1861-12-01
SUNDAY
Wet morning made an attempt at
noon to go on but returned & anchored in
the same place, Pringle big [Jim] a man
named Lake & self started fr Hope in a canoe
but were obliged to return to the boat wet
through, Wretched uncomfortable night
1861-12-02
MONDAY
No County Court Started at 10½ the heaviest
rain I ever remember for the last 48 hours
Reached hope at 3 P.M. about 1½ feet of
snow on the ground. Mr Green & his friend
Brown took up their quarters with me.
Craigie very wisely had issued notices
that there would County Court would not
be held for a week. Much to my
annoyance Mashell had not
returned from his visit to his Mother
1861-12-03
TUESDAY
Str Hope left for Yale – Revd Mr Reeves went up
in her.
Rain & sleet everything very uncomfortable
Went in a canoe to the Silver lead with
Green, Brown, Craigie Ripper (the new contractor
who took over the tools – tunnel &c @ $20- per
foot – Str returned at 2 P.M. Crickmer & family
left in her, Green & Brown also. Sent down voucher
H.B.C. to Darrah with enclosed voucher fr Thompson
to sign, also to Nind for Sheldon to sign.
1861-12-04
WEDNESDAY
Snow about 6 inches deep – slight frost
Up at 7- – In house the whole day
Allison called Crow Do – from whom
I recd 19 oz of dust less $1- ($303-00- in
payment of cash lent him. Dined
at the Fort – home at 9- O.C. & turned
in at 11- O.C.
Posted No 19 to dearest Mamsey
1861-12-05
THURSDAY
Up at 7- slight first not sufficient
to make snow bear. Walked with
Brackenridge & Craigie from the Quaque-
alla river to the big lake over the trail
blazed by Corporal Howse. Paid Mrs Charles
& Mrs Reeves a visit in the evening &
remained till 11-
1861-12-06
FRIDAY
Up at 8- a good deal of snow fell
during the night, it lay this morning
about a foot deep. Rained during the
greater part of the day – did not stir
out. Pringle & Charles called, the former
to request that I would write to the Bishop
about building him an Indian school house.
1861-12-07
SATURDAY
Fine morning. In office the entire
day Dewdney returned from the
Upper Country – dined & slept.
Very Lonely – turned in at 12
O.C.
1861-12-08
SUNDAY
Up at 8- Rain & Snow. Service
at 11- 15 present. Paid Mrs Charles
a visit. In house all day. Reading
Dewdney & Philips dined. Dewdney
slept –
Spent a most uncosey day
turned in at 11-
1861-12-09
MONDAY
Fine morning snow about 9 inches
deep. Held adjourned County Court
which kept me busy from 11- till 4
P.M. Did not stir out side
the house – evening cold & frosty
Dewdney dined & slept Landvoigt
spent the evening –
1861-12-10
TUESDAY
Rain during the night up at 7- Finished
the County Court business at 11- Reading
Framley Parsonage till 1 P.M. Pringle
called. Paid Mrs Browning a visit
who was looking very ill –
Walked with Charles – dined alone
at 6½ – & as usual spent a most
dreary lonely day & evening –
1861-12-11
WEDNESDAY
Rained all night – during the entire
day without intermission. Receiving Trading
Licenses, in house all day. Charles
called, & remind to have a chat
Horrid dull day – Dined alone &
spent another stupid lonely evening.
1861-12-12
THURSDAY
Rained nearly all the day. Put Johny
in the sleigh for the first time, he behaved
very well, but the snow was too deep.
Paid Mrs Charles a visit – Dined alone
Charles & Dewdney called enduring the
evening –
During the last fortnight the snow
has averaged about a foot, but the weather
has throughout been mild
1861-12-13
FRIDAY
Rainy morning cleared up atbou 9-
Got up a tandem with Dewdneys & Charles
horses & considering it was our first
attempt we managed very well. Str
Moody arrived at 3- P.M. English mail
Recd Nos 18 & 20 19 missing from dearest Mamsey
& heap of other letters – Heard of H.E. arrival
at Westminster. Sergt Rogerson arrived to
examine Dewdneys road for Extras. Recd fr Hume
$510- bal due of the Bishops cheque
Glennie Dewdney Charles & Anderson spent the evening.
1861-12-14
SATURDAY
Up at 5- went with Sergt Rogerson to examine
Dewdneys 3rd mile for Extras. Str returned fr Yale
& went down at 3 PM. Turnbull came in her
Paid Philips $448- on the Bishops acct.
This day 3 years how well I remember it
Would to God that the hopes of that day
may be realized, & that I may be worthy of
them. Read during the evening –
1861-12-15
SUNDAY
Very wet night & day – Service at 11- 14
present. Paid the Glennies a visit with
Dewdney. He dined with me at 5 O.C.
service at 7- 8- attended. Cannot keep
my thoughts from home, & all that occurred
these 3 years fr. today. Wretched lonely
uncosey day. Spent a couple of hours
at the Fort. Home at 10- read & turned
in.
1861-12-16
MONDAY
Rained heavily during the night, but cleared
up early & turned out to be the only fine day
we have had for a month. Held Police & County
Courts. Went to Silver lead with Dewdney & Craigie
found the men at work & getting on well
Charles called & remained a short time
This evening looks clear as if frost
was going to set in.
1861-12-17
TUESDAY
Heavy rain during the night & very wet
morning – Paid Jno Blair £140- lodged
by D. Cameron 5th Octr. Borrowed fr Charles
$510- to be repaid in American Coin
if possible – Frank, Randall & some
others left in a canoe for Westminster
Dewdney dined & slept
1861-12-18
WEDNESDAY
Frost held Court at 11- Spent
most of the morning in getting up
the Tandem. Jonny in the lead &
Dewdneys chestnut horse in the shaft
Mrs Pringle joined at – 1-
Called on Mrs Browning & Young
Dewdney & Glennie called. Young
spent the evening – went with him to see
the Indian dance at Pahalicks house
Pringle called & remained till 11½ –
1861-12-19
THURSDAY
Beautiful frosty morning. Craigie
Brackenridge R.E. Coe & 4 Indians
started to determine the altitude of the
mountain to Kamloops. Got the Sleigh shod
Drove the tandem took Mrs Charles out
for a drive, afterwards drove out to Glennies
Dewdney dined & slept –
1861-12-20
FRIDAY
Hard frost. Str hope arrived 9½
small mail. Recd letter fr [Lazaar], a present
of a case of Brandy fr Burnaby, & a number
of letters. Pringle in a state of fuss at a
letter recd fr the Bishop refusing to appoint him
Rector. Dewdney & Glennie took out the tandem
but failed – could not get the nags to go.
1861-12-21
SATURDAY
Very hard frost – spent nearly the
whole day driving the sleigh, went
out to Glennies & drove then in to town
& out again. Dewdney dined &
slept.
Str Hope returned from Yale
& went down to Westminster.
1861-12-22
SUNDAY
Frost & slight cold, service at 11- OC
14 attended. Charles & self drove out
the Miss Glennies with Dewdneys horse
Dewdney dined Charles spent the
evening – did n [left blank]
1861-12-23
MONDAY
Hard frost sent out to Kanakers
to chop wood for Glennie, & to my no
small astonishment he came in
& spent the day amusing himself
Donnelly paid the amt of Execution
against him in Smith v Donnelly
Craigie & Brakenridge returned, the latter
having become afraid to climb over the
bluffs – a great nuisance their sending such
a fool. Made arrangements for him to go to
W. Minster in the morning
1861-12-24
TUESDAY
Frost morning. Amt of execution paid
to Smith $49-50. Drove the tandem
for a couple of hours. Indians refused to
take Brakenridge to Westminster in
consequence of so much ice going down
the river. Expected Sanders, but he did
make his appearance – spent the evening
at the Fort. Pringle came in & remained
a couple of hours. Read & turned in at
11- O.C.
1861-12-25
WEDNESDAY
Hard first & snowing nearly all day
“A regular good Xmas day”
Service at 11- 17- present – Holy Communion
only 2- remained. Xmas cake at the
Fort. Recd a present of all sorts of perfumery
from Dr Bradshaw. Dined at the Fort
Dewdney do – spent a pleasant
evening. Home at 11- Read. How
much I wish I could see them all
at home – turned in at 12-
1861-12-26
THURSDAY
Slight snow – drove the tandem
took Mrs Sutton & Landvoigt out
afterwards – drove Pringle out to Glennies
Dewdney dined – drove Mrs Pringle
Mrs Charles & family Charles, Dewdney
out to Glennies, danced & spent a
very pleasant evening. Mrs P. a first
rate dancer. Home at 1- AM –
1861-12-27
FRIDAY
Heavy fall of snow, breakfasted at 10-
Pringle & Dewdney called, drove tandem
out for the Glennies & back in a heavy fall
of snow – Dined at the Fort Dewdney
dined & slept.
Contracted with Coe to build a new
kitchen, dig cellar, build two brick fireplaces
& weather board the Court House – for the
sum of $140-
1861-12-28
SATURDAY
Wrote some letters. Drove the tandem
to Glennies Mrs Charles Mrs Pringle
& the babbies – Dewdney turned
out the oppositive sleigh.
Dined at the Fort, came home
early to write but Pringle called
& remained till 11-
1861-12-29
SUNDAY
Heavy full of snow during the
night & most of the day. Service
at 11- 10- present.
Headache. Dewdney drove the Glennies
into town. I returned with them
Dewdney dined & slept – not at all
well turned in early –
1861-12-30
MONDAY
26th Nov From Hume $133-00
“ Popper per Craigie 25-00
Wrote my requisition, & made
up accounts – remained in office
till 2- Drove Pringle Dewdney & Charles
to the Glennies, put Landvoigts hors
in the sleigh – spent the evening at the
Fort. Paid George Karnaker $15-
on account of work chopping wood at
Glennies.
1861-12-31
TUESDAY
Fine clear bracing day
Therm 2- about Zero. In office
till 12-. Drove Mrs Charles & Mrs
Pringle with babbies for a couple of
hours, Dewdney dined, spent the
evening at the Fort. Home at
10- Read & turned in at 12 O.C.
So ended 1861.
Posted No 20 to Dearest Mamsey
on the 15th Jany – 1862, with enclosures
for Coulson – both were written in Decr
but no opportunity occurred for sending
them till McKay went down
Back to Peter O’Reilly’s 1861 Diary
Peter O’Reilly’s 1861 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.