As a way of bumping this page back to the mainstream, I thought I might give an update.
I now own matching Calaveras and a Vaquero Jacket, a kinda pumpkin colored 'river gambler' linen ruffled shirt in keeping with the Californio tradition, red silk charro style tie (again, applicable to 1851-52) and a dark red waist sash. Chuck Burrows has cut down an old blackpowder pistol belt, and is making me a pair of Botas de Alas (Californio/Mexican leather leggings they used like chaps). Josh Dabney is making me a 8 1/2" bladed Damascene Belduque that will tuck in the Botas Californio style. I have found an old use Pietta 1851 in .44 cal. (I know, the original 1851s were .36, but I just feel that shooting a .36 calliber is like firing a Beretta .380 at some one ... more apt to make them more angry than stop them). I was able to get an Oklahoma Leather 'Slim Jim' holster until I can afford to have a floral 'Winchester & Main' floral style Slim Jim and matching cartridge belt bag made for me .... I mean, I already have $1400 in a outfit for a non-paying docent position ... gotta stop, catch my breath and get every one paid before I order any more ....
As far as personas, I am still drawing up a blank ... thought I had the perfect one, but he was bushwacked (dead) a year before my period ... thought I might become Jared Sheldon', a yanqui who married into an old Mexican Family, converted to Catholicism and became a Mexican citizen in the 1830s ... I was thinking, 'Oh yeah, anglo Californio with a land grant (Now part of Elk Grove CA: for you locals, Sheldon Road is named after him) ... married into a old Californio Family ... perfect ... but then I found that he had put a dam on a local creek in accordance with an agreement with local miners.
Well the miners thought better about it ... and even tho' most did not even have legal permission to use the land, they killed Jared and several of his friends at the dam in 1851 ...