Peter O'Reilly Diary - 1864
Date
1864
Authors
O'Reilly, Peter
Vancouver Island Local History Society
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
DIARY SUMMARY
JANUARY
Peter O'Reilly attends police court in Victoria and meets with Gov Douglas - his salary increases from £500 to £600 per year - leaves for New Westminster to represent the Cariboo district as appointed member of Legislative Council for Colonial Assembly of British Columbia.
FEBRUARY
Returns to Victoria and settles into routine with wife Caroline "Carry" of visiting friends and his wife's family, the Trutches - attends church regularly and the theatre.
MARCH
Resumes attending Legislative Assembly meetings in New Westminster - Arthur Kennedy becomes governor of Vancouver Island succeeding James Douglas.
APRIL
Departure for the Cariboo - Carry travels with Peter as far as Yale before returning to New Westminster.
MAY
Nineteen days of horseback travel to reach Williams Creek - "dreadful massacar" by Indians of some members a road building crew working on the Bute Inlet trail - Peter's winter replacement and fellow gold commissioner William Cox is sent to Bute Inlet to deal with the "murderers".
JUNE
Court business resumes at Richfield and two inquests held - Walter Moberly, Joseph and John Trutch start laying out a new wagon road from Williams Creek to Quesnelle Mouth (Quesnel).
JULY
Peter writes to Tommy Ellis, son of Francis & Louisa Ellis in Ireland, about his intent to come to British Columbia - works through heavy case load - attends hospital committee and mining board meetings - inspects Trutch's work on new road.
AUGUST
Governor Kennedy and Victoria mayor Thomas Harris visit Williams Creek.
SEPTEMBER
A busy court schedule continues - an accidental mining death occurs - Peter continues writing numbered letters to his wife Carry.
OCTOBER
George Walkem elected to the Colonial Assembly for the Cariboo East district - Williams Creek hospital kept open during the winter - at Quesnelle Mouth Peter arranges the execution of five Indian chiefs found guilty of murder in Bute Inlet incident - returns to Victoria for the winter while William Cox takes his place.
NOVEMBER
Peter's pension from the Irish Revenue Police stopped - return trip to Victoria takes three weeks.
DECEMBER
Peter and Caroline move their household from Victoria to New Westminster- resumption of participation in Colonial Assembly of British Columbia.
Description
Transcription of the diary of Peter O'Reilly for the year 1864. The original document is housed at the Royal British Columbia Museum & Archives, O’Reilly Family Fonds (MS-2894), Microfilm Reel A01907, Box 1, File 8.
Keywords
Peter O'Reilly, British Columbia, Victoria (B.C.), Point Ellice House (Victoria, B.C.), civil service, history, 19th century