SAUSALITO'S AZOREAN PORTUGUESE HISTORY QUESTION:
We are hoping that someone may be able to help us with a question about our area’s Azorean Portuguese history. Those of you who have followed us in the past know that we have been researching the history of our community here in southern Marin, especially regarding dairy farming. As we have reported in prior posts, every one of the many dairies that operated in our immediate area were, over the years dating back to the mid-1800’s, operated at one time or another, and in most cases continuously, by Azorean Portuguese immigrants and their descendants.
While we appreciate the general reasons that initially brought Azorean Portuguese here to northern California in the 1800’s (most notably as crew members aboard Yankee whalers and as participants in the Gold Rush), and why some of them would have gravitated to the dairy business here in Marin given familiarity with raising milk cows in the Azores, we have not been able to answer the question as to why there ended up being such a high concentration of Azorean Portuguese in the dairies in and around Sausalito, especially considering that there were also many dairies in other parts of the county at the same time, but with nowhere near that concentration of Azorean Portuguese. We are hoping that some of you, perhaps based on your own family histories, may be able to help us shed light on this matter.
To understand the environment here in Marin when the first Azorean Portuguese would have arrived, we need to go back to the period when California was part of Mexico and all of Marin County was divided into large ranchos, as shown on Attachment 1. The Mexican government granted those ranchos to various individuals, and in 1838, Rancho Saucelito (as Sausalito was then spelled), comprised of 19,752 acres, was granted to William Richardson. Richardson owned Rancho Saucelito through the tumultuous period of the Gold Rush and California’s admission to the United States. However, by 1856 he was in financial difficulty and the bulk of the original Rancho Saucelito was acquired by Samuel Throckmorton.
We know that as early as of 1852, there was a small dairy in what is today the Marin Headlands that was being operated by an Irishman named John Broderick. However, Sausalito’s population was still tiny, and there was not yet any regular means of transportation to San Francisco, so there was no significant market opportunity for local dairies. However, around the same time, larger scale dairy operations were beginning up on the Pt. Reyes peninsula with most of the milk used to produce butter which could be stored and transported by schooner to San Francisco.
In 1868, eight years after Throckmorton had taken over, regular ferry service began between Sausalito and San Francisco, and in 1874 railroad service linked Sausalito with Cazadero in Sonoma County. With those developments, the San Francisco market became far more accessible to a broader area of Marin County, including a market for fresh milk and cream. With that dairy operations in Marin expanded significantly and Marin became the county with the highest dairy production in the state.
While we do not have much information about the extent of the Azorean Portuguese population here in the Sausalito area in the 1860’s and 1870’s, the 1880 US Census reveals a significant Azorean Portuguese community. As noted earlier, Samuel Throckmorton acquired the bulk of Rancho Saucelito in 1856, and while he disposed of significant portions of the rancho (most notably the sections that would become the town of Sausalito, and the area adjoining the Golden Gate that became Ft. Baker and Ft. Barry), he retained the bulk of the property which amounted to thousands of acres. Somewhere in the period of the 1860’s and 1870’s, he embarked on an ambitious program of leasing parcels in that area for use as dairy ranches. And, as we will see, almost all of those tenants ended up being Azorean Portuguese. Why was that?
Throckmorton died in 1883. By 1889 his heirs were in such financial difficulty that they had to sell off his holdings in the Rancho Saucelito. That property was acquired by the Tamalpais Land and Water Company (“TLWC”) which set about in 1892 to subdivide the property and sell it off. Attachment 2 shows a map of that TLWC property.
In 1880, the Census included both a regular count of the population which was reported on Schedule 1, as well as a report on agricultural activity that was reported on a separate Schedule 2. The chart attached as Attachment 3 shows a portion of the information reported on that 1880 Schedule 2 for Throckmorton’s property. There were 24 dairy ranches operating within the boundaries of the property shown on the map in Attachment Two (unfortunately the Census information does not allow us to pinpoint the locations of the individual dairies). With the single exception of Vincente Susanilla, who was from Spain, every one of the dairy farmers shown on that chart was born in Portugal, almost certainly in the Azores.
So the question is, how did that unique concentration come about? Was there some quirk in the immigration flow (for example, we know that a disproportionately high number of immigrants from São Jorge ended up here in southern Marin – see this earlier post on that phenomena: https://bit.ly/3a54lMq), a policy adopted by Throckmorton and/or his property managers, or something else? While it is possible that it was just a natural evolution, it seems too striking to be a random result, especially when we consider that there were many immigrants from other countries who were here at the same time and ended up operating dairies in other parts of Marin.
In addition to that concentration of Azorean Portuguese lessees of Throckmorton’s property in 1880, it is also interesting to note that when the parcels that had been rented were ultimately sold by the TLWC starting in 1892, Portuguese individuals ended up owning almost all of those properties. We have John Oglesby, the Marin County Surveyor, to that for that information. In 1925, Oglesby produced a set of maps covering the entire county that showed, for most of the county, individual parcels, acreage and ownership. Those maps can be found here (note they are in several sheets – Sheets R, S, T and U cover the TLWC property): https://bit.ly/2Yinu8f. As shown in the chart attached as Attachment 4, with the exception of a block of eight parcels at the north end of the TLWC property that were purchased by William Kent (who donated to the Federal government what is today Muir Woods National Monument), Oglesby’s maps show that all of those parcels were owned by Azorean Portuguese individuals as of 1925. Dairies on several of those parcels continued to be operated by members of our community into the 1950’s. Today, they are all gone and few physical remnants of them remain.
We look forward to your responses.
BACKGROUND-
MY DA FONTE GARCIA (DE FOUNT) FAMILY-
My da Fonte Garcia (De Fount) family are the only family at the Sausalito Portuguese Hall with direct whaling ties that still live in Marin County to this very day. We are the only one's who can unravel the mystery of Sausalito's history.
My facts are based upon my da Fonte Garcia (De Fount) family lore, thousands of hours of my own research and countless interviews.
My entire Azorean Portuguese da Fonte Garcia (De Fount) family and our 76 Azorean Portuguese surnames are almost entirely from Pico.
Five generations of my Azorean Portuguese family in Southern Marin County is almost entirely from Pico not Sao Jorge.
Five generations of my Azorean Portuguese da Fonte Garcia (De Fount) family in Southern Marin on Rancho Sausalito:
Louis (da Fonte Garcia) De Fount (Great Great Grandfather)
Irl De Fount (Great Grandfather)
Gene De Fount (Grandfather)
Donna De Fount (Mother)
Heath De Fount-Haberlin
I have a tin-type photograph of great great Grandfather Louis De Fount in Sausalito, California in 1878.
I have my great great Grandfather Louis De Fount's 19th century whaling harpoon/spear from a Sausalito whaling ship from the Sausalito Whaling Station. A whaling harpoon is a long spear-like instrument or barbed spear used to kill whales, tuna, swordfish, and other large sea creatures, formerly thrown by hand but now, in the case of whales, shot from especially constructed guns.
I have my great great Grandfather Louis De Fount's 19th century cowbell from an Azorean Portuguese dairy farm on Rancho Sausalito that he and his older brother Jose De Fount worked on.
OUR 76 AZOREAN PORTUGUESE SURNAMES-
De Fount (da Fonte Garcia) Family Azorean Portuguese Surnames
My entire Azorean Portuguese da Fonte Garcia (De Fount) family and our 76 Azorean Portuguese surnames are almost entirely from Pico.
My Azorean Portuguese da Fonte Garcia (De Fount) family is related to many members of Azorean Portuguese population in Southern Marin. I've personally never seen a family tree go back (into the 1500's in the Azores) as far or include as many surnames as our family.
Paternal (30 Azorean Portuguese surnames):
da Fonte Garcia
do Rosário
Garcia Fontes
Inácia
Goulart Maciel
da Conceição
Pereira
Jacinta da Conceição
de Jesus
Nunes da Silveria
da Fonte
Rodrigues
Garcia da Rosa
Josefa Garcia
de Mendonça
Homem da Costa
Silveira
Vieira da Costa
da Ressurreição
Vieira
Furtado de Mendonça
de Mendonça
Vieira Maciel
Goulart
Vieira Madruga
Nunes de Abreu
João
Silveira Goulart
Leal Ferreira
Martins
Maternal (46 Azorean Portuguese surnames):
Souza Garcia
Caetano da Fonte
Tomásia Constância
Maria
Dutra
Bernarda
da Fonte dos Reis
do Nascimento
de Sousa
de Jesus
Rodrigues Maciel
de São José
da Fonte de Logarde
da Fonte dos Reis
dos Reis
Vieira
Vieira Mamão
Quadrado
Ferreira
Rodrigues do Porto
Dutra Coelho
Gonçalves
Ferreira Quadrado
de Matos
de Sousa de Matos
Goulart
Silveira
Vieira Ferreira
João
Rodrigues
Álvares Rodrigues
Ferreira Alemão
Álvares
Conceição
Garcia Sarmento
Martins
Pereira Gonçalves
da Silva
Machado
da Conceição
Rodrigues Maciel
Garcia
de Ávila
Pereira
Duarte
de Melo
De Fount (da Fonte Garcia) Family Sephardic (Jewish) Azorean Portuguese Surnames:
Alvares
Machado
Matos
da Avilia
de Melo
de Silva
Sousa
da Sousa
Souza Garcia
Pereira
Logarde
De Fount (da Fonte Garcia) Family Moorish (Morocco) Azorean Portuguese Surnames:
Álvares
LOUIS DA FONTE GARCIA (DE FOUNT)-
In terms of Marin County, my great great grandfather Louis da Fonte Garcia (De Fount) came from Faial in the Portuguese Azores Islands at the age 12 in 1876 to New Bedford, Massachusetts then around Cape Horn to Sausalito, California on an American whaling ship by himself (the Azores had a mandatory military law at the time in which 14 year old boys had to go into the military). The trip and paying off his passage as a whaler took two years. He arrived in Sausalito at the age 14 of in 1878. His cousin Manuel Garcia who was also a whaler arrived in Sausalito a year earlier in 1877. Later, they both worked on Azorean Portuguese dairy farms (which most of Southern Marin was at the time) in Sausalito, Tamalpais Valley, Mill Valley (Eastwood), Strawberry and Tiburon. My da Fonte owned three plots of land in Sausalito (Where the firehouse, police station and entire hill behind it is) and three plots of land in Mill Valley (basically the entire hillside behind the Depot where Summit Avenue is). My da Fonte family also owned and later donated what is now the 12 acre Richardson Bay Audubon property where the historic yellow Lyford House is located. This is where Mrs. Terwillger conducted all of her outdoor classes during our youth. Sadly, here is only a engraved stone bench dedicated to Rosie da Fonte left on the property. The property was initially named in her honor. I want to get it changed back.
Louis De Fount (Luis da Fonte Garcia)-
Louis De Fount (Luis da Fonte Garcia) was known in De Fount family lore as a was a great "sea captain" on a whaling ship. In 1876, at the age of 12, Louis came to America from Angústias, Horta, Faial aboard a New Bedford whaling ship. He worked hard at sea as a whaler/sailor to be able to pay off his passage to America.
By October 20, 1876 the commercial port of Horta was constructed and it became an important trans-Atlantic point for sailors. In the early years, the dock/port of Horta came to supplement, then to supplant, the harbor of Porto Pim for whaling vessels involved in the North Atlantic whale hunt. There was also an active whaling station the harbor of Porto Pim as well. This whaling station was within walking distance (literally one block and a short beach walk away) from the De Fount's family home in Angústias, Horta, Faial. Louis was around Azorean whaling culture throughout his entire childhood on Faial. The De Fount (Luis da Fonte Garcia) lived on a small street called directly across the street from their families church: The Igreja Nossa Senhora das Angústias is a 17th century structure located in Angústias/Horta on Faial Island in the Archipelago of the Azores, Portugal. The De Fount (Luis da Fonte Garcia) family were a devoted Roman Catholic family who attended mass every Sunday.
The Igreja Nossa Senhora das Angústias, which was erected in the 17th century on the foundations of a 15th-century chapel It is the only church in town that turns its back to the sea. It houses the tombs of Horta’s founder van Hurtere and his wife (who are family relatives of Louis De Fount (Luis da Fonte Garcia) and it has a bronze plaque on the floor reminding of Martin Behaim, the renowned German cartographer and creator of the first globe, who lived on the island for about 10 years and got wed in the original chapel. Also noteworthy, is the beautiful example of an earthen Christmas crib from the 18th century and the coat-of-arms of the town’s influential families covering the ceiling of the choir.
Louis De Fount (Luis da Fonte Garcia) left Angústias (Horta), Faial, from the harbor of Porto Pim in 1876 at the age of 12, aboard an American whaling ship from New Bedford, Massachusetts. He worked off his passage as a whaler aboard an American whaling ship before arriving in America (New Bedford, Massachusetts). After spending some time in both New Bedford, Massachusetts and in New York, New York (where his older brother Jose lived and met his future Azorean Portuguese wife, Mary (Maria)), Louis left New Bedford, Massachusetts on an American whaling ship once again to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, then around Cape Horn to Lima, Peru and then on to San Francisco, California (Rancho Sausalito, California) arriving in 1878. Besides working as "a great sea captain" on whaling ship expeditions out of Sausalito/San Francisco whale ports (whaling stations), Louis worked as a dairy farmer on da Fonte Garcia (De Fount) family ranches with relatives on both Rancho Sausalito ("Throckmorton's Ranch") and on the Reed Ranch in Strawberry/Tiburon peninsula area. In De Fount family lore, he was also known as "a great sea captain", dairy farmer, a farm owner in Fremont County, Iowa, and later, a barber.
AZOREAN PORTUGUESE-
There are generations of Azorean Portuguese dairy farms in Southern Marin County that have never been accounted for. I have the surnames of Azorean Portuguese dairy farmers but not their respective locations except for the fact that they were on Rancho Sausalito in Southern Marin County.
Marin author Barry Spitz stated in his book "Marin: A History" that the Azorean Portuguese dairy farms on Samuel Throckmorton's Rancho Sausalito were 100% Azorean Portuguese in Southern Marin County.
The Azorean Portuguese were here (in Southern Marin County) longer than has ever been officially documented.
The Azorean Portuguese population % is (in Southern Marin County) much higher than has ever been officially documented. It was over 50%. The Azorean Portuguese population were the majority voters in Southern Marin County. Nothing was passed unless the Azorean Portuguese passed it.
The Azorean Portuguese population was not documented in the US Census records or in City Directories in Southern Marin. This was by design to "stay off the radar, if you will."
Azorean Portuguese where for the most part not naturalized. In my da Fonte Garcia (De Fount) family it took decades for each family member after they arrived in the United States.
I discovered the city/township of Richardson. It is separate from Sausalito. It has separate US Census records/numbers as well which includes a large amount of the Azorean Portuguese population in Southern Marin on Rancho Sausalito.
The Azorean Portuguese are silent population who generally don't like to make waves. They generally keep a low profile. They excel in their hard work ethic.
Surnames blurred: Azorean Portuguese surnames, Anglisized Azorean Portuguese surnames, Spanish surnames and Mexican surnames are all very similar if not the same. The only way to know their true ethnicity would to be go back in time and DNA test.
Even into the 1950's, in my newspaper research I found that Marin County was still trying to document the un-documented Azorean Portuguese population.
SAUSALITO'S AZOREAN PORTUGUESE HISTORY ANSWER:
If you use or publish any of the information that I provide you, I simply ask for credit where credit is due. This hasn't been the case before.
In answering your question: The answer lies within a complicated combination of Sausalito's non-acknowledgement of it's significant whaling history/past, the true history of William Richardson and Whaler's Cove (and later, Samuel Throckmorton), Portugal's mandatory 10 year military service, Rancho Sausalito's unreported Azorean Portuguese "child labor," it's racism towards the Azorean Portuguese, it's "white washing" of Azorean Portuguese history and it's literal burning down the Azorean Portuguese history/culture in Marin County.
The Azores are family, church, whales, tuna, cows and wine. That is the culture.
The key to it all is the whaling. It was the free passage from the Azores to San Francisco/Sausalito.
Since 1765, there has been connection between whaling and it's Azorean Portuguese whalers.
"So Ends This Day: The Portuguese in American Whaling, 1765–1927" (Portuguese in the Americas Series) Paperback – Illustrated, by Donald Warrin (Author):
In the first half of the nineteenth century whaling was one of the young American nation's most important industries, providing lubricants and illumination as well as baleen, the plastic of its day. So Ends This Day: The Portuguese in American Whaling, 1765–1927 traces the history of the American whaling industry from its seventeenth century beginnings in Massachusetts and Long Island to its demise in the third decade of the twentieth century, while highlighting the role of its Portuguese participants. Their story begins with Joseph Swazey who, in 1765, returned to Martha's Vineyard from an Atlantic whaling voyage; and it terminates with the aborted voyage of Capt. Joseph F. Edwards aboard the John R. Manta in 1927. From a few random crew members in the latter half of the 18th century, these men from the Portuguese Atlantic islands of the Azores and Cape Verde came to dominate the industry in its final decades. Their participation would ultimately determine the principal settlement patterns of the Portuguese in the U.S.: New England, California, and Hawaii. But it led as well to distant communities in such diverse places as Alaska, New Zealand, and the Pacific atolls. It is a story of courage and determination in a far-reaching industry in which many of these individuals advanced to positions of responsibility unparalleled among non-English-speaking immigrants to the United States.
Since 1774, whaling and it's Azorean Portuguese whalers have been part of Sausalito's nautical history since Spanish (and Portuguese) times in the late-1700's. Please note that this is decades before the pre-Mexican Alta California (1821-1846) timeline that has been erroneously given to the Azorean Portuguese whalers and when they arrived in Sausalito.
American, Spanish, English, French whaling ships all stopped in the Azores for supplies and crew members.
Title:
"Seventy-five years in California; a history of events and life in California": personal, political and military; under the Mexican regime; during the quasi-military government of the territory by the United States, and after the admission of the state to the union: being a compilation by a witness of the events described; a reissue and enlarged illustrated edition of "Sixty years in California", to which much new matter by its author has been added which he contemplated publishing under the present title at the time of his death.
Summary:
William Heath Davis (1822-1909) was the son of a Boston ship captain engaged in the Hawaiian trade and a Polynesian mother. He visited California twice on trading voyages before setting up business there in 1838. In 1845 he settled permanently in San Francisco, becoming one of the city's leading merchants. His marriage to María de Jesus Estudillo tied him to the Hispanic community in his adopted region. Seventy-five years in California (1929) is an expansion of Sixty years in California, a book Davis published in 1889. It is a history of California as well as the author's memoirs of his life through the mid 1850s with an emphasis on the transformation of Yerba Buena to San Francisco, the Gold Rush, and the imposition of United States power in California.
RECORD OF SHIPS ARRIVING AT CALIFORNIA PORTS FROM 1774 TO 1847
I [William Heath Davis] am indebted to Mr. James Alexander Forbes, Jr., for the following list of arrivals and vessels of California ports from 1774 to 1847. Mr. Forbes for years occupied the post of official government translator and keeper of the Spanish and Mexican archives in the United States surveyor-general's office for the district of California; without his aid I could not have obtained any data concerning the earlier shipping.
He was the son of the well-known pioneer James A. Forbes, who during his lifetime was esteemed and respected by all who had social and business relations with him. J. A. Forbes, Jr., was educated in Santa Clara College and, being a master of several languages, obtained the position of official translator of the laws of California in the years 1867, 1868, 1869, 1870; he had the reputation of being the most accurate translator and fluent interpreter in the state.
His father came to California in the year 1829; he was British vice-consul for many years. He married a native California lady of Castilian descent. He was a highly educated gentleman speaking the English, Spanish, and French languages with great accuracy and fluency; it was very entertaining and instructive to listen to his conversation. During his consulate his official acts gave satisfaction to his government, and his private life was irreproachable. His death occurred in 1881, at the ripe age of 79 years; he left a family of ten children.
[NOTE—this is not a complete list of ships that sailed along the California coast. I have included the names of other vessels and information which has been referenced in this work (these appear within brackets).—R.F.]
1774
Príncipe, July 24.
San Carlos.
1775
[San Carlos.]
1776
Príncipe.
San Carlos, San Antonio, June 6th.
1778
San Carlos, arrives on the coast July 22. Order for vessels that bring supplies to take back salt, March 8th.
[Santiago (aka Neuva Galicia).]
1779
Garland (Spanish brig), captured by an English man-of-war, June 7th, 1779.
Princesa and Favorita, anchored in the Bay or Port of San Francisco on the 15th of September, 1779. The vessels belonged to His Majesty King of Spain and came on an exploring expedition under command of Don Ygnacio Ortega. They reached up to 65 degrees and some minutes north latitude and did not go to 70 degrees north latitude as ordered because the coast turned to the south.
San Carlos, arrives at San Diego February 15.
[Santiago (aka Neuva Galicia).]
1780
[Santiago (aka Neuva Galicia).]
1783
Favorita, July 27.
San Carlos, June 2.
1784
Favorita (Spanish man-of-war), October 25th.
1786
Spanish war ships, with materials for Presidio buildings. Order prohibiting passengers on board vessels to carry more than 2 pounds of tobacco, October 5th.
Aranzazu (Spanish frigate), February 11th
Favorita, September 29th
Princesa, September 21st
Santa Lucía, June 7th
1787
Aranzazu, January 6th.
Astrolabe and Boussole (French), January 6th.
Astrolabe and Boussole (French), anchored at Monterey, with La Pérouse, the explorer, April 12th.
Princesa, at Monterey, February 27th.
San Carlos, September 29th.
1788
Aranzazu (frigate), December 21st, came into port and Mateo Rubio, a soldier, was wounded by the firing of a cannon.
Princesa, at Santa Barbara, October 8th.
San Carlos, September 7th.
1789
Aranzazu (frigate), at Santa Barbara, October 2.
1791
Aranzazu, Juan Hendrick, captain, January 25th.
Aranzazu (Spanish frigate), Juan Bautista Matute, captain. He says to the Governor of the Department: "By last advices from the Court of Madrid, which I delivered at Nootka, it appears that the King does not wish that port to be abandoned." Monterey, June 12th.
Aranzazu, August 22d.
Concepción (frigate), at anchor in Nootka harbor with Ramón Antonio Saavedra, March 7th.
Princesa, October 24th, saw unknown vessel in distress in Pichilingue Bay.
Princesa (Spanish frigate), arrived at Loreto with Naturalist José Longinos Martínez and Jaime Sensevé, Botanist, to make collections for the Museum of Natural History, October 25th.
1794
English launches, arrived at Santa Cruz and precautions were taken to prevent men from landing, November 30th. The English launches depart and cause no disorder, December 1st.
English vessel, at Santa Cruz, November 30th.
Aranzazu (frigate), bound for Nootka from Monterey, July 12.
Aranzazu, October 22nd, at Santa Barbara; at Monterey, November 14.
Chatham (American), Peter Puget, master.
Chatham, at Monterey, November 2nd.
Concepción (frigate), April 26th.
Concepción (frigate), wrecked off Pichilingue Bay, Lower Cal., July 5th.
Concepción, in San Diego, December 17th.
Discovery, at Monterey, November 5th.
Discovery (English), with Vancouver on board. Expedition under Vancouver arrived the second time on November 6th.
Horcasitas (sloop), August 29th.
Mexicana, February 28th.
Mexicana, at San Francisco, June 10th.
Princesa, January 17th.
Saturnina, August 5th.
Sutil, February 28th.
1795
Aranzazu, September 23rd.
Achilles (English), May 22nd.
Active (English war vessel), with an English Commissioner on board, March 3rd.
Phoenix (English), September 10th.
Resolution (English), February 6th.
Resolution (English man-of-war), Juan Loche, captain, seeking supplies that were furnished September 6th, at San Diego, October 1st.
1796
Concepción (Spanish frigate), from Manila, anchored at Santa Barbara, July 25th.
Loreto (sloop), July 25th.
Providence (English man-of-war), Commander W. Broughton, at Monterey.
Sutil, arrived July 11th.
1797
American ship, Captain Dows forcibly put on shore eleven foreigners from his vessel, October 6th.
Several vessels sighted off the coast, July 4th.
Three more large vessels seen off the coast, May 11th.
Unknown large vessel seen off the coast, May 23rd.
Concepción and Princesa (Spanish frigates), have come to guard the ports of California, March 7th, and April 13th.
Magallanes (Spanish), at Santa Barbara, December 5th.
Paquebot S. Carlos, wrecked and lost in the harbor of San Francisco, March 23rd.
Princesa (Spanish frigate), at Santa Barbara, May 27th.
Princesa, seen off the coast of San Diego, July 22; and the same vessel at San Diego, October 20th.
San Carlos, April 14th.
Santa Barbara (Spanish war vessel), Commander Goycochea, keeps guard up and down the coast, to see if they can discover the American Ship Fama, but see nothing.
1798
Active (brig), March 31st.
Concepción, October 19th.
Fama (American ship), January 7th.
Magallanes, March 31st.
Otter, Ebenezer Dow, captain.
1799
Eliza (English), James Rowan, captain, June 12th.
Eliza, Captain James Rowan writes to Pedro Alberín, Comandante of San Francisco, about getting wood and water, November 10th.
Mercedes, (English sloop-of-war) at San Diego, July 6th.
A Sausalito Portuguese Hall member verbally told me about an Azorean Portuguese family member who jumped ship from a whaling ship at the Presidio in Yuerba Buena (San Francisco) during the late-1700's.
THE TRUE HISTORY OF WILLIAM RICHARDSON AND WHALER'S COVE (Puerte do Balleneros (Port of the Whalers))-
In 1822, William Richardson arrived on the British whaler the Orion that most likely stopped in the Azores to pick up crew members as did virtually every ship crossing the Atlantic.
In 1837, William Richardson was named Port Captain at San Francisco. He is also credited with turning the San Francisco Bay into one of the greatest whaling ports of it's day. William Richardson and his family the main facilitators of the whaling industry. Period.
His wharf was a beehive of activity where he waxed rich shipping lumber, hides and tallow. Drinking water stored in tanks on the beach was sold to ships and carried in barrels to Yerba Buena (aka San Francisco).
In 1843, Puerte do Balleneros (Port of the Whalers) or as Anglo-Americans call it "Whaler's Cove" in Sausalito, California on Rancho Sausalito became the first recorded whaling station in Alta California pre-dating Monterey's whaling station (established in 1854) by more than a decade.
The Sausalito Whaling Station Puerte do Balleneros (Port of the Whalers): California's Historic First Whaling Station circa 1844-
In (October of) 1844, Benito Diaz, who had replaced Guerrero as receiver of customs at Yerba Buena (San Francisco), also had complained that Richardson (William A. Richardson) was not enforcing the trade regulations. Several times he crossed the bay to Sausalito where he found evidence of of illicit trade. In October (of 1844), when he questioned Richardson (William A. Richardson) about a large iron (whaling) kettle on the beach (in Puerte do Balleneros (Port of the Whalers) or Whaler's Cove or Whaler's Harbor as it was known then), the port captain (William A. Richardson) said that a whaling ship captain had given it to him in lieu of money for provisions supplied. Diaz seized the (whaling) kettle and told Richardson that the Monterey custom house would decide the matter. Then, after boarding two whaling ships at anchor, he discovered that William Hinckley, the alcalde of the San Francisco district and a brother-in-law of Richardson, had previously tied his launch alongside whalers and, stating that he had permission from Diaz, had taken a barrel of honey, a barrel of salt pork, a barrel of (whale) oil and and three sacks of ship bread, all without any record for the tax collector. Later in the month, the Monterey customs administrator sent orders that henceforth whalers were not to anchor in Sausalito (in Whaler's Cove or Whaler's Harbor as it was known then); if they wanted water from there, it was to be brought to Yerba Buena (San Francisco) in launches. The orders were not obeyed or enforced, and Diaz, like his predecessor, found Richardson and the whalers beyond control, and both ultimately "surrendered their functions to Richardson."
This is, in fact, the first evidence of the Sausalito Whaling Station existing.
This is, in fact, the first evidence of a whaling station ever existing in California (in October of 1844).
This fact predates the whaling station in Monterey (established in 1854), California by a decade.
In pre-1850, there are no records except for the firsthand witness accounts like the one aforementioned above.
Facts:
William A. Richardson is a British whaler
A large iron (whaling) kettle (or kettles) on the beach (in Whaler's Cove or Whaler's Harbor as it was known then).
William Hinckley, the alcalde of the San Francisco district and a brother-in-law of Richardson is in possession of barrel of (whale) oil and had previously tied his launch alongside whalers in Sausalito (in Whaler's Cove or Whaler's Harbor as it was known then).
30 to 40 whalers in Sausalito (in Whaler's Cove or Whaler's Harbor as it was known then) for 4 to 6 to weeks at a time.
Puerte do Balleneros (Port of the Whalers) was named during the late-1700's during Spanish times.
Puerte do Balleneros (Port of the Whalers)-
English: Port of the Whales or Whaler's Cove
Portuguese: Porto das Baleias
Spanish: Puerto de Las Ballenas
English: Port of the Whales or Whaler's Cove, Old Town and now, unfortunately, the politically correct name of Shelter Cove. This re-naming is an example of Sausalito's non-acknowledgement of it's significant whaling history/past once again.
Southern Marin had three main documented whaling stations: Sausalito, Bolinas and Belvedere. Azorean Portuguese boys/men were jumping ship at these points in and around Rancho Sausalito.
Rancho Sausalito included: (Modern day) Chronkite Beach, Sausalito (Marin City), Tamalpais Valley, Tennessee Valley, Homestead Valley, Bello Beach (Muir Beach), Slide Ranch and the the southern part of Stinson Beach.
During the Gold Rush (1848 to 1855), William Richardson profited greatly by selling milk, butter and beef (basically, an Azorean Portuguese dairy farming) to San Francisco. Sausalito's Azorean Portuguese and Miwok population were his cheap work force. Sausalito's Azorean Portuguese men, women and unreported Azorean Portuguese "child labor" population were his work force. My Azorean Portuguese da Fonte Garcia family was working for Richardson as dairy farmers before Throckmorton. Later, they worked Throckmorton as dairy farmers as well before striking out on their own.
Rancho Sausalito's unreported Azorean Portuguese "child labor" was Southern Marin's cheap labor force who was almost never documented in US Census Records or City Directories.
There was so much "jumping ship" in San Francisco/Sausalito during the Gold Rush that whaling ships stared going to Hawaii instead.
My 1853, my Breiling family were the first butchers in San Francisco and their milk, butter and beef was supplied from William Richardson from his Rancho Sausalito lands. The milk, butter and beef was delivered from across the bay by boat by William Richardson's employees who were Azorean Portuguese whalers turned dairy farmers.
In making the connection once again, my Azorean Portuguese great grandfather Irl Joseph De Fount (da Fonte Garcia married my German/Scottish great Grandmother Ethel Breiling in San Rafael, California in 1912.
The evil New Jersey lawyer Samuel Throckmorton weaseled and took over Richardson's massively profitable dairy business in selling milk, butter and beef. Sausalito's Azorean Portuguese men, women and unreported Azorean Portuguese "child labor" population were his work force.
It was already a thriving, highly profitable business for William Richardson and his family long before Throckmorton. It just isn't documented. It is documented in my (da Fonte Garcia) De Fount Azorean Portuguese family lore.
You literally believe that after Throckmorton stole William Richardson and his family's property from them that he just subdivided A-Z and 1-8 and hired Azorean Portuguese dairy farmers?
San Francisco was the whaling capital of the world in 1890. New Bedford lost it's title to San Francisco during this era. This is how Azorean Portuguese families were following each other from the Azores and re-connecting in Southern Marin County.
PORTUGAL'S MANDATORY 10 YEAR MILITARY SERVICE:
It was Portugal's mandatory military service for Azorean Portuguese males, at the age of 14, for ten years that drove their exodus from the Azores.
It was more profitable financially for Azorean Portuguese males to jump on whaling ships, pay off their "passage" and then jump ship in Whaler's Cove in Sausalito in Southern Marin County where up to 30 or 40 whaling ships would be anchored at a time in the early 1800's.
Azorean Portuguese family members follow each other. They make money and send it home and more family members follow.
In 1876, (because of the mandatory 10 year Portuguese military service law at 14) my great great grandfather Louis da Fonte Garcia (De Fount) was a 12 year old boy who jumped on an American whaling ship in Angústias (Horta) on Faial. After working as a whaler for two years paying off his passage he jumped ship in Puerto do Balleria or as Anglo-Americans call it "Whaler's Cove" in Sausalito, California in 1878. He followed in his older brother's (Jose da Fonte Garcia's (De Fount's) footsteps who did the same years earlier.
12 to 14 year old Azorean Portuguese boys are not necessarily going to show up in the US Census records in Southern Marin County.
It would be much easier for an Azorean Portuguese boy/man to assimilate into Spanish or Mexican culture (language, religion, etc) at the time than it would be for someone of Irish descent or any other ethnicity.
Our da Fonte Garcia (De Fount) and Rodrigues (Rodgers) families were already here and established making money, owning property and working as both whalers out of Sausalito and as dairy farmers on Rancho Sausalito.
My great great grandfather Louis da Fonte Garcia (De Fount) followed in the footsteps of his relative Manuel Garcia who arrived in San Francisco in 1877:
Manuel Garcia
BIRTH: 1834
Azores Region, Portugal
DEATH: March 23, 1918 (aged 83–84)
Marin County, California, USA
BURIAL: Fernwood Cemetery
Mill Valley, Marin County, California, USA
MEMORIAL ID 119593971 · View Source
Civil War Veteran Dead
Manuel Garcia, a veteran of the Civil war and an employee of the Northwestern Pacific railroad for nearly a third of a century, died at his home here last Saturday from dropsy, after an illness lasting several months.
A solemn requiem high mass was said for the repose of his soul in Star of the Sea church on Tuesday fore noon and the remains were laid away in Fernwood Cemetery. A large number of friends attended the funeral.
The deceased was a native of the Azore Islands, aged 83, was the husband of Rosaline, and father of Manuel Garcia, Jr., and Mrs. J.V. Bem
Mr. Garcia left the Azores at the age of 18 (in 1852) on a whaling bark whaling in the Arctic and along the coast of Africa. The ship he was on was frozen in the Arctic for five months and on her arrival at Boston, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy on the historic battleship Congress as gunner's helper in the civil war. She had a crew of 480. All but thirty-five of the crew were lost when the Congress was sunk.
At the conclusion of the war he was granted an honorable discharge from the navy.
He went to mining near Sonora, Calif., and afterwards farming.
He came to San Francisco in 1877, married and went to work for the Southern Pacific Co. and subsequently went to work on the old North Pacific Coast Railroad shops here under Superintendent E.H. Shoemaker for twenty-one years.
He was a member of the I.D.E.S. No. 40 of San Francisco and the I.D.E.S.S.T. (Holy Ghost Society) of Sausalito, and was the last one of the charter members of Associated Portuguese Benevolent and Protective Association.
The funeral was conducted by F.E. Sawyer.
Published Sausalito News
March 30, 1918
Later, work for Azorean Portuguese males went from whaling as the industry died out to dairy farms in Southern Marin.
The whaling station locations turned into dairy farms inland. Those are the trades that the young Azorean Portuguese males knew.
In the modern Azores today tourism, tuna, wine and dairy dominate the economy there.
AZOREAN PORTUGUESE AND DAIRY FARMING-
During the 1880's, Marin County (primarily Southern Marin County) was the milk and cheese capital of California during this era. The fact is very seldom talked about or even acknowledged but Petaluma to this very day celebrates the fact that the city was the "egg capital" back in the day.
Before the 1880's, the Azorean Portuguese dairy farmers were in Tennessee Valley decades/generations before the Azorean Portuguese dairies that have been historically covered.
The Azorean Portuguese were the pioneers in "farm to table" culture in Marin County, California.
The Azorean Portuguese dairy farmers feed San Francisco and Marin County. The goods were brought down to Manzanita Plaza and brought over San Francisco on ships/boats before the ferries.
Azorean Portuguese dairy farmers of Southern Marin would bring their goods to Manzanitia Plaza was the loading point. All Rancho Sausalito points met there: the windy Bolinas-Sausalito Road, Tennessee Valley, etc.
The reason why Marin County milk and cheese capital of California was it's proximity to San Francisco (and Eastland (now Mill Valley) and Sausalito) and due to the lack of refrigeration and due to the the pre-train era.
Back then and even now, Southern Marin County looks just like Azores in person. Mt. Tamalpais looks just like Pico when you get off the plane in the Azores. During the 1970's, our cousin and the self-proclaimed "Mayor of Muir Beach" Joe Rodrigues claimed Muir Beach (Bello Beach) looked just like his hometown of Horta in Faial.
San Francisco was the whaling capital of the world in 1890. New Bedford lost it's title to San Francisco during this era. This is how Azorean Portuguese families were following each other from the Azores and re-connecting in Southern Marin County.
WHITEWASHING-
RODRIGUES CABRILHO NOT DRAKE
João Rodrigues Cabrilho was the first European in Marin County 37 years before Sir Francis Drake. Marin's history has completely "whitewashed" of this fact. It is because of Cabrillo that anyone who is not Miwok is in present day Marin County.
Mike Moyle-As I shared my Portuguese research with you before: Thirty seven years year before Sir Francis Drake, on Monday, November 13, 1542, João Rodrigues Cabrilho became first Portuguese and the first documented European to arrive in Marin. Cabrilho's discovery of Marin in 1542 was a world event. It marked the beginning of European civilization in the west, and of the initial documented history of California. Further desire to reach Marin's coast directly resulted in the establishment of the long chain of western Missions, and of the exploration, colonization and development of our great state.
The territory now called Marin County was first of record on Monday, November 13, 1542 when João Rodrigues Cabrilho, a Portuguese navigator under the Viceroy of New Spain, arrived on its western coast. Cabrilho was the first representative of Europe and of the Portuguese race to visit California, arriving at San Diego Bay while exploring the coast for the Northwest Passage. Came a time when he proceeded north, sailing into Monterey Bay but was unable to land there on account of storms and consequent rough waters. Continuing north, he sailed for Cape Mendocino, passing the as yet undiscovered great Bay of San Francisco while far off shore in a heavy wind storm (a lapse that mariners would repeat for the next two centuries and more, most likely because its entrance is frequently shrouded by fog). This finally drove him in to a safe haven and he anchored in or close to what is now known, incorrectly, as Drake's Bay, which he called the "Puerte de San Francisco" and he named tree lined hills above the beach "Cabo de Piños" (Point Reyes).
When the Portola party arrived on the ridges back of San Francisco nearly two centuries afterward, they at once recognized these outposts of Cabrilho's Puerte de San Francisco of 1542. A map is stated to have been issued in Spain in 1545 which notes Cabrilho's new port and these islands, but it was nearly two centuries before the real San Francisco Bay was discovered and named. While no record remains, or tradition of Cabrilho's landing existed among the coast Indians when Drake visited Marin thirty seven years later, it is possible that he did so, unless he arrived in a typically dense Pt. Reyes fog the greatly attractive Drake's Bay would have assuredly caused him to further investigate. In any case every Portuguese child in Marin County and the West should know that to Portugal belongs the honors for the first navigator reaching the western coast, though to Spain belongs the credit of the expedition.
Even his Portuguese surname of Rodrigues Cabrilho is "anglicized" to Cabrillo because Anglo-Americans don't understand Portuguese naming practices that include both the maternal surname and the paternal surname. Anglo-Americans treat the maternal surname as a middle name which is incorrect.
MARIN HEADLANDS-
There were a number of Azorean Portuguese dairy farms in the Marin Headlands before the US Government took the land over.
SAUSALITO WHALING
Sausalito's whaling history has been completely "whitewashed" by Sausalito of this fact. It is also not politically correct to discuss the killing of whales in Sausalito but that is Sausalito's history regardless.
At the Ice House in Sausalito, the little old lady historians told me informally that, "We don't want to advertise the killing of whales in Sausalito. It is bad for business."
JACK TRACY-
The same the little old lady historians at the Ice House in Sausalito (who personally knew and worked with Jack Tracy) clearly stated that Jack Tracy was racist towards and "had it in" for the Azorean Portuguese. His 188 page book on the history of Sausalito only includes 3 or 4 pages on the Azorean Portuguese who at one time made up more that 50% of Sausalito's population. Jack Tracy completely "whitewashed" Sausalito of this fact.
ANGEL ISLAND-
Before the 1860's, Angel Island was an Azorean Portuguese dairy farm before the US military took it over during the Civil War. It just isn't documented. It is documented in my Azorean Portuguese family lore.
I saw that my Azorean Portuguese population studies numbers/research was used on the plaque in Sausalito recently. I had combed through Census Records of the 1880's and excluded the Military population of Angel Island at the time. 23 % to 32%. That is only the Azorean Portuguese population who was officially documented.
MARIN CITY-
Azorean Portuguese dairy farmers were in what is now known as Marin City roughly twice as long as before it was ever known as Marin City. This history is never told. The African-American history is respected and a very important aspect of Marin City but the Hispanic Azorean Portuguese hisory of Rancho Sausalito aka Marin City needs to be respected and is also a very important aspect of Marin City as well.
TENNESSEE VALLEY-
In 1854, the Azorean Portuguese helped rescue the passengers of the shipwreck of the Tennessee Valley. This history has been "whitewashed" as well.
During the 1970's, the historic buildings of Azorean Portuguese dairies still stood. Cows still roamed Tennessee Valley freely. Then the US Government and GGNRA literally burned down the Azorean Portuguese dairy farms and their historic buildings. They burned down Tennessee Valley's true history as a Southern Marin Fire Department exercise.
Question: What if the US Government and GGNRA burned down China Camp in this day and age?
Before the 1880's, the Azorean Portuguese were in Tennessee Valley decades/generations before the Azorean Portuguese dairies that have been historically covered.
DIAS RIDGE TRAIL-
Dias Ridge Trail has no acknowledgment of who the trail/property is named after: John Dias and his Dias family.
John Dias was the wealthiest Azorean Portuguese man in California. This fact is never acknowledged by either the US Government and GGNRA.
John Dias owned highly successful Azorean Portuguese dairy farms in both Southern Marin and in San Rafael next to Freijtas' dairy farm.
The US Government and GGNRA literally burned down Dias history burned down as a Southern Marin Fire Department exercise.
Question: What if the US Government and GGNRA burned down China Camp in this day and age?
BELLO BEACH AKA MUIR BEACH-
The US Government and GGNRA have both shared in "white washing" of the history of Bello Beach aka Muir Beach.
The US Government and GGNRA renamed Bello Beach to Muir Beach to attach it to Muir Woods to bring more tourists to the area.
John Muir never stepped foot on Muir Beach what does he have to do with it's history?
SLIDE RANCH-
My de Souza family owned and ran the Slide Ranch dairy farm.
Currently, my 15 year old prodigy guitar student's mother runs Slide Ranch. I have personally attended, cooked and performed musically at many events that were for fundraising. At each and every event Slide Ranch claims over and over again that it's history begins in 1970 with Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia. Slide Ranch completely "white washes" and basically erases it's Azorean Portuguese history (and my de Souza family's history as well) that is a much longer history than the current incarnation of Slide Ranch. I questioned the former Slide ranch president about their concerning revision of Slide Ranch's history and she stated to me that, "We (Slide Ranch) painted the window cells blue in tribute to the (Azorean) Portuguese."
ROSIE DA FONTE-
My da Fonte family also owned and later donated what is now the 11 acre Richardson Bay Audubon property where the historic yellow Lyford House is located. This is where Mrs. Terwillger conducted all of her outdoor classes during our youth. Sadly, here is only a engraved stone bench dedicated to Rosie da Fonte left on the property. The property was initially named in her honor. The National Audubon Society's sad actions of stripping her former property of her name and it's "whitewashing" of Rose "Rosie" Rodrigues da Fonte Verrall's true history is both detrimental to her and to Southern Marin's Azorean Portuguese history in general. I want to get it changed back.
ROSE "ROSIE" RODRIGUES DA FONTE VERRALL (1883 - 1964)-
Rose "Rosie" Rodrigues da Fonte Verrall
This bench was detected to Rosa da Fonte Verrall on her eightieth birthday by her many friends in appreciation of her generous gift of this property as a wildlife sanctuary August 8, 1963.
Rose "Rosie" Rodrigues da Fonte Verall was much more than "the Tiburon Goat Lady." She has been called the "most important environmentalist in the history of Marin County." In 2008, she was honored in Marin County Woman's Hall of Fame.
She is my relative. Our Azorean Portuguese surname is da Fonte not DeFonta. da Fonte means "of the fountain" in Portuguese. Our da Fonte family was a wealthy wine making family on the island of Pico in the Azores. The da Fonte family has been in Marin since the 1860's and we are still here (5 generations later). After the great San Francisco 1906 earthquake and fire our surname was anglicized from da Fonte to De Fount (a French sounding surname) due to racism towards the Portuguese which was very prevalent at the time. We are also related on her maternal Rodrigues side of her family from the island of Pico as well.
Rose "Rosie" Rodriques da Fonte Verall
2008
Environment
Rose "Rosie" (Rodrigues da Fonte) Verrall (1883 - 1964)
Giving to the community is an inherent part of life in Marin. But giving one’s entire inheritance of shoreline property to become a wildlife sanctuary is extraordinary generosity. This is the story of an incredible gift by a unique woman known as “Tiburon’s Goat Lady.”
Rose "Rosie" (Rodriques da Fonte) Verall was born in California in 1883 to her Azorean Portuguese parents who immigrated from the island of Pico in the Portuguese Azores. The da Fonte family was a wealthy wine making family on the island of Pico. Her parents, Manuel and Maria Rodrigues da Fonte, were Azorean Portuguese tenant farmers (who were also very wealthy and owned multiple, large properties in Sausalito, Mill Valley and on Mt. Tamalpais) at the Reed family’s ranch in Tiburon. The Reed family’s ranch was a Azorean Portuguese dairy farm. Rosie grew up on the 11 acre knoll along the shore of Richardson Bay, an arm of the San Francisco Bay.
The beach in front of the Reed family’s ranch was named Roger's Beach in honor of Rose Rodriques da Fonte's family as well. Rogers is the anglicized name of the Azorean Portuguese Rodriques surname. Like other ethnic groups in the United States, the Portuguese have modified their names to make them easier for English speakers to pronounce or recognize, as well as to avoid the discrimination often felt by immigrants and their progeny. Some have even Anglicized their names upon naturalization to show their pride in their new citizenship as well.
Our Rodriques da Fonte family is also related to the famed Nunes Brothers boat builders of Sausalito who hailed from Pico in the Azores as well.
In 1876, my great great grandfather Louis (da Fonte Garcia) De Fount, who was 12 years old at the time, fled the Azorean island of Faial by himself on an American whaling ship. The reason why Louis and most boys his age left the Azores is because there was a 10 year mandatory Portuguese military service law that stated that a male must enter the military at age of 14 and serve until he was 24 years of age. In Sausalito, Louis found refuge with his Azorean Portuguese relatives Manuel and Maria Rodrigues da Fonte. Louis found both shelter and much needed work on the Reed family’s ranch was a Azorean Portuguese dairy farms in Sausalito, Tamalpais Valley, Mill Valley and on Mt. Tamalpais.
In 1906, after the great San Francisco earthquake and fire, my great great grandfather, Louis (da Fonte Garcia) De Fount and his brother, Jose (da Fonte Garcia) De Fount fled San Francisco after both of their De Fount homes were completely destroyed. They found refuge with their Azorean Portuguese relatives Manuel and Maria Rodrigues da Fonte and their daughter Rose "Rosie" Rodrigues da Fonte. The brothers found both shelter and much needed work on the Rodrigues da Fonte family’s Azorean Portuguese dairy farms.
A romance developed between young John Paul Reed and Rosie, but it was squelched by his family (because of their racism towards her for being of Azorean Portuguese descent. They (John's sister, Clotilde, in particular) would not even let her into their own Reed home) because of their racist stance against the Azorean Portuguese and John never married. Before his death in 1919, Reed gave Rosie and other long-time ranch tenants parcels of his land. Rosie now owned the 11 wondrous acres overlooking the Golden Gate, where she grew up and still lived. In today's money, Rose "Rosie" (Rodriques da Fonte) Verall's 11 acre property has been valued at over 20 million dollars.
She stayed on the knoll after her marriage to Arthur Verrall in 1933, witnessing the seasons, wildflowers, and flocks of migratory water fowl. Rosie also witnessed developers fill her beloved marshes for construction. She found these changes alarming. She was determined that her property and its abundant wildlife would not fall to the developers.
In 1957 Caroline Livermore and Elizabeth Terwilliger, legendary Marin conservationists, illegally persuaded Rosie (who, at the time, was a 74 year old elderly woman suffering from mental illness (dementia and hoarding to be exact) and lived in her car on her property at the time) to sign off and donate her precious 11 acres to the National Audubon Society as headquarters for the Richardson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. Originally, as it should still be, was named in honor of Rose "Rosie" (Rodrigues da Fonte) Verrall but sadly the National Audubon Society stripped away her namesake and replaced it with the Richardson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (which is a very strange and ironic name choice because William Richardson was a British whaler who killed whales for a living and was the biggest promoter/facilitator of the whaling industry on the west coast at the time (1820's to 1850's) but this is the name the Richardson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary chose to honor?). In doing so the National Audubon Society essentially both erased and white washed this valuable part of Hispanic Azorean Portuguese history in Marin County. Let's be very clear here: The only reason the National Audubon Society has the land today is because of Rosie's generous donation. Her parcel was the key to saving the 900-acre bay from being filled, and to preserving the Tiburon shoreline for public use. Her donation is considered the single most important act of environmental preservation in the history of Marin County. Her gift opened the door to saving San Francisco Bay and protecting all the great bays of Marin as open space.
Rose "Rosie" (Rodrigues da Fonte Verrall understood the impact development would have on the quality of life. She had the confidence and support to do something about it. Because of her determination Rose was able to preserve a unique part of the threatened landscape. And generosity! Who among us would give all we owned to the community? Only Rosie.
About those goats: turns out Rose was green before her time. She considered her goats not only as pets, but as efficient lawn mowers. Hats off to Rose Rodrigues da Fonte Verrall, one of Marin’s treasures. (For more details see Saving the Marin-Sonoma Coast by Rosie’s doctor, Martin Griffin.)
THE 1890 US CENSUS FIRE-
The 1890 US Census records for the United States (including for Sausalito in Southern Marin County) burned up in a fire. Sadly, the fire destroyed almost all of the records thus in turn destroying Azorean Portuguese records and history.
SISTER CITY-
Sausalito's correct Sister City is Angustias or Horta, Faial not Cascais in mainland Portugal. It just baffles me, in a historical sense, because the connection between the Azores and Sausalito has nothing to do with mainland Portugal. Once again, this promotes an incorrect history of the Azorean Portuguese in Sausalito.
I have nothing but respect for the sister city program. It's just the city location that makes me scratch my head.
Welcome to the Sausalito-Cascais program: Sausalito and Cascais (Portugal) became Sister Cities in 2013 making Cascais Sausalito’s newest and third sister city relationship. Sausalito & Cascais have much in common based on their size, nautical heritage, waterfront communities and artistic traditions. Sausalito also has a robust history of Portuguese settlers in the area spanning from the mid 1800’s. This heritage is kept alive and well by an active Azorean community and the Sausalito Portuguese Cultural Center making this sister city relationship a natural affiliation.
GOLDEN GATE DAIRY EVENT-
In 2017, I attended Azorean Portuguese history event at Golden Gate Dairy. My old friend and neighbor Amadeo Banduchi (an Italian flower farmer who employed many Azorean Portuguese workers in Muir Beach) and Shirley Souza both revisited about how the US Government and the GGNRA stole their family's businesses and properties effectively. They both spoke to my privately about their collective views of both US Government and the GGNRA. They were both concerned about speaking out. This event was the first time that this unfortunate history was ever spoken about in public.
This Azorean Portuguese history event at Golden Gate Dairy was fimed by John Korty. John Korty is an American film director and animator. He is best known for the television film The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.
-Heath De Fount (da Fonte Garcia)-Haberlin