1860-02-01
WEDNESDAY
Slight thaw – Paid Con. Higman
in full – who resigned this day. Also
my house accounts – Also Con.
Chisholm – who I have allowed to
remain another month. Findlaison
took up all public property from
Frank. Paid F. Dustin £34-2- for
Col Moody – Walked to Coquhalla with
Charles – Coe sent in his objection
to the lease been granted at Cornish Bar.
1860-02-02
THURSDAY
Frost – Attended court – Committed Henry
Hazel for one month with hard labour for
stealing Sergt McCall R.E. watch. Walked
over Goods claim – & very bad one
it is – got back at 5 – very tired
Spent the evening at the Fort
1860-02-03
FRIDAY
Heavy rain during the night
up early & arranged my room
fitted up curtains &c &c
Rocked with Charles but was
not very successful. D. Ogilvey
arrived & announced that the
new steamer Henrietta was
at Cornish Bar. Alard came fr
Yale – letter fr Crickmer –
1860-02-04
SATURDAY
Up very early – This day twelve
months I left home. Oh how I wish
myself back again – spent a most
lonely day. Steamer Henrietta
arrived at 9 AM. & left again at 11½
Sergt McCall came to tell me he
had seen a Bear started in search
& tracked him for hours – but could
not see him. Writing to dearest Mamsey
Sat up late –
1860-02-05
SUNDAY
Up early – Frost – Sutton & Half the town
turned out with dogs & guns in
search of the bear. Attended Robsons
service – note from Pringle – & some
books & papers for library, finished
my letter to Mamsey & wrote to Tom
Sailed this day twelve months from
Galway. Read – very lonely all day
Robsons service at 6½ – How much
I have been thinking of home all day.
1860-02-06
MONDAY
Frost – Up at 7 – Posted No 3 to
Mamsey, with enclosure to Tommy
and papers. Attended Court
at 11- O.C. Finlaison & Charles
went out to look for the bear
= no go = Remained in office all
day. Paid Humfrey Ross & Johnston
$36- for attending the survey – Charles
came in the evening.
1860-02-07
TUESDAY
Thaw – Heard rain during the night
Recd from Messrs Patterson and
$52 – duty on 52 head of cattle
brought to Chilwake – Paid a long
visit at the Fort
Robson Bible meeting
Spent the evening at the Fort
1860-02-08
WEDNESDAY
Frost & thaw – Greys boat arrived
with mail – 1 paper but no letter
How provoking – No officials – letter
& papers from Begbie – Crow called
up in the evening – Writing – In
office all day Charles came over
in the evening –
1860-02-09
THURSDAY
Heavy Fall of snow.
John Thomas lodges information against
Patrick Flinn for stealing 2 prs of Blankets.
Issued warrant, & sent Constable Chisholm and
special constable Thos Buie after him –
Several miners called about
claims – & with reference to the
Mining Rules – Party at the Fort
Findlaison in great force –
I did not go – Read –
1860-02-10 *
FRIDAY
Wet & stormy day – Landvoigt
reported that his store at Cornish
Bar had been broken open & rolled
The Young America Boat
arrived – Letters from West Minster
from Col. Moody & Grant.
Findlaison gets consolation from
Pringle.
1860-02-11
SATURDAY
Heavy rain & sleet.
In house all – made up
accts for Grant Augst Sept Oct
Nov & Decr. Up till late – Frank
came down to sign Vouchers &c
1860-02-12
SUNDAY
Happy day. Read
Robsons service at 11½ – Wrote
letters – to Grant – Ker &c –
In house all the day.
Service at 6- P.M.
Did not get to bed till late.
1860-02-13
MONDAY
Frost – Held court at 10 –
Committed Patrick Flynn for trial
for stealing – Jno Thomas Blankets –
The Prisoner got a fit of Epilepsy – & afterwards
mind wandering – sent for Dr Bradshaw
who prescribed for him.
Very Bad head ache – obliged to go
to bed.
1860-02-14
TUESDAY
Head still bad – up at 10-
The Prisoner Flynn troublesome, raving
all the night. Frank started to
Washington Bar – Saw Travalliot
about his House – Walked to
Coquhalla with Charles & Landvoigt
Finlaisons Valentine – Robsons
Bible class – Spent the evening
at the Fort.
1860-02-15
WEDNESDAY
Indians made a fearful noise
during the night – Machells
Sister committed suicide by hanging
herself = Whiskey again = Wrote to
Kelly as to service of writs in the Colony
&c In office wet all day
Present of Cramberry Jelly & Jam
from Mrs Charles. –
1860-02-16
THURSDAY
Fine morning – Walked to Maria
Ville Island – & Cornish Bar. Issued
licences, & recorded claims. Saw Coes
ditch – Some Grouse & duck but
had not got the gun – Another
Indian died from the effect of Whiskey
Entered my cash & records.
Charles came in the evening
1860-02-17
FRIDAY
Very wet night & morning –
Saw the Moors, & Michaud with
reference to Paying for their land,
but no money –
1860-02-18
SATURDAY
Fine day at accounts &c held
court. Pringle arrived with
mail – Letter from Mamsey, no
paper. The steamer Henrietta arrived
Pringle busy as ever about politics &c &c
Charles came – but packed him off
in a hurry – busy writing
Poor Fin got a finisher from Miss T.
Sat up late.
1860-02-19
SUNDAY
Very wet morning – Posted letter
No 4 – with enclosure to Molony. Service
at 11½ – bad attendance – capital sermon
on Charity. Wrote some letters –Memorial Address forwarded to
the Bishop. Service at 6½ – very
cosey sermon – Pringle dined –
Went to Fort in the evening,
Str Henrietta made her first visit to Yale
1860-02-20
MONDAY
Heavy rain all night & morning.
Recorded ditch – Cornish ditch Co
Forwarded $52- to Hemley duty paid
by Patterson & Dawson on the 7th inst.
The Henrietta- returned fr Yale & went to
New Westminster – Walked over the Town
lots with Sergt McCall – Saw a Lynx
& got two shots at him – but lost him
in the Brush. Pringle paid a late Visit
1860-02-21
TUESDAY
Feb 21st Cats & Indians making
a fearful row during the night. The
prisoner Hazel escaped fr Jail
Findlaison went in canoe to Cor
nish bar in pursuit but no go
directed Chisholm to go to Yale.
Walked with Charles & Mrs. The [Moores]
paid £10- on lot 4- – & 16£ for
[overwritten text]
Receiving Nos
3- & 4-
Rural land
1860-02-22
WEDNESDAY
Hard Frost – The cats worse than
ever during the night. Attended
Court – Greys boat returned fr Yale
Elliot & Saunders arrived from
Yale. Elliot arranged about
his court with Finlaison, walked
with Saunders – paid Pringle a
visit. – Pringle came – sat
up late chatting.
1860-02-23
THURSDAY
Up early hard frost – Walked
to Coquhalla with Saunders, went
to Victoria bar in canoe with
Elliot and Saunders, Issued
two mining certificates – Visited
Puget Sound bar – home at 6 ½ –
Tired & turned in early.
1860-02-24
FRIDAY
Machell took his departure in a [illegible].
Beautiful day. Held court – Walked
with Charles to the Trap – held
Lemprier arrived with two Engineers
on route to Yale to lay out waggon
road. Brought up new map of the
Town &c – Dined & slept – Charles
& Pringle came in the evening, the
latter & Findlaison had some high
words –
1860-02-25
SATURDAY
Up early wet morning – Lemprier
started for Yale taking with him Sergt
McCall & Sapr Turner – Pringle went with
them but was late as usual. Paid off the Survey
party. Recd £2- arrears of crown rent
fr Thos Edwards. In office nearly all day
Called on Mrs Charles – Long visit from
Robson –
1860-02-26
SUNDAY
Fine morning – Up early walked
to Coquhalla with Charles, caught
Fisher in traps length [left blank]
weight – [left blank]
No service Pringle not returned
fr Yale – Robson at 11- & 6 ½ – Read –
Charles came in the evening –
The Douglas mail sent here by
mistake
1860-02-27
MONDAY
Walked with Charles to the Trap
Held – Busy in office all day
Prisoner Hazel who escaped
on the 21 – rearrested by Constable
Badcock at Hills Bar. Pringle
fidgetty as ever & started for
Westminster he wanted me to let
Chisholm go with him – but I refused
Posted letter to McDermott
1860-02-28
TUESDAY
Up early & visited the Traps
Helo – In office all day – most
uncosey day – could not do
my work – How I wished for
a chat with Mamsey – Robson
held his Bible class – Spent
evening at the Fort.
1860-02-29
WEDNESDAY
Slight Frost
J. P. & S. Moore Paid the balance
of 1st instalment due $61-25 on lot 4 –
Greys boat went down river.
Lempriere arrived from Yale dined
& spent evening at the Fort – Met the
Miss Greys. – Lemprier promised
to have something done about a
Bridge over Coquihalla –
Back to Peter O’Reilly’s 1860 Diary
Peter O’Reilly’s 1860 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.