1859-06-01
WEDNESDAY
Up at 6 O.C.
Sale of Queenborough lots –
Working in garden – sowed seeds
Bedford, Mayne, Campbell, & Nicol
Called – on their way to Queenborough
Mrs Mould serviced & locked up for
the night.
1859-06-02
THURSDAY
Up at 7- O.C.
Gov Douglas arrived Beaver came
to stop with me – Langford to Newton
Tea at Crickmers –
1859-06-03
FRIDAY
Up at 8 O.C.
Langford called – Wrote to Mayne
about the Bills sent to him on 20th May
Boat Launched – Engineers Ball
1859-06-04
SATURDAY
Up at 6 OC
Brown started in the Beaver
for Queenborough – Dr Pears
arrived – Wet day
Went to the Fort – in the
Boat – met Nicol –
1859-06-05
SUNDAY
Up at 8- O.C.
Church at 11. O.C.
Dr Pears & Newton called –
Church at 6 O.C.
Murray – sent McMurphy Corb McKennie
& Hall went to Queenborough
1859-06-06
MONDAY
Up at 7 O.C.
Engineers preparing to leave for
Queenborough – got Boat painted &
Boat House built –
Tea at Crickmers
1859-06-07
TUESDAY
Up at 6 O.C.
Engineers left in the Recovery
at 1 P.M. drifted down – 4 boats broken – 5 men
fell over board – all saved –
Gov Douglas arrived with
mail –
1859-06-08
WEDNESDAY
Up at 7- O.C.
In Court at 10- O.C.
Working in garden.
Went up the creak in boat
bathed –
Murray started in a canoe
for Queenborough
1859-06-09
THURSDAY
Went to Langly in Boat
Houses nearly washed away
River very high.
1859-06-10
FRIDAY
Up at 5 O.C. Went in boat to
Langly to buy salmon for Col Moody
Beaver & Gov Douglas returned to
Victoria. Posted letter to Mamsey
& N. Paper to the Captain – also letter to Molony
Late for mail
1859-06-11
SATURDAY
Up at 7 O.C.
Attended Court – Working
in Garden – Went to Langley in
Boat – Bedford & Baylegate called
Bathed with Crickmer.
Bob Steward arrived fr Port Douglas
1859-06-12
SUNDAY
Up at 7- O.C.
Church at 11-
Dined at Crickmers
No afternoon service
Bedford called on his way from
Queenborough –
1859-06-13
MONDAY
Up at 7-
Spend the day at Bedfords farm
with Crickmer & Dr Pears Bob Stewart –
Bought two
horses from Bedford
for $250 –
Got back at 10- P.M.
1859-06-14
TUESDAY
Up at 6- Working in Garden
Prepared Stable for horses. Bathed
with Crickmer. Gov, Good, Ball &c
&c – arrived on their way to Port
Douglas – remained only two hours –
English mail – no letter fr Mamsey
Wet evening – Letter from Coulson
1859-06-15
WEDNESDAY
Heavy Rain – Went to Bedford’s
farm in a canoe – Paid him $100
on account of horses – Went out to
lassoe wild cattle cought one
– grand sport – very wet
1859-06-16
THURSDAY
Returned to Langley – Bedford
Baylegate – Bad headache -Wrote
to Gosset – & sent my monthly accts
River higher than [left blank]
Raining all day
1859-06-17
FRIDAY
Gov Douglas arrived from Hope
Whamell on board – sent Gaggin
$30 – enclosed to Stewart
Gardening – Baylegate returned
to Queenborough – Bedford called
Fine day
Water begins to fall
1859-06-18
SATURDAY
Up at 6 – Attended Court
Went up Creek with Crickmer
& Dr Pears – long walk up
Mt Grant – got back at 6½ PM
Very tired – dined at Crickmers –
River down 4 inches
1859-06-19
SUNDAY
Up at 8-
Church at 11-
Walked with Dr Pears –
Writing letters – Bedford arrived
& slept supped at Crickmers.
1859-06-20
MONDAY
Up at 6- – Bedford started for the
Farm – Mrs Crickmer confined
Dr Pears & Crickmer dined
Walked with Dr Pears & bathed
River fell 7- inches
1859-06-21 *
TUESDAY
Up at 6- Attended Court
Walked with Dr Pears. He &
Crickmer dined – Gov Douglas
arrived – English mail Letter fr Mamsey
Col Moody – Grant &c & 100 Engineers & [illegible]
on board Gaggin on way to Yale – Stewart
slept –
1859-06-22
WEDNESDAY
Up at 6- Stewart & McDonell
breakfasted, & started in Canoe for
Queenboro. Bob Stewart left with
them – Dr Pears & Crickmer dined
& Bathed –
1859-06-23
THURSDAY
Up at 7- OC – Attended Court
The Governor & Good returned
in Canoe – Inspected the
Public building – & books
Started for Queenborough at 6 P.M.
1859-06-24
FRIDAY
Gov Douglas arrived at 11- AM
Recd letter fr. Nicol appointing me
Sheriff – Went to Queenboro Capt Murry
arrested – to get Jury
men summoned – Spent day with Marines
Called on Mrs Moody & Grant
Dined & slept at Spaldings –
Horses came from Farm.
[left margin text]
Posted letter to Mamsey & Fred
1859-06-25
SATURDAY
Up at 3- Searched for Indians
to come to Langly in Canoe, [lasted]
with Bedford at 8- AM arrived at
Langly at 2- heavy currant
Summoned – Jury – Very tired
A light shower of rain
1859-06-26
SUNDAY
Up at 8- O.C. Service in Crickmers
house at 11- O.C. – No afternoon service
dined alone – Wet evening
River falling –
Constable Lipsitt went to [illegible]
to enquire into the circumstances
of the death of John Shaler
1859-06-27
MONDAY
Up at 6- Preparing court
house &c – for Assizes –
Bathed – very wet day
Recd monthly accounts from
Gosset
1859-06-28 ****
TUESDAY
Tuesday Up at 5. O.C.
At monthly accounts –
Bought Plates & at Hortons
Ropes for Horses – Went to Fort
Begbie Cary bushby & Elliot arrived
Bedford [illegible] –
[left margin text]
Elwyn & Dunlop
arrived
1859-06-29
WEDNESDAY
Up at 6- Bathed
Court of Assize opened at 10- AM
G Jury complained of the absentee officer
from the Colony – & the interference of J.P.
Forrester & Sandford acquitted, WH
Pollard remanded – Bedford runs off to
Farm having asked [illegible words]
to go there with him, Issued
warrant for arrest of Sergt Leonard
of [Simcahm], & send Const Lipsitt to
execute it
1859-06-30 *
THURSDAY
Pollard admitted to Bail.
Up at 6 O.C.
Bathed settled sheriffs accounts into
Bushby – Started as Sheriff in Canoe, with Begbie
Cary & Bushby for Port Douglas, Camped
for the night at 8 – lit fires cooked
dinner & turned in at 9½ Elliott
remained at Langley.
Wet day
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.