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41

1846 petition of J. E. Montgomery from U. S. S. Portsmouth in Yerba Buena.

Currency:USD Category:Western Americana Start Price:250.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 1,500.00 USD
1846 petition of J. E. Montgomery from U. S. S. Portsmouth in Yerba Buena.
July 9, 1846: Early morning [c. 4 a.m.], Lieut. Joseph W. Revere dispatched to Sonoma from the U.S.S. Portsmouth by boat. John Elliot Montgomery, the 16 year old son of Portsmouth commander John B. Montgomery (Montgomery Street), accompanied Revere. At 8 a.m., the U.S. Flag raised in front of the Customs house in Yerba Buena [soon to be called San Francisco] under order of Commander Montgomery by an unnamed quartermaster. At 12:00 noon, Revere’s party arrived at Sonoma. A [“The”] Bear Flag was seen to be flying from the flag pole located in front of the Barracks located on the northeast corner of the Sonoma Plaza. Revere lowered the Bear Flag from the pole and raised the U.S. Flag in its place. Apparently, Revere gave the Bear Flag to one of the members of the Bear Flag party who was then present at Sonoma. This member of the Bear Flag party or some other, original member of the Bear Flag party, then gave the lowered Bear Flag to J.E. Montgomery. Young Montgomery then returned to the Portsmouth with the Bear Flag in his possession.
July 24, 1846: J.E. Montgomery wrote a letter to his mother with a drawing of the Bear Flag and a description of events in it. "Flag of the Republic of California first raised June 14th 1846 & hauled down July 9th 1846 & replaced by the American Ensign. Cuffy came down growling….The party then hoisted a Flag of their own make & declared California an Independent [sic] Republic & chose a man named Wm. B. Ide, as their Captain. Their Flag consisted of a Star Union with a Grizzly bear in the center looking up at the star and under the Bear the words "Republic of California" on the lower border there was a red Stripe of Flannel the whole was composed of a piece of white cotton & Black berry juice there being no paint in the country. I have the original & only Flag of the California Republic in my possession & esteem it quite a prize."
November 13, 1846: J.E. Montgomery, accompanying his brother and party in the U.S.S. Warren [leaving the U. S. S. Portsmouth] left the Portsmouth, headed toward Sacramento. They were never heard from again and presumed deceased. This petition was written a week before he died.

State: CA
City: Yerba Buena
County: San Francisco

Date: 1846
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