Relic

Object Name:

Relic

Object ID:

2017.014.017.16

Date:

circa 1852

Description:

Piece of petrified wood. Probably from California. One of a group of minerals collected by Andrew Jackson Stone (1828-1864) of Dunbarton, NH. Light brown, striated piece of silicified wood. An old separated label in the collection is inscribed in pencil, "Petrified Wood / 1000 ft down / 1400 ft in side of Mt. / Came from extinct river / channel. Calif. / Forrest Hill, Nev. Co." This appears to be the only piece of petrified wood in the collection.

Material:

Mineral

Dimensions:

H-0.9 W-1.6 L-2.25 inches

Provenance:

Forest Hill (now Foresthill) is a town in Placer County, CA, which is adjacent to Nevada County. It was established in 1850. This area was a major center of gold mining activity in the 1850s and 60s. Andrew J. Stone operated a gold mine there starting in 1852.

Part of the Ethel Cilley Stone Collection, consisting of objects, documents, photographs, and memorabilia related to James Stone (1780-1874) and his wife Mary East Beard Stone (1791-1875) of Dunbarton; their son Captain Andrew J. Stone (1828-1864) of Dunbarton, California, etc.; Wesley Page Stone (1833-1916) and his wife Alice Patten Cilley (1849-1934) of Dunbarton; and their daughter, schoolteacher and family historian Ethel Cilley Stone (1884-1981) of Dunbarton and Goffstown.

The collection descended to Ethel Cilley Stone. After her death, the bulk of her estate passed to her minister, Rev. Graham T. Rowley (1932-2012) of Goffstown, then to his children, the donors.

Credit Line:

Gift of Daniel T. Rowley and Elizabeth A. Rowley

People:

Stone, Andrew J. (1828-1864)

Subjects:

Petrified wood, Gold miners, Gold mining, Gold rushes