Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Funerary Objet d'Art - Christ the King

This post is participating in the ABC Wednesday meme.


This is the memorial stone for Jeremiah Kiley, his two year old daughter, Margaret, and his mother, Norah. It is located in Rookwood Necropolis, which is its own suburb in Sydney, New South Wales. Jeremiah was born in Caldaly, County Limerick, Ireland. He died in the suburb of Glebe on 28th December 1888, aged 45 years.



Isn't the crown fabulous? It has a large stone placed within, to ward off damaging blows. Look at the pleated 'silk' as the background. So sumptuous. There are two things here to note in way of symbolism: the crown; and the pointing finger. I have read so many variations upon the significance of the crown, but think they all point toward an individual's acknowledgement that Christ is the paramount ruler, that he is King and the individual accepts Him as 'ruler'. The hand with the single finger pointing upwards symbolises the individuals ascension into heaven. I will always be on the lookout for a hand with a single finger pointing downwards.


Monday, September 24, 2012

Taphophile Tragics # 40


I stumbled across this dedication during the Rookwood Necropolis Open Day yesterday, where I barely managed it out of the Independent Section. I wonder who 'F. Jenkins' was, yet admire the love they held in their heart for all those years.




* * * * *
Welcome to the 40th week of Taphophile Tragics.

Your contribution is most welcome. Please ensure that you include some details of the cemetery in which you took your photographs, and link directly to your post, rather than simply to your blog in general. This week, Mr Linky opens at 9:30pm Monday, Sydney time (GMT+10), and closes at 9:30pm on the Friday. When you can, please visit the other contributing bloggers to show your appreciation of their endeavours. Due to time zone variations and overcrowded schedules, some contributions are made later than Tuesday/Wednesday. As per usual, we are working with the Linky with thumbnails, and displaying the oldest entry first, with no randomising.

At the moment, there are three posts a week to this blog:
Mon - Research of an individual from the details on their headstone;
Wed - An example of funerary symbolism and its meaning; and
Fri - 'Six-Feet-Down-Under' highlighting an Australian cemetery/graveyard.
Join me if that sounds of interest.

Widow's weeds


John McArthur was only 35 when he died at his home in Nelson Street Annandale. Only 35, and with a wife 7 months pregnant with their third child. I have not been able to find a coroner's report, so I will figure he had a heart-attack until something more informative jumps out in front of me. Mary McArthur was born McFarlane: they don't fall far from the tree, these canny Scots! There were two things about her that I really needed to know: when she was born; and did she remarry. The dearly departed John was born in Patrick, Scotland; perhaps Mary was a native of Scotland, too. So aged in her early 30s (conjecture, conjecture) Mary was a widow with three small girls: Maggie born in 1884, Jane in August 1885; and Jennetta in June 1887. But worse was to come ...



In July 1892, Maggie died in Parramatta Hospital as the result of burns accidently inflicted, according to the coroner's report. A house-fire would be ironic, considering her departed father, John was a builder, as was HIS father, Peter. They lived in the same set of terraces - Kilmartin Terraces - in Nelson Street Annandale. But the coroner's report did not specify the type of fire. To compound all this, another son of Peter McArthur died in October 1888, once again at his home in Kilmartin Terrace. Ready for this? Archibald, Peter McArthur's oldest son, lost his 23 year old wife in 1884. Talk about not being able to take a trick!

I never did find out when Mary was born, nor if she remarried. However, I could not find a date of death either, so figure she did remarry. All this gets very complicated, yes?

That is very final, that 'Farewell'. Death is a bit like that.


Friday, September 21, 2012

Six-Feet-Down-Under: St Stephen's Graveyard, Newtown


The graveyard surrounding St Stephen's Anglican Church in Newtown is also known as the Camperdown Cemetery, even though it is just a small portion of the original Camperdown Cemetery, established in the 1840s, and the recipient of some of the removals from the Devonshire Street Cemetery when that cemetery closed in about 1900. On the map down below, the entire park greensward was the original Camperdown Cemetery, but in 1938 everything outside the sandstone walls of St Stephen's was removed, and most ungraciously at that. Headstones are laid along the inside of the sandstone walls to this day. Many of the remains ... remained; unless individual families wished to reinter their ancestors in either Waverley Cemetery, Botany Cemetery, or Rookwood Necropolis.



It does have a great feel to it, this graveyard. Dark and gloomy. And unlike nearly any other cemetery I have visited in Australia, most of which are like and airy, with neatly trimmed lawns and riots of cut flowers. St Stephen's is populated with great, gnarled Port Jackson fig trees, their roots twisting and turning into the soil, and their massive canopies blocking out the sun and the air, with a shadow that admonishes the merest sliver of grass that pokes it head out of the compacted clay. Moisture lies in the uneven ground, mud sloshes, and mould and fungi flourish. All of which has a predictable affect upon sandstone, which is a porous rock to begin with. I have tried to show this aspect of St Stephen's with my selection of images.



View Larger Map

View Larger Map

This is not to condemn this cemetery, which has a piercing beauty which I have described in an earlier post on another blog. It is an engagingly historic graveyard, with memorials not only from Devonshire Street but also from the original Old Burial Ground at the Town Hall. Many of the memorial are sans remains, but the feel of the place is authentic. And there is also St Stephen's, the building. I am but a little old lady, with a stick, and noone thinks twice when I sidle into a church doorway. And I am left in peace, to wander and wonder. As I did on this earlier occasion when the only people around was a bunch of electricians.



I continue to return to Camperdown Cemetery for personal reasons. To endeavour to locate the memorial to Ann Maund, which is prone and has not disclosed it resting place to me in my three previous visits. Darn it! Ann Maund is my 4x-great-grandmother on my mother's side. And a tough old biddy she apparently was. She arrived in the colony with her convict husband, Joseph Puckeridge, in 1801, her two children dying on the journey. When Joseph died in 1818, having 7 young children, she quickly married again, had three more children and died in 1850, aged 71. I have seen a photograph of her memorial, but not seen it with my own eyes yet. But I will, I will ... eventually.


Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Funerary Objet d'Art - Manly


A with so many of these symbols, I can read and read, but it still comes down to a guess. The combination of these two symbols lead me to think they are of masonic import. The Masons have an 'Order of the Eastern Star' to which both males and females can belong (with qualification). The OES does have a five-pointed star, but it is inverted which this one isn't. Each star point represents a different heroine of the Bible and degree of the Order, and each one represents a different virtue. 'Worthy Matrons' in the order are permitted to wear a crown symbol. The crown is a symbol of sovereignty, honour, glory, victory (especially over death) and the crown of Christ's righteousness. The symbolism could come from Paul's comment about winning the crown of life. However, I am open to a different interpretation.




To be found in Manly Cemetery, New South Wales, Australia


Monday, September 17, 2012

Taphophile Tragics # 39


This headstone, and grave, is to commemorate the life, and death of Catherin Paskell who died in August 1898. The mason forgot to leave sufficient space to tell us how old Catherin was. I was taken by the method of decoration. I have seen plain headstones, I have seen small (growing) annuals, cut blooms, and all variety of artificial flowers. It is not often that I have seen a bush of this size. I shudder to think how far the roots go downb.

Manly Cemetery, New South Wales, Australia




* * * * *
Welcome to the 39th week of Taphophile Tragics.

Your contribution is most welcome. Please ensure that you include some details of the cemetery in which you took your photographs, and link directly to your post, rather than simply to your blog in general. This week, Mr Linky opens at 9:30pm Monday, Sydney time (GMT+10), and closes at 9:30pm on the Friday. When you can, please visit the other contributing bloggers to show your appreciation of their endeavours. Due to time zone variations and overcrowded schedules, some contributions are made later than Tuesday/Wednesday. As per usual, we are working with the Linky with thumbnails, and displaying the oldest entry first, with no randomising.

At the moment, there are three posts a week to this blog:
Mon - Research of an individual from the details on their headstone;
Wed - An example of funerary symbolism and its meaning; and
Fri - 'Six-Feet-Down-Under' highlighting an Australian cemetery/graveyard.
Join me if that sounds of interest.

Taphophile Tragics - Something does not add up


Florence and Lillian were cousins, Florence's mother (Winifred, born 1903) was the sister of Lillian's father (Samuel, born 1895). Or, at least, I think that is how it goes. Florence's story is the more straightforward, so let's start there first. She was the only child of Winifred Orr and Eric Alfred Ingoverson (born 1900). In 1938, she was on the roof of the verandah at her houme in Naremburn, when she came into contract with and energized electrical wire, and died of shock, aged 14 years. The Coroner's Report, and the New South Wales BDM records all have her down as Florence Hilda, these being also the names of two of her mother's sisters, one of whom died aged 8. So just where the 'Delmont' comes in, I have no idea.



Now Lillian is a totally different story, shrouded in mystery. Nah, not really. Just that the National Library of Australia site is down, and it holds the Trove record which shows tantalising snippets of Lily's obituary. But I have issues here. The monument says Lily died in 1931 aged 23, meaning she was born in 1908. Is my arithmetic right? The hassle is that the family trees that I can find have Lily's mother (Elsie) being born in 1901 and her father (Samuel) in 1895. I do not understand. What is more, the electoral rolls for 1930 show Samuel and Elsie living at 38 The Causeway, Enfield, yet Lillian (who would have been 22 at that stage and on the electoral roll) was not also listed.

I await the repair to the NLA site with bated breath.

Morning has broken, and still no Trove. However, thanks to Rosemary I went back to NSW BDM. There were two (2) Lillian Orrs: one born to William and Florence and the other born to Samuel and Elsie. The Lillian born to William and Florence is the one buried at Manly, making her the aunt of Florence and also the aunt of the second Lillian. Lillian (the older .. stick with me) was born in 1906 according to official records. Lillian the younger died in 1929, but must have been born AFTER 1911 which is the cut-off for birth-searches within the NSW BDM records. But still need Trove to read what that obituary says.



This is my contribution to the Taphophile Tragics Community.

This is my contribution to the Cemetery Sunday Community.

This post is also linked up to Graveyard Rabbits on FB.

Friday, September 14, 2012

Six-Feet-Down-Under : Manly Cemetery


This little handkerchief of a burial ground was probably way out in the boon docks when it was established in 1872. Although, Jane McLean's monument went up in 1863, and there is a charming story of a birder stumbling across a rough-hewn cross for an infant c.1861. It is small and rectangular, perhaps a normal suburban block. But it is still in use, although only cremations and burial in existing plots is any longer permitted. It is similar to Gore Hill Cemetery in that regard. Both established in the middle of the 19th century.



It is divided into religious demoninations, as were all cemeteries of that era. Christian religious demoninations, you realise. The protties and the micks. Those that protested against the ruling Protestants (eg Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists) were begrudgingly allocated a General section. One only has to look at the dedications on the headstones to be fully aware when one moves from one section to the next. This is a relatively austere cemetery, meaning devoid of excessive decoration. There are a few angels and Marys but it gives every indication that the people who chose to spend eternity in this burial ground knew the value of money and the necessity of hard work, and kept their ego well in check.



View Larger Map

View Larger Map

Once again, this cemetery was the recipient of a removal from the old Devonshire Street Cemetery which made way for Central Railway Station in the first few years of the 20th century. One William Aberdeen who died in 1845 was reinterred here in Manly in 1899. There are a number of headstones that were instantly memorable and which I will research in more detail as time goes on. The stonemasons were mostly journeymen, judging from their finished product. George Watters’ monumental mason’s yard operated on the corner of Griffiths and Hill Streets, opposite the cemetery from around 1920; his name is carved on several headstones. The Pickworths had their masons’ yard in Harland Street from the 1930s.



The burial ground is now under the care of the Manly Council. Unlike the old Balmain Burial Ground out in Leichhardt, which was turned into a Pioneers' Park during the years of WW2, Manly Cemetery has a long way to go to be mothballed. They are still taking ashes and bodies for burial. The grass is mowed, and the memorials are kept secure. There is some destruction as you can see in the images, but this could be the result of erosion and weather, rather than vandalism. But there is little in the way of decoration; few flowers; fewer vases. It is kept tidy, without being loved.


Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Funerary Objet d'Art - Point Clare


in my first image yesterday, in my post about William and Rose Loaney, you would have seen two very small ceramic tea-pots, placed nonchalantly on the edge of the head-stone. Not far away, a row or two, I discovered this little beauty. There are actually two of them.



But what do they mean? Perhaps the Loaneys and the Vales were always up for a cuppa? One of the laterally wonderful things about these funerary objet d'art, is that they have not been pilfered! All theories welcome, even unrealistic ones ...


Monday, September 10, 2012

Taphophile Tragics # 38


Thomas Lovell died in 1839 at the age of 39. According to his headstone, there is noone else occupying the same plot. So perhaps this wrought iron fence around his plot dates from 1839, too. St Matthew's Anglican Church, Windsor, New South Wales, Australia


* * * * *
Welcome to the 38th week of Taphophile Tragics.

Your contribution is most welcome. Please ensure that you include some details of the cemetery in which you took your photographs, and link directly to your post, rather than simply to your blog in general. This week, Mr Linky opens at 9:30pm Monday, Sydney time (GMT+10), and closes at 9:30pm on the Friday. When you can, please visit the other contributing bloggers to show your appreciation of their endeavours. Due to time zone variations and overcrowded schedules, some contributions are made later than Tuesday/Wednesday. As per usual, we are working with the Linky with thumbnails, and displaying the oldest entry first, with no randomising.

You may have noticed that I am posting to this blog more regularly now. I will post my own contribution to each weekly TT meme on the Monday instead of posting to 'Sydney Eye'. On Wednesdays, I will post about funerary symbolism. On Fridays, I will post about a cemetery in Australia under the sub-heading, 'Six-Feet-Down-Under'. Join me if that sounds of interest.

Taphophile Tragics - DIY


William and Rose married in 1916, and had seven children: five sons and two daughters. Their eternal resting place - with one of their sons beside them - is a wonderful mix of European and Australian. Going back into their family history, it appears that Rose could be of Jewish descent. However, there is little on the graves to indicate that she took it at all personally. One interesting thing of the very little that I managed to discover about Bill and Rose, is that both their mothers had the maiden name 'Muir'. Now this could be a coincidence, or they could have been distant cousins, as has happened in my own family. Which may explain a bit!!



Now look at the wonderful texture on this double grave. Is there symbolism of some sort involved with the shells and the stones? Any ideas? And what of that shape on the headstone of Bill and Rose, the one shaped like something out of a science laboratory? Now, direct your eyes to the base of their headstone. See those two wee tea-pots. How wonderful are they? Finally, look at the embossed metal around each of the photographs. It is imprinted with shapes that I am unable to discern, but suspect have immense meaning.


Bill and Rose are spending eternity at Point Clare Cemetery, outside Gosford on the New South Wales Central Coast.


This is my contribution to the Taphophile Tragics Community.

This is my contribution to the Cemetery Sunday Community.

This post is also linked up to Graveyard Rabbits on FB.

Friday, September 7, 2012

Six-Feet-Down-Under : St Matthews, Windsor


My first trip to the graveyard surrounding the Anglican Church of St Matthews in Windsor, was in the middle of 2008 when I was a member of an Historic Houses Trust (HHT) group tracing the ill-feeling between the architect, Francis Greenway, and the builder, Henry Kitchen. And the towering ego of both these gentlemen, AND the governor of the colony, Lachlan Macquarie. The church was constructed in fits and starts between 1810 and 1820, with the first service conducted in 1821. Andrew Thompson was the first to be interred in the graveyard of this church, in 1810, and interred by none other than the Governor himself.


Even with a two hour wander, there was not enough time to carefully consider each and every gravestone, so I shall return before the end of this calender year. It is unusual in Sydney to see a graveyard, rather than a cemetery, although St Stephen's at Camperdown, and St Jude's at Randwick come readily to mind, both of which are also Anglican Churches. At St Matthew's, though, there has been much freelance renovation! There is a sign at the front of the church requesting that no work be done on the graves without prior authorisation, but I suspect this is honoured more in the breach. Neither St Stephen's, nor St Jude's, has stones with the print re-inked, or stones painted white to hightlight the print. And yet, there are some wonderfully historic resting places within this churchyard. I will research some of them, singularly, for my 'Monday-In-Memoriam' post to this expanding blog.