Peter O'Reilly Diary - 1867
Date
1867
Authors
O'Reilly, Peter
Vancouver Island Local History Society
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
DIARY SUMMARY
JANUARY
Peter O'Reilly attends regular meetings of Legislative Council of British Columbia as sitting member - Peter & wife Carry frequently visit Sapperton, the former Royal Engineers camp near New Westminster, BC.
FEBRUARY
Peter notes that eight years have passed since leaving Ireland - proposed governmental budget reduces Peter's salary by $1000- meets with Gov Seymour to protest wage reduction - learns of governor's desire to station Peter closer to the seat of government, not at Big Bend.
MARCH
Peter plays frequent games of fives at ball court - dinners held at Government House in New Westminster.
APRIL
Governor Seymour prorogues Legislative Council - Peter is offered Yale district replacing Edward Sanders instead of returning to Big Bend - Sanders bookkeeping at Yale is poor and Peter must reconcile before taking over - Peter prepares his Yale house, plants garden, joins church committee.
MAY
Arranging the Yale home continues - delivery of a piano - court held in Lytton and Ashcroft - Peter and Carry entertain the Seymours at their Yale home.
JUNE
No significant diary entries.
JULY
Departure for Kootenay area and Wild Horse Creek with John Trutch and assistant Mashell - lame pack horse treated with "Brandy & Ceyenne" - due to a missing bridge over Okanagan River horses must swim across, John Trutch narrowly escapes drowning - visit with Tommy Ellis - John Trutch accidently cuts leg and must stay at Fort Shepherd.
AUGUST
Meeting with constables at Wild Horse Creek - examination of record books, cash accounts - four Chinamen fined for mining without licence which causes rush by others to obtain mining certificates - an assault and murder occur.
SEPTEMBER
Peter departs Wild Horse Creek to return to Fort Shepherd to reunite with John Trutch - visits with Tommy Ellis at Penticton- returns to New Westminster.
OCTOBER
Travels to Victoria to see wife and young son Frank where they have gone to prepare for moving from New Westminster to Victoria - returns to Yale and Lytton to hold court - investigates four Indians for alleged assault on Father Le Jacq at Lytton.
NOVEMBER
Settles Le Jacq assault case fining four Indians $25 each - two Indians sentenced to death for murdering a Frenchman and two years of hard labour for killing a horse - Peter holds inquest and determines a death is caused by exposure and starvation.
DECEMBER
Execution of two convicted Indians - four Chinese men investigated for stealing $3300 from safe - Peter returns to the New Westminster home to prepare furniture for the move to Victoria - new home in Victoria burns down before moving in - another house is found, and they move in after preparing two rooms - birth of second child Charlotte Kathleen O'Reilly on December 31st.
Description
Transcription of the diary of Peter O'Reilly for the year 1867. The original document is housed at the Royal British Columbia Museum & Archives, O’Reilly Family Fonds (MS-2894), Microfilm Reel A01907, Box 1, File 11.
Keywords
Peter O'Reilly, British Columbia, Victoria (B.C.), Point Ellice House (Victoria, B.C.), civil service, history, 19th century