San
Francisco County
Biographies
THOMAS TENNENT
Thomas Tennent, manufacturer of mathematical
instruments, San Francisco, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October
17, 1822. On his mother’s side the Deweeses, he comes of
old Quaker stock that settled in Pennsylvania in the days of William
Penn. His father was of Scotch descent,
of the same family as Sir Thomas Tennent, the great brewer, and Sir Emerson
Tennent, noted in Ceylon research. Mr. Tennent was educated in private schools
in Philadelphia and in Pennsylvania College, not graduating,
however, preferring to begin his life work in his chosen profession. He was apprenticed in the house of William J.
Young, 9 Dock street, Philadelphia, a very prominent
mathematical instrument maker, and served seven years with him. This house covered the whole field of work,
and cast the different parts, finishing with the completed instruments. His time expired October
17, 1843,
and afterward he followed his profession until he came to California. For two years he was engaged in Massachusetts, making instruments for
a new invention that, however, did not come up to the inventor’s expectations.
He left Boston February
2, 1849,
and in twenty days arrived at Chagres river. Arriving at Gorgona, up the river, he found
the conditions favorable for freight business to Panama. Buying several horses, he made nineteen trips
for passengers, with a handsome income.
Although that district is notoriously unhealthful, no element of fear
daunted him. He was careful in his mode
of life and avoided the peculiar malarial fever of that country, but was at
last laid up with a severe attack of dysentery that reduced him to a weight of
only ninety-five pounds. Taking passage
on the brig Copiapo, a 200-ton vessel carrying 225 passengers, he started for California, arriving at San Francisco after a journey of
ninety-five days. The passengers were
severely pressed for water and provisions, and the commander had to put in at Acapulco and Monterey for supplies. Prior to the last landing they had been
reduced to half a pint of water every twenty-four hours. On arriving at Monterey Mr. Tennent left the
sea and walked to the city.
While he was awaiting his tools and
instruments that he had shipped by Cape Horn, he took a position
under William M. Eddy, then City Surveyor, and it was
he who laid out all that portion of the city west of Larkin street and both north and
south of Market. By March, 1850, his
instruments had not yet arrived, and he went to the mines. Buying a small sloop of some four or five
tons and loading it with merchandise, he started for the Trinity river. At the
end of fifteen days he got as far as Marysville, whence he paid twenty-five
cents a pound freight as far as Clear creek. There he concluded to remain, as freight to
Trinity would cost him about $1 a pound.
At this place he entered upon an undertaking which results unprofitably,
although afterward rich claims were found adjacent. He dammed the creek and excavated a race-way,
spending what money he had, besides the proceeds of his sloop and
merchandise. With only $5 in purse he
started for Sacramento, passing the sites of
the present Red Bluff, Tehama, etc., in July, 1850. At Red Bluff the thermometer stood at 110
degrees in the shade! No water was
obtainable the greater part of the way, and he suffered greatly. Meeting a friend in Sacramento who lent him $25, he
took passage on the Gold Hunter for San Francisco, and here he was laid
up for a time with chills and fever brought on by the exposures of the trip.
His tools and apparatus having arrived, he
started in business on Sacramento street, below Montgomery, and for years he was
subject to constant removal caused by fires, etc. About 1870 he located at 18 Market street, and now conducts his
business in a more substantial building at No. 4 California
street.
He has for many years been the official
time-keeper of the city, appointed by the Board of Supervisors; and it is he
who furnishes valuable tables for the newspapers. For twenty-six years he has also published
the well-known Tennent’s Nautical Almanac.
In his profession he is noted for his accuracy and the care taken with
all instruments intrusted to him or made by him. For several years he was a member of the Pennsylvania
Engine Company, No. 12, and he is now an Exempt. In early times he was a Supervisor for the
Sixth District, first appointed, and afterward twice elected on the People’s
ticket; and while in office he introduced and had passed an ordinance instituting
the present decimal system in numbering the houses; prior to that time it was
all confusion.
His family consists of one son and two
daughters, all grown up. Mr. Tennent is
a pleasant, entertaining gentleman. His
trademark, the Wooden Mariner, has been conspicuous wherever he has located,
and is familiar to the citizens of the oldest landmark in San Francisco.
Transcribed by Donna L. Becker
Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 2,
pages 142-144, Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.
© 2005 Donna L. Becker.
California Biography Project
San Francisco County
California Statewide
Golden Nugget Library