Dartmouth Patriot, 5 Oct 1901 Edition
 
 

No. 22[23]
 

Information concerning old people and old settlers is sometimes found in cemeteries. It is my purpose to write in this article of some who "after life's fitful fever, sleep well" in these "God's acres."

On the site of Fort Clarence there was at one time either a French or Indian graveyard. While building the forts many bones were disinterred. We cannot tell anything of them however.

A little further down the harbour is the McNab cemetery. There are a number of headstones here. One standing at the head of a double grave marks the resting place of William Anderson, aged 24 years, and Alexander Anderson, aged 22 years. The inscription on the stone tells us that they came to their death by the upsetting of a boat in the gale of the 11th day of September, 1819.

Other stones tell us that Peter McNab died February 4, 1823, aged 61 years; that Jean McNab died ten years after on the same day, aged 70 years. That Alex McNab died February 15, 1864, aged 66 years; that his widow died April 18, 1886, aged 81 years and that Peter McNab, Jr., died January 2nd, 1870, aged 70 years. Still other stones are in place.

As stated before the first of the Eastern Passage McNabs' was the first to be buried here. Upwards of 20 of his descendants now sleep beside him. The cemetery is pleasantly situated on the slope of a hill. On the one side there stills remains an ancient stonewall.

Several graves are near the home of Mr. William Romekey.

On the lower side of the road, not far from the property of Mr. James Myers, is the Horn graveyard. It had around it at one time a stone wall which has been taken away. There used to be also a number of wood head boards which have fallen to pieces. Among those whose head stones have disappeared is Jacob Horn, Sr., his wife and more of the older generation. Some of the remaining headstones tell us that Mary, wife of Jacob Horn, Jr., died 15th December, 1821, aged 65 years; that Maurice Horn aged 29 years and his wife Elizabeth aged 26 years died October 11, 1884; that Henry B. Heslap died March 10, 1848, aged 77 years and his wife Elizabeth died at the age of 85 years in 1860; that E. Naugle died in 1818; that John Horn died January 16, 1844, aged 68 years and his wife Elizabeth died at the age of 85 years January 19, 1875. The many mounds under the shade of the evergreen trees tell plainly that death has been busy among this, the oldest family in Eastern Passage.

In the yard surrounding the Chapel are many graves, a few of which I will mention. In this church lie the mortal remains of three brothers, Michael, Thomas and I think John Edwards. They belonged to Devil's Island. All died within three years and all were over 75 years of age. The stones tell me that Michael Edwards died November 22, 1898, aged 78 years and his brother Thomas died March 22, 1900, aged 82 years. The other brother died too recently to allow time for a monument to be erected. Some other old people whose graves are marked are Elizabeth Cleary who died March 24, 1886, aged 70 years, Captain Edward Power who died February 16, 1877, aged 74 years, and his wife Barbary whose death occurred Sept. 7, 1874, aged 84 years. John Devlin who was the first keeper of the quarantine station at Lawlor's Island, died April 4, 1890, aged 58 years and Malachi Cleary, who came to Eastern Passage from McNab's Island died May 6, 1893 aged 82 years. An aged couple lie in their last sleep side by side: - Captain Joseph DeYoung who died Dec. 3, 1869, aged 82 and his wife Isabella who died October 30, 1887, aged 96 years. I have already mentioned the wife of M. Mizansean who lies here too. Around the church in which they worshipped and poured out to God their secret troubles, these and many others rest, and their loved ones, whom it grieved them to part with as on the service Sundays and deposit on their graves those flowers which are the token of love and unforgetfulness.

A lonely grave is that of a man named Ghepard, whose request that he should be buried alone in his field was carried out. A headstone marks the grave which is on the property of Mr. Frank Mcdonald.

The last cemetery I shall have to mention is that which surrounds the parish church of St. Peter's. The busy reaper is fast filling this quiet corner. In this churchyard lie side by side the three Murray brothers, whose sad fate I mentioned in my last paper on Devil's Island. We find by reading the inscriptions that George Bowes died March 23, 1877, aged 77 years; that Elizabeth, his wife, died September 7, 1895, aged 90 years; that Christy-ann, wife of James Cleary died September 3, 1883, aged 80 years; that Thomas Fraser died January 7, 1884, aged 74 years. Another stone tells us that Alexander Cummings a native of Inverness, Scotland, died November 29, 1847, aged 85 years. Other stones tell us that Christopher Hines, the first of the Passage Hines died February 17, 1871, aged 67 years; that Philip Shiers died December 12, 1892, aged 90 years; and that Jennet Ross, wife of William McDonald, died June 18, 1887, aged 71 years.

These and others whom I might name have over their graves memorials which will for a time keep their memory from dying out, but in the course of centuries nothing will tell to the passerby the history of those lying beneath the sod. All will be equally forgotten. New sorrows and losses will overshadow the old ones and all will one day be the mourned instead of the mourner.

Many as are the old ages recorded on the stones still more old people rest with no notice of their age above them. I would like to give here a copy of an inscription on a tombstone in the churchyard of the Methodist Meeting House at Cole Harbor. It is as follows: - "In memory of Mary Ann Gammon, died Oct. 8, 1857, aged 84 years; also her husband John Gammon, died Jan. 15., 1861, aged 104 years. Not dead but sleepeth. Erected by their son Bery." This is old age in earnest.

But, many as there may be in the cemeteries, there are some who have for their grave earth beneath them, but water of all other sides. They are those who have lost their lives in that peaceful looking Eastern Passage. I give here as complete a list of the drowning fatalities which have taken place in the Eastern Passage as I can. There have doubtless been many drowning accidents in the Eastern Passage than I am not aware of. Among those drowned in these waters were James Cleary, Avery Negus, Mrs. Sheen, a son and daughter of Thomas Edwards, Alexander Anderson, William Anderson, a man engaged in lighter work at McNab's Island. Andrew Henneberry, Kenneth Faulkner, __________ Faulkner his brother, Mrs. Naugle, a man named Harrington, John Lawlor, John Naugle, Robert Cleary, James Cleary, John Cleary, Edward Henneberry, Daniel Henchon, James Cleary, Mrs. James Cleary, Maurice Horn, Mrs. Maurice Horn, James DeYoung, his son, Alfred Newcombe, Robert Davidson, Minnie Davidson, Alice Davidson, Florence Davidson, Mabel Davidson, William R. Hamilton, John Hancock, and private Brown. Drowning accidents are generally much like one another, and I will not try to describe all the accidents by which the above people lost their lives. My knowledge of them is not great and a description of a few accidents will make this article as long as it should be.

James Cleary, of Eastern Passage, was drowned in Halifax Harbor.

Avery Negus was drowned off Harding's Point, McNab's Island. He and Irvin Naugle were in a small boat which upset. Miss Mary Blank rescued Naugle.

Mrs. Sheen was in a boat with Mr. Henneberry and his two sons. Mrs. Heslap, mother of Mrs. Sheen also accompanied them. On their way from Halifax on the 12th day of October, 1836, the boat capsized a short distance north of Woodside Sugar Refinery. Mrs. Sheen was not rescued.

The son and daughter of Mr. Thomas Edwards were drowned off Horn's wharf 22 years ago.

Alex and William Anderson were drowned September 11, 1819, near Lawlor's Island.

Kenneth Faulkner was drowned about 9 years ago off Devil's Island. His brother was drowned only a few years ago between Eastern Passage and Devil's Island.

Andrew Henneberry was drowned between Eastern Passage and Devil's Island about 55 years ago.

Mrs. Naugle was drowned off Lawlor's Island, opposite her home on Eastern Passage shore. Only 7 days after her body was picked up off Pope's Harbor.

Mr. Harrington was drowned by the upsetting of a yacht off the red buoy.
 
 

John Lawlor was drowned about 30 years ago by the capsizing of his boat off Wellington brick yard.

John and Joseph Naugle were drowned about 40 years ago.

Robert Cleary was drowned about 45 years ago off the red buoy.

James Cleary, John Cleary, Edward Henneberry and Daniel Henchon were drowned about 30 years ago at the same time.

James Cleary, his wife, Maurice Horn and his wife were all drowned on Saturday, October 11, 1884, on their way from Halifax. It was a dark squally day with N.E. wind blowing. The boat upset and sank. James Cleary's body was never recovered.

James DeYoung and his son were drowned by the upsetting of a boat while attempting to reach the wreck of the Schr. Olivette, first of April, 1897.

Alfred Newcombe and two friends went for a sail on June 21st, 1866. In the Eastern Passage a squall upset the boat. Newcombe was drowned.

Robert, Minnie, Alice, Florence and Mabel Davidson, William R. Hamilton, second Asst. City Clerk and John Hancock were drowned in the Eastern Passage between Indian Point on McNab's Island and the eastern mainland. They, accompanied by Albert Poole, Albert Eudy and Bertha and Louise Davidson, went on Labor Day (Sept. 4), to picnic on McNab's Island. The mast became unsteped and broke through the bottom of the boat, causing her to sink. The seven first mentioned were drowned. All the bodies were recovered.

Private Brown, of the 3rd R.C.R., was drowned in the Eastern Passage in 1900 by the upsetting of a boat while rifle practice was being carried on the island.

Other drowning accidents have taken place on the mainland, which I will not mention here. Nor will I make mention of those lost on Thrum Cap on wrecks.

John R. Henneberry was drowned at sea October 12, 1871 and David A. Cleary was drowned at sea July 25, 1891.

About 27 years ago the Schr. "J.B. Huey" with a crew from Eastern Passage was lost with all board while coming from Newfoundland.

The Schr. Ocean Traveller, also with a crew from Eastern Passage was lost with all on board while going to Sable Island.

A few years after the settlement of Halifax a large vessel ran ashore on the Eastern Passage shore, not far from Cow Bay beach. Signal guns were fired but she became a total wreck. Another wreck took place not far from this place about 100 years ago. The anchor and part of the cable may yet be seen near the shore.

The brig "Humming Bird" was wrecked below Frederick Naugle's, Eastern Passage, on her way from St. Thomas, W.I. She was taken off however.

(To be Continued.)