Gillespie, William

William Gillespie arrived in Fort Victoria on the Norman Morison in March of 1850. Two months later he was drowned in a canoe mishap and became the subject of the first formal inquest held by Governor Blanshard who concluded that Gillespie's death was accidental "owing to the deceased being in a state of intoxication."

Sources:

• Bowsfield, Hartwell, ed. Fort Victoria Letters (1846 – 1851). Winnipeg: Hudson's Bay Record Society, 1979.
• "Gillespie, William." Inquest – May 13, 1850. C/AA/10.9B. BCARS.
• “Gillespie, William.” Norman Morison Passenger Lists, 1849-50. http://www.fortlangley.ca/nmorison.html.