Description:

California-Bound Maine Gold Rusher Seeks Support "would save me from destitution when I arrive in California"

Maine teacher Asa W. Cole seeks the assistance of prominent businessman Daniel W. Lord of Kennebunkport and Boston for his journey to California during the Gold Rush. Cole is effusive with praise of Lord's reputation for helping the unfortunate. Cole does go to California, but it is unclear whether he tried his hand at panning or mining for gold. By 1852, he was a teacher in San Francisco and remained there for a decade.

[CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH]. Asa W. Cole, Autograph Letter Signed, to Daniel W. Lord, February 16, 1850, Alfred, [Maine]. 3 pp., 7.75" x 10". Horizontal and vertical folds; light soiling on exterior; clear postmark of "Alfred, Maine"; very good.

Complete Transcript
Alfred February 16 1850
My dear Sir
I am about to sail for California having after a very severe struggle succeeded in raising 150. Dollars, which I have paid for my passage. The vessel, California Packet, will sail from Boston the last of next week and I am very anxious to raise 50 dollars for an outfit. Now, my friend, I have tried to raise this small sum but all my exertions have thus far been in vain and I am constrained by the necessity of the case for the first time in my life to appear in the character of a beggar. For I am in debt and have no means to pay those just debts; the trustee of this estate refuses to pay my wife her allowance, provided in the will of her late husband, and consequently my wife must contest the case in court, while I must leave family, home, friends and all that is dear in life, to seek in the far west, for the means of discharging my bills and possessing something to render us comfortable hereafter. If therefore you under these circumstances could see fit to assist me in ever so small a way it would be gratefully received and would save me from destitution when I arrive in California. Be assured, your known liberality and kind sympathy so often extended to those in distress, are well understood, and on this fixed fact, my present request is wholly founded. Did I not know from authentic information that you have been the good Samaritan to many a suffering youth and aged people; that your presence has cheered the sorrowing heart within the lowly cottage; that the rigors of our inclement winters have been in a measure softened by the seasonable releif afforded by you; that the poor and unfortunate, who were willing to work, have never approached you soliciting aid, without finding you ready and willing to afford it, when you knew they were really deserving; I say did I not know all this, my hand would never have written this simple letter to you. Many of my friends think the present opportunity one not to be slighted by me; but some are utterly unable to assist me while the great majority say go by all means but are unwilling to help me, because I have the misfortune to be poor. Now to be poor I consider no disgrace; but I must say from actual experience that it is extreemly disagreeable. One thing at least it does, friends are then fully known. Can you, from your liberal store, with which Providence has been pleased to bless you, present me with a trifle to aid me in acquiring more? I hope God will bless you and yours with long life and prosperity whether you should decide to accede to my request or not and may you never be so unfortunate as to be compelled, like me, to leave your home to go on an unknown expedition without money or friends.
With these imperfect remarks I submit my hard case to you hoping that you will be guided aright in your decision and that decision, I trust, will be such as you can hereafter look upon with pleasure.
Yours truly,
Asa W. Cole
P.S. Please to write me so that I can get the letter by Monday noon as I shall go to Boston on Wednesday morn, whether I have any funds to carry with me or not.
A W. Cole

Asa W. Cole (1814-1863) was born in Maine, attended the Thornton Academy in Saco, and graduated from Bowdoin College in 1841. In February 1847, he married Susan B. Littlefield. In 1850, they lived in Alfred, Maine, where he was a teacher. His household included his wife, her four children from a previous marriage, and their two children. By 1852, he was a teacher in the Spring Valley District school in San Francisco. After teaching in California for ten years, he returned to Maine in ill health and within two weeks died at his brother's home in Kennebunkport in August 1863.

Daniel W. Lord (1800-1880) was born in Kennebunkport, Maine, to a marine businessman and his wife. After receiving an education at the Limerick Academy in Maine and the Gorham Academy in Massachusetts, Daniel Lord followed his father's profession and in 1817 began a partnership with his uncle in trade with the West Indies. He soon moved to Boston, where he had many vessels built and owned a portion of many others. His varied business interests in Maine and Massachusetts also included a tannery, a granite quarry, an early railroad to transport the granite, and a Boston bookstore. He was elected to the Maine state legislature in 1825 and served for several years in the legislature (1826-1829) and as a member of the governor's council (1838-1839). In 1824, he married Lydia Abbot (1798-1851), and in 1853, he married Lydia Patterson (1823-1884), with whom he had at least two children. In the 1850s, he was one of the overseers of Bowdoin College. In the early 1860s, he moved to the suburbs of Boston but suffered a mild stroke in 1874.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house worldwide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses who proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with signature required, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third Party Shipping Option: If a third party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third party Please copy and paste this following link into your browser: http://universityarchives.com/UserFiles/ShippingInfo.pdf. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

March 15, 2023 11:00 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000