Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/761

FORBES FORD. 743 A. Forbes. F. (Eli B.), 1847, Co. E, N.Y.Vol. (v. 499); carpenter at Mont. 47-8. F. (Hector M.), 1847, Co. D, N.Y.Vol. (v. 499). Forbes (James Alex.), 1831, nat. of Scotland, who had lived for some years in Span._ countries, prob. in Chili or Peru. The first that is definitely known of him is that in a trip to the isl. of the S. Amer. coast he was wrecked, picked up by the Xelson at or near the Galapagos, and transferred to the whaler Fanny, which brought him, rating as 4th mate, by way of the Mar quesas to S.F. in Oct. 31, or possibly 30. iii. 405. In 32 he was acting as a kind of clerk or majordomo for P. Viader at Sta Clara; early in 33 asked for naturalization, which he obtained in April 34, and in July married Ana Ma ria, daughter of Juan C. Gctuudo, being then 27 years old, and having as wit nesses Geo. Ferguson and Jas VV. Weeks, who had come with him on the Fanny. For several years his name does not appear, but he was doubtless en gaged in trade and farming at S. Jose", where from 36 he acted as agent for the H.B.Co., being elector in 38 and sindico in 39, trying in 40 to obtain a loan of mission sheep in comp. with Dr Marsh, signing bonds for some of the Bartleson immig., and, ace. to the paclron of 41, having two sons, Car los b. 37, and Alejandro in 39. iii. 731; iv. 86, 117, 217-18, 275, 684. In 42 Forbes was appointed British vice-consul at Mont., assuming the office in Oct. 43, and performing some acts in his official capacity in the next few years, though not residing at Mont. iv. 384, 479, 563, 651. Grantee of the Potrero do Sta Clara 44. iv. 673; in 45-6 at S.F. in charge of the H.B.Co. property after Kae s death, having apparently used his influence against Sutter and MicIieTtorena, being involved in a controversy with Leidesdorff, and obtain- mgTor himself and wife some beach lots in town. v. 486, 590-1, 649, 679-80. In 46 Larkin reported F. to the Wash, govt as a man of moderate property, whose private interests and official position clashed, but who wished the U. S. to have Cal. F. asserted at the time, and in later years, that he had noth ing to do with schemes for an English protectorate, and it is certain that those schemes, as well as the vice-consul s agency, have been greatly exaggerated, v. 68, 70, 614. In the troubles of 46-7 he took but slight part. v. 298, 378, 380, 382. Gov. Mason declined to permit F., as vice-consul, to introduce goods free of duties. Don Diego was an intelligent man of good education, whose knowledge of Spanish gave him an advantage, though he never lost his broad Scotch accent, and whose record in early times was an excellent one, though many writers have exaggerated his prominence. After the U.S. occu pation, he became interested in the New Almaden mines, and was involved in the complicated litigation that lasted for years, to the serious detriment of his financial hopes, of his reputation, and especially of his temper. In later years he led a life of retirement, nursing his intense, and perhaps not un founded, bitterness against all that was American, and died at Oakland in 81, at the age of 77. His children, as named by his son in 85, were Cdrlos H., residing at Los Ang. with 10 children, Martha (deceased), James Alex., Jr, Michael, Frederick, Jnmes Alonzo, Luis Felipe (deceased), Maria Clara, Juan Tele"sforo, Margaret, Francis H., and Alfred 0. James Alex., Jr, was ed ucated at Sta Clara college, has been state translator of the laws, and in 85 for some years has been employed as translator and keeper of the archives in the U.S. surveyor-general s office. Though not in charge when my search of the archives was made, he has afforded me aid on several points. Forbes (John), 1833, Engl. on Larkin s books 33-5. iii. 409. F. (Robert B.), 1825, mr of the Nile. iii. 148. Visiting S.F. again in 70, he delivered a lecture which included reminiscences of 25; and in 78 he published his Per sonal Reminiscences, which describes both the visits and the lecture; still living at Milton, Mass., in 85. F. (Wm), 1835, Engl. who worked for Lar kin at Mont. 35-6. iii. 413; one of the exiles of 40. iv. 18; perhaps cl. for a Sonoma Co. rancho 52. iv. 671. Forbush (Benj.), 1847, from Hon. on the Euphemia; at Benicia; perhaps Forbagh. F. (Lorin), 1847, Co. C, Morm. Bat. (v. 469). Ford (Henry L.), 1842-4, nat. of Vt or N.H., who prob. came by sea. He claimed to have come in 42; the 1st original record is a certificate of his U.S.