The earliest diary* was written before Harriet and Robert were married.This diary has, at some time, had most of the pages sliced out. On the cover of this notebook remnant, Harriet wrote that she became engaged to Commander Robert Lamport Pengelley on October 12, 1832. There are a few entries for August, 1834 and then on September 16, 1834, she related that she was “married to my dear Robert in St. Martin's church at eleven o'clock in the morning...the roads and church were crowded with people.” She concluded the few pages with
Happy is the bride the Sun shines upon...it was a lovely day, and a happy day: all went so well and I am so happy. Thus do I end my journal, with gratitude to God for all his goodness and blessings to me.
A second, more extensive diary**, was written while Harriet Pengelley was travelling from Guernsey to England , and thence from England to Canada with her husband Robert and her servant Nancy.Even before she got on board the packet, while touring around southern England , she was unhappy and homesick. The voyage to Canada and her new life in Upper Canada were unending misery. This journal is filled with despair. Read it here and imagine the trials and tribulation of the immigrant to early Canada and realize that not all were able to withstand the rigours of a totally alien life.
*Original notebook, hardcover, with many pages in the front sliced out. TUA, 70-001, Box 1, File 1.
**Original diary, pages hand-stitched together with cotton thread. TUA, 70-001, Box 1, File 4.