The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Brady, William
d. 1863
Brady was raised in the United States and moved north in 1858 to prospect during the
Fraser River gold rush. He was unsuccessful as a prospector and made his living as a hunter by
providing Victoria restaurants with game meat. He worked closely with John Henley; the two planned to move north to work in the Cariboo gold fields.1
Brady was murdered while camping on Pender Island with Henley.2 Three First Nations men, Oalitza, Stalchum and Thalatson, were later hung for the murder and one woman, Thask, was sentenced to life in prison.3
1. Arnett, Chris. 1999. The Terror of the Coast: Land Alienation and Colonial War on Vancouver Island and
the Gulf Islands, 1849-1863. Burnaby, B.C.: Talonbooks, 114.