Heading:
Author: [Hancock, Samuel]
Title: Manuscript accounts by Samuel Hancock of his journey across the plains to Oregon in 1845; his participation in the Cayuse war in 1848 and after; his activities as a trader to the Indians; etc.
Place Published: Washington Territory
Publisher:
Date Published: c.1860?
Description:

Approx. 290 pages, handwritten in ink on various types and sizes of paper.

Fascinating and important first-hand account by an Oregon pioneer who ventured west in 1845, settled in the Puget Sound region, participated in the Cayuse war following the massacre at the Whitman Mission, and traded extensively with the natives of the Pacific northwest, with the account offering fresh insights into their culture and language. This is a rough, and partial, draft of the narrative as published by the Robert M. McBride Co. in 1927. The latter text seems to have been based on a manuscript written in 1860, which is now in the University of Washington library archives. That manuscript is indicated as having been actually written by Hancock's brother-in-law, Samuel D. Crocket. That manuscript was used by H.H. Bancroft in his History of Oregon published in 1886 and his History of Washington, Idaho, and Montana of 1890. This partial, but still extensive, manuscript, is markedly different than the published version, though there are many parallel passages. It provides significant insight into the hardships of frontier life, and the conflicts with the native populations as well as peaceful interactions to mutual benefit. The manuscript is divided into four parts, or folders:

• 
  Part 1: 25 leaves, blue lined paper, nearly all written on both sides. First page headed: "Travels to Oregon." It begins: "I started from Liberty Clay County Mo in the Spring 1845 bound to Oregon... I set out with 11 head of cattle & about $250 in money in company with Mr. Watt & Berbie & others on arriving at the Missourie River we swam our cattle & ferried the wagons then proceeded on to Independence which was the place of rendisvouse for the emigrants bound to Oregon..."


• 
  Part 2: 168 numbered pages, untitled, beginning "In the year 1848 I was living on the head(?) of the Puget Sound in Washington Terytory when Dr. Whitman & his family was murdered by the Kayuse Indians his mission was on the Columbia River above the dalls there was also several young ladys & children that had been left with the doct to be educated these was all taken prisoners a state of war had then commenced & a cry for volunteers was over the country I went in Portland in Oregon where the companies was to be organized..."


• 
  Part 3: Approx. 23 leaves, some disconnected with various numberings. Begins: "Winter of 1852... I again commenced trading at Near bay the natives seamed pleased to see me coming with so many goods to trade to them I was trading boath in salmon & oil having a white man hired & a native for cook we got long finely with the natives & alsoe in salting & smoking salmon & in buying oil... my oil trade extended to several tribes on the coast commencing at near bar - the Mccars & south the quinuts (?) the tribes north of the strates - the Kitanats the clarquets the Arhosets & the Nootca sound tribe - they try out the oil with hot rocks in baskets & trofts & some times hang the blubber before a hot fire & set baskets or trofts under - they use this oil as we do molasses..."


• 
  Part 4: Several disparate pieces, the first headed "In the winter of 1857", 10 pp., very closely written: "I left Sanfrancisco for Cape Flatery on the brig Kayuga Capt. davis commander... we ran before this gale 3 nites & 2 dais then we was becalmed but still a heavy roll on from southerd after the sun rose I went aloft to sea if I could sea the land... The capt. requested that I should goe to shore accompanied by the mate Mr. Ellis Mr. Gosnel Mr. Nelson Sargent & a sailor called Jim for the purpose of my talking to natives to sea whear the entrance of the straits was this I consented to do notwithstanding I knew that we was passed the place but ordered my double barel gun to be handed in the boat & all other guns our arms consisted of one double barel 2 rifles 1 large pistol & one sword we took about 3 hard biscuits to each man for to snack..."

For further excerpts from the manuscript, contact pba@pbagalleries.com.

Normal wear, generally very good, quite legible overall.