The Mott Letters: The Case of the 49er

Most historians believe the 1849 California Gold Rush was one of the most significant events which occurred during the 19^th Century.[1] The event saw thousands of Americans travelling overland and by sea to the California Territory after the initial reports of gold being found at Sutter’s Mill on 24 January 1848. This mass migration saw the non-native population of California grow to over to 100,000 in one year.[2] In 1849 $10 million in gold was mined, which only fuelled the movement of more people who willing to try their luck.

Many Americans have stories of 49ers in their family lore. Most, however, are not provable, only accounts with no proof. With the case of the Mott letter collection, we have verification of several members of the family travelling from Kentucky to California in 1849.

Several overland migration routes from the east coast to the west coast of the United States were taken by those wishing to find gold. One path was the California Trail. Which, from the descriptions in the letters collection, is the one the Mott family members took.

The first letter which mentions travel to California is dated 26 January 1849. In a letter from Burgess Mason Long to Armistead Randolph Mott, Burgess stated:

“I received a letter from Uncle Jack on the 24^th he says that he is going to California to dig for gold.”[3]

Uncle Jack refers to Leonidas Jackson Cralle, son of Beverly Lindsey Cralle and Nancy (Ann) Rosser. His sister Calista Cralle married Armistead Long who was the uncle of Armistead Randolph Mott through his mother, Mary Chichester Long.  

The second letter addressed to Armistead was dated 12 December 1849 from his sister Mary Eleanor Mott Martin.[4] In it, she relates to him the news which came to her in another letter describing the travels of several of their family and friends.  This included Mr Cralle, most likely Uncle Jack referred to by Burgess.

  

Relationship of Burgess Ball Long to Armistead Randolph Mott

Based on the places described in the letter from Mary, a large party left Union County, Kentucky and primarily followed the California Trail to Sacramento. The known routes for the gold rush, and westward, migration is below. By comparing this information to the descriptions in the letter, it becomes clear which overland route was taken.

Map of the California Trail from South Pass, Wyoming to northern California, including the many end trails. From FamilySearch Wiki.

 The men who left for California were Mr Cralle, Gip Winston, Gerry Winston, William Winston, Dr Winston, Mr Robertson, Sam Taylor, William Edwards, and Dr Jones. After reading the letter, it appears three groups travelled part of the way together but eventually separated for unknown reasons. 

Group 1 consisted of the Winston family (Gus, Gerry, William, and Dr.) and Mr Robertson. From the letter:

“They endured great hardships the other side of the Salt Lake, and in crossing the snowy mountains – owing to the burning of the grass … they passed the sink of the Humboldt River, their oxen became weak they had to abandon it … they walked the rest of the way.”

Looking at California Trail image they most likely travelled the red line for the California Trail and then the pink line for the Truckee Trail. Since the Salt Lake was mentioned, it is unclear if they took one of the cut-offs that merged into the California Trail. The letter states they made Sacramento in October of 1849.

Group 2 consisted of Gip, Mr Cralle, Sam Taylor, and William Edwards. From the letter:

“Mr Cralle’s company went by the Salt Lake and stopped with the Mormons – sold their wagons and effects and went the rest of the way on pack mules.”

To get to Salt Lake (presumably Salt Lake City), the groups parted in Wyoming or Idaho. Group 2 took either the Salt Lake Cutoff, the dashed red line on the image, or Mormon Trail, the dashed purple line. This group then had two choices to continue to California. Either the Hastings Cut-off or Central Overland Trail. To end in Sacramento, this group then took the Carson City Trail, shown as the solid blue line on the above image.

Group 3 was described as “Dr Jones and others”. From the letter:

“Dr Jones and many others took another route, shorter but farther north and said to be better, but they have not heard of them for three weeks.”

It is unclear which route the passage describes. Perhaps the Oregon Trail or a cut-off showed as green lines on the trail image.

Migration routes such as these are crucial for family history research primarily as they place people in a time and a place. Mainly because several of these men did not return to Union County, Kentucky, for example, Leonidas Jackson Cralle stayed in southern California for the rest of his life.[5]

Second, letters describing the migration of family units show how family groups migrated together. It is hard to determine family connections by looking at names written on a piece of paper. However, with the aid of two letters, familial and community relationships not measurable in other ways were defined.

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[1] Corporation for Public Broadcasting. (2019) “The California Gold Rush.” American Experience. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/goldrush-california/: May 2019.

[2] History.com Editors. (2019) “California Gold Rush.” History Channel. https://www.history.com/topics/westward-expansion/gold-rush-of-1849: May 2019.

[3] Long, Burgess M. (1849) Letter to Dr Armistead R. Mott, 26 January.

[4] Martin, M. E. (1849) Letter to Dr Armistead R. Mott, 12 December.

[5] Death index (CR) USA. California. CRALLE, L.J. 8 January 1909. California, Death and Burial Records from Select Counties, 1873-1987. https://www.ancestry.com : accessed May 2019. Monumental inscriptions. USA. Armona, Kings County, California. 6 January 1909. CRALLE, Leonidas Jackson. Find a Grave Memorial: 52491006. https://www.findagrave.com : accessed May 2019.