Showing 3983 results

Proclamations and acts of the Legislature of the Colony of Vancouver Island, 1859-1866.

This series consists of proclamations collected from various published and unpublished sources issued by the Governor of the Colony of Vancouver Island, 1859-1866.

This series consists of a ledger and general record book, 1859-1871. The creator of the volume is not clear, but was likely the Government Agent who worked in or around Lytton. The volume was used for several purposes overtime. It includes the following types of information: list of pre-emptions for Lytton City; mining licences, free miner's certificates, liquor licences, trading licences, garden plots and ground rentals from the Lytton area (Fraser Canyon to Kamloops); records of miners and storekeepers occupying Crown land as garden plots and residences throughout the Fraser Canyon area; copies of bridge toll agreements and ferry operation contracts for places on the Fraser River, Thompson River, Nicola River, Savonna's ferry, Anderson River and Bridge River.

This series contains miscellaneous bills, paid and unpaid, and a statement of personal expenses for liquor and alcohol, by John Boles Gaggin of Quesnellemouth (modern day Quesnel).

The series consists of copies of inquisitions and inquests selected from GR-1372, Colonial Correspondence (1852-1872). It includes inquisitions (inquests) conducted during the colonial period, including the following:
-Vancouver Island (Colony), 1859 - 18 Nov 1866 numbered VI 1859/1 to VI 1866/4
-British Columbia (Colony), 1859 - 18 Nov 1866 numbered BC 1859/1 to BC 1866
-British Columbia (United Colony), 19 Nov 1866 - 20 Jul 1871 numbered BC 1866/2 to BC 1871/3

The files usually contain an inquisition form, which indicates the name of the deceased, the coroner's name, where the inquest was held, the date, names of the members of the coroner's jury and the cause of death.

These inquests were filed in the Colonial Correspondence under the name of the coroner or person conducting them. The indexing was incomplete and only those inquests held by persons whose last name begins with letters from A-M have been listed. It is not known whether this section of listings is complete.

To locate unindexed colonial inquests, researchers should look under the heading "deaths" in the index to miscellaneous correspondence inwards to the British Columbia Colonial Secretary, 1858-1863 (C/AB/30.lKl/l). Letters to which the index refers will be found in the Colonial Correspondence under the name of the author of the letter. Researchers should also look in indexes under the names of the Gold Commissioners, since they acted as coroners. Indexes of correspondence inward to the Colonial Secretary should be checked generally for references to deaths.

Volume 1. Receipts and expenditures, April - December 1859. Volume 2. Receipts and payments, September 1899 - September 1904. Volume 3. Record of taxes collected, 1873-1881. Volume 4. Record of road tolls collected, 1876-1884. For related records see GR-0252, volumes 32-36.

This series contains probate files for estates probated in Victoria, ca. 1859-1941. The probate files from 1859 to 1917 are organized more or less alphabetically within date groups or ranges and have been numbered, sequentially, from 1 to 5307. From 1918 onwards, probate files were assigned numbers by year in the order of filing and are more or less in chronological order. The originals of files 1 to 5307 have been retained as well as being microfilmed. Files from 1918 onwards are only available on microfilm.

In addition to the file names provided in the finding aid, an index for this collection is also available on microfilm (see GR-1417, reel B01990). Reel B01990 should be used if a name is not found on the file list, as there are 103 missing files. If a will number is provided, it can be used to locate a copy of the will in GR-1052 or GR-1574.

Records of marriages occurring in the Colony of British Columbia and the Colony of Vancouver Island, submitted to the Colonial Secretary by clergy, 1859-1872, prior to the entry of British Columbia into the Confederation of Canada. The records are bound into eight volumes in two accessions. The volumes contain certified copies of marriage certificates, or returns of marriages, submitted by clergy of various, but not all, denominations. Absent, for example, are the records of the Church of England/Anglican Church. See MS-0520 for Victoria’s Christ Church Cathedral records and H/A/Sa21 for St. Stephen’s Church register of marriages, 1863-1880.

Also includes a letter from Rev. John B. Good.

This series consists of seven volumes of records of the Water Commissioner, Lillooet, B.C., related to water rights, 1859-1915. Includes grants of water right, licences, plans, notices, etc. Volume 5 covers area from south of Lillooet to 150 Mile House and includes Hanceville and Big Creek; volume 3 includes lots on the North Thompson.

This series contains the correspondence inward to the Chief Commissioner of Lands and Works, Colonel R.C. Moody. The records consists largely of letters from Governor James Douglas and the Colonial Secretary pertaining to town lots, other lands, trails and roads, and other public works in the vicinity of New Westminster. The series includes letters on the Harrison River road and pack trail.

The series consists of records created by the Lillooet Government Agent between 1859 and 1950. It includes correspondence inward and outward, mining, water and financial records. It also includes counterfoil books of Mineral Act (Form B) record of a mineral claim, placer mining leases-indentures correspondence and Cariboo Wagon Road toll records. Some records also relate to the nearby Clinton Government Agency.

This series consists of two volumes from the Lytton Provincial Court. Volumes are magistrate's record book, 1859-1875 and County Court plaint book, 1860-1864; and record book 1892-1905.

This series consists of 7 volumes of Vancouver Island Supreme Court fee books maintained by the Registrar, 1859-1870. The volumes record fees owing to the Supreme Court. Volume 2 also includes the registrar's office diary.

Although the colonies of Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia were united in 1866, the Supreme Court of each Colony remained as two separate Supreme Courts until they were merged in 1870 as the Supreme Court of British Columbia, based in Victoria.

The series consists of correspondence and applications made to the Colonial Dept. of Lands and Works between 1859-1871, and its successor agency, the Provincial Dept. of Lands and Works between 1871-1874 regarding land pre-emptions in the Lytton district.

Series consists of financial journals created for financial reconciliations at the end of each month. The records date from 1859-1879 and include information from both the Colony of British Columbia (1859-1871) and the Province of British (1871-1879).

There is one volume for each year with the exception of 1869 and 1871. The colony created “original” and “duplicate” volumes in 1869. In 1871, the Treasurer created separate journals to delineate the end of the colony and the beginnings of the province.

The volumes provide monthly financial data as opposed to the day to day entry information of the cash books in GR-3053. The volumes include debits and credits in accordance with double entry accounting. Since this is high level monthly data, the journal uses the term “sundries” as a way to summarize the daily debits and credits that is captured in other financial records. There are also references to the volume and pages in ledgers and “waste books” (cash books).

The journals contain subaccounts for different regions of the Province although the list of regions varies in each volume. Regions listed in some of the volumes include New Westminster, Kootenay, Cariboo, Yale, Lillooet, Nanaimo, Columbia, Cassiar, Omineca, Clinton, Kamloops, Quesnel, Douglas and Fort Shepard.

There are gaps in the series. Some of the journals from 1860-1863 were described as part of GR-4169 (see GR-4169 volumes 10, 11, 17). The 1864 and 1872 volumes are missing.

The creators of the records, and the years that they were responsible for the records, are as follows:

British Columbia (Colony). Treasury Dept. 1859-1871
British Columbia. Treasury Dept. 1871-1879

This series consists of one land register for the Goldstream Land District and Highland Land District on Vancouver Island. Records cover Section XXIII, Rows 1-26, and R I W Section I to R III W, Section 26, (Goldstream), and R IV W, Sections 1-23, and Sections 1-94, in two sub volumes of the Highland (V.I.). Earliest entries date from 1859 and the volume was superseded by 1930 (i.e. no further entries were made after 1930).

The land is listed in numerical order and records the alienation of land from the Crown (by purchase, pre-emption, lease, etc.). Information may include, the name of the purchaser, dates and numbers of certificates issued (including Crown Grants), dates and amounts of payments, and reference numbers to correspondence files and field books. The volume includes an alphabetical index.

This series consists of New Westminster Land District lot registers for Group 1, lots 1-2374. The earliest entries begin in 1859 and all volumes were superseded by 1948 (i.e. no further entries were made after 1948).

The registers list lots in numerical order and record the alienation of land from the Crown (by purchase, pre-emption, lease, etc.). Information may include the name of the purchaser, dates and numbers of certificates issued (including Crown Grants), dates and amounts of payments, and reference numbers to correspondence files and field books. There is an alphabetical index of names in each volume.

Series contains the records of the Assistant Gold Commissioner, Lytton, B.C. relating to pre-emptions. Letters inward to Henry Maynard Ball, April 12, 1860 to December 3, 1860, and letters inward to John Boyd, 1870-1871. Includes correspondence, notices, and other papers on pre-emptions at Nicola Lake, Boston Bar, Lytton, Cache Creek, Kamloops and in the vicinity of various Indian Reserves. Also an account of moneys received by the Collector of General Revenue, Similkameen, 1861.

Index to Acts of the colony of British Columbia, 1859-1861.

This series consists of miscellaneous Governor James Douglas correspondence regarding the selection of site for capital and claim of land near Fort Hope, 1859.

This series contains a sale book of rural lands entitled: October 5th, 1859, Records of lands sold to Sgt. Wm. McColl and Sgt. Major George Cann of the Royal Engineers and a Capt. MacLean, Charles Good and Governor James Douglas (Manson Island lands).

Series contains account records of the Assistant Commissioner of Lands and Works Lytton. Account of H.M. Ball with Lands and Works Department, 1862-1863; list of horses purchased for the Lytton district by the government, 1860; list of permanent stores of the Lytton department, 1859-1860.

Correspondence from American government officials and British embassy in Washington, D.C., concerning diverse matters pertaining to U.S. - British Columbia relations. Includes correspondence from U.S. Military re: Indian population in Alaska (1867) and despatches British minister re: San Juan Island dispute, 1859-1870.

This series contains draft proclamations (1859-1864) and messages to the Legislative Council (1865-66; 1868-1869; 1871).

Incoming correspondence from Colonial Secretary, Treasury, and other government departments. For additional correspondence, see Colonial Correspondence, GR-1372 and Department of Mines records listings.

Correspondence outward (original letter-book copies), 1859-1871. 12 volumes. The series consists of letter book copies of general correspondence, correspondence to Governor and Colonial Secetary, and correspondence to the Treasury. (The series also contains, in vols. 6 and 10, some letters produced by the Provincial Dept. of Lands and Works, 1871-1872).

Volumes 1-6 are general letter books, Volumes 7 to 11 are Governors' letter books and Volume 12 is correspondence outward to Treasury.

Series consists of bench books for civil and criminal cases heard by Matthew Baillie Begbie in the British Columbia Supreme Court of Civil Justice, 1859-1873. The volumes include Begbie's notes of proceedings and may include draft copies of judgements and reasons for judgement. They focus primarily on cases heard on the Cariboo District court circuit. County Court cases may be included as are appeals from the Gold Commissioner's Court. The volumes cover Begbie's term as Justice for the Colony of British Columbia and the unified Colony of British Columbia as well as the early years of his tenure as Chief Justice of British Columbia after the colony became a province of Canada. There is a single entry for a case heard by Henry P.P. Crease at Victoria, 1871.

Volumes 3-8 were originally numbered by Begbie as volumes 1-6.

This series consists of records of the Executive Council, 1859-1913. Records include minutes of Colonial and Provincial Executive Council, ministerial reports, State Books, orders-in-council, registers, and indices (1859-1913), along with petitions, dispatches, and correspondence inward to Lieutenant- Governor in Council (1871-1909).

The Executive Council papers are among the most important of the early provincial government records held by the B.C. Archives. The value of the papers stems from the fact that the Council itself is the most important and influential level of government in the province. It is at the Executive Council level that government policies and regulations are discussed, formulated, and implemented; it is at this level that decisions are made regarding the overall running of the province. During the the period covered by GR-0444, it was also the responsibility of the Executive Council to handle the many contentious issues which affected Dominion-Provincial and Imperial-Provincial relations.

The Executive Council received and considered virtually all of the dispatches sent to the Lieutenant-Governor from Ottawa or London. Most of the petitions and memorials submitted by individuals or groups in the province to the Lieutenant-Governor were considered by the Council, too. In addition, the Executive Council dealt with correspondence from private citizens, as well as reports emanating from government ministries, departments, and agencies. In short, the Executive Council dealt with a myriad of issues - as is evidenced by the volume, range, and diversity of the papers in this record group.

Since the cabinet is the executive arm of the government, it has the authority to enact regulations, as defined by the Regulations Act (RS 1979 c. 361), Regulations, so defined, include rules, orders, proclamations, and bylaws of a legislative nature, made under or by the authority of any act passed by the legislative assembly. Among the regulations are Orders-in-Council which are formally described as "official documents promulgating Government decisions concerned with the day-to-day operation of the Province. Researchers consulting GR-0444 should note that Orders-in-Council are made under the authority of the Lieutenant-Governor or, more precisely, the Lieutenant-Governor in Council. The latter implies the Lieutenant Governor acting by and with the advice of, or by and with the advice and consent or in conjunction with, the Executive Council" (Interpretation Act, RS 1979, c.206). Thus, the term "Lieutenant-Governor in Council" occurs frequently with reference to business conducted by what is otherwise known as the Executive Council, or cabinet.

This series consists of a variety of bound volumes related to the administration, management and alienation of land in the New Westminster land district from 1858-1980. The records were primarily created by the provincial Government Agent and the Dominion Land Agent stationed in New Westminster. The records have been arranged into the following subseries:

1. Indexes and maps.

The indexes cover many of the homestead files in GR-4121, by file number and alphabetically by name of the homesteader or licensee. There are two volumes of reference maps for various municipalities, sub-divisions, right-of-ways and townships.

2. BC government land registers : district lot system

Variations of this system of surveying land were used from 1859 onwards. All of these volumes appear to have been created and maintained by the BC government. The registers list the lots in numerical order and record the alienation of land from the Crown by purchase, pre-emption, lease, mineral claims, timber use, etc. Information may include the name of the purchaser, dates and numbers of certificates issued (including Crown Grants), dates and amounts of payments, and reference numbers to correspondence files and field books. There is an alphabetical name index in most volumes. The registers cover range 1 Coast District, range 4 Coast District, Yale Division Yale District (YDYD) country lands, Texada Island District, Point Grey townsite, Powell River townsite, Hastings townsite, and New Westminster District group 1, group 2 and 3 group 3.

3. BC government land registers : township system

Variations of this survey system were used from 1873 to approximately 1912. All of these volumes appear to have been created and maintained by the BC government. The land entered in the majority of the volumes was surveyed and made available for settlement in 1873 and 1874. The registers list land in numerical order by Sections within Townships and record the alienation of land from the Crown by purchase, pre-emption, lease, etc. Information may include the name of the purchaser, dates and numbers of certificates issued (including Crown Grants), dates and amounts of payments, and reference numbers to correspondence files and field books. There is an alphabetical name index in most volumes. The registers cover New Westminster District townships 1 to 50 with some townships missing.

4. Dominion government : general land registers

These volumes were likely created by the Dominion Land Agent. It appears that at least some records were copied from provincial records to determine what land had been alienated before the transfer of the Railway Belt and what Crown land still needed to be managed by the dominion government. The registers, arranged by legal description, indicate the nature of the grant, the number, date of entry, file number, patent approval date, and name of grantee. The registers cover various townships in the New Westminster District and various lots throughout the Hope district, Yale district, Kamloops district, town of Hope, town of Yale, and Boston Bar.

5. Lease registers

These volumes were created in the New Westminster government agent's office. They record leases for a variety of purposes including: quarry, campsite, booming ground, agriculture, foreshore, forestry, and grazing. Many volumes are indexed and may include file numbers linking to GR-4121.

6. Pre-emption records

These records were created by the BC government. Pre-emption was a system of obtaining title to unsurveyed land (similar to the Dominion "homesteading" system) which occurred until 1970. Individuals could purchase land which had not been fully surveyed. However, grants to these lands were not issued until the applicant had made specified improvements, passed inspections, satisfied residency requirements, and had the lands fully surveyed. Records include certificates of improvement for the Vancouver Divisions of the New Westminster District and Coast District; certificates of pre-emption for the New Westminster District and Vancouver Division; and registers of pre-emption records.

7. Land purchase records

These records were created by the BC government. Once land was surveyed, it could be purchased outright instead of being pre-empted. These records include certificates of purchase for the New Westminster District.

8. Mining records

The majority of these records were created by BC Government Agents, Gold Commissioners or Mining Recorders. Records include mineral claim minute books, records of conveyances, bills of sale, applications for mineral lands and petroleum and natural gas leases, and coal applications. Records are from the New Westminster District, Hope and Yale. Most volumes include an alphabetical index and some may include references to file numbers in GR-4121.

9. Range and timber records

These records were created by the dominion and BC governments. Records include range leases, grazing leases and information on timber berths.

10. Water licence applications

These records are water licence applications created by the BC government.

11. Cancellation records

Cancellation registers created by the BC and Dominion governments. Some volumes include alphabetical indexes and have file numbers related to GR-4121.

12. Financial records

Various financial records created by the Dominion government and BC Government Agents. Records include Dominion crown timber financial statements; form J (cash books) created by Government Agents documenting their expenses and fee collection, such as the sale of marriage licences; and a land revenue return of payments from the central Victoria land office.

13. Other land administration records

Includes dominion created applications for patents and homestead inspectors instructions, as well as BC Government Agent books recording lands resumed under Soldier’s Homestead Act, Crown granted mineral claims which have reverted to the Crown for non-payment of taxes, and surveyed lands open for use.

This series consists of financial ledgers used by the Colony of Vancouver Island treasury from 1859-1865. Volume 1 covers 1859-1861. Volume 2 covers 1862-1865.

Ledger books are financial records in which each transaction is entered under a particular account or subject as a debit or a credit. The information may have been copied from a related daybook or journal before being sorted and copied into the ledger. Accounts can include anything that is a source of government income or expenditure, such as: salaries, rent, licences, postage, lighthouses, military, mining fees, roads, etc. Account names may be indexed.

Information may be entered under the following headings: date, related journal page, description of the transaction, and the amount. Debit transactions are recorded on the left side of a folio and credits on the right side.