Harriet A. Roche
Encyclopedia
Harriet A. Roche (1835 — 1921) was a Canadian
author
.
Mrs. Mills and her two daughters came from England to the Red River Colony
to take over a girls' school established by Bishop Anderson. They had to travel by sea, river and portage, by way of Hudson Bay, to reach the settlement. Miss Mills, who came alone a little later than her mother and younger sister, traveled from York Factory under the care of Mr. Thos. Sinclair.
A new building was erected for the school and it was given the name of St. Cross. Mrs. Mills is said to have been very thorough in her instruction and management. The young ladies were trained in all the social etiquette of the day in addition to the more solid education imparted. Miss Mills (the elder daughter) assisted her mother with the music and modern languages. Miss Harriet Mills (the younger daughter) was more of a companion to the girls, and accompanied them on walks, in winter on the frozen river, in summer towards the plain.
In 4 March 1856 Mary Louisa Mills (the elder daughter) was married to Francis Godschall Johnson
, recorder of Rupert's Land, afterwards Judge Johnson, and for a time governor of Assiniboia.
Later still, he was created Sir Francis Johnson, and a judge of the supreme court of Canada. Soon after her daughter's marriage Mrs. Mills left Red river. She afterwards took charge of the Helmuth Ladies' college, in London, Ont.
Harriet and her mother returned to England in 1861 and attended the lectures at Queen's College, Harley Street, London, where her mother was appointed the principal.
), founded in 1868. When Mr. Roche went to the Transvaal
in 1875, Harriet accompanied him to South Africa. Both became ill, Mr. Roche severely so. They tried to return home in early 1876, but he died at sea December 4th, 1876, on the journey. Harriet's book, "On Trek in the Transvaal; or, Over Berg and Veldt in South Africa." was published in London by Sampson Low, Marston, Searle &. Rivington, in 1878.
Her second book, "Notes From Our Log in South Africa; and, On Foot Through the Colonies At the Paris Exhibition", was published in London, Ontario by the Free Press Printing Company, 1880. The title page indicates the author as "Harriet A. Boomer, author of 'On Trek in the Transvaal'. Dean Boomer died March 4th, 1888.
During the remainder of her life, Harriet Boomer performed volunteer work associated with the Church of England
and was an active public speaker. She served as a member of the school board of London, Ontario, where she lived, and as president of the Toronto Local Council of Women (TLCW) circa 1900. She was a prominent member of the National Council of Women of Canada, where she served as President of the London Council and Vice-President for Ontario.
Mrs. Bloomer presented a talk at The International Congress of Women in 1899, speaking about children, religion, and education: it was published as 'Connection between Home and School Life,' by Harriet Boomer: Volume Two, Women in Education, in THE COUNTESS OF ABERDEEN (ED) The International Congress of Women 1899, Seven Volumes, pp. 19–22, London, Fisher Unwin.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
.
Overview
Miss Harriet Mills, while not Canadian born, can be considered a Canadian woman author. She emigrated to Canada in 1851, with her mother (Mrs. Mills) and her older sister Mary Louisa (Miss Mills).Mrs. Mills and her two daughters came from England to the Red River Colony
Red River Colony
The Red River Colony was a colonization project set up by Thomas Douglas, 5th Earl of Selkirk in 1811 on of land granted to him by the Hudson's Bay Company under what is referred to as the Selkirk Concession. The colony along the Red River of the North was never very successful...
to take over a girls' school established by Bishop Anderson. They had to travel by sea, river and portage, by way of Hudson Bay, to reach the settlement. Miss Mills, who came alone a little later than her mother and younger sister, traveled from York Factory under the care of Mr. Thos. Sinclair.
A new building was erected for the school and it was given the name of St. Cross. Mrs. Mills is said to have been very thorough in her instruction and management. The young ladies were trained in all the social etiquette of the day in addition to the more solid education imparted. Miss Mills (the elder daughter) assisted her mother with the music and modern languages. Miss Harriet Mills (the younger daughter) was more of a companion to the girls, and accompanied them on walks, in winter on the frozen river, in summer towards the plain.
In 4 March 1856 Mary Louisa Mills (the elder daughter) was married to Francis Godschall Johnson
Francis Godschall Johnson
Sir Francis Godschall Johnson was a Canadian office holder. He was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba on April 9, 1872, but had his commission revoked before he was officially sworn in. In 1889, he was appointed the 4th Chief Justice of the Province of Quebec.-Early life:Born New Year's...
, recorder of Rupert's Land, afterwards Judge Johnson, and for a time governor of Assiniboia.
Later still, he was created Sir Francis Johnson, and a judge of the supreme court of Canada. Soon after her daughter's marriage Mrs. Mills left Red river. She afterwards took charge of the Helmuth Ladies' college, in London, Ont.
Harriet and her mother returned to England in 1861 and attended the lectures at Queen's College, Harley Street, London, where her mother was appointed the principal.
First marriage
Miss Harriet Mills (the younger daughter) married Alfred R. Roche in 1858. He had served as an officer of the Spanish Legion. He became the first honorary secretary of the Royal Colonial Institute, (later the Royal Commonwealth SocietyRoyal Commonwealth Society
The Royal Commonwealth Society is an international educational charity and a private members' club. Its mission is to support and promote the modern Commonwealth, its culture and core values...
), founded in 1868. When Mr. Roche went to the Transvaal
South African Republic
The South African Republic , often informally known as the Transvaal Republic, was an independent Boer-ruled country in Southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century. Not to be confused with the present-day Republic of South Africa, it occupied the area later known as the South African...
in 1875, Harriet accompanied him to South Africa. Both became ill, Mr. Roche severely so. They tried to return home in early 1876, but he died at sea December 4th, 1876, on the journey. Harriet's book, "On Trek in the Transvaal; or, Over Berg and Veldt in South Africa." was published in London by Sampson Low, Marston, Searle &. Rivington, in 1878.
Second marriage
Some time in the next two years, Harriet returned to Canada, and married Rev. Micail Boomer, of the Diocese of Huron, Ontario in November, 1878. Harriet's second husband was Rev. Micail Boomer, LL.D., of London, Ont. Dean Boomer was born in Ireland, and educated at the Belfast Royal Academic Institution, and at Trinity College, Dublin, having graduated from the latter in 1838, and there receiving the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws, in 1860. He came to Canada in 1840; was ordained Deacon the same year by Bishop Strachan, and Priest the following year, and appointed to the mission of Galt, a position which he retained for more than thirty years.Her second book, "Notes From Our Log in South Africa; and, On Foot Through the Colonies At the Paris Exhibition", was published in London, Ontario by the Free Press Printing Company, 1880. The title page indicates the author as "Harriet A. Boomer, author of 'On Trek in the Transvaal'. Dean Boomer died March 4th, 1888.
During the remainder of her life, Harriet Boomer performed volunteer work associated with the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
and was an active public speaker. She served as a member of the school board of London, Ontario, where she lived, and as president of the Toronto Local Council of Women (TLCW) circa 1900. She was a prominent member of the National Council of Women of Canada, where she served as President of the London Council and Vice-President for Ontario.
Mrs. Bloomer presented a talk at The International Congress of Women in 1899, speaking about children, religion, and education: it was published as 'Connection between Home and School Life,' by Harriet Boomer: Volume Two, Women in Education, in THE COUNTESS OF ABERDEEN (ED) The International Congress of Women 1899, Seven Volumes, pp. 19–22, London, Fisher Unwin.