O'Reilly, PeterVancouver Island Local History Society2025-03-022025-03-021900https://hdl.handle.net/1828/22297Transcription of the diary of Peter O'Reilly for the year 1900. The original document is housed at the Royal British Columbia Museum & Archives, O’Reilly Family Fonds (MS-2894), Microfilm Reel A01911, Box 3, File 10.DIARY SUMMARY JANUARY Following the death of Caroline O’Reilly in late December 1899, Peter, Kathleen “Kit”, and Frank O’Reilly travel to London, then go to Willett House in Somerset, the retirement home of Joseph Trutch – Peter suffers from a cold and receives frequent visits from Dr Ardagh – rabbit hunting and going for drives fill the time for Frank and Kit. FEBRUARY Peter notes leaving Ireland for British Columbia 41 years ago – Jack O’Reilly is authorized to sell Fairfield on behalf of Joseph Trutch for $80,000 – Albion Iron Works pays out a 10% dividend to Peter O’Reilly, Joseph & John Trutch. MARCH Peter, Frank, & Kit remain at Willett House two more weeks – return to London and shopping – Kit contracts measles and moves to a nursing home – Peter meets with Robert Ward, Robert Jackson, Frank Garforth, Maitland Pye-Smith, as well as Edward Sanders and John White with whom Peter had worked in the 1860s – Frank returns to Nelson, BC. APRIL Kit recovers from measles in London – Peter contracts a cold – returns to Willett House - Kit catches a cold, then Peter catches another cold - Josephine Pinder goes fox hunting – Peter experiences pain in his back, arms, and legs. MAY Peter receives a visit from Charles Good – Peter and Kit depart for London where Peter received medical advice to take the baths at Aix-les Bains, France – receives two years of pension backpay – shopping, lunches, and visits with Robert Falcon Scott, Henry Scudamore-Stanhope, the Ward brothers, Robert Jackson, and others - travel to Folkestone and Cheriton cemetery to plan the monument for Caroline O’Reilly’s grave. JUNE Peter, Kit, Admiral Hare and wife Carry Hare vacation in Aix-les-Bains – Peter follows a routine of baths, relaxation and sightseeing as he did when he visited there in 1888. JULY The Hares return to England and Peter and Kit continue to meet other guests lodging at Aix – Peter follows Dr Rendall’s routine of taking baths every day for two weeks – Peter and Kit meet with the Paynes from BC – departure for Switzerland. AUGUST Arrival in Paris accompanied by the Payne family, then back to Folkestone where they find that the grave monument is unfinished – on to London, shopping, and preparation for a trip to Portsmouth where they meet Sir Michael and Lady Culme-Seymour at Admiralty House – various dinners with multiple admirals and officers – Peter and Kit see Queen Victoria’s royal yacht and carriage and have their photo taken with Sir Culme-Seymour. SEPTEMBER A trip to Winchester and Bournemouth and a visit with the Davy family – return to London, use of the underground railway, “Tube – wonderful, and comfortable”, and shopping – back to Folkestone, the Carry O’Reilly grave monument is partially finished – shipment of purchased goods to Victoria arranged – return to Willett House. OCTOBER Bird hunting, croquet, and fox hunting with hounds at Willett House - visit with Joseph Trutch, Josephine Pinder, the Hares, Emily White, Baroness (Lady) Macdonald of Earnscliffe, and John and Charlotte Trutch. NOVEMBER Return to Folkestone and Cheriton to view and photograph the completed grave monument for Caroline O’Reilly – one week at Copgrove to visit Capt Bridgeman – visit with Sir Michael and Lady Culme-Seymour at Wadenhoe – return to London to arrange passage to New York. DECEMBER Shopping and preparation for return to Victoria – Peter is photographed - many friends and family visit before the departure – stormy seas create a rough voyage – one year anniversary of Caroline’s death, “How vividly the harrowing scene is before me” - Peter and Kit meet Harold Twigg on board who returns with them to New York.enPeter O'ReillyBritish ColumbiaVictoria (B.C.)Point Ellice House (Victoria, B.C.)civil servicehistory20th centuryOther