Harriet A. Roche - Overview

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 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.