Peter O'Reilly Diary - 1881
Date
1881
Authors
O'Reilly, Peter
Vancouver Island Local History Society
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
DIARY SUMMARY
JANUARY
Kathleen “Puss” O’Reilly’s birthday party – Peter O’Reilly receives telegram from Prime Minister John Macdonald stating he is to assume duties of Indian Reserve Commissioner – a hogshead of claret produces 282 bottles for Joseph Trutch and O’Reilly – Peter is dissatisfied with terms of employment as I. R. Commissioner, decides to travel to Ottawa – Caroline “Carry” O’Reilly decides to go to England and begins packing, but doesn’t leave – Peter departs for Ottawa with Joseph Trutch.
FEBRUARY
Peter and Joseph travel to Tacoma by boat, then to Portland by rail, a steamer to Astoria and San Francisco where they board a train to Chicago and Ottawa – Peter meets with Senator Clement Cornwall, Edgar Dewdney, then Deputy Superintendent Vankoughnet who listens to his suggestions for the Indian Reserve Commission – Peter waits to meet with Prime Minister John Macdonald and respond to his salary, pension, and reporting concerns.
MARCH
Dewdney fails to address Peter’s concerns with Macdonald – Peter enjoys a party at the Macdonalds – meeting with Macdonald, Trutch, Dewdney, and Vankoughnet where reporting requirements discussed – agreement on Peter’s salary request of $3500 per year – Peter receives previous I R C reports created by Gilbert Sproat – short trip to Montreal taken – final meeting with Macdonald and Vankoughnet – fifteenth letter written to wife Carry - Peter paid as I R Commissioner as of January 15th and provided $1500 for travelling expenses – return trip home begins with a stop in Chicago for Joseph Trutch’s benefit.
APRIL
Extended stopover in San Francisco, plants and seeds shipped to Victoria – travel by ship to Astoria and Portland, then rail and ship travel back to Victoria – I.R.C. office established - meetings with Israel Powell, Ashdown Green, and Premier Walkem regarding the Commission’s operation – items purchased at the Rhodes auction.
MAY
Establishment of new reserves and review of Gilbert Sproat’s reserves begins - Scowlitz Reserve enlarged and cemetery reserve established – temporary Yale office established – Carry, Kathleen “Puss” & Jack join Peter and visit the Canadian Pacific Railway under construction supervised by Andrew Onderdonk – Yale area reserves created and enlarged – Queen’s birthday celebrations – Puss & Jack vaccinated.
JUNE
Travel to Williams Lake to meet with Chief William and consider settler’s pre-emption land claims in creating reserve boundaries, census of the Indians taken – reserve and census work at Soda Creek – Indian chief’s refusal of reserve land offered by O’Reilly – visit to Richfield and Barkerville where Peter had worked as a magistrate in 1864.
JULY
Reserve creation continues at Quesnel, Alkalai Lake, Williams Lake, Wycott Flat, Canoe Creek, and Dog Creek – cemeteries, grazing and fishing reserves also created – settlers Pinchbeck, Meason, Van Volkenburg, Catholic priests Grandidier and McGuckin, Indian chiefs William, George, and other chiefs all offer advice and express concern regarding reserve creation – Peter experiences intestinal problems for a week, unable to eat much or move the camp.
AUGUST
Reserves in the vicinity of Ashcroft, Lytton, and Lillooet created – reserves for the Bonaparte, Pavilion, Oregon Jack Creek, Cayoosh Creek tribes also created – census taken of each tribe.
SEPTEMBER
Reserves laid out at Seaton and Anderson Lakes – Peter returns to Victoria where he enjoys croquet and tennis – attends several nights of theatre where he sees well-known American actor William Sheridan – Carry falls from carriage onto her head, experiences several days of pain – assassinated US President James Garfield’s funeral causes Victoria shops to close early – Peter O’Reilly and Ashdown Green depart for the north coast of BC to establish reserves.
OCTOBER
Peter confers with Robert Cunningham at Essington regarding reserves, then proceeds to Fort Simpson where he meets missionary Thomas Crosby and Indians about reserve boundaries and finds disagreement with his plan – 100 acres of “good potatoe land” identified – reserves laid out on both sides of Croasdaile cannery on Naas River - Rev. Tate submits protest of reserve boundaries at Fort Simpson – reserves laid out along Skeena River.
NOVEMBER
After returning to Victoria, Peter finds rooms for the IRC office – four-year anniversary of Frank O’Reilly’s departure for England to attend school – Jack O’Reilly contracts chicken pox – Rev. William Duncan advocates altering reserve boundaries at Metlakatla – employee Chin threatens to quit - death of Francis Ellis in Ireland.
DECEMBER
Death of lawyer Alexander Rocke Robertson, Peter is a pallbearer at funeral – Bishop Ridley arrives to discuss reserve boundaries at Metlakatla – foundation repaired, and copper boiler installed at Point Ellice – money collected as a Christmas gift to Rev. Percival Jenns.
Description
Transcription of the diary of Peter O'Reilly for the year 1881. The original document is housed at the Royal British Columbia Museum & Archives, O’Reilly Family Fonds (MS-2894), Microfilm Reel A01909, Box 2, File 9 & Microfilm Reel A01912, Box 3, File 16 & 18.
Keywords
Peter O'Reilly, British Columbia, Victoria (B.C.), Point Ellice House (Victoria, B.C.), civil service, history, 19th century