1859-08-01
MONDAY
Up at 5 – Heavy shower of rain
Working in garden. Went in boat
to Lands saw mill – with reference
to his settling – Went up creak
with Crickmer to clear snags
away & make a passage for the boat
Report of Belview Island being taken
by American – & The Plumper coming to
Queenborough for Troops –
1859-08-02 *
TUESDAY
Went to New West Minster
in Canoe with Bedford – found all the
Marines had left for San Juan – Lounched
with Engineers, Col Moody at Victoria
Dined & slept at Spaldings NWestminster
Musquito’s very Troublesome –
Spalding very noisy – abusing the Col
1859-08-03
WEDNESDAY
Spalding sick
Gov Douglas & Beaver arrive English mail
Recd letter from Mamsey – & McD.
Stationary from Bushby – $50.0 from
Ker & $50.0 from Stewart. Came up
to Langly in Gov Douglas.
1859-08-04 ***
THURSDAY
Writing at accts, Otter
arrived with Col Moody Parsons
& Palmer on board – Palmer starts in canoe
to order the Marines from Douglas –
Receive orders from the Col to make
out list of British subjects – Went to
Fort – Mosquitos in hundreds
Heavy rain in the evening.
1859-08-05 *
FRIDAY
Posted letter to Mamsey &
Enclosed one to R.D.C. – 2 papers for the Capt
also sketch of Langly by Bob Stewart
Gov Douglas arrives – at 9- The Moody at 10-
Appt Henry Blake came down in Moody
The Moody returned to Douglas for Marines
Wet day – Writing – & attended Court
Tea at Crickmers –
1859-08-06
SATURDAY
Bedford arrived to wait for Steamer
to go to Victoria. Steamer arrived at 8 PM
H Duff required Marines –
Working in garden – Present of
New potatoes from Pio Pio. Recd
Complaints against the What Cheer house
Beautiful day after the Rain
1859-08-07
SUNDAY
Up at 6 – Fine day –
Church at 11- Large importation
from the Fort – Walked with Crickmer
Wild & Saunders dined – Walked on
trail & obliged to run from Musquito’s
Knacka’s fight.
1859-08-08
FRIDAY
Up at 6- Pigs in garden
Attend Court – Went up the creak in
boat to see hay cut – Went to Fort & got
from Newton a list of British subjects
Five Indians arrive from New West Minster
committed by Spalding for 14 day hard labour
Man shot at New West Minster
1859-08-09
TUESDAY
Up at 5- Mr Wild started to
New West Minster – Set the five Indians
to work & swear in special Constable to
watch them – Potted a brace of grouse
Gave them to Crickmer – Working in
garden – Most anxious
1859-08-10
WEDNESDAY
Heard the cast of Nike v [Illegible]
& refered it to arbitration – The Steamer
Gov Douglas arrived at 6- PM. Mail
Letter fr the Capt & enclosure fr Mamsey.
Recd che. from Stewart for $100
& sent it to Grant – Per McDonald to
pay for Queenborough lot – Tea at
Crickmers –
1859-08-11
THURSDAY
Up at 6- Fined Jno Nike
$2-50 for being drunk & [illegible words]
Working at accounts – Sent the 5 Indians
to work on the Langley trail –
Wrote letters – Reported to the
Gov my having employed the Indians
1859-08-12
FRIDAY
Up at 6 – Wrote & posted
letters to Mamsey & McMahon [illegible]
Applied for leave of absence.
Send to Gosett my acct for April
May & June – Went on trail, to inspect
the work – Mosquitoes very troublesome
1859-08-13
SATURDAY
Up at 6- Steamer
arrived at 9- Went to Westminster
Nicol went on to Victoria – Recd my
appointment as assistant Register
Col Moody at Victoria – Returned
to Langley – in Rev Boat – 5- hours –
Wet night
1859-08-14
SUNDAY
Up at 6-
Heavy Rain – No congregation
No Church – Long talk with Crickmer
Reading –
Wylde dined
1859-08-15
MONDAY
Up at 6- Went to Fort in Rev
Boat & selected a place for bridge on
Salmon creak – Wylde very gassy
Crickmer chaffing – Revelations of
the Wylde family – Got hay put in
by Sywashes –
Very fine day.
1859-08-16
TUESDAY
Up at 6-
Went to Mashells Ranches, long
walk over prairy – much pleased
with it, met the Indians fishing
42 canoes – beautiful sight. Tide
running up very fast – Got the
remainder of Kanakas Henry’s hay
put in & salted
1859-08-17
WEDNESDAY
Up at 6- Writing letters – Went along
trail to see about bridge – Went up creak
Crickmers party arrived fr the Fort – [Simpson]
Newton Saunders &c – Cricket – Steamer
arrived at 6- My leave granted Bedford
returns [with] Mitchell goes up to Douglas
1859-08-18
THURSDAY
Up at 6- Went up creak
to select some hay – shot Kingfisher
Walked along creak – Paid Kanakas Henry
for Hay – $70- Working in garden
Edwards showing off grey mare
Musketoes very troublesome
almost as bad as ever –
1859-08-19
FRIDAY
Up at 6- Writing letters
&c made up accts to take to Victoria
Lacking any traps – Crickmer offers
to buy vegetables – Went into wood to
see the Indians cut timber. Crickmer
& Newton dined
1859-08-20
SATURDAY
Up at 6- Heard
of the accident to the Gov
Douglas – The Moody passed
up to adieu her – Went out to look
for Grouse – no go Newton & Capt
Lewis dined went in Canoe to New
West Minster. Great [fuss] about [Burnaby]
[left margin text]
and Moberly
[overwritten text]
The Plumper
at Burrards
Inlet
Slept at Spaldings
1859-08-21
SUNDAY
Nicol arrived from
Burrards Inlet – Lunched at
Engineers Camp. Dined with
Spalding – The Col Moody arrived
with the passenger of the Douglas –
The Douglas arrived from Hope – Slept
on board the Beaver – Trutch & Nicol
1859-08-22
MONDAY
Started in Beaver at 3 O.C.
AM – sighted San Juan at
12 OC – arrived at Victoria at
2- Called upon Mrs Moody
Dined at Colonial with Begbie
Slept at Colonial
1859-08-23
TUESDAY
Called on the Gov
& had a long interview, Called on
Mr Cridge Pemberton – Maine &c
great excitement with reference to
San Juan Recd letter fr Mamsey
enclosing one from Tom. Posted letter
to the Capt enclosing one to Mamsey
[overwitten text]
Dined at the
Governors with
Nicol –
1859-08-24
WEDNESDAY
Up at 7- Forwood
arrived – not sorry to see my
box from New York – Called with
Stewart at Marines Camp
Dined & slept at Carey’s –
Rolled Begbie out of Bed
1859-08-25
THURSDAY
Pic Nic at Langfords –
Jolly dance – large riding
Party – – Admiral Barnes
makes his appearance
How often I have wished myself
at the last pic nic.
1859-08-26
FRIDAY
Riding party to cedar hill
great fun some [rum] notions of
horsemanship – Dined with
Marines Higher Muskamus
Dance at Works –
1859-08-27
SATURDAY
Race between Cary &
Heaton – The latter in full racing
costume, & beaten like a hack –
Rode three heates against Pemberton
Bushby Good & Cary won all –
Rareyfied Bushby horse very successful
1859-08-28
SUNDAY
Up at 6- bathed with Ker &
Stewart Church at 11- O.C. Bob
Stewart returned to England, he &
J.R. Stuart left in the Forwood –
Lunched at the Governors – long [wait]
dined at Cary’s. [illegible words] also
beautiful night.
[overwritten text]
Sent sketch
of Langley home
by Bob Stewart
1859-08-29 *
MONDAY
Up at 6- Breakfasted with Blake –
Called up the Gov & was appointed
High Sheriff of B.C. Salary increased
to £300 – Walked with Young through
the new Government buildings &
lunched at the Governors – Goods Higher
dinner –
1859-08-30
TUESDAY
Up at 6- executed
Commissions – Recd $720 from
Main fr Bills of exchanges – Lodged 500
with Begbie – paid Newton $150
Paid Connell £12-. Recd from
Treasurer £100//13-5- on advance
Warrant 51 – Rode with Begbie
Cary’s dinner Party –
1859-08-31
WEDNESDAY
Up at 4- Left Victoria
at 6- in Eliza Anderson – The [U S ]
Active for San Juan thick fog – layto
opposite San Juan for 4 hours – passed
the Otter in Gulf – 2 miles fr Plumper pass
Arrived at New West Minster at 6 PM – Tea slept at
Spaldings – Great grumbling about [Permits]
&c Hamly abused by all the Capts’
Met Newton
Back to Peter O’Reilly’s 1859 Diary
Peter O’Reilly’s 1859 diary has been transcribed by volunteers and staff of the Vancouver Island Local History Society and is for informational purposes only. Researchers interested in this diary are advised to consult the original document housed at the Royal British Columbia Museum & Archives, found in MS-2894, the O’Reilly family fonds.