Peter O'Reilly Diary - 1872
| dc.contributor.author | O'Reilly, Peter | |
| dc.contributor.author | Vancouver Island Local History Society | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-03-30T17:03:00Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-03-30T17:03:00Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 1872 | |
| dc.description | Transcription of the diary of Peter O'Reilly for the year 1872. The original document is housed at the Royal British Columbia Museum & Archives, O’Reilly Family Fonds (MS-2894), Microfilm Reel A01908, Box 1, File 16, Microfilm Reel A01912, Box 3, File 17, & Microfilm Reel A01913, Box 8, File 5. | |
| dc.description.abstract | DIARY SUMMARY JANUARY No scheduled passenger service forces Peter O'Reilly to remain at Fort Simpson for three more weeks - Peter learns of the murder of two white men in 1862, investigates, has the Indian suspects arrested, trial to be held in Victoria - steamer Otter does not arrive, "I cannot describe my feeling of depression" - attends William Duncan's Indian Church at Metlakatla - arrives at Victoria on January 30th, friends and family welcoming him. FEBRUARY Frank O'Reilly receives a new saddle for his sixth birthday - Legislative Assembly sworn in by Judge Matthew Begbie, Lieutenant Governor Joseph Trutch opens session - Peter holds two inquests - mountain ash, horse chestnut, black locust, and maple trees planted at home. MARCH Workmen prepare croquet ground and repair house gutters - Peter works in garden - writes report on the Omineca district - Caroline and all three children, Frank, Kathleen, & Mary have sore throats and colds. APRIL Peter sells his gold bars to Bank of British Columbia - leaves Victoria for Yale with bad cold and feels "lonely and miserable" - arranges purchase of 250 pack horses and mules for railway survey - the case of two Indians accused of killing a Chinaman goes to trial in Yale - roses and lilac plants brought back to Victoria - reserve maps distributed to Indians. MAY Peter holds court at Lytton and Yale - observes Judge Begbie "behaved in his usual excentric manner, & was disagreeably facetious." - holds court at Kamloops and Ashcroft - suffers another bad headache and medicates with salts - returns to Victoria, attends Queen's birthday festivities aboard HMS Scout - attends regatta and dress ball at Government House - Dr Helmcken aids O'Reilly employee Tom who possibly suffers effects of opium - "Tom very violent - & tried to commit suicide by jumping into the sea." JUNE Very few entries. June expense accounts show a purchase of land in Penticton for $491 and three lots at Point Ellice for $450. JULY Peter and assistant Mashell depart for the Chilcotin country by way of Bute Inlet, meet the railway survey crew, prepare to proceed up the Homathko River - Indian packers refuse to work preventing the group from leaving - Peter warns of the possible failure of his "mission" - a group of 17 finally departs, but are again delayed when a recalcitrant packer strands the party on a river island taking their canoe and provisions - meeting with surveyor Hermann Tiedemann whose questionable knowledge the crew relies on - search for the survey trail which cannot be found - slow progress made through rough and rocky terrain, streams and swamps, trees cut to create bridges - Indian guide and packers needed "regardless of the cost". AUGUST Passage through the mountains surrounded by dramatic peaks and glaciers - Peter nearly swept away while crossing a glacial stream - coming out of the mountains the crew encounters Indian settlements, three horses procured - within a week the men and horses arrive at Fort Alexandria, all worn out - Peter investigates disturbances between a white settler threatened with death and the Chilcotin Indians blamed for the killing of a steer - takes statements from the accused and witnesses - return to Victoria - writes report on Chilcotin Indians - issues lease on 500 acres for silver mining - tries to attend funeral of Captain William Irving in Yale but arrives too late. SEPTEMBER Prepares for Yale election of Member of Parliament for House of Commons - court business continues at Hope and Langley - expense accounts show payments for 4000 bricks, sinking and bricking a well, and cleaning old well at home - returns to Hope, Lytton, Ashcroft. OCTOBER Edgar Dewdney elected MP for Yale - Peter hunts for snipe and ducks near Fort Langley - sends election results to Ottawa - receives payment for election expenses. NOVEMBER Repeats court circuit of Yale, Kamloops, Ashcroft, Lytton, and back to Yale - letters from Carry not received for three weeks. DECEMBER Peter & Caroline attend consecration of rebuilt Christ Church Cathedral, and witness event that leads to church schism, "Archdeacon Reece preached a sermon advocating Ritualism after which the Dean [Cridge] got up & protested against such doctrines being promulgated in his Church a painful scene insued & a number of ladies left the Church." - Peter deposits $1300 into savings bank for his children - Dr Helmcken examines daughter Mary, "who has been a great sufferer of late & has caused us much uneasiness." - departure of Lena Burgess leaves the O'Reilly's without a servant, "what a nuisance not being able to procure domestics." - Peter witnesses Legislative Assembly opening with throne speech given by Lieutenant Governor Joseph Trutch - Trutch's chosen premier, John McCreight, resigns days after a vote of no confidence - O'Reilly and Trutch families celebrate New Year's Eve together and Kathleen's fifth birthday on December 31st. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/1828/22001 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.subject | Peter O'Reilly | |
| dc.subject | British Columbia | |
| dc.subject | Victoria (B.C.) | |
| dc.subject | Point Ellice House (Victoria, B.C.) | |
| dc.subject | civil service | |
| dc.subject | history | |
| dc.subject | 19th century | |
| dc.title | Peter O'Reilly Diary - 1872 | |
| dc.type | Other |