upon himself the task of educating his children. This must have been a rewarding experience, for the occasional references to "the Misses Work" in contemporary letters and newspapers during the early days of Victoria indicate that they were belles in local society and were sought as wives by company officials and newly arrived Englishmen. The first to marry was Sarah, who became the wife of Roderick Finlayson, of the Hudson's Bay Company, in December 1849.
But before her marriage lines were read, another interesting and important ceremony took place. When John and Josette met at Fort Colville there was neither civil authority nor clergyman in all the vast Northwest. As was the custom, the simple notification that Josette Legace had been taken under the protection of John Work sufficed for the day and place. In the records of Christ Church Cathedral in Victoria are included the earlier records kept by the first chaplains at Fort Victoria in which occurs the following entry:
Settlement of Victoria, Vancouver Island, in the year 1849, John Work, at present residing at Fort Victoria but generally of Fort Simpson, N. W. America
and
Josette Legace, at present residing at Fort Victoria but generally of Fort Simpson, N. W. America
were married in this Fort by banns this sixth day of November in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty nine by me, Robert John Staines, Chaplain to the Honourable Hudson's Bay Company. This marriage was solemnized between us in the presence of
James Douglas, Chief Factor H.B.C.
mark
John Tod, Chief Trader.
JOHN WORK
her
JOSETTE X LEGACE30
It was John Work's plan that as each of the daughters married he would present her with a house and lot in Victoria. A small portion of one of these homes is still standing in the form of an adjunct to the Peter Reilly residence at Rock Bay. Family tradition tells that each year John Work ordered from London gowns for his wife and daughters, and that one season the ship brought gold watches as well. One of these is still treasured by a granddaughter. In his later years it was Work's custom, as he strolled through Victoria, to carry in his pockets sweetmeats for the children, not only for his numerous grandchildren, but for other children as well. He was greatly beloved by all who knew him.
On September 1, 1861, John Tod, the ever faithful friend, at that time also living near Victoria at Oak Bay, wrote to Edward Ermatinger, "Our old friends Work and Yale are both well."31 However, two months later his next letter strikes an ominous note.
You will be sorry to hear of the long protracted sufferings of our poor friend Work—he has scarcely been out of bed for the past two months—his complaint is a relapse of fever and ague with which he was attacked at Vancouver 27 years ago, and to his medical attendants has appeared a very extraordinary case— Latterly he has become so much re-
