Cross Made from California Gold -- Treasure Chest Thursday

Engraved A. T. B.

Charter Oak

There was a note with the partial cross. "Part of a Cross which was made for Albert T. Bishop. The wood is from the Charter Oak tree; the gold came from nuggets secured in California during the gold rush by Thomas Bishop, the father of Albert T. Bishop.

Loaned by Mrs. Roy Gilman Pavy"


Thomas was my 2nd great-granduncle, Albert my 1st cousin, 3 times removed, and Mrs. Roy Pavy my 1st cousin, 3 times removed. Both men lived in Connecticut. I obtained  the cross shortly after my grandfather's death. A room was set aside to display some personal items, and even though I was the last to pick what I wanted, I was delighted with this, and the other things I took 30 years ago. All items were related to genealogy or family history.


July 25, 2012 follow-up.
While looking at The Connecticut Historical Society Bulletin (Vol. 49 winter, 1984 #1), I came across an article called, The Charter Oak Artifacts on pages 126-157. There were many photos of items made out of the Charter Oak, including a crucifix just like the above, and many other items.

New source found 8/2018.
San Francisco Ship Passenger Lists by Louis J. Rasmussen, Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1978.

"Ship:  Panama; Type: Steamer, from Panama; Captain: Bailey; Arrived: April 22, 1850 (4:00AM); Passage: 21 days from Panama; Cargo: $300,000 in coin ($62,516 of which goes to Thomas Bell)." Thomas Bishop listed as a passenger.

ONE OF 'FORTY-NINERS' -- Sunday Obituary

From: The Bay City Tribune - March 16, 1914


WM. WESTOVER ONE OF HERE DIES SUNDAY
FORMER PROMINENT BUSINESS MAN HERE DIES IN ALAMEDA, CAL.
ONE OF 'FORTY-NINERS'


Had Distinquished Career as Active Lumberman and Banker.
____________
Older residents of Bay City will be pained to learn of the death of William Westover, which occurred in Alameda, Cal., March 15 at 5 a.m.


Mr. Westover was one of the pioneer residents of Bay City, coming here in 1864. For several years he was prominenly connected with the lumber industry, but later turned his attention to banking, being president of Second National Bank until he changed his residence to California. He built and owned the Westover block, which stood on the site now occupied by the Phoenix building, and which in its time was the principal business block in Bay City.


Gold Hunter in Forty-nine.


William Westover was born in Sheffield, Bershire county, Mass., in 1827, having passed his eighty-sixth birthday anniversary last November. His early life was passed on a farm. At the age of 22 he joined the argonauts who invaded the California gold fields in 1845, and devoted nearly two years to placer mining, at which he was fairly successful. Upon his return east he soon became interested in the lumber business, his first endeavors in this line being in Canada. It was at this time he met and married Mary D. Calver, of Simcoe, Ont., who, after more than 60 years of married life, still survives him.


During the early nineties Mr. Westover moved from Bay City to California, where he had prviously made large investments in redwood timber. For several years he engaged in lumbering near San Francisco and in the foothills of Mt. Shasta, but later he retired from lumbering and again took up the banking business, being at the time of his death at the head of two banks, one in Alameda and the other in Fruitvale.


Mr. Westover was the last survivor of his family generation. Besides his widow he leaves two sons, Delbert I. Westover of San Francisco, and William Westover Jr. of Alameda.


Note:  William Westover was my 2nd cousin, 5 times removed. I am always on the lookout for Westover ancestry, as I've over 900 of this name in my tree. Another reason for posting this is because he died in Alameda, California, and I lived there for 10 years. He was born in Massachusetts and this is where I now live.