Source: http://www.nanaimobulletin.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=51&cat=43&id=350288&more= online Hardcopy: Page 46 Nanaimo News Bulletin, Friday, December 25, 2004 - includes picture of Agnes Bayley City's first marriage 150 years ago By Helen Hunter One hundred and fifty years ago on Christmas Eve Agnes, the daughter of Nanaimo's first engineer Andrew Hunter, was married to Charles Alfred Bayley, Nanaimo's first school teacher and librarian. The wedding took place on board Gov. Douglas's ship in the harbour and Douglas, who greatly admired Andrew Hunter, performed the wedding service. Agnes was 15 and Charles Bayley was 26. Charles and Agnes met as passengers on the ship Tory on their way to Vancouver Island in 1851 - Agnes with her father, her mother Mary and her brothers. They first settled in Fort Rupert in 1851 with Hunter employed by the Hudson's Bay Company. His role was to build and be in charge of a steam engine on the Vancouver Island coal fields. The family arrived in Nanaimo in April, 1853. Hunter was immediately put in charge of pumping the water out of the first coal pit. The buildings to house the steam engine were built at the same time as the Bastion. Charles Bayley stayed in Victoria to teach for a year after his arrival, but was hired by the community of what is now known as Nanaimo to teach the children. Agnes and Charles moved to Victoria and then on to San Francisco where Charles died. Agnes and Charles had nine children. Agnes lived in The Dalles, Oregon with her daughter and passed away June 11, 1931 at the age of 92. Several grandchildren have visited Nanaimo and the families keep in touch with the Hunter relatives here. The memoirs of Charles Alfred Bayley are in the Bancroft Library in Berkley, California. There is a plaque on the waterfront commemorating this very special ceremony that is a part of Nanaimo's fascinating history. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.298 / Virus Database: 265.6.4 - Release Date: 22/12/2004