Hi all; I was cruising some of the OLD newspapers back in the 1850's (shortly after California became a state) and found some old marriage and death notices that I though I would post. Seems that alot of the posts in the "San Diego Herald" were relating to San Francisco so I am sending this to the Norcal list as well as it could help someone there as well. Here are some of what I found. These are all from the San Diego Herald (1st newspaper in San Diego County). June 5, 1851 DIED - at the Playa, San Diego, on Sunday, June 1st, of chronic diarrhea, William Valesch, aged -- years. The above named was from Baltimore and was a member of the William Tell Lodge, No. 4, I.O.O.F., of that city. He was landed from the steamship Antelope at this place on Sunday last, on her trip from Panama to San Francisco. July 10, 1851 DIED - July 7th, after an illness of a few weeks, at Tijuan, the residence of her grand-father, Don Santiago Arguello, Maria Josepa Zamorano - daughter of the late Capt. Zamorano, of the Mexican Army -- aged 17 years. This young and delicate flower, the beloved and esteemed by all, drooped and withered; and the spirit had now been recalled by that Being, who "gave and has the right to take away." It is hard to realize the fact, that one so young, so lovely, and so endeared to all her friends, by her mild and affectionate disposition, her purity, her truth, her meekness and gentleness -- Indeed by all the finer traits that adorn the female character -- should this be irrevocably taken from the midst of her loving relations and friends; and that never more on this earth, will her kind words be heard, or her sweet smile be seen -- but even now, consolation can be found in the conviction, that her angelic spirit has winged its way to a world of brighter skies. "T" August 28, 1851 DIED - at New San Diego, on Wednesday evening, the 27th, instant, of Erysipelas, Thomas L. Pickering, formerly of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, aged 36 years. October 2, 1851 DIED - at the Playa, on Monday, the 30th Sept., after a lingering illness of 10 weeks, Henry Lindsey, aged 38 years. October 16, 1851 DIED - On board Steamship California, at sea, on the 27th ult., 1851, John DeCamp, son of Jas. C. and Ellen DeCamp, late of St. Louis, Mo., aged 9 years and thirty days. On board steamship California, a child of Rev. Thomas H. Pearne, Missionary of the Methodist church, for Oregon, aged 10 months. Also, on the steamer, Mrs. Mary Flannagan, of Panama Fever. Mrs. F. was on her way to join her husband at San Francisco. September 24, 1853 MARRIED - In New York, a month or two since, Thomas Whaley of San Diego to Miss Lanning. We learn this indirectly, and are unable to give the particulars, but there appears to be no doubt that Tom did it. DIED - On Monday the 19th of September, at San Diego, after a lingering illness of one year, Don Juan Maria Maron, in the 46th year of his age. He leaves an inconsolable widow, and an interesting family of children to mourn his loss. October 7, 1853 DIED - In this city, on 3d inst, Joaquin Lopez, an idiot, aged 21 years. November 19, 1853 MARRIED - At San Antonio, Alameda County, Oct. 10, by Rev. M. Agurio, Wm. P. Toles to Maria Astonia, youngest daughter of Don Ignacio Peraine. DIED - In San Francisco, on Monday evening, Nov. 7, James C. Hackett, in the 34th year of his age. December 3, 1953 DIED - In San Diego, Nov. 29 of apoplexy, Frederic Painter, MD, formerly of New York, aged 33 years. January 28, 1854 MARRIED - In Trinity Church, San Francisco, January 14th, by the Rev. Dr. Clark, Lieut. George H. Derby, U. S. Corps of Topographical Engineers, to Mary A. Coons, of St. Louis, Mo.. Immediately after the ceremony, the bridal party repaired on board the steamer Southerner, and after partaking of a magnificanet 'dejuner a la fourchette', given in honor of the occurrence, by J. Nugent, Esq., and other friends of the party, sailed at 4 p.m. for San Diego. DIED - On board of the Golden Gate, lying in the harbor at San Diego, Mr. Isaac M. Gibson, aged about 40 years, a passenger of the Golden Gate from the Atlantic States, Mr. Givson was born in Philadelphia, and had resided in New Orleans for eleven years previous to his coming to California in 1849. He will be much regretted by his numerous friends and acquaintances. In San Diego, on the evening of January 24th (inst.) Mr. Wm. Gheen, of Chester county, Pa., aged about 54 years. February 4, 1854 MARRIED - On Sunday, January 29th, at the Mission of San Diego, by Rev. J. Reynolds, Chaplain of the Post, William French 1st Sargeant of company I. First Artillery, to Miss Virginia Anne Cogan, sister -in-law to R. Kerren. Sargeant Major. February 11, 1854 MARRIED - In San Francisco, on Christmas day, Mr. Lewis Strauss of San Diego to Miss Lena Goldman of that city. February 25, 1854 MARRIED - In San Francisco, on Sunday evening, January --th, at the residence of C. T. Hopkins, Esq., chas. H. McLelland of Bath, Maine, to Miss Louise Kendrick of N.Y. city, by F. T. Gray. DIED - On Sunday morning the 19th inst. at this place, at 3 o'clock a.m., Dona Encarnacion Ruiz, aged -- years. April 1, 1854 DIED - On March 27, 1854 on board the U. S. Sloop of War Portsmouth in the harbor of San Diego, Nicholas Turner, (colored) of pneumonia, a native of Washington D.C. May 6, 1854 MARRIED - April 20th, at Fort Yuma, Cal., in the presence of a Justice of the Peace, Leiutenant N. H. McLean, U. S. Army, Assisting Assitant Adjutant General for Southern District of Cal., officiating the ceremony, Mr. Thomas Benj. Be--late of the U. S. Army to Miss N--- Skinner, of Springfield, Illinois. May 20, 1854 MARRIED - In this city on Sunday the -- instant, by the Rev. J. Reynolds, Mr. Samuel Kirkhuff of Wilksbane, Penn, to Custoria Dewart of San Diego Viejo. September 9, 1854 BIRTH - In this city, Friday, Sept. 8th, the lady of Charles H. Pool, Esq., of a daughter. October 28, 1854 or November 4, 1854 MARRIED - In San Francisco, October 7th, by the Rev. Mrs. Hyatt, Mr. Charles E. Gibbs to Miss E. V--cest McKoen. At St. Pauls Church, Phillipsburg; ----- on the 28th ult., by Rev. Mr Whitewell, Mr. Rollin Wheeler, of San Francisco, Cal. to Blanchette L--betendm daughter of C. R. Cheputtino, ----- of the former place. November 11, 1854 MARRIED - In Los Angeles on the 30th ult., Capt. Haley late of the steamer Goliah, to Miss Ramona Sepulveda. November 25, 1854 MARRIED - On Friday, Nov. 24th, at the house of Mr. Gustavus Fischer, by the Hon. D. B. Kurtz, County Judge, Mr. Edward Schneider to Miss Louisa Fischer, all of San Diego. February 24, 1855 BIRTH - In this city, Feb 8, the lady of Frank R. Maretowsky of a son. MARRIED - In San Francisco, on the 8th inst. by Rev. Mr. Gallaglier, Mr. M. C. Ellis, of the firm of Bryand, Ellis & Winegar, to Miss Kate B. Kyne, all of San Francisco. DIED - In this City, Feb 17, Jose Antonio, son of Don Jose Antonio and Rosaria Arguirre, aged 18 months. March 31, 1855 or April 7, 1855 MARRIED - In San Francisco, on the 1st instant, by the Rev. Mr. Willey, Mr. Wm. Newell to Mrs. Mary L. Swan. We enjoyed the pleasure of a delightful dinner party with the happy pair a few days after the "event" which we shall not soon forget. Nor will the impression made on us by a pair of bright eyes, on that occasion, soon pass away. MARRIED - In San Francisco, on the 4th of March, at the Synagogue Emanuel, Mr. Charles Garson to Miss Caroline Strauss, both late of Germany. The wedding party and ball which followed the ceremony, were the most magnificent affairs that have been given in San Francisco during the season. I have access to these notices if anyone is interested. Donna Bradley