Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Correspondence (private letter)
Pollock, John to Cardwell, Edward 25 July 1864, CO 60:20, no. 7062, 355.
Abstract
Correspondence (private letter).
Minutes (2), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (1).
This document contains mentions of Indigenous Peoples. The authors of these documents
often perpetuate a negative perspective of Indigenous Peoples and it is important
to look critically at these mentions. They sometimes use terminology that is now considered
hurtful and offensive. To learn more about modern terminology pertaining to Indigenous
Peoples, Indigenous ways of knowing, and decolonization, please refer to the Glossary of terms.
Pollock suspects that one of the
Scotch Settlerswho was killed in British Columbia was his son Robert Pollock. He encloses a newspaper clipping,
Massacre of Scotch Settlers by Indians,and asks for any further information on the matter.
Pollock to Cardwell
Union fr New Milns
Ayrshire By Kilmarnock
25th July 1864
Ayrshire By Kilmarnock
Honoured Sir
In reading the inclosed Massacre of Scotch Settlers by Indians
in British Columbia and finding the name of my son Robert Pollock
among the slain I fear he is one of the Number. He left this in
August 1853 along with a Mr John Smith and Family to South Astralia
[Australia] he being then 16 years of age, and was with them 2 years
when he left for the Gold Diggings. We heard of him being on several
of the gold fields in South Astralia but not from himself
untill last
Feby I received a letter from him Dated 2nd December 1863
Victoria Vancouver Island—in it he stated that he wrote me last
April that he was going to the Cariboo Mines and expected an answer
from Me when he came down in the fall, the letter not Coming to Land,
he did not receive the expected answer. He then wrote the letter
mentioned, which I answered on the 16th of Feby last and was
expecting an answer from him about this time.
untill last
Feby I received a letter from him Dated 2nd December 1863
Victoria Vancouver Island—in it he stated that he wrote me last
April that he was going to the Cariboo Mines and expected an answer
from Me when he came down in the fall, the letter not Coming to Land,
he did not receive the expected answer. He then wrote the letter
mentioned, which I answered on the 16th of Feby last and was
expecting an answer from him about this time.
I having no person there to apply to I ask this favour at your
hand as Secretary to the
Colonies if in your power to furnish me with
any further information about the matter.
Colonies if in your power to furnish me with
any further information about the matter.
The Right Honourable
Edward Cardwell
Secretary to the Colonies
Edward Cardwell
Secretary to the Colonies
P.S. Perhaps My letter to him is lying in Post Office Victoria
it was addressed
according to orders
Mr Robert Pollock
Victoria Vancouvers Island
according to orders
Mr Robert Pollock
Victoria Vancouvers Island
Minutes by CO staff
Ansr that according to a statement made by Peter A. Peterson
before T.L. Wood, an Acting Stipendiary Magistrate of V.C. Island
Mr Cardwell regrets to have to inform the writer that Robt
Pollock was one of the party of roadmakers in B.C. who was killed by
the Indians in May last.
ABd
2 May
At once.
FR
2/5
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Newspaper clipping, unnamed, no date, "Massacre of Scotch
Settlers by Indians," including a list of the victims.
