059: Strangers in a New Land: Two Foreigners Who Shaped Early California

This solo episode explores how two ambitious foreigners, one a Scotsman and the other an American, navigated life in Mexican California during the 1830s and 1840s. 

Though both shared a common language and elite backgrounds, their approaches to Californio society couldn’t have been more different. One embraced the culture, marrying into a prominent local family and becoming a trusted insider; the other kept his distance, building wealth and connections among fellow Americans while remaining aloof from his Californio neighbors. 

As California’s fate shifted with the U.S.-Mexico War and the Gold Rush, these contrasting strategies had lasting consequences. Their stories offer a window into the opportunities and tensions in a society on the brink of transformation, as outsiders either integrated into or clashed with a tightly woven world of family and alliances.

Transcript

Marsh and Forbes Intro 0:00

A lot of what I'm going to talk about today is taken from a presentation I did at the Western History Association conference in Kansas City at the end of October. I hope you enjoy it and please reach out to me if you have any questions. I'm happy to expand on some of the things that get brought up in this brief presentation. So in the late 1820s and 30s, as Mexico emerged from its struggle for independence, the lessening of official trade restrictions opened the doors to foreign sailors, merchants, and adventurers who soon found themselves dealing with the web of family formed the backbone of Spanish American society. Before that, say before 1820, Spain had a very restrictive regimen in terms of who could come into its territories, who could trade. But with independence, Mexico saw itself needing and desiring to bring in not only trade, but immigrants into its territories, as we saw in the case of Texas or other places. Now, as I mentioned, people who came at that time, and it was almost entirely men, had to deal with different networks, which often blurred the lines between family and commerce, family and business. And these networks, these personal social networks were very common and particularly tight knit in California, in Mexican California, where the small population of Spanish descendants formed a real intricate tapestry of relationships. One man who came to California from Jalisco from Mexico in 1834, Carlos N. Híjar, who I, whose testimony I read on the podcast earlier, remarked the following, quote, Everyone called each other cousin, even though no bond of relationship united them. So, it was into this world of intertwined families that two English speaking newcomers, James Alexander Forbes and John Marsh, would make their mark.

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They're stories. While they're parallel in many ways, diverge and some crucial aspects. And they give us a glimpse into the different strategies that. Foreigners, especially English speakers. Could and did adopt and Mexican California. And the consequences of these choices in that turbulent years that follow the U S Mexico war. And California's annexation. Now Forbes and marsh both arrived in California in the 1830s. They are both well-educated and ambitious. They shared a common tongue, as I mentioned English, but they were also fluent in Spanish, which wasn't always a very common. And that was a skill. That proved invaluable in their adopted home. Both men came from elite backgrounds. And we're driven to achieve positions of status in their new environment. But despite these similarities, Forbes and marsh chose different approaches to integrating or not integrating. Into Kelly Ford and you know, society. One. James Alexander Forbes. Opted to become an insider. While the other. Uh, John Marsh. Remained decidedly on the outside. So let's start with James Alexander Forbes. Now. He was born in Scotland. In 1805. And. Before coming out to California. In 1831, he had lived in Spain. With relatives. And so he had a tie to the Spanish speaking world and Latin America. So it seems that he knew Spanish already. Um, years before coming. And he had been acculturated to Latin America. Now when he arrived in California. He quickly immersed himself in local life. And he took a job working for the Castro family. On Rancho San Pablo, which is in present day Contra Costa county. Uh, in 1832. He began working as a clerk. For pod today. Jose. There at mission Santa Clara. And in working for Biatta, he rose to the position of my or Domo, which was basically. The foreman who oversaw the mission itself. Now he traveled on behalf of the mission. And on mission business. And that caused him to make the acquaintance of many of the key members of California society at the time. And this role proved crucial in Forbes is integration into California culture. He reflected on this years later. At one of the hearings. Uh, the, the United States land commission. And he said, quote, My work is such as to cause me to be intimately acquainted with the native California population. And to ascertain their reputation. So he had insights into people's reputations. And this was very important. Now Forbes, willingness to embrace California culture extended beyond his professional life. In 1833. He received Mexican citizenship. And then the next year in 1834. He married Ana Maria Galindo. Who was a California. And Mexican California woman from a prominent local family. Forbes wasn't unusual in marrying into an influential Hispanic family. As this was a common strategy among men like him who came to California from the Pacific. Often on trading vessels. This marriage, along with Forbes active participation in various aspects of California life. Including serving as a godfather at numerous baptisms. Helped his position as an insider in California society. And notice. I'm making a distinction here between California and Kelly Forno society. So. California society means really those family networks of Spanish speaking Californians. His connections or reputation, both inside and outside California. Led to his appointment as the British government's official representative in Mexican, California. And he held this position. From 1842 to 1858 years. Now switching gears. John Marsh has journey to California on the other hand was more Securitas. He was born in Danvers, Massachusetts in 1799 and attended Harvard college. From 18, 19 to 1823. And here in the bachelor's degree there. No, he studied medicine. He never received a formal. Um, medical degree or certificate. He had a restless personality and eventually headed west. Where he worked as an Indian agent for the Sue agency at Fort Snelling in what is today, Minnesota. There. He, um, he had a child with a woman who was a part SU native. And he eventually left both his wife and son behind. And came to California in 1836, following the Santa Fe trail. To the Pueblo of Los Angeles. Now in Los Angeles, Maurice began practicing medicine, which was what he knew how to do. And he quickly accumulated enough wealth to purchase. Thanks to his medical practice, 17,000 acre Rancho, Los mega knows it. What is now a Contra Costa county? Um, He purchased the ranch. He wasn't, he didn't receive a land grant, so important distinction. Now he left Los Angeles. Soon after and took on a new role as both a rancher. And a doctor. Soon. Marsh began to travel extensively throughout Northern California from Sonoma. To Monterrey more or less. And he would treat patients for a wide variety of ailments. And he earned the respect of influential citizens. Such as Marianna Waterloo. Who was a key power broker in Northern, out to California. Uh, cash was scarce. And Mexican California. So marsh devised a payment system. Whereby he charged in cattle. So a typical visit might cost one head of cattle. While, if he had to travel to a more distant location. He might charge up to, he might charge. Up to two or three head of cattle for his services. The California's. While. They didn't like this very much. And they considered these fees to be exorbitant. We're sort of over a barrel and they valued his services enough to pay. This allowed marsh. To a mass, a considerable herd of cattle and establish himself. As an important and influential Ranchito rancher in the region. Unlike Forbes. But however marsh had a posture of aloofness from California society. And that extended to his stance on marriage. According to his biographer. Marsha said that he would never marry a and here, um, he used her. A racial slur, I'm going to leave it out. Um, but he said he wouldn't marry one of them and preferred to marry his own kind. And that's a sentiment that underscored his persistent stance. Vis-a-vis integration into California society. Marsh remained a bachelor for many years. Until he married a woman named Abigail tuck of Chelmsford, Massachusetts in 1851. And by that time, Marsh himself was about 52 years old. Now. Abigail or she, as she was known, Abby. Uh, I had a daughter with John Marsh. And sadly Abby died in 1855. Um, due to illness. Leaving a marsh to care for his young daughter, Alice. Now the different strategies employed by marsh and Forbes toward the local social fabric profoundly affected their roles within the community. James Alexander Forbes with his deep connections and cultural adaptability. Became. Uh, sort of facilitator and indispensable one. In many transactions. Uh, including land grants from the Mexican government. His bilingual skills. Helped him be a valuable witness and legal cases after the U S N X, California. And, you know, that was a time. When the Kelly Ford and you knows. Found themselves struggling to prove that they own the land. The day been granted. Right. And Forbes who was both. Fluent in Spanish, but also knew the community really well. Was very much relied upon. Uh, and this role, because of course he was also a native English speaker came from. Uh, came from the UK. And so he, he could navigate the two worlds, even though he wasn't American. Marshall also became indispensable in his own way to the community. Through his medical practice. But he maintained a more transactional relationship with his neighbors. His focus was primarily on building a network of fellow Americans in Mexican, California. And he pursued that goal pretty vigorously. As early as 1840. He began writing letters to contacts back east. And he encouraged Americans to immigrate to California. He talked about the weather. He talked about the abundance of native American labor. He really. Uh, try to bring. Americans. Who were interested in setting out from the east to populate California. His letters were published in mid Western newspapers. Particularly in Missouri. And they played a real significant role in attracting settlers to the region. So much so that Marcia's ranch became the end point of what came to be called the California trail. But his outsider status and his reputation. Also among new American arrivals for in hospitality. Often lead to resentment though. John Bidwell who came to California in 1841. With the first big Overland immigrant party. And who arrived partially. Thanks to Marcia's letters and even stayed at Marsha's ranch on arrival. Recounted an incident that illustrated marsh has precarious social standing among the local community. According to Bidwell when Maurice brought some of his hides to a nearby. Pueblo to be sold. He was so unwelcome among the other ranchers. Did he was forced to sleep under his own cart. Now as Mexico's grip on Alta, California began to weaken. And I say Alta California here, because of course. Um, Calif the peninsula Baja, California was also part of the Californias. But for the purposes of this. Podcast. We speak about California. We're mainly talking about what is today, the state of California. So. As Mexico's grip on California began to weaken Alta California. Both Forbes and marsh recognized. That the territory had an uncertain future. And they did their best to try and see if they could influence its destiny. Their visions for that destiny. However, we're pretty different. Forbes. Who was loyal to his adopted home and his Scottish roots. Hope to see California thrive, but under British influence. As British vice console, he wrote to his superiors in September of 1844. The following. Quote. I feel myself in duty bound to use all my influence to present, to prevent this fine country from falling into the hands. Of any other foreign power than that of England. Unquote. Forbes believe that only through significant reforms. Including the introduction of moral industrious settlers. And good soldiers commanded by good officers from Mexico. And quote. Could the territory be saved from what he termed. The inundation of the scum of the population of the us. Unquote. So Forbes. Uh, held out hope that Mexico could. Reform the territory. If it sent the right people. Right. And he really had an idea of. Um, U S settlers. As. Being, um, Pretty undesirable. The scum of the population of the us has pretty bad. Now marsh on the other hand. Envisioned California following. The path that was laid out by Texas. His plan was pretty ambitious and it conceived of uniting. California and Oregon together. Into a single independent nation. With its capital on the San Francisco bay. With this in mind. On March 27th, 1845. Marsh issued a call to all Americans living in Northern Alta California to come meet up in the Pueblo of San Jose on July 4th. Us independence day. To discuss his proposal. Now not much really came of this. But his idea and his efforts caught the attention. Of the U.S Consul In Northern Alta Kala and Alta California, Thomas Larkin. Who was in San Francisco. And who later contacted marsh to enlist his aid. In trying to obtain California for the U.S for the United States. As tensions between the United States and Mexico escalated in the subsequent months, marsh and Forbes found themselves on different sides of history. Marsh was taken aback by the disorder and violence of the bear flag revolt. And captain John C Fremont role in supporting it. And you can go back and listen to, or watch my. Podcast on the bear flag, revolt and Fremont and who he was and how he was involved. So marsh. Didn't like the way that played out. But. He ultimately welcomed to us annexation. His vision of California was that it become a ultimately part of the United States. And it was realized though, not in the manner he had planned. For his part, Forbes made a last ditch effort to secure British protection for California. And he used his influence with Mexican California, governor peel, Pico. To persuade him to make a formal request for that protection. But by the time Pico acted. And us forces had already taken control. Of Northern Alta, California. So, what is today? You know, from Sonoma down. Two. Monterrey. And the British government. Had instructed its ships to stay out of it. To his chagrin Forbes was ordered to remain neutral as a representative of great Britain. And he was a diplomat. So he maintained good relationships with both the California's and the new American occupation force. In the words of Russell Posner, who wrote an article about Forbes and his attempts to get a British protectorate going. For Alta California. He said Forbes efforts were. And utter failure. According to it, to Posner. They probably would have been doomed, even if he had encouragement from his home government. As it was Forbes had the unenviable role of being a helpless spectator. To the successful American takeover, the province. Where he failed. People like Larkin. Uh, Commodore Sloat, Naval commanders, slope, Naval commander Stockton, and captain Fremont. All U S officer's succeeded. Now we could add John Marsh is named to that list. Because his plan. Also succeeded. To some degree. But that was just the first part. The aftermath of the annexation and the subsequent gold rush. Brought a harsh new set of challenges for both men. Ironically marsh. Like the Mexican, California rancheros, whom he disdained. Also found himself having to defend his title to his Rancho. Against squatters. Anglo-American squatters who came and settled in his land. In addition. According to his biographer. Marsha's biographer. The local judges and juries seem to be squarely in the hands of those squatters. Who. Truth be told, flooded into the state in part, thanks to the letter, writing campaigns of marsh himself. But perhaps his most significant legal difficulty arose from a dispute. With his neighbor. Ignacio Cibrian. Whose Rancho San Miguel. But it up against his. Now the conflict, which centered around Marsha's alleged refusal to pay Macchiatos for their services on his ranch. Like. Branding and, and, you know, taking care of the cattle. Led to a lawsuit. No. Um, marsh won the case. But the animosity, it generated had fatal consequences for him. In September of 1856, marsh was murdered. Presumably by the same buck Cato's who has sued him. And his death left behind a young orphan daughter, Alice. We mentioned before. Forbes for his part. Became involved. In a venture called the new Almaden. Quicksilver mercury mine. Um, a project that would test both his finances and ultimately tarnish his reputation with English speakers in California. The complex legal battles and financial maneuvering surrounding the mine, which is outside of San Jose today. You can fact, there's, there's a park. You can go and visit to see the remains at that mine. And the mind was ultimately nationalized by president Lincoln. But all the troubles arising from that venture occupied most of Forbes later years. And it challenged the social and political capital. He had built up over decades in California. It's California entered a new era under American rule. The legacies of Forbes and marsh took different paths. Forbes, despite being criticized from, by some Anglo-Americans for his involvement in the whole mining. Um, venture, which would be very interesting to do a podcast episode about. Continuing to maintain high standing among Hispanic, California. Even for decades later. His position as a man who had fully embraced and contributed to Kelly formula society. Endured well, past 1850s. Thanks in part to the key role he played as a mediator between the Hispanic. Spanish speaking in English speaking communities. Marsh on the other hand. Gained a reputation as quote, the meanest man in California. That's also from Bidwell. And his outsider status and transactional approach to relationships. Did little to endear him either. To his Spanish speaking neighbors or as English speak or the new English speaking settlers. In the end. The lives of James Alexander Forbes and John Marsh are a steady and contrasts. Both men saw great potential in California's future and they sought to influence it. But they're different approaches. Forbes. As a Weaver of the existing social fabric and marsh. As someone who tried to replace it. Led to drastically different outcomes for each of them. Marsh for example. His efforts help secure the territory for the year. The us and his dreams for California were realized. But the violence of the era that he helped us you're in eventually caught up with him. Forbes. Whose political goals were defeated. Died at home in Oakland in 1881 at the age of 77. Having been married for 47 years. I mean, father 12 children. 10 of whom survived him. And those children. Those numerous bi-cultural children. Help continue to weave the fabric. Of a multiethnic society in California for years to come. Now. As I said, this was just a brief overview of two individuals who came to California, Mexican, California. And how they. Survived through the 1830s, forties, and fifties. There are lots of stories like theirs and. Each of those stories is particular in its own way. But I think by looking at these two guys, We can get a good feel for how. Difficult. Life was. The types of aspirations that people had. And. How. Not having your goals realized isn't always. A formula for defeat. So I hope you found this interesting. Welcome to talk about it. Send me an email, contact me, let me know what you thought. Or if you'd like to know. More about these two. Persons or their families. Both of their families also have interesting stories. And, uh, we'll keep the conversation going. Thank you.

26:57

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