I found this picture several years ago on Pinterest while doing a Bluett search. On the back the gentleman was identified as J. F. Bluett, and the picture was taken in Sonora, California sometime around 1870-80. This picture peaked my interest, and I did some quick searching to see if our Bluetts were related to this Bluett.
I identified the man in the picture from Census records, naturalization records and his obituary. His name was John Francis Bluett (1841-1916). Here is his family tree starting with my 5X Great Grandparents:
John Bluett m. Ann Warne (My 5X Great Grandparents), Tywardreath, Cornwall. They had the following children:
*William Bluett
*John Bluett (my 4X Great Grandparent) who married Honor Rodda
*Phillip Bluett (I share a DNA match with a 5th cousin from this line)
*Elizabeth Bluett
*MaryAnn Bluett
Phillip Bluett was the younger brother of John Bluett, my 4X Great Grandfather. Phillip married Ann Terrell in Tywardreath. They had the following children:
*Elizabeth Jane (went to Australia)
*Phillip (went to Australia)
*John Francis (went to Tuolumne County, California)
*Susanna (stayed in England)
*Marth (went to Australia)
*Samuel Thomas (went to Tuolumne County, California)
*William (went to Tuolumne County, California)
*Louisa (went to Australia)
*Joseph (stayed in England, was in the Royal Navy)
*Thomas H (went to Tuolumne County, California)
*Ann (stayed in England)
John Bluett's Naturalization record from the Tuolumne County Archives 2 November 1863.
His obituary was published on Friday, March 31, 1916 in the Sonoran Banner. Some excerpts describe him as a "practical miner, and (he) was instrumental in locating several valuable properties among which are the Black Oak and the Live Oak in this County". "From the first he was identified with the church, being a charter member of the Soulsbyville Methodist Church and a S. S. Superintendent for years." "He was also a charter member of the I.O.O.F. of Soulsbyville and an advocate of the best in community life".
John's brother Thomas Henry also lived in Tuolumne County (Tuttletown) and worked as a gold miner. He had another brother, Samuel Thomas, who lived in Jacksonville, Tuttletown and Stockton and also worked as a miner. Yet another brother, William Bluett also worked as a miner in Tuolumne County (Carter's South, near Summerville).
Soulsbyville was an enclave of "Cousin Jacks and Jinnies" (From Proceedings of the Society for California Archaeology, 1994, Vol. 7, pages 87-93). Born in the waning days of the goldrush it boomed in 1870's-90's and withered in the 1910's after its mines closed. While the majority of Cornish miners coming to California settled in the northern mines around Grass Valley and Nevada City, a small group elected to go to the southern mines in Tuolumne County. Land and federal census records revealed that over 80% of the population in Soulsbyville had Cornish names: Barron, Bluett, Carne, Curnow, etc....Almost all of the men worked in the mines from superintendent, engineer, almalgamator, millwright, to the miners and day laborers. The Cornish brought very little in the way of material goods with them from Cornwall (usually only a small bag with personal possessions) but they did retain their traditions including singing (there is still a men's chorus in Soulsbyville, much like the Cornish Choir found in Grass Valley) and of course, food. Pasties, scalded cream of Devon and Cornwall, and saffron cake continued on as traditions, just as it occurred in Grass Valley. Cornish men were actively recruited by the Cornish Engineer R. Inch to work in the Soulsby Mine, as he recognized the value of a stable, hardworking labor force. He encouraged the miners to send for their families as soon as possible, and their presence gave the community stability and meaning. Soulsbyville never supported more than three saloons at any one time, and there were no known gambling houses or places of prostitution. The community never had, nor required, a full time policeman or jail.
So, even though they were not true '49ers, the Bluetts helped develop small communities in the Gold Country of Northern California with their hard work and dedication to community. I am proud of my deep Cornish roots and I loved being able to connect my family to yet another unique place and time in California history.
Relationship Reference: Me->Margaret Hansen Boothby->Harold Hansen->Vere Burrows Hansen->Elizabeth Jane Hurd Burrows->Harriet Bluett Hurd->John Bluett->John Bluett m. Ann Warne Tywardreath, Cornwall.
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