California Biographies

Source:
History of Napa and Lake Counties
San Francisco, Slocum, Bowen & Co., Publishers. 1881

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper 2011

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


Horatio N. Amesbury

Horatio N. Amesbury - The subject of this sketch was born in the town of Stonington, New London 
County, Connecticut, July 25,1814. He received a common school education at North Stonington, 
in that county, and at the age of sixteen commenced learning the trade of wagon and carriage making, 
serving an apprenticeship of five years. He followed that trade for the eight succeeding years, and in 
the meantime was married, March 9, 1836, to Miss Lucy W. Shaw, of his native town. In 1843 he 
sailed, as cooper and carpenter, on board the ship " Romulus," on a whaling voyage to the Indian 
Ocean and the South Pacific, being absent on this cruise three years. On his return, in 1846, he 
engaged in the business of boat building, which he followed successfully for three years, or until the 
breaking out of the excitement created by the rich discoveries of gold in California, which led him to 
go to that far distant section of the country to seek his fortune, in company with many others of his 
neighbors and fellow townsmen. On the 21st of January, 1849, he sailed, with eighty-five other 
passengers, on board the ship "Trescott," and, after a stormy voyage of six months duration, arrived 
at San Francisco on the 6th of August. After remaining a few days at San Francisco the ship proceeded 
to Benicia, where the material, partially prepared for a sloop of eighteen tons, was taken on shore 
from the ship and the vessel constructed, which was named the "J. L. Devotion," in honor of one of the 
passengers. Mr. Amesbury and four others constituted the owners of the sloop. After making several 
trips to Stockton they finally disposed of the "Devotion" for the sum of §5500. After the sale of the 
vessel, Mr. Amesbury was next employed by Dr. Semple to superintend the construction of a small 
steamer, which was intended for freight and passenger traffic on the Sacramento River. On the 
completion of the steamer he was engaged in work on the Solano Hotel, of Benicia. In July, 1850, he 
went to Napa, and was employed in building the American House, and on the completion of that 
structure he commenced farming, by leasing land of the late Hon. Nathan Coombs, northeast of his 
present place, and fanned for two years. In 1852 he purchased the farm on which he now and has 
ever since resided, being engaged in wheat and fruit raising. He now owns two hundred and twenty-
seven acres, twenty of which are devoted to orchard and vineyard. In March, 1852, he returned to 
Stonington, and, after remaining three weeks, returned, accompanied by his wife, who has ever since 
resided here. They have one adopted daughter, who was married to Mr. Frank F. Wright, of Reno, 
Nevada, on the 11th of March, 1880.