John S. Lambert and John B. Lambert letters relating to the California gold rushAudubon, John Woodhouse, 1812-1862Lambert, John B. (John Booth), -1849Lambert, John STrask, John B. (John Boardman), 1824-1879[19--]Typescript carbon, corrected, transcript of letters and a document relating to the Lamberts' overland journey and John S. Lambert's stay in California in 1849-1851. There are four letters from John B. Lambert to his father describing his trip to New Orleans, and Texas by boat. This is followed by a letter from John B. Trask, the company's doctor, describing John B. Lambert's death, accompanied by a sworn statement declaring John B. Lambert's temperate and exemplary habits, signed by John B. Trask, J.W. Audubon, and Joseph Lambert. There are four letters from John S. Lambert to his wife Rachel describing his life in California, which includes a reference to the 1850 San Francisco fire.Acquired with the Frederick W. & Carrie S. Beinecke Fund for Western Americana.John S. Lambert and John B. Lambert of New Canaan, Connecticut, traveled to California in early 1849 with a company of men under Col. Henry L. Weed and John Woodhouse Audubon, John James Audubon's son. The Lamberts' relationship is unknown. They traveled the southern route to California, and at Rio Grande, Texas John B. Lambert was the first member of the company to die of cholera. John S. Lambert went on to California, where he mined and worked as an express courier through 1851.text