In this letter Gilroy recounts memories of Fremont on Gavilan Peak near San Juan Bautista and General Castro. Gilroy was a Mexican citizen at the time. The Larkin Papers
Vol 10, pg 330 3rd Letter to Larkin from John Gilroy
misspelled words are as written by Gilroy Nov. 25, 1856
Mr. T. O. Larkin Sir As I am going to petition to the Legislature of California a Bill for releaff for the benifits that I did the U. S. and the people of this state before the war and at the time of the war with the U.S. and Mexico, I want you to give me your influence as I know you know as much about me as any in California and expects for you to asist me in my old age and et Mr. MacClaine [Louis McLane] to do the same.
Mr. Larkin, first before the war I was well off, plenty of horses &c, mares, mules and cattel, for you know I bought from you in the year I beleave 1835 one hundred of cows delivered at the sur, forty-six cows at Santa Cruz besides about three hundred from the Pueblo of which increase was grate at the time the war took place and most all went of or killed off by the war partys and that you know was a great loss to me. Well then Mr. Larkin, you know when Mr. Fremont was in the Gabilan or San Juan Mountain before the war he orders thair I run a risk of my life for the Americans, I axt General Castro permission to make up matters betwixt both partys. I went up to Mr. Fremont's camp, me and Jose del la Cruz Sanches now living at San Mateo but Fremont was gone. I came back to G. Castro at San Juan and told him that Fremont had left so Castro dismist his men and I desmist three Americans they had taken prisoners. All that was done by me and I being a Mexican citizen at that time that shoed my respect to the Americans besides many other things done by me.
Well then Mr. Larkin; then came Capt. Barres [Chas. Burroughs] he that was killed at the Natividad in Salinas plain and sent out men from San Juan and took off horses and mares to San Juan most all I had, my mill , mules also. I then came to your house in Monterey to see Cornell [Colonel] Mason. You was thair at your store. You know what sayd he told he would se me paid but that was the last of it till this day. Thair I lost most of my horse, mules and mares nothing paid. Well then [illeg.] in to the San Juan and Cap Fauntleroy when Capt Fauntleroy came to San Juan and took posecion of it and hoisted the American Flag. Then I went to San Juan, came up to the guards axt liberty to see the comander. They took me to Mr. Fauntleroy. He told me was blockading the place against the Californians. I told him there was no need of that for I would make it all right with the Californians and him. So I did, for before fifteen day Americans and Californians was all over and the Americans even came to my house to the Spanish Fandangos.... (Gilroy goes on to recount his efforts to help the Americans, allowing them to kill his cattle for food, and providing horses.) So if Mr. MacClaine will sine my peticion as I hear he is in San Francisco and let him see this letter I beleve he has not forgot old Gilroy and wife and he I think will lend me a hand to get some recourse in my old day and for the friendship I showd him and men...
[Mr. Larkin] you know me many year, and know if I was a young man I would not trubel about my losses but could go throw life by industry as I did when I traded with you my soap, flour, and the industrys for many years but I am old and my losses has been grate for the benefit of this becoming a state and expect a redres from the Legislature of the state of California and if not I must submit to my afliction.
So, Mr. T. O. Larkin, I will bid you fairwell and remain the same old man. John Gilroy Gilroy wrote to Larkin one more time on December 30, 1856 asking for a return of his papers that he might do something on his own.
Evidently his efforts to receive the help of Larkin and Louis McLane had proved fruitless. I plan to research California and Federal documents to see if the Legislature or Congress helped Gilroy. His service to California seems to have deserved redress.
He died in 1869. Bill Roddy Note: Original documents misspelled were not corrected in the publication. Larkin Index |