November

1859-11-01
TUESDAY  
Court opened at 10 – Bad attendance 
of Grand Jurors – Steamer Eliza Anderson 
having past arrival – Pollard discharged by 
proclamation  Got from Begbie Bibles for 
£20- to send to A.D.N. drawn on his brother 
Thos S Begbie 4 Mansion House place London
Dined with the Colonel – Wrote to A.D.N. & 
enclosed 1st of exchange – Letter fr Mamsey, enclosure 
from the Captain
[overwritten text]
Posted 
letter to Mamsey 
A D Nicoll with 
first of exchange for 
£20- amt 
Thos Begbie

1859-11-02
WEDNESDAY 
The Moody went up to Hope, Begbie 
& Bushby started for Victoria per E. Anderson 
spent day with Engineers & dined – called on 
the Col & Mrs Moody the former suffering from 
bad head ache – Went up the Brunett in 
canoe with Seward & Seddal & Sheepshanks 
shot 4 grouse – 

1859-11-03
THURSDAY 
Wrote letters – spent most 
of the day with the Colonel & Mrs Moody
Walked with Dewdney – 

1859-11-04
FRIDAY 
Eliza Anderson arrived with large 
Mail 6 months old by [left blank] 188 days fr
Southampton – some old Tyrone Papers which 
were posted in April – great anxiety about 
the New Caledonia – several days from Victoria 
& no account of her – dined at the Colonels 
Palmer arrived from Colvil – wet night
[overwritten text]
Thursday 9 months 
I left my dear 
friends I wonder 
when I shall 
see them again

1859-11-05
SATURDAY 
Left New Westminster at 11- in canoe 
but found it impossible to get on – changed 
into boat – with Huntoon & Chas Moss & pulled 
ourselves to Langley where we arrived in time 
for Dinner at the Rectory – The whole place 
looking deserted & melancholy – Heavy 
shower for hail at starting

1859-11-06
SUNDAY 
Very cold night
Heavy fall of snow the first [illegible
of Winter  Church at  11- only 4 
Karnakers – I know this is the H.C. day 
at Mountfield.  How I wish I was there 
also – Crickmer went to Upr Langley to 
have service on sandspit – a stupid 
day – 

1859-11-07
MONDAY 
Went to Upr Langley & pd 
Newton $104-50 also to Mass $9-50 for fish
Walked out to Farm to see about horse, Bedford 
just returned from cattle hunting with one calf 
which he mamalused – quite uncertain 
whether horse can be got or not but Bedford
promised to do his best – came back to Rectory 
with Crickmer – 

1859-11-08
TUESDAY 
Heavy fall of snow 6 inches 
deep.  Went to Fort to see about getting 
horse ready &c, Bedford in his usual 
disobliging way did not have him sent in 
arrange with Pollard to keep mule at the 
mouth of Harrison river – snow balling – 
Steamer did not come – dined & slept at 
Fort.

1859-11-09
WEDNESDAY 
[no entry]

1859-11-10
THURSDAY 
[no entry]

1859-11-11
FRIDAY 
[no entry]

1859-11-12
SATURDAY 
[no entry]

1859-11-13
SUNDAY 
[no entry]

1859-11-14
MONDAY 
[no entry]

1859-11-15
TUESDAY 
Started in canoe with Pringle 
Landvoigt Huntoon – & 2 savages – at 7½ O.C. 
got two more Indians at ranchree, rained 
nearly all day – arrived at Hope at 6 P.M.  
Found Elliot in my quarters – where he had 
been waiting for Steamer since Thursday
Dined at Restaurant – very tired – 

1859-11-16
WEDNESDAY 
Up at 6 – Wet day
Held court at 11-  John Thomas fined 
for assault – on [D’lbert Croye] – Elliot lay in 
bed nearly all day – Making up accounts  
Issued Miner Certificates – Wrote letter 
to the Capt.  Elliot dined with Pringle 
the latter in a great state of excitement about 
Yale Miss – & meetings on bars – 
Posted letter to Capt enclosure to Mamsey in newspaper
[overwritten text]
Posted 2nd 
of exchange to 
A.D.N. with enclosure 
to Teresa
2nd letter to 
advise brother of 
Begbie

1859-11-19
FRIDAY 
Wet day
Wrote a number of letters 
Anxious for the arrival of 
Steamer – & longing for my letters

1859-11-20
SUNDAY 
Steamer Col Moody arrived 
with mail – Letter from dearest Mamsey 
with good news about Chaw – one also 
fr George Arthur – Church at 11- very 
good sermon on the 103 Psalm  Pringles 
delight at hearing of the birth of his daughter
Service at 6½ –

1859-11-21
MONDAY 
Steamer left at 8½ – Elliot Ogilvy 
& Mrs  – on board – stupid old mule could n
ot be found – Issued Commission Miners free 
certificates – & registered 1 claim – Walked 
to river with Charles returned by mill 
race  – got wet – Smith came up & 
remained till 1. A.M. to my great annoyance

1859-11-22
TUESDAY 
James Urne commenced to work at 
the Court house – snow & slight frost – 
hair cut – walked with Charles 
he & Smith came up in the 
evening much to my annoyance

1859-11-23
WEDNESDAY 
Hard frost – lots of skating 
but too busy to go – Issued 
Free mining certificates – Walked 
with Charles Carpenter getting on 
with court room very slowly – 
Constable Higman getting more 
useless every day –

1859-11-24
THURSDAY 
Hard frost – Indians 
call with ducks & trout to sell  
Worked at my room all day 
preparing & having it cleaned – commenced 
to write to Mamsey – Skating all 
through the day – 

1859-11-26
SATURDAY 
Held court – Issued 
mining certificates – making up 
accounts – small mail from 
Victoria – Heard of the Steamer 
Col Moody getting aground at Sea 
Bird bar. – a great nusence all 
chance gone of getting the mails 
regularly for the Winter.

1859-11-27
SUNDAY 
No Church – Pringle at Victoria 
Went to hear Robson – no sermon 
very cold – Walked with Charles to 
Coquhalla – dined at Fort – 
Freezing hard – 

1859-11-28
MONDAY 
Posted my letter to Mamsey
Wrote some letters, held court.
Went out to skate with Smith 
Charles & Findlason – some good 
sport Smith & Charles got ducks  
Smith & Findlason spent the evening

1859-11-29
TUESDAY 
Up at 6- a slight 
thaw – & weather mild – fine day 
Walked to Coquhalla – Writing – 
Trying to get my rooms in order

1859-11-30
WEDNESDAY 
Heavy fall of snow
Indians go to the winter houses
Everything looks as if we were going 
to have a dreary season of it – 
If I were back at home once more 
it would take a deal to induce me to 
leave it


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.

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