Peter O'Reilly Diary - 1859
Date
1859
Authors
O'Reilly, Peter
Vancouver Island Local History Society
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
DIARY SUMMARY
JANUARY
Peter O’Reilly purchases ticket to New York for £18 – requests transfer of pension – visits childhood home of Ballybeg – visits with friends, trains horses, and returns to Faccary one last time to see the Ellis family.
FEBRUARY
“Busy Packing” – travels to Galway to catch New York bound ship – boards the Prince Albert in the “Saloon” (First Class) section - “Very ill nearly all on board sea sick” – “sea running mountains high” - “a hurricane rough all night” - icebergs and field ice seen – arrival in St Johns, then New York.
MARCH
Peter attends the theatre in New York City - posts letters to Mrs Louisa “Mamsey” Ellis in Ireland - arranges $125 passage to San Francisco via Panama – arrives in Aspinwall (Panama) in one week – travels by train to Pacific coast to board San Francisco-bound ship – observes rough weather, sharks, whales, porpoises – stops in Acapulco – attends two plays in San Francisco.
APRIL
Departs for Victoria aboard the Brother Jonathan with stops in Astoria and Portland - “Beautiful wooded senery all the way” – arrival at Esquimalt – unable to obtain meeting with Governor James Douglas for a few days - appointed “Resident Magistrate” for Langley - temporarily lodges at Langley courthouse - takes charge of post office.
MAY
Receives trading licences for Fort Langley - settles disputes - holds trial for Indians accused of assault, another trial involving robbery of Indians - establishes permanent lodging and starts garden - travels to Queensborough (New Westminster) for Queen’s Birthday celebrations - dinner with Royal Engineers.
JUNE
Meets with Gov Douglas - attends church services by Reverend Crickmer - writes to friends in Ireland
including Mamsey – dines with Dr Pears and Rev Crickmer - grand jury in court.
JULY
“American Independence - Firing off guns all night.” – four cases heard at Fort Langley - “musketoes in millions - remained in house all day” - Fort Langley village destroyed by fire – prepares fire report for Gov Douglas.
AUGUST
Tensions rise over the boundary dispute between the US and Britain in San Juan Islands – prepares list of all British subjects - “Queensborough” name changes to “New Westminster” as promoted by Queen Victoria - receives appointment as “assistant Register” - travels to Victoria to meet with Gov Douglas – becomes High Sheriff of BC at increased salary of £300 per year.
SEPTEMBER
“Felt very lonely all day - cannot help thinking of my old & dear friends” – travels to Hope and encounters two “Yankees” who think Peter intends to arrest them – travels to interior via Hudson’s Bay trail - “fearful hard work - at every turn a dead horse or mule”.
OCTOBER
Holds court in Hope – issues miner’s certificates - travels to Port Douglas to hold court - convicts Indian of murdering Frenchman and sentences the man to death – travels to Fort Langley - worries about Mamsey and Charlotte, “I wonder if I shall ever be with them - It is what I wish most for in this world”.
NOVEMBER
Winter sets in at Hope - holds court and issues mining certificates – ice skating – Steamer Colonel Moody runs aground causing all mail deliveries to stop - “If I were back at home once more it would take a deal to induce me to leave it”.
DECEMBER
Suffers bad headaches - purchases a 5-acre lot in Yale - holds court – disapproves of new Methodist clergyman Robson and prefers Anglican minister Pringle - mail deliveries resume – no news from the Ellis family in Ireland.
Description
Transcription of the diary of Peter O'Reilly for the year 1859. The original document is housed at the Royal British Columbia Museum & Archives, O’Reilly Family Fonds (MS-2894), Microfilm Reel A01907, Box 1, File 2.
Keywords
Peter O'Reilly, British Columbia, Victoria (B.C.), history, 19th century, civil service, Point Ellice House (Victoria, B.C.)