1861-09-01
SUNDAY
Rose at 6- Breakfast at 9-
Service at 11- 9- present. No Collection
Walked with the Colonel & Parsons to
the Bishops Clearing & big Lake.
1861-09-02
MONDAY
Called 5- No end of fuss the
Colonels pack train after sundry mishaps
got off at 9- He changed his mind
& would not start. Another days
Bull froging. Rode with him &
Parsons to Ninds land & afterwards
to Glennies. Parsons a little over [illegible]
“Villican & his Dina”
1861-09-03
TUESDAY
Up at 6- Bustle & confusion
1861-09-04
WEDNESDAY
[no entry]
1861-09-05
THURSDAY
Roused at 4 by the Sentry. Parsons very ill
during the night, the party could not
start – in consequence of which I decided
on returning to Hope. Left with Dewdney at 9½
Lounched at the lake house & arrived at
home 4 P.M. Met Sutton & Dietz on the
ride with splendid trout weighing 4 lbs
Horse tired in consequence of the bad treat
-ment received at the Camp –
1861-09-06
FRIDAY
Rose at 5- Wrote my requisitions & answered
some officials – held court at 11- Rode
Sanders horse “Doubt” to Cornish bar to
arrange some mining claims for China
men – back at 2 P.M. Dined at the
Fort – very tired – spent a most lonely
Evening. Str Moody arrived at 10 P.M.
A whole heap of letters – heard of Good’s
runaway with Alice & his marriage by [illegible words]
J.P. – What a row the Gov must have been in!
1861-09-07
SATURDAY
Up at 5- Wrote a number of letters. Trutch
called sat nearly the whole day. Sent Sanders
home to Yale on the Str Hope – H.B.C. Brigade
in charge of Wainton arrived from Colvile
Trutch dined – Pringle Moberly & Dewdney
spent the evening. Pringle in great force in
consequence of the members of the convention having arrived
Sent by Landvoigt to Ker £10- to pay Hibben
for stationary for self & Cox.
1861-09-08
SUNDAY
Str Moody left at 5- AM – up at 6- Read.
Breakfast at 9- Wrote to Nind per McDonell
Service at 11- 9- present Collection $1-50
Called on Mrs Charles. Walked with Philips
to the Bishops land & decided on deeps in the
drain. Dined alone at 6- Dewdney
left with his pack train of 20 animals for
Cariboo. I hope poor fellow may succeed
Evening service at 7- of 5- present – my mind
wandering all the time
1861-09-09
MONDAY
County Court at 11- Settled with
Constable Edmonds salary & all other
demands to 31st Augst paid him $46-
Moberly paid $144- on account of Homer
Execution & promise to pay balance tomorrow
Rode Grants horse with him a short
distance on the waggon road.
1861-09-10
TUESDAY
Up at 5- in office all day. Paid White
on Begbies acct $6.50- Dr on Post Office
acct $5-75- Convention held their
meeting in Edneys store at 3- P.M.
Made J.G. horse for a couple of hours – had
[left blank] an Indian arrest for whom there has
been a warrant out for about six weeks
Rode with Craigie to Ninds land. Read &
turned in at 10- O.C. Note fr J.G. giving an
unfavourable acct of the new pass.
1861-09-11
WEDNESDAY
Heavy morning looks very like rain up at 5.
Craigie went up river for Rocker to prosecute
Jack the Indian arrested yesterday –
Recd from Moberly $580 on acct of Homer
Execution. In office nearly all day
Paid Homer the amt of his Execution
$205- having advanced the balance
due by Dewdney – slight rain – worked in
garden.
1861-09-12
THURSDAY
Heavy rain during the night & early
part of the day. Held court at 11- O.C.
In office nearly all day.
Rode with Pringle in the evening. Met
Grant & Moberly & Dr Oliver on their way in
[left blank]
1861-09-13
FRIDAY
Beautiful morning Breakfast at 9
rode with Grant to examine the
Bishops land. Afterwards took J.G. to
look at the & give me plan of alterations
& additions, Str Hope Moody arrived no
English mail. Palmer arrived. Recd fr
him £720- & an order on self for £300-
The Gov. at W. Minster wrote to say he would be
up next boat – Recd notice fr Hamly & had it
served on Millard of the Hope cautioning him
from running without a certificate. Moberly
Palmer Grant & Oliver spent the evening
1861-09-14
SATURDAY
Beautiful day – In office wrote letters
until the Str left at 1- P.M. Grant went
with Moberly to inspect road. Called on
Mrs Charles, & McTavish.
Rode out & met J.G. returning
dined at 7- McTavish Charles &
Waynton spent the evening –
Turned in at 1½ –
1861-09-15
SUNDAY
Fine morning – up at 8- No service
Pringle at the Camp – Moberly called
& to my annoyance remained till 1 P.M.
Charles made me a present of a delicious
Melon. Visited Mrs Charles & Mrs Pringle, the
latter of whom was in anything but an amiable
temper. Grant gave me plan for addition of
house. Palmer arrived fr Yale – no service –
Did not turn in till 12- spent a most uncosey
day – Str Hope left at 9- AM – for Westminster
to undergo repairs.
1861-09-16
MONDAY
Up at 4½ Palmer left for Westminster, Grant
for his Camp – rode with him to the Nicolomne
river, afterwards to the Bishops land.
McTavish & Waynton left for Colvile. Dispatched
an Indian to Grant, who took out Kers rifle for
him. Very wet day. Paid Mrs Charles a
visit – Worked in the garden
Paid Dr Bradshaw $100 on Sanders
acct. – $65- borrowed by self and gave
him a package of dust which has been
in my possession for some time
1861-09-17
TUESDAY
Up at 5- showery morning – went out
fishing with Charles took Mashell to
carry traps. Killed 16 trout but ought
to have cought as many more, home at
five O.C. dined at the Fort. Pringle came
in during the evening. Read & turned
in at 10-
1861-09-18
WEDNESDAY
Some heavy showers during the night
up at 6- worked in garden wrote
letters – Saw Higman & Kruger from
the Similkameen bad reports from the
mines. – Went to the Silver lead in a
canoe, which appears to be getting on slowly.
Rode with Cregie to Goods land, after
-wards to the Bishops, – spent the evening
at the Fort, on my return forum Pringle
who kept me up talking nonsense till
12- O.C.
1861-09-19
THURSDAY
Beautiful day Wrote up my Acct
Books – Str Moody arrived at 5½ P.M.
The Governor & Young arrived, no salute
fired – English Mail but no letters for
me Dearest Mamsey I cannot help feeling very
uneasy about her. The Gov in first rate
humour. Walked about with him till
very late. Very long turned in at 1 O.C.
Wrote No 15 to Mamsey –
1861-09-20
FRIDAY
Str Moody left for Yale at 6- O.C.
Deputation waited on H.E. with reference to
the construction of a road direct to Kamloops, also a
road to Yale improvements of the streets &c &c
to all of which he gave a negative, much to
the disappointment of all. Busy with him all
day. Str Moody returned fr Yale with a number
of miners fr the Upr Country all of whom had abundance
of gold, two French men $4000 each, two Pattersons 500
each & Anderson exhibited two nuggets one of which
was worth 19 oz –
1861-09-21
SATURDAY
Up at the usual time Beautiful morning
Walked about town with H.E. Robinison’s Express left
for Similkameen. Edney do. Paid Mrs Browning & Mrs
Pringle visits with H.E. afterwards went to Union
Bar & examined the tunnel, with which H.E. was
much pleased. Rode with him to the Bishops
land. Long wa wa about repairs of Court
house – increase of Cregies’s salary &c &c
to all of which evasive answers were given. Str Moody
left at 6- AM – Mrs Charles & Mrs [left blank] went to Victoria
1861-09-22
SUNDAY
Lovely morning Up at 6- Walked before
breakfast with H.E. Service at 11- O.C.
6 attended. Long chat with HE – called
on Moberly – Read – Dined at 5½ during
which Pringle made his appearance three times
Service at 6½ – 7 Present Collection $5-75-
Pringle spent the evening & remained till
late. High wind, stormy night –
Spent a most uncosey day. Read
& turned in at 12- O.C.
1861-09-23
MONDAY
Up at 5½ fine fresh morning – Signed
summonses for C. Court – 7th Septr & preparing
to left for Grants Camp with H.E. at 10- O.C.
stopped an hour at Beaver lake
where to feed our horses & arrived at the
camp at 5- OC P.M. where we found
Col. Halkins, Lieut Boseman, & Lord
of the Boundary Commission, as usual
no feed for our horses
1861-09-24
TUESDAY
[no entry]
1861-09-25
WEDNESDAY
Walked about with H.E. till breakfast
soon after he left for Yale in a canoe
Rode Kettledrum out & met the Boundary
Commission on their way in.
Walked about with Col. Hawkins
Information lodged of a horse & saddle with
spurs & blanket stolen from Dewdneys stable
1861-09-26
THURSDAY
Up at 6- Beautiful day. Charles &
Lord went out fishing but had no sport
Craigie arrested Jno Burk (Ticket of leave)
for having in his possession a stolen horse
the property of Richd Curnoe – heard the case
& remanded the prisoner –
Just as we were going to Dinner the
Gov. arrived fr Yale & upset over arrangements,
much to the Col’s annoyance.
1861-09-27
FRIDAY
Busy all morning with H. E. Steamer
at 1- P.M.
1861-09-28
SATURDAY
As usual everything uncomfortable
Steamer left for Yale at 6- taking nearly our
whole population to the races, visited McKay
arrived. Visited the silver lead with Col. Hawkins
Beaverman Lord & McKay, Beaverman much
pleased with it[s] appearance. Young cheeky
about paying the Governors bills, applied for an
increase of salary for Craigie, but again got an evasive
answer. The Governor, Col. Hawkins &c &c slept
on board the Moody. Turned in at 12- OC
1861-09-29
SUNDAY
Knocked up at ¼ 4 to go on board to H.E.
wrote a number of letters for him. Str left
at 6 AM. – Saw Grants cow put on
board Service at 11- only 4 present
No collection – No evening service.
The Silver lead men all drunk
& were locked up McKay & Charles
dined –
1861-09-30
MONDAY
Heavy Wet morning – Craigie
returned from Lake house having seized
a waggon load of goods which
duty had not been paid
Fined Dunn £5- for in the above
case
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.