Friday, October 25, 2024

'Price paid for Colonialism - early deaths of women and children - Lothian Cemetery, Delhi' - by K J S Chatrath

 


The oldest British cemetery in Delhi is the Lothian Cemetery which was established in 1808.  It was in use for more than a century before it was closed to burials during the 1960s.

Buried in the cemetery are those who belonged to the local Christian community between 1808 and 1867. Throughout the cemetery are graves of members of the East India Company and their families who perished during India’s first cholera outbreak during the 19th-century.

Also buried in the cemetery are English servicemen who died during India' First War of Independence in 1857. The rebellion was primarily aimed at the rule of the East India Company. 

One is sorry to note the deaths of children and young ladies in large numbers. May the departed souls rest in eternal peace. 

When I visited it on 4th November 2007, parts of it appeared to be under threat of  getting enchroached upon. 

Here are some of the inscriptions on the gravestones that I had noted down:

Sacred to the memory of

Mary

daughter of David Evans ,

Sarj Major, 1st Battln, 16 NL

who departed this life

on the 9th of March 1813

Aged 9 months & 10 days.

-----

Sacred to the memory of

Harry Deane

The sixth & beloved son of

Lieut. & Mrs. Burton

10th Regiment

who died at Delhi on the10th day of October 1842

Aged 3 years and 3 months.

(J.Butteress, Delhi) 

----- 

Sacred to the memory of

Rebecca

the infant daughter of

Mr. A. Beatty,

Asst. Commissioner of Ordinance

who departed this life

the 1st of August 1826

Aged 8 months & 11 days 

-----

Sacred to the memory of

Jane

Late wife of Thomas Bates,

Garrison Sarjeant Major of Delhi

who departed the life on

25th June 1824

Aged 19 years 

and

T.M.Bates

 son of the aove,

who died 25th of November 1829

Aged 7 years & 9 months.

(I.Clifford & Co)

-----

Sacred to the memory of

Alexander O'Connor

son of

Alexander & Hannah Nixon

Died on 19th September 1844

Aged 8 days.

----- 

Sacred to the memory of

 Caroline Amelia

daughter of John Bowles

Department of Public Works

who departed this life on

8th January 1832

Aged 5 months & 2 days.

-----

Sarah Louisa

infant daughter of 

Conductor Ralph Salt

Died 6th December 1832

Aged 1year 1 month & 11 days.

-----

 Sacred to the memory of

George

infant son of 

Harry & Matilda Marten

who departed this life

on the 6th March 1831

Aged 2 months & 2 days 

-----

 In memory of

John Edward Caldwell

infant son of

Joseph & Sarah Caldwell

who departed this life

on November 10, 1849

Aged 1 month & 9 days

-----

 Sacred to the memory of

Osmond Theophilus

infant son of

S.V. & E Foy

who departed this life

November 13 1841.  

-----

 Sacred to the memory of

Sabina Magdaline

youngest daughter of the 

late Godlys Lumley Esq.

who departedd this life

on 26th April 1832

Aged 6 years.

-----

 Sacred to the memory of

Robert Atkinson

The Conductor of Ordnance 

who departed this life

 on September 26, 1815

Aged 18 years

This monument is erected to his memory 

by M.E. Elden

his affectionate friend
This modest stone what few vain marbles can
May truly say here
Lies an honest man
Of manner gentle of affections mild 
a man with simplicity of a child
True companion and an easy friend
Unblam'd through life, Lamented in his end. 
-----

-----

Some British ladies and gentlemen who too lie buried in the Lothian Cemetery

-----

 Sacred to the memory of

Potgator

File Major 2nd Btn, 28th Regiment Number 1

who departed this life on the 12th February 1824

Aged 42 years. 

-----

Sacred to the memory of

M. John Plomer 

Conductor Ordinance

who departed this life

on the 3rd July

In the year of our Lord 1837

Aged 40 years. 

-----

Sacred to the memory of

Matilda Young

wife of J.B.Young Esq.

who departed this life on the 

19th March 1832 

-----

 Sacred to the memory of

P. Gibbals

Magazine Sarjeant,

Died n 11th March 1820

Aged 54 years

----- 

Sacred to the memory of

James 

Flying Sarjent Sappers

who died on 9th September 1851

Aged 30 years.

-----

Sacred to the memory of

Quarter Master Sarjeant

Richard Walker

of the 1st Battalion 22nd Native Regiment

who departed this life on the 

19th October 1808

aged 37 years

leaving a widow and 4 children

to lament the loss

The officers of the Corps

Impressed with a sense of his conduct

Erected this monument

to the memory of the deceased

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Friday, October 18, 2024

Inscriptions in All Saints Church, Conoor, India - shared by K.J.S.Chatrath

 

I visited the All Saints Church, Conoor, India on 16th January 2009. Here are some of the inscriptions inside the church that I noted down: 

Brass Plate

This Tesselated Pavement was presented

In affectionate memory of

Captain Wentworth Vernon Cole R.N.

by his friends, and

dedicated on Passion Sunday

7th April, 1935.

-----

Brass Plate

n loving memory of

Wentworth Vernon Cole

Captain Royal Navy

Born at  Cirencestor, England

20th April 1861

Died at sea 26th April 1934.

----- 

Brass Plate

Sacred to the memory of 

Major T.B. Nicholson, O.B.E.

Eldest son of Sir Fredrick Nicholson & Lady Nicholson

Born March 15, 1876

Died October 3rd 1939

Life for Evermore

-----

 Brass Plate

In Memory of

William Mullaly

of Ibex Lodge, Conoorwhere he resided from 1859

to the date of his death April 1913,

aged 73 years

and his wife

Matilda Anne Mullaly

who died at Southsea, June 1917.

-----

  Brass Plate

To the glory of God

And in memory of

Arthur Charles Puddephat

for many years lay trustee

of this church

who entered into rest on Saturday, July 12th, 1930. 

This tablet was erected as a token of esteem

----- 

Brass Plate

To the glory of God

And in memory of

Richard Wooley

of Woodcote Conoor

who died in England on 10th May 1895.

The pioneer of Nilgiri Railways

Also of Percy William Wooley  

son of the above who died in Conoor

11th June  1926

A token of remembrance of the good he did.

All Rest. 

-----

Brass Plate

To the glory of God

And in beloved memory of my husband

Joshua Rowley Watson

Lt. Colonel Indian Army

who died 1st May 1911, aged 67

and our only son

Bertie Rowley Watson 

Lance Corpl 7th Queen's own Hussars 

who died 17th October 1894

aged 19.

 And our infant daughter

Florence Beatrice Watson

who died 18th February 1886

Aged 4 months

"They are without fault before the throne of God

Till the day dawn and the shadows flee away"

-----

 Brass Plate

In memory of

 William Lee Kirby of Brooklands

who died at Conoor May 4. 1895

From the effects of a carriage accident

Aged 43 years

Erected by a few of his old friends

In token of their affection and esteem.

-----

Aluminium Plate

 In the glory of God

This War Memorial Chapel

was dedicated by Dr. Whitehead , 

Bishop of Madras

on Sunday April 16, 1922

The marble steps. Tesselated and the pavements 

were presented by A church member and dedicated

on September 17, 1933.

-----

 Brass Plate

In memory of

Louise Mary Counsell

A regular worshipper of this church, and 

a member of the choir

for many years

Called to higher service

14th January 1940.

-----

 IMO

Anne Eliza Royal Dawson

a faithful member of the church choir

for many years

Entered into rest on 29th January 1926

'I will bless the Lord at all times'

-----

 

 

 

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

'Inscriptions on some graves in the graveyard of St. Stephen's Church, Udhamangalam (Ooty) - by K J S Chatrath

                                                                                                                            Photo source: Wikipedia
 

 I visited this church and the graveyard on 14th January 2009. Here are the inscriptions that I had noted verbatim. I had also taken photos of some gravestones but quite sadly, can not locate those from hundreds of such photos taken by me in various cemeteries around the world.

May the departed rest in eternal peace.

Graveyard at St. Stephen’s Church Ooty (Ootacamund)

Date of visit 14th January 2009

-----

SMO

Samuel Francis Ward

21st R.N.Fusiliers

Son of S.N.Ward, Esq’re, M.C.S.

Who departed this life

October 5, 1863

Aged 20 years

“It is the Lord- Let him do as seemeth Him Good”-

Samuel 3-18

-----

In the sacred memory of Henry Royal Dawson

Born April 9, 1810,

Died February 7th 1874

“I am the resurrection and the Life

He that believeth in me,

Though he was dead,

Yet shall he live”;

St. John XI, 25

-----

In a wood near this place

Lie the remains of

Lieut. Edward Atmitage

Of the 6th Light Cavalry

Who died at Ootacumund

On the 7th June 1830

Aged 30

The officers of this Regiment placed

This tablet to his Memory.

W. Johnson. Sculp

-----

SMO

Lieutenant Colonel John Ouchterlony

Royal (Madras) Engineers

Who died at Ootacumund on the

29th April 1863

Of jungle fever brought on by exposure

While in the execution of hisduty

Aged 50 years

His brother officers have erected

This tablet in remembrance of a

Distinguished member of their Corps.

-----

 Sacred to the memory of

Robert Lushington Reilly

Captain of the 10th Regiment N.I.

And Assistant Executive Engineer Neilgherry Barracks

Who died at Conoor

On the 20th November 1853

Aged 36 years

This tablet is erected

By his brother officers

In token of their

Respect and esteem

-----

 Sacred to the memory of

James Thomson M.D.

Medical Officer of the Neilgherries

who died at Coimbatore

on the 12th October, 1854

Aged 37 years

This tablet is erected by his friends

Who mourn his early death

And bear a grateful sense

Of benefits derived

From his great skill

And earnest care

They sorrow not as those without hope

He trusted in his savior

And his end was peace

-----

 Sacred to the memory of

Virginie Anne

The beloved wife of Julien Etienne

Who died on the 1st January 1861

Aged 40 years

Also of

Fredrick & Frank

Who died in their infancy. 

----- 

Sacred to the memory of

George James Casmajor Esqre.

Madras Civil Service

OBIIT 1849 AE T.57

This tablet was erected as a memorial of the deep and affectionate regard

Entertained for one

Whose earnest and unaffected piety

Whose liberality

And whose enlarged and highly

Cultivated mind

Inspired his friends

With no ordinary esteem

His life and dying hours gave

That his faith would be found

Into praise and honour and glory

At the appearing of Jesus Christ

1.Peter, Chap I, V.7

-----

 INSIDE THE MAIN HALL

-----

IMO

William Adam Houstoun Esquire,

Cornet in thee 4th Light Cavalry who died

At Ootacamund

11th August 1846

Aged 22 years

This tablet is inscribed by his brother officers

-----

(Brass Plate)

In loving memory of our

Beloved parents

Dr. E.J. Theobald

And

Mrs. AE Theobald

Forever with the Lord

-----

 

(Brass Plate)

In memory of

Charles Ernest Bliss

Lieutenant 3rd Gorkha Rifles

Eldest son of Henry William Bliss

Member of Council in this Presidency

Born December 21, 1866

Died December 15, 1895

At Kila Drosh

In the Chitral Territory

“God is Our Hope”

-----


In affectionate remembrance of
Thomas Williams

Joseph

George Stephen

Ann Charlotte

Allen Sophia

And

Alexander Higgins

Erected AD 1893.

-----

  (Brass Plate)

To the glory of God

in loving memory of

Clara Francis 

widow of Major General John Bung, C.B.

Late Sixth Madras Cavalry

Born 3rd February 1811

Died 14th February 1890

"Her children arise up and call her blessed"

Prov.31.28

----- 

 (Brass Plate)

In loving memory of

Annie

wife of 

Lieut. Colonel Wyndham Hughes Hallett

Last Advocate General

of the Madras Army

She was born May 3, 1857, and 

after enduring years of grievous suffering 

with rare courage, cheerfulness and patience

She died in London November 20, 1889 

and was buried in

 the Parish Church Yard of Hove, Sussex.

-----

 (Brass Plate)

In memory of

Atwell Curtois

Colonel Madras Army

This tablet is erected by the 

Freemasons of Madras

as a mark of

affection and esteem.

----- 

 (Brass Plate)

 To the beloved memory of 

Henry Bidwell Grigg, C.I.E.

Indian Civil Service

He served with marked distinction as 

Assistant Commissioner of the Nilgiris

Under Secretary to Government

 Director of Public Instruction

And British Resident in Travancore & Cochin  

Born at Theberton, Suffolk, June 16, 1841

Died at Residency Cochin 5th April 1895. 

Erected by his intimate friends

As a tribute of affection & in token of their

appreciation of his life and work.

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