The French in Gold Rush San Francisco and spiritual kinship

Abstract

The experience of long-range migrations can sever family ties, or the relationships can be upheld by both sides, at least for some time (Rosental, 1990, 1999; Bonnain, 2005). In the timeline of migrations, pioneers had to create new solidarities, while those who arrived later through chain migrations could fit in more easily. An important subject for these migrants who lived far from their country of origin was how to balance the need to keep in touch with families left behind with the need to become part of a new and diverse society of immigrants. Religion was one integrating force, although along the lines of three different melting pots. According to Will Herberg (1983), intermarriage among different nationalities occurred mainly between members of the same religious group: Catholicism, Protestantism and Judaism — the three main religious groups in America at the time. French immigrants were mostly Catholic, although there were a good number of Protestants and Jews. The establishment of a French Catholic church in San Francisco allowed the French Catholics to create new solidarities.