Mrs. Florence Chamberlin

My mother’s family were seafarers. My paternal grand mother was the sister of Daniel Webster’s mother. Daniel Webster actually lived with my grandparents and he was almost like a brother to my father.

During my childhood, I was educated under the tutelage of Dr. Scott, father-in-law of President Harrison.

My mother did not like the life of sailor as father had been. She felt it was too hard on the wife and children to have their father gone so much of their lives.

But when it came time to meet my father in San Francisco our only thought of transportation is sailing around the Horn.

I kept a journal of our adventure to the west by going south and then north on the billowing seas. That is a story I tell, but it takes an hour.

Sacramento

The family moved to Sacramento when father repositioned his business to team up with Mr. Fuller’s Paints. I started teaching when the opportunity opened at the Ladies’ Seminary on Fourth and M Streets. As I was preparing to leave for school on the morning of January 9, 1862, I tied my horse to a tree and went back towards the house to retrieve a forgotten book. I kept notes of my school teaching experiences but this too would take an hour to tell.

Suddenly father shouted, “Florence, get your mother and go upstairs - now!”

As I turned to go inside, I saw to my horror and great surprise, that the river was surging up M Street towards our house. The flood waters rushed into the lower floors coming all the way “up to Daniel Webster’s knees!” Our famous relative Daniel Webster was not in Sacramento but his full length portrait hung on the wall of the second floor landing.

My father got my horse up to the landing also, so we all were safe from this flood.

Married Life

I met Thomas Benton Julian newly arriving from New Hampshire. Thomas is a seaman as is my grandmother’s family. He rode the waves for five years before settling in Sacramento. My mother did not want me to marry a seafarer. I waited until after my mother’s death to marry him.

As was required, I left my satisfying teaching position when we married.

I took up an equally rewarding occupation of wife and became the mother to nine children. That too is another long story.

Thomas gave up a seafarers life to became a commercial engraver and newspaper man.

Now he is developing his own business doing accounting, life insurance and real estate projects. Thomas kept his love for the sea and ships. His hobby is art about sailing ships and the oceans.

Voyage to Califormia - Notes

Voyage to California around the Horn in 1852 on the ship Josephine, a 170 feet, 974 ton freighter, Captain Wm Jameson, crew of 33. 8 passengers, including my sister, mother and Mr. Harry East. Trip of 147 days, from May to October, 20,000 miles, cost of $250.00 each. Not quickest way but cheapest, meals and freight (furniture and piano) included.
Unknown carrying dangerous cargo, 2 cannons, 1,500 kegs gunpowder, coal, turpentine, camphor and alcohol vials. After learning, every lighting-filled thunderstorm brought fear of detonation. Ship leaked in hot weather, pumped out 300 gallons per hour.

Daily Life

• Playing chess, cards, backgammon, and dominoes.
• Sewing, deck walking, reading ‘Ivanhoe’ and ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’.
• Bathing, (shaving) and clean clothes for teatime were highlights.
• Viewed flying fish, bonito, albacore, mackerel, porpoises.
• Encountered migrating whales; humpbacks, finbacks and bowheads.
• Shaking bedbugs from linens and airing smelly hair mattresses on deck.
• Seasickness a common affliction often lasting for a week

Events

• Inebriated cook burned the soup and was flogged by the Captain.
• Celebrated 4th of July by reading the Declaration of Independence.
• Cared for animals 2 canaries, dog named Rover, 15 dozen chickens, turkeys, sheep, and pigs.
• Eight days to round Cape Horn, experiencing snow, hail, ever-changing winds, and mountainous seas. 
• Crew member lit a candle in gunpowder storage area. Fires were forbidden except in the galley. Furious Captain considering flogging but the crewman was washed overboard by a swell of the sea.  Seas were much too turbulent to lower a skiff so he couldn't be saved.
• Stopped in Valparaiso, Chile. Replaced wormy flour, bad water, added chickens and turkeys, gorged on fresh fruit, cakes and chocolates. Purchased cloth and dresses. Saw bullfights, cockfights.  Took donkey rides and attended a village celebration. Limped into Yerba Buena Bay after turbulent waters between the rocky Farallon Islands and the bay.

In the past Women’s History Days, I have given a fifteen minute speech on Women’s Suffrage from the notes of Elizabeth Cady Stanton.