Deceased Gold Rush Miner, MA Ship Builder Leaves Behind Family Responsibilities

STEPHEN JACKMAN was a ship builder in Newburyport, MA. He was involved in the gold rush in California and wrote back to the Newburyport Herald, apparently satisfied at the time with his experience, stating, in part, “I have pitched my tent on the North Fork of the American river, 200 miles from San Francisco and 30 from Sacramento City. I never worked harder, lived meaner, enjoyed better health, and made money so fast in my life as at present...” [research included]

Jackman left California because of the rainy season but planned to return to continue gold mining with his son. He died after leaving and this offering includes a detailed description of his life insurance policy and details of Jackman’s gold mining experience. 

Offering a 2 pp, 7 ½ x 9 7/8 ALS, by W. Bradstreet, discussing the terms of his life insurance policy with some fine content about his gold mining experience.  Bradstreet writes to the treasurer of the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Co, Benjamin C. Miller.

“Your letter of the 12th enclosing Prem. Note No. 6695 [to] Elizabeth Jackman, date Jan. 27th, 1849 for $25 50/100 and check for fourteen hundred dollars 65/100 payable to her being the payment in full of insurance on the life of Stephen Jackman Jr... was rec’d this am.

“I immediately handed it over to her brother, Mr. Edward Burrill, who is a clerk in the Bartlet Mills in this town and one of our most respectable citizens with a request that he would examine the acct and pay the amt over to her. He has this P.M. returned me the Policy receipted...from her own handwriting thanking me for the interest I have taken in her behalf. Mr. J. kept a Journal at the time he was absent. He was employed as his trade Ship Carpenter most of the time for 45 days only the last he was in California he worked with his son at the mines – returned home on account of rainy season having set in. He intended to have returned again in April prepared for mining and since his death, the family have read a letter from the son Charles, anticipating his meeting him in June in California. Mr. J had been moderately successful – had sent home $500 in gold dust – there was $1,000 in dust he brought home in his chest – and Mrs. J had $3000 deposited in the savings bank. The whole property he left, exclusive of the insurance, was $1800, he leaving a widow and 3 children, 1 Son absent in California & 2 daughters, 12 years and 16 years of age. So that you will see the insurance was very useful if not indispensable to their maintenance...” 

Stephen Jackman was the last of two family members who joined the business, along with his brother George. The ship builders were known for the quality of their work.

Folds and toning. Address leaf sheet partially separated. Else very good.

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