Peter O'Reilly Diary - 1874
Date
1874
Authors
O'Reilly, Peter
Vancouver Island Local History Society
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
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Abstract
DIARY SUMMARY
JANUARY
Mary O’Reilly continues to suffer from back pain – Caroline “Carry” O’Reilly is exhausted from Mary’s care, requires bed rest - Peter O’Reilly organizes the Yale district election.
FEBRUARY
Peter delivers ballots and ballot boxes to Yale - counts votes and determines Edgar Dewdney re-elected MP for Yale.
MARCH
Peter returns to Victoria and resumes domestic activities, works in garden – Mary is fitted with back brace to relieve pain.
APRIL
Peter collects additional election ballots at Yale – travel to Boston Bar in buggy made difficult by four to ten feet of snow – court held in Kamloops, Lillooet, Clinton, Lytton, and Yale.
MAY
Illness of 74-year-old Carry’s mother Charlotte Trutch, two doctors treat her with brandy and champagne, her health improves within a week - Peter attends Victoria Gas Company director’s meeting - trains a young horse.
JUNE
Horse training continues - boathouse constructed at Point Ellice - Peter returns to Yale, Lytton, Kamloops, Clinton, Lillooet to hold court – Peter listens to group of 300 Indians with Dr Israel Powell asking for “more land”.
JULY
Wedding of Captain Richard Hare and Carry Pinder (O’Reilly niece) at Christ Church Cathedral, thirty-six people attend the wedding breakfast - picnic on the “Arm” (Gorge waterway) - ball at Government House.
AUGUST
Peter temporarily replaces Magistrate Elliott in Victoria – departs for court circuit and places his horse “Archie” on board the steamer – goes bird hunting with dog “Gypsy” who lacks a hunting instinct – delays return to Victoria to take care of friend Edward Sanders who has typhoid fever.
SEPTEMBER
The Bishop’s Court trial of Dean Edward Cridge of Christ Church Cathedral for repudiating authority of Bishop Hills lasts five days - Peter participates in the trial in an advisory role as “assessor” – another court circuit proceeds with a stop in Ashcroft to see the Cornwalls and go hunting.
OCTOBER
Court in Kamloops, Lytton, and Yale – Peter visits friends in Hope before returning to Victoria – hires Indian boy “Dock” at $5.00 per month plus clothing - two tons of carrots, straw, and hay delivered - Supreme Court trial of Dean Cridge held, Judge Begbie grants injunction against Cridge.
NOVEMBER
Cridge conducts services in association with the Reformed Episcopal Church – clothing and boots ordered from Ireland – Fraser River steamer service stops due to ice – Peter hires Indians to take him upriver, continuous rain hampers trip to Hope – Yale road impassable, no further travel until conditions improve.
DECEMBER
O’Reilly and Trutch families celebrate Christmas at Government House - New Year’s Eve spent with Trutches, Hares, and Dewdneys at the O’Reilly home.
Description
Transcription of the diary of Peter O'Reilly for the year 1874. The original document is housed at the Royal British Columbia Museum & Archives, O’Reilly Family Fonds (MS-2894), Microfilm Reel A01908, Box 2, File 2.
Keywords
Peter O'Reilly, British Columbia, Victoria (B.C.), Point Ellice House (Victoria, B.C.), civil service, history, 19th century