Peter O'Reilly Diary - 1879
Date
1879
Authors
O'Reilly, Peter
Vancouver Island Local History Society
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
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Abstract
DIARY SUMMARY
JANUARY
Ice skating at Skinner’s Pond – Mrs Roscoe and children leave Victoria for England after the death of Francis Roscoe – Victoria Gas Company pays another dividend – Peter O’Reilly holds court at New Westminster - granite monument installed at Ross Bay Cemetery with inscription for Mary O’Reilly (1869-76) and Charlotte Trutch (1799-1876) – John Trutch lays out location of new stable at Point Ellice and draws a plan.
FEBRUARY
Apple trees and roses pruned – two pairs of “spectacles” arrive from England for Peter – Robert Ker, who emigrated with Peter O’Reilly in 1859, is found frozen to death in a snow drift near his Craigflower home – work commences on the new stable – court at New Westminster.
MARCH
John Trutch plans alteration to the O’Reilly home - Investment proceeds sent to Colonel Francis Ellis in Ireland – gardening and pruning continue – new road built to stable – court at New Westminster - stable is completed and the old building torn down.
APRIL
Site of old stable planted – The Union Club of British Columbia opens with Judge Matthew Begbie as its first president – court held at New Westminster, Yale, Lytton, Kamloops, and again at New Westminster.
MAY
Kathleen “Puss” O’Reilly and schoolmate Alice Ward in theatrical performance at Angela College – Flagship HMS Triumph exhibits an electric light - work commences on a house alteration and excavation for kitchen, “Everything in confusion & discomfort” – county court at New Westminster.
JUNE
Caroline “Carry” O’Reilly takes care of Lydia Ward during her illness – work on the house alterations continues, drains deepened, pipes laid – court at Yale, Lytton, Ashcroft, and Kamloops.
JULY
Court at New Westminster – house alterations complete with new kitchen – gas company dividends and loan investment interest paid out – Kathleen O’Reilly receives good marks at Angela College – Synod Executive Committee meeting.
AUGUST
Hay harvested from Fairfield – Peter pays Union Club membership – six-year-old Jack O’Reilly rides his first horse – piggery built at Point Ellice – Peter departs for his court circuit.
SEPTEMBER
Court at Yale, Lytton, Ashcroft, Kamloops, New Westminster – bird hunting with Charles Thomson – Peter promises to support Senator Clement Cornwall in exchange for a deal to purchase cattle – Peter raises money to help Reverend Jenns.
OCTOBER
Fund contributions presented to Reverend Jenns – Peter and Caroline O’Reilly visit Esquimalt Graving Dock under construction - court at New Westminster followed by bird hunting – death of Ward baby – John Trutch’s wife Zoe returns from San Francisco after an absence of eight months.
NOVEMBER
Arsenic prescribed for Peter’s headaches - death of well-known Victoria hardware merchant Ermenegildo Grancini – court at New Westminster, Yale, Lytton, and Ashcroft.
DECEMBER
Court at Kamloops and New Westminster – Steamers Reliance and Glenora sink on Fraser River – murder of John Ussher - Peter provides toys for the children in Ashcroft and Victoria.
Description
Transcription of the diary of Peter O'Reilly for the year 1879. The original document is housed at the Royal British Columbia Museum & Archives, O’Reilly Family Fonds (MS-2894), Microfilm Reel A01909, Box 2, File 7.
Keywords
Peter O'Reilly, British Columbia, Victoria (B.C.), Point Ellice House (Victoria, B.C.), civil service, history, 19th century