Peter O'Reilly Diary - 1882
| dc.contributor.author | O'Reilly, Peter | |
| dc.contributor.author | Vancouver Island Local History Society | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-03-20T17:03:00Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-03-20T17:03:00Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 1882 | |
| dc.description | Transcription of the diary of Peter O'Reilly for the year 1882. The original document is housed at the Royal British Columbia Museum & Archives, O’Reilly Family Fonds (MS-2894), Microfilm Reel A01909, Box 2, File 10. | |
| dc.description.abstract | DIARY SUMMARY JANUARY Peter O’Reilly begins working in the garden – Charles Thomson, William Ward, and Peter agree to invest $5000 each in a “cattle spec” scheme – Peter and Carry O’Reilly attend a military ball - Joseph Trutch and Peter lend $20,000 at 8½ per cent interest. FEBRUARY Funds for a monument to Alexander Rocke Robertson solicited – Peter frequently meets with the Joseph Trutch and Clement Cornwall – Jack & Puss O’Reilly go ice skating – the family attends the opening of the Legislative Assembly to hear the throne speech. MARCH Reserve reports sent to Ottawa – partial repayment of loan to Thomas Ellis – two payments totaling $2500 made for the “beef speculation” scheme – death of Carry O’Reilly’s sister Charlotte in Nice, France – Carry prepares for her trip to England - principal in the Loan & Investment Society repaid to Peter O’Reilly, Joseph Trutch, and Captain Hare. APRIL Carry, Kathleen “Puss” and Jack depart for England, Peter who travels with them only as far as Ogden (Utah) – in San Francisco Peter arranges for ship passage and tries to hire servants for Joseph Trutch – the three family members board a train to New York City – Peter begins writing numbered letters to Carry. MAY Peter returns to Victoria but does not stay at Point Ellice – the family arrives in New York City – Point Ellice photographed by Maynard – Indian Reserve Commission departs for Barkley Sound on Vancouver Island – fishing reserves laid out for Ohiaht (Huu-ay-aht) Indians. JUNE Back pain hampers Peter’s work – reserve creation continues – Indians dissatisfied with not including settler’s claims in their reserves – return to Victoria and news of Carry’s arrival at Liverpool – hay harvested from Point Ellice field – travel up the coast first stopping at Fort Rupert and Bella Bella. JULY Arrival at Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii), reserve creation at Masset, Yan, and Hiellan – travel to Skidegate visiting Sterling’s fish oil factory where Peter hires a steamer to travel about the islands creating reserves – travel back down the coast via the poorly maintained HBC steamer Otter - stops at Rivers Inlet and Draney’s cannery - more reserves created. AUGUST Reserve creation continues through the month - the reserve crew consisting of O’Reilly, surveyor Green, assistant Bailey, cook Ah Lee, interpreter, and Indian assistants go from Bella Bella to Bella Coola – early morning departures, frequent rain, poor camping conditions, inadequate provisions characterize their experience. SEPTEMBER Failing to procure another steamer, travel continues by canoe to establish reserves – Peter annoyed with surveyor Green for not recording his reserve notes and conversations with Indians – return trip to Victoria after three months - stops at canneries to load cases of salmon – Peter requests seven months leave of absence starting November. OCTOBER Princess Louise and husband Marquess of Lorne (Governor General of Canada) arrive in Victoria, the first royal visit to BC – dinners and tennis with friends – Peter prepares reserve reports and accounts, Ashdown Green works on reserve drawings - meeting with Marquess of Lorne regarding situation at Metlakatla. NOVEMBER Reserve reports finished – purchase of $5000 in stock in Albion Iron Works – meeting with the Marquess of Lorne and Princess Louise – many friends visit to say farewell – Peter departs for England by ship to San Francisco, train to New York, then a ship to Liverpool which takes ten days. DECEMBER Peter reunites with Carry in London and Puss, Jack, and Frank in Folkestone where they also spend time with Captain Richard Hare & wife Carry Hare, and Carry O’Reilly’s sister Emily White – Christmas Day spent at church, dinner with family and friends. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/1828/21991 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.subject | Peter O'Reilly | |
| dc.subject | British Columbia | |
| dc.subject | Victoria (B.C.) | |
| dc.subject | Point Ellice House (Victoria, B.C.) | |
| dc.subject | civil service | |
| dc.subject | history | |
| dc.subject | 19th century | |
| dc.title | Peter O'Reilly Diary - 1882 | |
| dc.type | Other |