Between 1848-1849 Came To California On Horseback.
Between 1850-1851 Returned To Tenn.
1853 Returned To California
He originally mined along the American River, but eventually came to
Mariposa County where he discovered a placer gold deposit on Big Spring Hill.
Sometime between 1853 -1956.
Between 1853-1857 Moved Family To Missouri
1857 Moved Family To California. He financed his own wagon train and the families were
to work off the debt.

He settled at the top of Big Spring Hill and named their town Sebastopol
Flats in honor of an uncle who died at Sebastopol, Russia while fighting in the
Crimean War. At one time there were as many as 14 buildings in the town site.
He donated the property and the building for the first Sebastopol School,
which was in use many years until the new Sebastopol School was built on Bootjack
Road, also on Hart land.

David Hart supported his family by mining and cattle ranching.

1877 MARIPOSA COUNTY Deliquent Tax List= Mariposa County- transcribed from the Mariposa Gazette February 10, 1877- by William Disbro
HART, David, possesory right , title and interest to pre-emption of east half of northeast quarter of section 32, township 5, range 19 east, containing 160 acres of land, valued at $350; improvements thereon $200; also quartz mine on section 32, township 5, range 19 east, about half mile south from the residence of David HART, 1,500 feet in lenght, valued at $100; also quartz mine situated on section 32, township 5, range 19 east called the John Snow Mine, situated on Sebastopal Hill about a quarter of a mile south of the residence of David HART, valued at $200; also mining ditch conveying water from Chowchilla to Sebastopal Flat, on Cariboo, about nine miles in length, valued at $100; total $1,875; total tax $61.21; poll tax delinquent $4; collectors costs $2.50.

Resided in Bootjack, Mariposa Co., CA

1880 United States Census
Marital Birth B-place
Name Rel Status Sex Race Age place Occup Fa Mo
David HART Self M M W 55 TN Farmer NC ---
Nancy HART Wife M F W 55 TN Keeping House NC TN
Lawrence HART Son S M W 15 CA Works On Farm TN NC
Edwin HART Son S M W 10 CA TN NC

Source Information:
Census Place Township 3, Mariposa, California
Family History Library Film 1254068
NA Film Number T9-0068
Page Number 177A


DAILY EVENING POST, SAN FRANCSICO, CA THURS JUL 28,1881 P4 COL D
PARICIDE IN MARIPOSA
Wednesday afternoon, at Parks Saloon, in the town of Mariposa, William Hart shot three bullets into the body of his father, David Hart. The wounds will probably prove fatal. Ill feelings had existed between the parties for years.

HART ATTACKED
Merced Express, July 30, 1881
ATTEMPTED PATRICIDE. – We learn the particulars of an attempt of William Hart to murder his father, David Hart, at Mariposa last Wednesday, from Judge Corcoran, of that place. A misunderstanding had existed between father and son for some time, when the parties met in the Comet saloon, and after a few angry words the young man drew his pistol and fired three shots one taking effect in the head, on in the neck, and one in the wrist of the old man. The son then knocked his father down and beat him over the head with the pistol, until taken away by bystanders. After the wounds were dressed the old man rode to his home, several miles distant, in a wagon. William Hart was arrested and is now in jail at Mariposa.

HART ALMOST MURDER
Merced Express, August 6, 1881
Almost a Murder.
[Mariposa Gazette, July 30.]
Last Wednesday afternoon our quiet town was thrown into fever excitement by the report that William Hart had made an attempt to kill his father. The particulars are about as follows:
For a long time there has been trouble in the family, but the nature of these troubles we are not acquainted with, nor do we wish to known, for it is nobody’s business but their own. Last Wednesday, the old gentleman brought to town a load of watermelons to sell, and William was in town on the same day on some business. The old gentleman, in company with another man and the proprietor of the "Comet" saloon, stepped in side to take a drink. William happened to be standing at the bar on the entrance of the party, and was asked by one of them to join in a sociable. He accepted the invitation and squared around to the bar. The old man demurred to this and said i n low tone, "I guess I don’t want anything." The son overheard this and said, "We had better settle this difficulty right here," (or words to that effect), and walked up to the old man and tapped him lightly on the shoulder. At this point of the trouble the old man gathered up a bottle standing on the bar and struck the young man a blow on the cheek, whereupon, William drew a pistol and commenced to fire. Mr. Jackson, who was waiting on the costumers, said to the young man, "For God’s sake don’t shoot," and got from behind the bar as quickly as possible to try to quell the disturbance, but too late, as he fired three shots in rapid succession before he could get hold of him, when the old man fell to the floor and Bill pounced upon him, when he was secured, Mr. Hart lay for a few moments on the floor, but gradually revived and rose to his feet, when he was taken to the drug store and his wounds examined by Dr. Turner, it was found that one shot struck him in the temple, the ball, a pointed slug, glancing upward and lodging in the wall of the saloon. Of the two other shots fired, one missed and one took effect in the left wrist, shattering and no doubt ruining the use of it for life. Dr. Turner extracted the ball, which was much flattened. It was a most miraculous escape from death, as the weapon was so close to his head that his face was much powder burned. This trouble is much to be regretted by all who know the parties, as Mr. Hart is an old citizen of the county, having raised a large family most of which are married and have families, and reside in this section. Bill was raised, and we believe, born in this county. Both parties reside in the Chowchilla Valley. At the time of the shooting, Sheriff Clarke and Deputies had started into the country to arrest some cattle thieves. A messenger was dispatched who overtook them at the outer edge of town, informed Mr. Clark of the disturbance, who returned placed Bill under arrest and lodged him in jail, where he awaits his trial. At last accounts the wounded man was doing well.


HART, David August 1, 1903 Mariposa Gazette: Death of David HART.
 Another old pioneer of the county and State joined the great majority on Thursday in the person of David HART. He had been in poor health for a long time and kept growing worse until death relived his suffering. He was a native of Tennessee, aged 78 years. He was one of the early settlers of the county and followed mining for many years. His death took place at his home near Bootjack. He leaves a large family to mourn his death. The funeral will take place here this morning.

Sebastapol Road and School gets its name from the Hart family. One of the Hart family members served in the Crimean War in Sepastapol. The Hart family dontated the site where the original school was built. Early families utilizing the school were: Hart, Gann, McNally, Gorden, Scott, etc.

Written by Velma McNally Tarver, 10 Jan 2004:
All the information that I have is that ggrandfather David had a mine on the Chowchilla he called The Caribou, so I suspect that is what they were referring to. Charlie and Bill had cabins there somewhere on the middle fork so I presume that is the connection. The story I was told was that they fought over an Indian squaw and Charlie shot Bill. Bill was a mean old cuss (according to my Dad), he even took a shot at his own father (David). My mother was scared to death of Charlie, but he wouldn't have harmed her. He liked my Dad and often would come through leave a horse and take a horse, or leave a box of groceries on the porch. My Dad took care of Charlie's horses while he was in prison. Charlie though, hated my Uncle Walter because of a stage robbery that Walter tried to blame Charlie for. We always suspected it was Walter involved in the robbery - ha!

1880 United States Census
Marital Birth B-place
Name Rel Status Sex Race Age place Occup Fa Mo
Nancy HART Self M F W 55 GA Keeping House GA GA
Annie HART Dau S F W 21 CA At Home TN GA
Manda HART Dau S F W 18 CA At Home TN GA
Thomas HART Son S M W 20 CA Miner TN GA
Joseph HART Son S M W 16 CA At Home TN GA

Source Information:
Census Place Township 3, Mariposa, California
Family History Library Film 1254068
NA Film Number T9-0068
Page Number 174C

HART, Mrs. Nancy April 14, 1906 Mariposa Gazette: DEATH OF MRS. HART.
Mother of Large Family Passes to the Great Beyond.
Mrs. Nancy HART, aged 80 years and a respected resident of Mariposa county, passed away at the home of her son, Lawrence, at Sebastopol, Sunday evening last. Mrs. HART was a native of Tennessee, and widow of the late David HART, who preceded her to the grave about two years ago.
Grandma HART as the deceased was affectionately termed, was a kindhearted and pleasant old lady and her demise is universally regretted. She had continuously resided in the vicinity of the scene of her death for about 45 years, and was the mother of fourteen children, seven boys and seven girls, all but two of whom survive and mourn the irreparable loss of a loving mother.
Those living are Mrs. Mary COCHRAN of Mt. Bullion; Mrs. M. VIGNOLA of Tonapah; Mrs. John J. Lord of Hornitos; Mrs. D. C. McNALLEY of Bootjack; Mrs. E. BEEVERS of Tonapah; Mrs. V. G. BRYANT of Crow's Landing; Charles HART of Bootjack; Thomas HART of Mariposa; Samuel HART of Madera; Joseph HART; Lawrence HART of Bootjack and Ed HART of Tonapah.
Pneumonia, which was the forth attack of which the old lady had suffered of that complaint, was the direct cause of death; her generally robust constitution having heretofore withstood the ravages of that disease.
The burial of Mrs. HART'S remains was held in the public cemetery of Mariposa Tuesday afternoon, and notwithstanding the inclement weather, was largely attended by sorrowing relatives, and sympathetic friends to show that last earthly respect to one whose past christian life so eminently entitled her to receive. Rev. Wm. BROWN of the Mariposa Presbyterian church officiated at the grave, and his appropriate and eloquent address forcibly and pathetically reminded all of the great and irremidial loss the death of a mother will entail.
The details of the internment were supervised by Undertaker Geo. E. NICE of Mt. Bullion.