In many respects, Alex Crosthwaite's family history is the history of California itself. His ancestor, Philip Crosthwaite, immigrated from Ireland to what was then the Mexican municipality of San Diego in 1845, landing on October 16. Philip's immigration occurred quite by accident, as he and a friend had hitched a ride on the schooner Hopewell out of Rhode Island for a brief excursion to the Newfoundland fishing banks, only to end up in San Diego, the ship's ultimate destination.

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