I know not of one other bride whose wedding ring was made from a similar coin, & by the same Blacksmith."
B.C. Archives
Mrs. Emmeline Jane Mohun (nee Tod)
E/E/M72
The Bacchanalian son's of Vancouver Island, have, at length excited my curiosity so far, that I am determined for the future, to register their names according to their prowess; in imitating the god: it appears very strange in the eyes of civilisation; (true we have left a land, where virtue and vice, luxury, and licentiousness, are to be seen in all its varied forms;) but here we are settled on this Island, just lying as Nature finished it, among a band of untutored Indians, here we have no church to go too, no tailor to make our cloths, not a shoemaker to sole a shoe for us; but thither that accursed Grog has found its way, and a temple of Bacchus erected, and sixpence for every glass, the Almanac will show to what an extraordinary degree, the god of wine is revered in the north-west of America: then think of this ye philanthropic minds, and I am bound to say, that every humanising Briton will shudder as they think of the destitute state of her sons in a foreign land.
B.C. ArchivesThe men would defend it so we all had to go, the parsons with a long sword that had belonged to one of his celebrated ancestors, who had been hung for something against the state. The men were all forced to our end of the room, whilst we got out the whiskey.Staines stood with his sword stretched out across the room - and called pass this who dare! One or two men soon came up drunken - pass this if you dare - so the men jeered and said we don't want to pass it, and went back to their fellows. The barrel was taken out into the Fort Yard and Mr. Douglas said - knock the head out Mr. Finalsyson; and in the head went.
The grog ran down the gutter in a stream. The men rushed out threw themselves on the ground to drank it as it ran or collected in holes - some on their knees scooped it up with hands others lay down and sipped it from the earth. Finlayson said what is to be down now. So I rushed in got some Tarter Emetic and sprinkled the whiskey on the ground. Ere long all the drinkers began to vomit and lay about the ground limp and worse then sea sick."
B.C. Archives
Helmcken's Reminiscences
AddMss 505/volume 12/page 23
Interiors of houses looked after by Ladies now became nicely furnished and ornamented, for women can do and understand.
Making rooms pretty with comparatively little outlay and by using trifles to the best advantage.
Gardens and flowers were cultivated about the houses and in fact the country became like and as civilised as any respectable village in England."
B.C. Archives
J.S.Helmcken'sReminiscences
AddMss 505/volume 12
"Mr. and Mrs. Cridge had to take up their abode in the Fort, the large airy rooms of which were a delight to Mrs. Cridge after the cramped quarters of the ship but she was disappointed in the fulfilment of her lorying for fresh bread and butter and a cup of tea for she was informed that the cows had been brought in since the winter, so the tea was without milk and the bread was sour. The Governor however hearing of her wish, with his accustomed courtesy sent her milk everyday from his own dairy till the truant cows were brought home."
B.C.A.R.S.
Edward Cridge, 1850-55 Reminiscences Diary
AddMss 320 box 4, file #3
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