted, or fulfilled, since the building was sold later to the Hudson's Bay Company. Spear, however, built another store adjoining 'Kent Hall' probably before the end of 1840.[2] As we have seen, seventeen building lots were granted before the end of the decade, and doubtless several small buildings were erected besides the six that I have mentioned; but I make no attempt here to identify them.[3] In 1839
- ↑ Sept. 11, 1838, Leese to Alvarado. Dept. St. Pap., MS., iv. 226-7. The gov. was expected at Y. B. when the matter was to be settled. Hinckley and Spear also sent the gov. a complaint against Leese. Id., xvii. 56. Evidently there was a bitter business quarrel.
- ↑ Davis, Glimpses, MS., 193 et seq., who was Spear's agent from 1838, says that John Perry, a naturalized Mex. citizen, got a grant of the lot and deeded it to Spear; but there is no record of any such grant.
- ↑ Sutter, Pers. Remin., MS., 16-18, says that on his arrival besides Spear & Hinckley's store within 50 yards of his vessel at anchor, and Richardson's adobe on Dupont St, there was a little frame building belonging to John Fuller near Sacramento and Montgomery, Prudon's adobe on Montgomery near Telegraph Hill, and a few other small houses. Davis, Glimpses, MS., 197-8, implies that the two-story wooden grist-mill on Clay between Montgomery and Kearny was put in operation in 1839-40, the machinery being brought from Callao for H. and S. on the Corsair in 1839. The same writer, p. 18-19, 191-2, describes the celebration of July 4th in 1839, at Leese's house, and that in 1840, including a picnic at the Rincon and a ball at Richardson's. April 11, 1839, Manuel Pedrorena to Capt. Fitch on the business prospects for F. at Y. B., where he is advised to open an establishment. There are four small launches running on the bay, and a new large one is expected for Leese. Y. B. is the liveliest port of Cal. Fitch, Doc., MS., 59. May 10th, Gov. Alvarado to Vallejo. Intends building at Y. B. warehouses
