Daniel H. Goff was born in Cumberland, Rhode Island in 1811 and died in 1884. He married Louisa Maxon, who was born in 1818 and died in 1894. Together they raised four children: Maria Louise (1838-?), Jane Isabel Goff (1841-1866); William Maxon (1843-1871) who married Ella Marsh (1843-1883); and Daniel Comins (1847-1937) who married Martha Hall (1854-?).
In 1849, Daniel H. Goff traveled by ship to San Francisco, California, during the California Gold Rush of 1848-1855. He and his son William were active in the Rhode Island Militia.
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Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Goff family papers, Ms. 2008.016, Brown University Library.
Although a very small collection, the Goff Family papers provide a glimpse of nineteenth century and, to a lesser extent, mid-twentieth century American social life and customs. What is especially noteworthy about this collection is the letter of Daniel H. Goff, a native of Rhode Island, to his family; dated August 15th, 1849, it provides an account of his sea voyage from Boston, Massachusetts to San Francisco, California in his quest for gold. For historians interested in the California Gold Rush of 1848-1855, this letter provides a detailed, first-hand account of one person’s voyage in pursuit of gold during that period in United States history.
In addition to the letter by Daniel H. Goff, the collection also includes the following documentation: several military commissions of Daniel H. Goff and his son, William M. Goff; and the wills of William’s brother, Daniel C. Goff, probated 1852, and the latter’s wife, Martha Hall Goff, dated 1946.
The collection consists of seven items arranged chronologically and placed into 5 folders, with each folder labeled by name of individual Goff family member as appropriate
Bequest of Richard H. Anthony (Brown, class of 1925), a legatee of Martha Hall Goff, in 1996.
Brown University catalog record for this collection:
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