William Dewson "Beaver" Lort
by Jon Ackroyd

tonylort@telus.net

[The following is the text of a manuscript biography of Peter Williams Rolston - RN, written by his son William George Michell Rolston (Anda) in the October, 1935. The original is handwritten in blue-black ink on two side of a single sheet of lined paper approximately 213 mm x 335 mm. (roughly 8 1/2" x 13") The paper appears to have been torn from a bound book. I have retained all the spellings, punctuation and abbreviations as they appear in the original. I have not attempted to duplicate the various corrections and crossings out that appear throughout the manuscript. Obvious errors in fact, and questionable spellings - see the date in the first line - are noted with the usual editor's [sic]. I don't know what has happened to the journals mentioned in the text . . .

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Brief Account of Peter Williams Rolston - RN

Born in Devonport England Dec 7. 1931 [sic]. The Third son of George and Ellen Rolston - His father was a Doctor in that town - His Mother was daughter of Capt Peter Williams R.N. Educated in his home town afterwards at Guys Hospital, London and also Edinburgh University - Having a fondness for the Sea and of the Medical profession he applied & was entered in the Royal Navy as Ass't Surgeon - His first ship was H.M.S. Nile (98) which ship was the Flag Ship of the Squadron sent to the Baltic during the Russian War 1854-55 - At the conclusion of the War in 1855 - The fleets returned to England - and for the next few years Dr. R on various men of war -. Agamemnon - Laying Atlantic Cable At Woolwich in 1863 he married Cecelia Fancourt Michell (eldest daughter of George Berkley Michell.) - Just after his marriage, he was appointed Surgeon to H.M.S. Falcon (Sloop of War) which for the next five years was on the Australian Station - During that commission the Falcon took part in the Maori War in New Zealand 1866-67 - I have his journals of the cruise - very interesting reading

Although he had been away for 5 long years, Dr. R was appointed Staff Surgeon to HMS Aboukir the guardship at Port Royal Jamaica W.I. which meant another 3 years away from England With his wife & 2 children he sailed from Liverpool Oct. 1869 & for the next 3 years he not only served on the Aboukir but acted as Medical Officer at Port Royal-

Returned to England End of 1872. From 1873 to end 1875 he served as Fleet Surgeon on Board H.M.S. Impregnable at Plymouth. Having had 22 years Service in the Navy he retired & went into private practice at Saltash nr. Plymouth - Having a growing family he decided in 1882 to come to Canada & arrived in Winnipeg July of that year - he decided to take up land in district which is now Miniota 200 m from To get there in those days (C.P.R. not built beyond Brandon) he went by Steamer - While on the trip my brother George fell over board & was drowned (the body was revcovered weeks after wards) near Portage La Prairie) - Dr R Settled on the land & during the

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next year Dypthera struck the Settlement - 2 children succumbed to it as well as a young man Helliyer [spelling?] who had just come out from England When Riel Rebellion broke out in 1885 Dr. R volunteered services & during whole of that campaign he was Surgeon Major Boulton's Scouts - Leaving the Priarie in 1899 he came to BC & was Medical Officer to the Indians near Duncans [sic] - Vancr Island for the next few years. When his wife died in June 1908 he gave up private practice to his son Dr Ceil [sic] Michell R

He continued to live with his married sons & daughter for the evening of his life - At Maple Bay in June 1922 he passed on to a better land, One comforting thing about it was the end came rather suddenly. only 2 days ill - he would have been 91 had he lived 6 months longer - His brother George aet [sic] 91 predeceased him by less than a year - His sister's husband Revd Edward Roberts died the same year. aged 90. Mrs. Roberts still alive (Oct 1935) (she was born June 29. 1833.) - 102 years old last June -

[The original is a carbon copy of a typescript, originally written in 1935 by William George Michell Rolston (Anda). All spellings, etc. are as in the original. The original document is incomplete, the bottom of the page being torn off. A handwritten note sideways at the top left corner of the sheet states. "This is copy of what I sent to Mrs. E C Bagshaw April 16, 1935]

Brief Account of Dr P.W.Rolston .R.N. who was the Medical Officer of Boulton's Scouts 1885.

He was born in the Town of Devonport England December 7th 1831 .

His parents were George and Ellen Rolston. His father was a Doctor in that town. His Mother's maiden name was Williams, daughter of Captain Williams R.N.

He was educated in his home town and afterwards at Guys Hospital London and took a course at Edinburgh University.

Entered the Navy in March 1854, being appointed Assistant Surgeon to H.M.S.Nile at Devonport.

When the Russian War broke out that year H M S Nile (90 guns) was attached to the squadron which carried out the Baltic Campaign, and was Flag Ship for a greater part of the campaign. Returning to England at the end of hostilities in 1855.

For five years Dr R. was on the Australian station, serving as Surgeon, H M S Falcon (1863 to 1868)

In the years 1866 - 67 the Falcon took part in the Maori War, New Zealand.

From 1869 to 1872 he was Staff Surgeon on board H M S Aboukir which was stationed at Port Royal Jamaica. West Indies.

From 1873 to 1876 he was Fleet Surgeon on board H M S Impregnable Devonport.

Having been twenty two years in the Service he retired and took up private practice near Devonport. It was there he met Capt. George Arthur French (Royal Artillery) the organizer of the Nor West Mounted Police.

Capt French had returned to England after his work in Manitoba had been successfully accomplished.

From the glowing accounts of the Country given by Capt French Dr R. decided to move his family to Manitoba. So in 1882, he and his wife and eight children and a maid servent set sail from Avonmouth Bristol. and arrived in Manitoba, and settled in the district now known as Miniota.

In 1885 the Riel Rebellion broke out, and offering his services to Major Boulton who was organizing a Troop of Scouts, he was commiss Surgeon to the Troop. He went through the whole campaign and in his capacity as Medical Officer, his services were much appreciated.

He remained in Manitoba for several years, removing to British Columbia in 1899, he lived the most of the time at Duncans. V I.

It was during the summer of 1922 he was staying at Maple Bay, when death overtook him. He had always been a very ----- [the remainder of the document is missing. The following appears handwritten on the back of the page]

---- man and was so up until the day before his death June 13, 1922. He was buried alongside his wife (who died 1908) St. Peters Quamichan.