2002.47.1

This is a portrait daguerreotype of Hannah Brown Williams Baldwin. She is wearing a very elaborate lace shawl over her dress and has a crucifix on a chain around her neck. Her hair is parted in the middle and gathered in the back with a snod. She is leaning her left elbow on a small table beside her which has a large vase of flowers sitting on top. The leather case is in tact and has a bouquet of flowers decorating the front. According to the original information provided by the donor (see record H96.66.19), this is her great, great grandmother who came to California with her two graddaughters (Ella Corinne and Olivia, who had been orphaned), her daughter Catherine Baldwin, and one of her sons, George Baldwin in 1855. At the time, Ella was 10 years old and Olivia 8. They came across Panama on mule. Initially they went to San Francisco, where another of Mrs. Baldwin's sons, Marcus Baldwin, was a jeweler. They settled in Pescadero, c. 1855-57. The donor also provided the following additional information regarding this portrait (handwritten document in the donor file): "Hannah Brown Baldwin Williams [I think Miss Clark just mixed the last names up] My great great grandmother, or 'Grandma Baldwin' as the family called her. Hannah's reasons for coming on mule back across the Isthmus of Panama to join a son in S.F. Calif.: She'd lost all her family members and friends during a severe epidemic in New Jersey. She'd lost her husband .....Williams, her daughter Mary Pennington Baldwin Durand, her son-in-law, ....Durand all to tuberculous. She said there was no longer any reason for her to stay and she decided to join one of her sons living in S.F., Calif. There was a great deal of planning and corresponding with sons in S.F., Calif, 2 or 3 years and since one of them had already made the journey by mule back across the Isthmus and up the coast by ship, it was decided he would come east and accompany her. Correct timing was neccessary in order to catch the right ship going to S.F. Calif. He came and made all the travel arrangements, going to the port, buying tickets, checking schedules, etc. After the trip Hannah said she could never have made it without him. At home Hannah packed clothes, jewelry and some of the heavier more valuable furniture to send via Wells Fargo, considered to be very reliable carrier. The Trip up the west coast by ship to S.F.: She was accompanied by grandaughters Ella Durand, age 10 years and Leoy Durand age 8 years [again I think Miss Clark may have gotten confused and meant Olivia here] as well as her son. Hannah's son warned them about the food on the ship. There were reports of 'scurvy' and that some had died. He watched them carefully to keep them away from other people as there were also dangerous characters aboard; thieves, pickpockets, etc. They finally reached their destination and arrived safely at her son's home in S.F. where they intended to live." Miss Clark recalled this information from letters written back and forth between Hannah and her sons. Miss Clark no longer has these letters.

Used: Garretson family | Clark family | Hannah Brown Williams Baldwin