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Thomas Oliver Larkin, was the son of Thomas O. Larkin and Hannah (Cordis), and a grandson of the Deacon John Larkin who provided the horse for Paul Revere's famous ride. John Larkin (?-1808(the son of Ebenezer Larkin served as the Deacon of the Old North Church in Boston. Paul Revere (bap December 22, 1734 ( OS) / January 1 1735 (NS &ndash May 10, 1818) was an American Silversmith An early emigrant to Mexico and a signer of the original California Constitution, he was born at Charlestown, Massachusetts, 1802-09-16 and died at Colusa, California, 1858-10-27. The Constitution of the State of California is the document that establishes and describes the duties powers structure and function of the Government of the U Charlestown is a part of the city of Boston, Massachusetts located on a peninsula north of Boston proper Year 1802 ( MDCCCII) was a Common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar or a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers Colusa is the County seat of Colusa County California. The population was 5402 at the 2000 census Year 1858 ( MDCCCLVIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Events 312 - Constantine the Great is said to have received his famous Vision of the Cross.

Contents

Early years

At the age of 15, Thomas O. Larkin went to Boston to apprentice as a bookbinder but decided against the business. In 1821 he sailed to Wilmington, North Carolina, where he worked as a clerk and experienced a disastrous partnership with a dishonest merchant. Year 1821 ( MDCCCXXI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year Wilmington is a city in and the County seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. He visited Bermuda in 1822 and relatives in New England in 1824. Ba (officially The Bermuda Islands or The Somers Isles) is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Year 1822 (MDCCCXXII was a Common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Sunday of the History See also History of New England New England's earliest inhabitants were Algonquian -speaking Native Americans including the Year 1824 ( MDCCCXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year In 1825 he opened a store in Duplin, N. Year 1825 ( MDCCCXXV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common C. The fortune he made on the store he lost on a sawmill operation, and in 1830 he returned to Massachusetts, destitute. Here he learned that his half-brother, John the Baptist Rogers Cooper, needed his assistance with a business in California, and on 1831-09-05 Thomas left Boston on the ship Newcastle. Year 1831 ( MDCCCXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Events 1590 - Alexander Farnese 's army forces Henry IV of France to raise the siege of Paris. (Larkin's mother was widowed three times. Her third husband was named Richardson. ) After a stopover in the Sandwich Islands, he landed in San Francisco, California, in April 1832. "Sandwich Island" redirects here Sandwich Island is also an early name for the Cook Islands island of Manuae, and for the island of Efate The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city Year 1832 ( MDCCCXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian

Aboard ship, he met and developed an intimate relationship with Mrs. Rachel Hobson Holmes, who was coming to California to join her husband, Captain A. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. C. Holmes, a Danish seaman. They traveled together from San Francisco to Monterey where they both boarded at the Cooper house. The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city When Rachel learned she was carrying Thomas’ child, she discreetly moved to Santa Barbara while Thomas remained in Monterey, working with his brother. At Santa Barbara, Rachel gave birth and awaited a dreadful reunion with her husband, but within a few weeks, she learned that her husband had died a year before while at sea en route to Lima. Santa Barbara is a city in Santa Barbara County California, United States.

Meanwhile, Larkin worked as a clerk for John B. R. Cooper until early 1833, when he was able to start a small store of his own and build a "double geared" flour mill, the first of its kind on the west coast. Year 1833 ( MDCCCXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common He was able to invest again in a sawmill, this time in Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz is the County seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California, United States. He sailed to Santa Barbara and there was reunited with Rachel. Santa Barbara is a city in Santa Barbara County California, United States. They were married there, on board the American bark Volunteer, 1833-06-10. Year 1833 ( MDCCCXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Events 1190 - Third Crusade: Frederick I Barbarossa drowns in the Sally River while leading an army to Jerusalem The U. S. Consul for the Sandwich Islands, John Coffin Jones, performed the ceremony and years later when it was discovered he did not have the authority to perform the service, they had to be remarried. "Sandwich Island" redirects here Sandwich Island is also an early name for the Cook Islands island of Manuae, and for the island of Efate

He built his wife a house in Monterey that mixed New England and California architectural styles and which is today a National Historic Landmark and California Historical Landmark. History See also History of New England New England's earliest inhabitants were Algonquian -speaking Native Americans including the California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. A National Historic Landmark (NHL is a Building, site, Structure, Object, or District, that is officially recognized by the This house was donated to the State as a museum by a granddaughter of Larkin, Christen Larkin of New Hampshire, in 1953. New Hampshire ( is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. He built the first wharf for ships and was commissioned to rebuild the Monterey Customs House. He engaged in trade with Mexico, the Sandwich Islands and China. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. "Sandwich Island" redirects here Sandwich Island is also an early name for the Cook Islands island of Manuae, and for the island of Efate China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National

Life in Alta California

As a prominent figure in the occasional capital of a distant province of an occasionally unstable nation, Larkin stood in a position of influence that could easily have been his undoing if he chose the wrong side. The fact that he was able to survive through shifting administrations, is testimony to his skill at dealing with people. Despite being a supporter of Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado, he did not involve himself with Isaac Graham’s rebel army and was not one of those sent to Mexico City in chains in 1840. Juan Bautista Valentín Alvarado y Vallejo ( February 14, 1809 – July 13, 1882) was a Californio and two-time Governor Mexico City (in Spanish: Ciudad de México, México DF, México or simply Méjico) is the Capital city of Mexico He loaned money to Alvarado’s successor, Micheltorena, which he lost when the Governor was overthrown by Alvarado in 1844. Juan Bautista Valentín Alvarado y Vallejo ( February 14, 1809 – July 13, 1882) was a Californio and two-time Governor Manuel Micheltorena (died September 7, 1853) Brigadier General of the Mexican Army, Adjutant-General of the same Governor Juan Bautista Valentín Alvarado y Vallejo ( February 14, 1809 – July 13, 1882) was a Californio and two-time Governor Year 1844 ( MDCCCXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year He never applied for Mexican citizenship, which required conversion to Catholicism. As a Christian Ecclesiastical term Catholic —from the Greek adjective, meaning "general" or "universal"—is described He renewed his visa annually to maintain his legal status. As a non-citizen, he could not legally own land, but he managed to obtain land grants in the names of his children.

In 1842, Monterey was surprised by the troops of U. Year 1842 ( MDCCCXLII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common S. Commodore Thomas ap Catesby Jones, who had become convinced that war had broken out between the U. S. and Mexico. Thomas ap Catesby Jones (1790 - 1858 was a US Navy officer during the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. Thomas O. Larkin and William Hartnell worked to smooth over the situation. William Edward Petty Hartnell, aka Don Guillermo Arnel (b April 24, 1798, Backbarrow Lancashire, England; d Jones was induced to submit a written apology to the angry Mexican officials and withdraw his troops. The Commodore was subsequently removed from his command, but U. S. -Mexican relations were not harmed.

The successful conclusion to the affair brought Larkin to the attention of officials in Washington, and in 1843 President Tyler appointed Larkin as the first (and last) American consul to California. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D Year 1843 ( MDCCCXLIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common John Tyler Jr (March 29 1790 January 18 1862 was the tenth President of the United States (1841-1845 and the first ever to obtain that office via succession California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The following year he thwarted a British attempt to acquire California while he was assisting the Mexican government in building a smallpox hospital in Monterey. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America.

With the rise of James K. Polk to the Presidency in 1845, war with Mexico seemed unavoidable. James Knox Polk ( November 2 1795&ndashJune 15 1849 was the eleventh President of the United States, serving from March 4 1845 to March 4 1849 Year 1845 ( MDCCCXLV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Larkin hired William A. Leidesdorff as Vice Consul in San Francisco, thus relieving himself of some of the burden of the office. The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city

The Bear Flag Revolt

Early in 1846, he received instructions from Secretary of State Buchanan to begin working covertly to assure all concerned that the United States would support any attempt at secession from Mexico. For the game see 1846 (board game. Year 1846 ( MDCCCXLVI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display James Buchanan Jr (April 23 1791 – June 1 1868 was the fifteenth President of the United States (1857–1861 The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. He secretly employed Abel Stearns to work in southern California. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. He volunteered to go to Mexico City on behalf of the United States to work out a peaceful settlement, but the Polk administration had already declared war by the time his letter arrived in Washington. Mexico City (in Spanish: Ciudad de México, México DF, México or simply Méjico) is the Capital city of Mexico The United States of America —commonly referred to as the He had entered into a dialog with General Mariano Vallejo with the goal of arranging a peaceful annexation of California when the Bear Flag Revolt occurred on 1846-06-14 and the General was kidnapped and imprisoned by a band of Americans out of Sutter’s Fort, loosely led by Robert B. Don Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo ( 4 July 1807 - 18 January 1890) was a Californian military commander politician and rancher California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The California Republic, also called the Bear Flag Republic, was the result of a revolt by Americans on June 14 1846, in the town of Sonoma For the game see 1846 (board game. Year 1846 ( MDCCCXLVI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display Events 1276 - While taking exile in Fuzhou in southern China, away from the advancing Mongol invaders, the remnants of the Johann Augustus Sutter ( February 28 1803 &ndash June 18 1880) was a Swiss pioneer of California known for his association Semple.

The revolt came as a surprise to Larkin, but a bigger surprise came on 1846-07-07, when Commodore John D. Sloat re-enacted the previous invasion of Monterey and raised the American flag over the Customs House. For the game see 1846 (board game. Year 1846 ( MDCCCXLVI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display Events 1456 - A retrial verdict acquits Joan of Arc of heresy 25 years after her death John Drake Sloat ( July 6, 1781 November 28, 1867) was a commodore in the United States Navy and in 1846 Commodore Robert Field Stockton replaced Sloat a week later, and Larkin joined the force sailing for southern California to continue the conquest. Robert Field Stockton ( 20 August 1795 7 October 1866) was an United States naval commodore, notable in John Drake Sloat ( July 6, 1781 November 28, 1867) was a commodore in the United States Navy and in 1846 General Jose Castro and Governor Pío Pico fled south, and the area was occupied without a battle. Pío de Jesus Pico ( May 5, 1801 September 11, 1894) was the last Mexican Governor of Alta California. Stockton appointed Larkin as Naval agent, and Larkin returned to Monterey to obtain much-needed supplies for the armed forces.

The apparently flawless conquest of California soon began to fall apart. Revolts broke out in Los Angeles, and the occupation forces were driven out. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West Castro returned, and Larkin moved his family to Yerba Buena (San Francisco) as the Californios throughout the province were reorganizing to repel the invaders. The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city Californio's (Spanish for "Californian" is a term used to identify a Californian of Hispanic and/or Latin-American descent first as a part of New Spain, later He himself was captured outside of the city and forced to ride to Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara is a city in Santa Barbara County California, United States. En route, he witnessed the Battle of Natividad (near Salinas) from General Castro’s side. The Battle of the Natividad took place on November 16, 1846, during the Mexican-American War. Salinas is the County seat and largest municipality of Monterey County in the U He was later imprisoned in Los Angeles and was not reunited with his family until after the signing of the Treaty of Cahuenga. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West The Treaty of Cahuenga. usually called the "Capitulation of Cahuenga" ended the fighting of the Mexican-American War in California in 1847

Life in the United States

Now free to own land in his own name, Larkin turned his attention to his new opportunities. In partnership with Robert Semple, he established the city at the Carquinez Straits that became Benicia, but Larkin’s business interests were in San Francisco and he sold out his share after a few years. Benicia is a waterside city in Solano County, California, United States. The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city As he took control of his own affairs, his relationship with Leidesdorff fell apart. By the time of the Gold Rush, Larkin had permanently settled in the city by the Bay and was there in time for the economic boom that followed. A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers into the area of a dramatic discovery of commercial quantities of Gold. It was as a representative from San Francisco that he served at the 1849 Constitutional Convention, held in Monterey. The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city Year 1849 ( MDCCCXLIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Constitution of the State of California is the document that establishes and describes the duties powers structure and function of the Government of the U

Early in 1850, he built the first brick building in San Francisco at 1116 Stockton Street. For the game see 1850 (board game. 1850 ( MDCCCL) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city Later that same year, he returned to New York and remained there until 1853 for the education of his children. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous Year 1853 ( MDCCCLIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common During this time he pressed the Federal government for compensation for money he claimed he had spent on Naval supplies and for work on the Monterey Customs House and the wharf there, without satisfaction.

In his last years, Larkin engaged in land speculation and was thought by some to be the richest man in America. In 1858, while at Colusa, he contracted typhoid fever and died within a week. Colusa is the County seat of Colusa County California. The population was 5402 at the 2000 census He was buried in what was the Laurel Hill Cemetery in S.F. The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city

Further Genealogical Notes

Rachel M. Hobson was the daughter of Daniel and Eliza Hobson. She was born at Ipswich, Massachusetts 1807-04-30, and died at San Francisco, 1873-10-29. Ipswich is a coastal town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. Year 1807 ( MDCCCVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 313 - Roman emperor Licinius unifies the entire Eastern Roman Empire under his rule The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city Year 1873 ( MDCCCLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 437 - Valentinian III, Western Roman Emperor, marries Licinia Eudoxia, daughter of his cousin Theodosius II

Children, surnamed Larkin,

  1. Isabel Ann, b. at Santa Barbara, Jan. Santa Barbara is a city in Santa Barbara County California, United States. 1833, d. Year 1833 ( MDCCCXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common July 1833
  2. Thomas Oliver, Jr. Year 1833 ( MDCCCXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common , b. at Monterey, 1834-04-13, has gone down in history as the first white child born of American parents in California over his forgotten elder sister. Year 1834 ( MDCCCXXXIV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Events 1111 - Henry V is crowned Holy Roman Emperor. 1204 - The Fourth Crusade sacks Constantinople The birth of the first white child was a celebrated occasion across many parts of the New World. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. He died of pneumonia in San Francisco in July of 1898. The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city
  3. William Rogers, b. 1835-08-25, d. Year 1835 ( MDCCCXXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Events 1248 - The Dutch city of Ommen receives city rights and fortification rights from Otto III the at Monterey, 1836-01-06. Year 1836 ( MDCCCXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap Events 1066 - Harold Godwinson is crowned King of England. 1205 - Philip of Swabia becomes King
  4. Frederick Hobson, b. 1836-12-23, d. Year 1836 ( MDCCCXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap Events 962 - Byzantine-Arab Wars: Under the future Emperor Nicephorus Phocas, Byzantine troops stormed the city 1869-05-14;
  5. Henry Rogers, b. Year 1869 ( MDCCCLXIX) is a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 1264 - Battle of Lewes: Henry III of England is captured in France making Simon de Montfort the 1838-05-26, d. Year 1838 ( MDCCCXXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Events 451 - The Battle of Avarayr between Armenian rebels and the Sassanid Empire takes place at Monterey, 1838-11-18. Year 1838 ( MDCCCXXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Events 326 - The old St Peter's Basilica is consecrated 1302 - Pope Boniface VIII issues the Papal bull
  6. Francis Rogers, b. 1840-01-28, d. Year 1840 ( MDCCCXL) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Events 1077 - Walk to Canossa: The Excommunication of Henry IV Holy Roman Emperor is lifted 1874-07-28 at S. F.
  7. Carolina Ann, b. Year 1874 ( MDCCCLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 1540 - Thomas Cromwell is executed at the order of Henry VIII of England on charges of Treason. The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city Monterey, 1842-03-24, d. Year 1842 ( MDCCCXLII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Events 1401 - Mongol emperor Timur sacks Damascus. 1603 - James VI of Scotland 1891; m. Year 1891 ( MDCCCXCI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common 1862-10-02 to William Sampson Tams, son of Sampson and Ann Hennessey (Deas) Tams, b. Year 1862 was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Monday Events 1187 - Siege of Jerusalem: Saladin captures Jerusalem after 88 years of Crusader rule 1828 at Philadelphia, d. The year 1828 ( MDCCCXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə 1913-01-01. Year 1913 ( MCMXIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC
  8. Sophia Adeline, b. 1843-06-20, d. Year 1843 ( MDCCCXLIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Events 451 - Battle of Chalons: Flavius Aetius ' defeats Attila the Hun. 1846-11-28 at S.F.
  9. Alfred Otis, b. For the game see 1846 (board game. Year 1846 ( MDCCCXLVI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display For the town in Argentina, see 28 de Noviembre. Events The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city at Monterey, 1847-04-10. Year 1847 ( MDCCCXLVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Events 879 - Louis III becomes King of the Western Franks. 1407 - the lama

A granddaughter, Alice Larkin Toulmin (daughter of Alfred Otis), in 1957 donated his Monterey residence to the State of California as a museum, now known as the Larkin House Museum. The house is open for tours: www. parks. ca. gov/mshp.

Sources

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