OLDEST CEMETERY

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 December 1937, Page 2

OLDEST CEMETERY

NEGLECT IN AUSTRALIA. Sesquicentenary visitors who explore Australia’s oldest cemetery are likely to find much of it overgrown with weeds and otherwise in a neglected condition, says a writer in the “Sydney Morning Herald.’’

On many of the historic tombstones only an odd word here and there is decipherable; others are broken and crumbling away; and others, again, can hardly be approached because of the weettsr St. John’s Cemetery, Parramatta, contains more graves of historic interest than any other burial ground. Here is the oldest grave in Australia, with the exception of that of Father Receveur, at La Perouse. There is a monument at Kurnell commemorating the death of Forby Sutherland, one of Captain Cook’s seamen, who died at, Botany Bay; but the exact grave, is not known, and Sutherland’s bones may be a long way from the site of the monument.

The oldest grave in St. John’s Cemetery is that of Thomas Devaney, an infant, who died in 1791. The inscription on the little tombstone is still quite legible, though weeds bar the approach to the grave. Nearby is the grave of H. E. Dodd, who was buried in 1791. He was Governor Phillip’s servant, and was one of the first men to grow anything in Australia. His garden was situated whore the Botanic Gardens now stand. In Governor Macquarie’s time St. John’s Cemetery was surrounded by a bank and a ditch, but Governor Brisbane had a brick wall built round it by convicts. The wall still stands; it is almost the only portion of the cemetery that remains in good order.

“NEVER TOLD A LIE,” Among the First Flceters buried here were Baron Alt, John Irving, and John Palmer. The inscription on Baron Alt’s tombstone is the longest in the cemetery, but the stone is best known to the present generation as that of the man who never told a lie. The epitaph reads: Augustus Theodore Henry Alt, Baron of Hesse Casse, who died January 9, 1815, aged 84 years. Late SurveyorGeneral of New South Wales, at the first settling of this colony, which situation ho held till superannuated. He served as a Lieutenant of the Guards in George the Second’s reign, was aide de camp to Prince Ferdinand at the Battle of Mindon, and Captain in the Royal Manchester Volunteers at the Seige of Gibraltar under General Elliott, where he distinguished * himself in a mighty gallant manner. Hd died universally regretted by all his friends who lost in the Barop a most complete gentleman and a man who never told an untruth to the injury of any man.

“This monument is erected by his nephew, Matthew Bowes Alt, Lieutenant. in Ills Majesty’s Royal Navy, as a tribute of gratitude to his- respected uncle.’’

John Palmer died in September, 1833. He arrived as purser of the Sirius.- In 1791 he was appointed Commissary, which position he held .until retired in 1819. Strangely enough, Canberra is linked with this old cemetery. In one of the old tombs are the remains of Robert Campbell, who arrived >in 1798. Ho was one of the pioneers of’the country known to-day as Canberra. He died at Canberra, but his body was transported by road to St. John’s Cemetery. i

The wives of two Governors are buried in St. John’s Cemetery. Their tombs tire side by side. One contains tho remains of Lady Fitzoyß, wife of Governor Fitzßoy. She was thrown against a tree and killed when the horses in her carriage bolted from Government House, which was situated in what is now Parramatta Park. An obelish marks the spot where the tragedy occurred. The other old tomb contains the remains of Lady Elizabeth Bourke, wife of Governor Bourkel , Lieutenant Charles Chester Masters, A.D.C., Io Governor Fitzßoy, was also killed in tho accident in which Lady Fitzßoy met her death, and was buried in St. John’s Cemetery.

MARSDEN’S TOMB. ’

One of the tombs of greatest historic interest is that of the Rev. Samuel Marsden, the first clergyman in charge of St. John’s Church, Parramatta. Marsden arrived in March, 1794. He took up residence at Parramatta, and three yars later laid the foundationstone of St. John’s Church. In addition to his Church duties, Marsden was a Magistrate and superintendent of public works 'at Parramatta and Toongabble. He established a model farm at Mamre, near St. Mary’s, the old building still standing in ruins. He died at Windsor on May 12, 1838, leaving a, record of good and bad work. Side by side are the graves of a group of South Sea. Island missionaries —-Rowland Hassall, William Shelley, John Eyre, and Frances Oakes;, and elsewhere lie the remains of Darcy Wentwork, surgeon, and father of William Charles Wentworth. William Batman, father of the founder, of Melbourne, is buried close to David Lennox, of bridge-building fame. One of the best-kept tombs is that of the Hon. John Blaxland, of Newington, who died August 5, 1845. It is not. only for its historic interest alone that St. John’s Cemetery is likely to attract tourists. Many of the epitaphs are curious, and some are even humorous.

The bushranging days are recalled by the inscription: “To the memory of Benjamin Ratty, who departed this life October 7, 1826, aged 50 years. The deceased was a constable in the town of Parramatta, during, several years, and this stona was erected by its inhabitants as a mark of their esteem for his service, on various occasions in apprehending bushrangers, and particularly for his intrepid behaviour on the night of September 28, when he received the wound which caused his death from a pistol shot, which led to the immediate apprehension of Paddy, the Bandit.” A double tombstone is erected over the graves of two young men who were accidentally drowned. Benjamin Newton fell down a. well and Samuel Reeves jumped in in an endeavour to save him, but both wore drowned. The quaint inscription reads: Beneath this tomb two young men lie. In each others arms they both did die. Reeves went down the well. Newton’s life to save. And here they are laying in one grave. St. John's should be one of the historic show-places of Parramatta, and it would cost, very little to put it in good order. As the little old cemetery is no longer open for burials, the authorities receive little or no revenue, but its upkeep might well be made a national undertaking'.