General Archives | Royal Engineer to Reeve: The Life and Times of Philip Jackman

The Grotto Saloon, 1886

The Grotto Saloon, as it appeared in approximately 1886, a few years after it was Jackman’s Beehive Saloon.

A picnic gathering of residents from the Aldergrove and Jackman Road area, ca. 1890

It is believed that Philip Jackman Sr. is the bearded man standing on the far left of the back row.

Government House and the Royal Engineers Camp from the Fraser River, ca. 1862

The Government House (left) was the home of Colonel Moody until the Detachment’s disbandment.

Philip Jackman Jr., ca. 1885

This portrait of Philip Jackman’s eldest son was taken in New Westminster shortly before his move to Aldergrove. Philip Jr. was listed as being a clerk and living […]

Sir James Douglas

A portrait of Governor James Douglas likely taken in the 1860s.

Royal Engineer Muster List

This muster list records Philip Jackman’s Royal Engineer trade as sawyer. As a sawyer, Jackman would saw timber, which would have been instrumental for clearing land for trails, […]

Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton

Lytton was a British poet, playwright, and novelist. He also happened to be the Secretary of State for the Colonies in London when Governor Douglas requested assistance. Lytton […]

Dr. John Vernon Seddall of the Royal Engineers, ca. 1860

Seddall was the assistant staff surgeon for the Columbia Detachment who had previously served in the Crimean War. Seddall joined the detachment band while on the Thames City […]

The Cork Daily Reporter on the Columbia Detachment

Updates on the Columbia Detachment of Royal Engineers were in multiple “Military and Naval” sections throughout the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. This clipping from September […]

Captain Henry Reynolds Luard, ca. 1860

Luard was Jackman’s Captain onboard the Thames City, where he was fondly nicknamed “Old Scrooge” due to the monocle he wore, and because he read the works of […]

An advertisement for the Theatre

An advertisement for the first Theatre Royal production, Crossing the Line, from the November 13, 1858 issue of The Emigrant Soldier’s Gazette and Cape Horn Chronicle.

The Retreat, ca. 1862

The first saloon in Sapperton, The Retreat, opened in 1861.