This article is about the early settler of San Diego. For the Irish politician and gambler Buck Whaley, see Thomas Whaley (politician).
Thomas Whaley (October 5, 1823 – December 14, 1890) was an early settler of San Diego, California. The residence he built there in 1857 is now a public museum called Whaley House.
Whaley was born in Manhattan, New York City, 1823 to Thomas Alexander Whaley Sr. and Rachel Pye. His father died in 1832 and his will said Thomas should receive a liberal education.
Whaley left for California during the California Gold Rush, and ending up working in San Francisco stores. This became successful, but was lost after an arson fire in 1851. He was advised to go to San Diego, so he and Lewis Franklin sailed there in 1851 and opened a store called Tienda California. He studied Spanish so he could sell to the Kumeyaay native people. The next year Franklin sold out to Whaley, and Whaley had a succession of other partners.
Whaley married Anna Eloise DeLaunay in 1853 in New York. She was born March 31, 1832, in New York City to a French family. They had six children, including Anna Amelia, George Hay Ringgold, Violet Eloise, and Corinne Lillian.
In 1857, Thomas Whaley built a house in San Diego, in the area now referred to as Old Town. It was the first brick house in San Diego. The bricks were made at Whaley's kiln in Old Town, and the walls were finished with plaster made from ground seashells. The one-story wing served as the county courthouse during 1869–1870, with upstairs rooms used as San Diego's first commercial theater and meeting rooms for the County Board of Supervisors and record storage. At times, part of the downstairs was a store. The Whaley Family lived in the home off and on until 1885, when they moved into a new home in New Town (now Downtown) San Diego. The brick house in Old Town is now a museum, Whaley House, at 2482 San Diego Avenue. It is thought by some to be haunted.
Whaley died in Old Town San Diego 1890. His wife Anna died February 24, 1913. They are buried at Mount Hope Cemetery.
According to the Travel Channel's "America's Most Haunted" TV show, the house was featured as the number one most haunted house in the United States.
^. Whaley House Museum. Archived from the original on April 23, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
External links and further readingedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thomas Whaley.
"San Diego Paranormal Research Project"
"The Whaley House", The Journal of San Diego History 6:2 (April 1960) by June A. Strudwick
San Diego Historical Society biography
Thomas Whaley House
Consignments to El Dorado: A Record of the Voyage of the Sutton (1972) ISBN0-682-47444-4, has Whaley's journal during his voyage from New York to San Francisco in 1849.
"Thomas Whaley." History, San Diego State University thesis, 1963, by Robert W. Haven.
December 15, 2023
thomas, whaley, this, article, about, early, settler, diego, irish, politician, gambler, buck, whaley, politician, october, 1823, december, 1890, early, settler, diego, california, residence, built, there, 1857, public, museum, called, whaley, house, born, 182. This article is about the early settler of San Diego For the Irish politician and gambler Buck Whaley see Thomas Whaley politician Thomas Whaley October 5 1823 December 14 1890 was an early settler of San Diego California The residence he built there in 1857 is now a public museum called Whaley House Thomas WhaleyBorn 1823 10 05 October 5 1823New York City U S DiedDecember 14 1890 1890 12 14 aged 67 San Diego California USResting placeMount Hope Cemetery San DiegoOccupationSettler Contents 1 Biography 2 See also 3 References 4 External links and further readingBiography editWhaley was born in Manhattan New York City 1823 to Thomas Alexander Whaley Sr and Rachel Pye His father died in 1832 and his will said Thomas should receive a liberal education Whaley left for California during the California Gold Rush and ending up working in San Francisco stores This became successful but was lost after an arson fire in 1851 He was advised to go to San Diego so he and Lewis Franklin sailed there in 1851 and opened a store called Tienda California He studied Spanish so he could sell to the Kumeyaay native people The next year Franklin sold out to Whaley and Whaley had a succession of other partners Whaley married Anna Eloise DeLaunay in 1853 in New York She was born March 31 1832 in New York City to a French family They had six children including Anna Amelia George Hay Ringgold Violet Eloise and Corinne Lillian Whaley was appointed President for the San Diego city Board of Trustees informally called Mayor during 1858 1859 Whaley was a Whig though the position was officially non partisan 1 In 1857 Thomas Whaley built a house in San Diego in the area now referred to as Old Town It was the first brick house in San Diego The bricks were made at Whaley s kiln in Old Town and the walls were finished with plaster made from ground seashells The one story wing served as the county courthouse during 1869 1870 with upstairs rooms used as San Diego s first commercial theater and meeting rooms for the County Board of Supervisors and record storage At times part of the downstairs was a store The Whaley Family lived in the home off and on until 1885 when they moved into a new home in New Town now Downtown San Diego The brick house in Old Town is now a museum Whaley House at 2482 San Diego Avenue It is thought by some to be haunted Whaley died in Old Town San Diego 1890 His wife Anna died February 24 1913 They are buried at Mount Hope Cemetery According to the Travel Channel s America s Most Haunted TV show the house was featured as the number one most haunted house in the United States See also editWhaley House nbsp California portalReferences edit Whaley Family Chronology Whaley House Museum Archived from the original on April 23 2017 Retrieved October 14 2013 External links and further reading edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thomas Whaley San Diego Paranormal Research Project The Whaley House The Journal of San Diego History 6 2 April 1960 by June A Strudwick San Diego Historical Society biography Thomas Whaley House Consignments to El Dorado A Record of the Voyage of the Sutton 1972 ISBN 0 682 47444 4 has Whaley s journal during his voyage from New York to San Francisco in 1849 Thomas Whaley History San Diego State University thesis 1963 by Robert W Haven Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Whaley amp oldid 1173668863, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
