Robert John Staines

"The first Anglican Clergyman, as is mentioned in another part of these Memoirs, was the Rev. Robert John Staines of Cambridge, who conducted services in the Mess Hall in the Hudson's Bay Co.'s Fort in Victoria.

This gentleman reached Victoria sometime in the late forties, remaining in that position until his disagreement with the Company, when in company with the late James Yates, an opposition party to the rule of the Hudson's Bay Co. was formed and Mr. Staines was deputed to proceed to England for the purpose of bringing the grievances of the dissatisfied settlement before Parliament. He took passage on a sailing ship on the 5th Feb., 1854. This ship foundered at sea and Mr. Staines with all others lost his life."

Anderson, James Robert. "Notes and Comments on Early Days and Events in British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon" ch.15. ADD.MSS.1912. BOX 8/18, B.C. Archives.

"...Mr. Staines was a curious mixture of violent temper and good fellowship. When he was out with the school boys on such occasions as I mention, he was the soul of good humour imparting instruction in natural history and otherwise making much of the boys, sometimes starting a song and getting the boys to join in the chorus."

Anderson, James Robert. "Notes and Comments on Early Days and Events in British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon" ch.12-14, page 161(28). ADD.MSS.1912. BOX 8/18, B.C. Archives.

"At this time, 1854, at the fresh agreement with the English government (in '48) we had a chaplain, a Ku- Mr. Staines who left us as a passenger on one of the Co's ships from London. He was a man full of frills, as we say, & liked displays, kept a servant &c. He called at the Sandwich Islands on the way out, sent a note to the King stating he wished to call on His Majesty. The King returned word he would be glad to see Mr. Staines on the next day. He dressed as a clergyman and dressed his servant in livery, very showy of course. He had silver lace &c &c and they went to call on " the King of the Cannibal of the Islands". The King came out to see his reverend visitor, rushed past him to shake hands with the servant in livery whom he took from the gorgeous dress, to be Mr. Staines. The latter was awfully disquieted, but matters were explained & every thing passed off all right once more. Mr Staines arrived with his wife."

Emma Staines

"...she being the great woman - the great complaining - and the great schoolmistress and I may here state, that she really was the best schoolmistress ever seen even since in Victoria - she kept the girls in order - took them out - saw they were properly and neatly dressed - carried themselves properly and paid much attention to deportment and was really good to the girls, although the latter did not like the change and her strictness. The school and the residence of the parson and Mrs. Staines was a very large portion of Bachelors Hall building - the ladies slept upstairs over our heads..."

"1855 January 7th Doctor Helmcken (sic) came down walking, to see Aunt stayed all night, Mrs Staines was taken very poorly, obliged to go to bed. The Doctor went back in the morning Aunt much about the same...Mr Ella came down with a Boat to fetch Mrs Staines, and Horace up to the Fort who are going to England in the H B Coy(sic Hudson's Bay Company) Ship Princess Royal. Mrs Staines leaves here to morrow morning."