Leese, Jacob P. (Jacob Primer), 1809-1892

Merchant, of Yerba Buena, Calif. (1836-1840) and Monterey, Calif., from 1849, where he also served as city treasurer; from 1840 to 1849 he lived on his land grant in Sonoma County, Calif.

From the description of Papers, 1836-1863. (California Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 28419813

Calif. merchant and official. Born in St. Clairsville, Ohio in 1809; came to Calif. in 1833, settling in Los Angeles in 1834. Relocated to Monterey, 1836, and entered into mercantile business partnership with Nathan Spear and William Sturgis Hinckley in Yerba Buena (Calif.). Naturalized in 1837, and married Maria Paula Rosalia Vallejo, sister of Gen. Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo. In 1841, Leese sold his Yerba Buena holdings in the Hudson's Bay Company and moved to Sonoma, where he served as alcalde. In 1846, Leese was one of the prisoners taken in the Bear Flag Revolt. Around 1849, he entered into a business partnership with Thomas Oliver Larkin in San Francisco. Leese died in San Francisco February 1, 1849.

From the description of Jacob P. Leese papers, 1836-1863. (California Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 122583461

Biographical Information

Early California merchant Jacob Primer Leese was born in St. Clairsville, Ohio, in 1809, and came to California in 1833 and again in 1834, engaging in trade in Los Angeles and later in Monterey. In 1836, Leese entered into a mercantile partnership with Monterey businessmen Nathan Spear and William Sturgis Hinckley, relocated to Yerba Buena (now San Francisco), and there opened a store. The partners ran a profitable business, trading merchandise for rancho products. Naturalized in 1837, Leese married Rosalia Vallejo, sister of General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo. In 1841, Leese sold his business interests to Hudson's Bay Company, and moved to his Sonoma ranch, still retaining extensive land holdings in Yerba Buena. Leese served as alcalde in Sonoma (1844-1845), and was one of the prisoners taken in the 1846 Bear Flag Revolt. Around 1849, he entered into a business partnership with Thomas Oliver Larkin in Monterey, traveling to China on the brig Eveline . Leese and his wife were also major land holders in Monterey County; among their claims was Rancho Sausal, deeded to Rosalia by her brother Mariano G. Vallejo. Leese left California in 1865, returning to the state in 1885. He died in San Francisco in 1892.

From the guide to the Jacob P. Leese papers, 1837-1862, (California Historical Society)