Peter O'Reilly Diary - 1869
Date
1869
Authors
O'Reilly, Peter
Vancouver Island Local History Society
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
DIARY SUMMARY
JANUARY
Peter O'Reilly attends Legislative Council of British Columbia in Victoria as a sitting member.
FEBRUARY
Peter inquires about purchasing adjoining lots near their Rock Bay home - attends several plays - regular meetings of the Legislative Council, confederation is a topic.
MARCH
Auction at the Wallace house on Pleasant St - field across street from O'Reilly home fenced- visits to the Trutches at their Fairfield estate - dinners at Government House.
APRIL
Court held at Yale and Lytton - Peter writes numbered letters to wife Carry - Carry and the children travel to Yale to be with Peter.
MAY
Court held in Lytton with "a heavy Calendar." - few diary entries.
JUNE
Few diary entries - death of Governor Frederick Seymour aboard the HMS Sparrowhawk - Peter returns to Victoria after being away for three months - Carry and the children remain in Yale.
JULY
Returns to Yale after ten days in Victoria to hold police and county courts - on July 25th, "Thermometer 100 in the shade" - "Smoke as thick that with difficulty the opposite bank of the river could be seen".
AUGUST
While traveling to Hope, "very much damaged many of the bridges & Corduroys (wooden roadbeds) having been burnt & an enormous quantity of fallen timber, rendering it in many places almost impassable." - fires and smoke continue for three weeks - coloured man sentenced to three-month imprisonment for giving liquor to Indian woman.
SEPTEMBER
Peter conducts an inquest after a steamer employee falls overboard and drowns - investigates shooting of John Alway, a Yale-based freighter, by his Indian guide.
OCTOBER
While traveling through mountains to Yale, Peter digs up rhododendrons to plant in his Victoria garden - Indian guide Moutsaic put on trial for shooting John Alway, found guilty & sentenced to be hanged.
NOVEMBER
Hen house and stable built - Caroline's mother, Charlotte Trutch, turns 70 years old - four days after departing Victoria for Yale, Caroline gives birth to their third child Mary Augusta O'Reilly on November 23rd.
DECEMBER
County court held at Kamloops - Peter negotiates a dispute of water rights - "the whole day lost in hearing the charge against the Chinamen for stealing Skukums (Indians) blankets." - returning to Victoria Peter learns of Governor Anthony Musgrave's intent to reduce his salary - Peter is expected to return to work immediately.
Description
Transcription of the diary of Peter O'Reilly for the year 1869. The original document is housed at the Royal British Columbia Museum & Archives, O’Reilly Family Fonds (MS-2894), Microfilm Reel A01908, Box 1, File 13.
Keywords
Peter O'Reilly, British Columbia, Victoria (B.C.), Point Ellice House (Victoria, B.C.), civil service, history, 19th century