Great historical Gold Rush piece dated June 1, 1849 in fabulous condition and easy to read. Very frameable. This is an indenture between Charles Gillespie (and wife) and Frederick Billings & Dewitt Thompson for $1,000, Lot 6, block 30 in Benicia. Signed by Gillespie and his wife, Henry Cooke, and McBride(?). 12 X 15". Gillespie was a passenger on the 'California', the first steamer to California. In 1865 the citizens of California wanted Pacific Coast representation on the President's cabinet. They sent in a petition and included Billings as a person who would be a good fit. No appointment was made! [Bancroft, Volume7, pp 267, Frederick Billings (1823-1890) is the namesake of Billings, Montana. He moved to San Francisco in 1848 during the Gold Rush and became one of the city's first land claims lawyer. He was appointed San Francisco's commissioner of deeds, chairman of the city's board of inspectors and judges, and territorial attorney general. He worked in the law firm Halleck, Peachy & Billings. Billings had an interest was the Overland Stage Company, of which he was an early promoter, and the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad. By age 30, he was a millionaire from his legal practice, increases in real estate values, and profits from his other enterprises, including part ownership of San Francisco's Montgomery Block. During the Civil War, Billings spoke tirelessly against California secession. Later, he became invested in the Northern Pacific Railway, and while working for this company, he purchased land in the area that would become Billings, Montana. At this time, San Jose was California's state capitol. Benicia would hold that title in 1853 and 1854. San Francisco California June 1, 1849