The Meng Letters - Letter from 1877

Letter to Elise and Karl Meng in New Zealand from Friedelsheim, 01-07-1877

Writer Lenchen Ellenberger = Magdalena Ellenberger, Elise‘s sister

Brief an den Auswanderer Karl Meng NZ, aus Friedelsheim, 1. Juli 1877

Liebe Schwester und Schwager!

Endlich hast Du doch mal was von Dir hören lassen, u doch beklagst Du Dich noch dabei, dass wir nichts von uns hören lassen.

Ich habe schon etliche mal an dich geschrieben aber noch nie Antwort darauf bekommen auch hab ich dir mein Bild geschickt, ich weiß aber nicht hast du es erhalten oder nicht.

Auch dießmal will ich dir unseren kleinen Liebling einlegen, bitte aber dann Antwort ob du es erhalten oder nicht.  Laisers Mädchen aus Amerika schreiben so fleißig die wissen alles was bei ihm vorgeht, auch das was in Deutschland vorgeht, wenn aber jemand von uns

Siete 2

 gefragt wird kann es keine Antwort geben blos von Bruder Jakob u. David.

Bei uns geht es gut soweit wir sind alle gesund bis auf Mari die ist Leberleidend und aber wieder schlimmer.  Vater ist recht munter hat er öfters mit abweichen zu thun, auch sieht er sehr schlecht, er hat den grauen Star an den Augen es kann aber Obrirt werden, wenn es zeitig ist.

Bruder Adolph ist mit Maria Bender von Göllheim verheirathet  und hat einen kleinen lieben munderen Springer. Er heißt Heinrich Jakob wird bis September 14 Wochen alt. Das Bender Johannes verheirathet ist werdet ihr wohl wissen Er hat 2 Kinder Jakob und Babette. Jakob ist Vaters Liebling überhaupt unser aller besonders aber mein, nach seinen Eltern fragt er nicht wenn er nur mich hat er sagt ich soll mir eine Ketze flicken und auf den Rücken hänken

Siete 3

 dass ich ihn immer bei mir habe.

Er wird bis 22 Juli 3 Jahr alt, ist sehr munder auch manchmal sehr bös, er  Vater viel von seiner Zeit ab, die er aber sehr viel müssig zu bringen muß da er nicht viel lesen und schreiben kann wir müssen ihm viel vorlesen dass ihm die Zeit nicht so lang wird.  Bruder Abraham hat sich vor etlichen Jahren ein Haus gekauft wobei Tante Ella und einen Laden eingerichtet er geht sehr gut und Schwester Babette ist bei ihm.  Peter ist in Ramsen bei Krebiel in der Mühl. Es gefällt ihm sehr gut auch steht er eben auf Freiersfüssen ich hoffe nächstmal mehr darüber zu schreiben.  Schwester Mari ist eben daheim, weil sie nicht viel tun kann und hat sich eine Strickschule angefangen.

Linker Rand S.3: Bitte liebe Schwester laß diesmal nicht so lang auf dich warten ich meine wenn man will kann man viel. Ich hätte dir noch manches zu schreiben doch das kann ich auch nächst mal. Bitte bitte laß nicht so lang auf dich warten. Es grüßt dich deine Schwester  Lenchen Ellenberger

Siete 4

Wir haben dieses Jahr einen guten Winter gehabt, aber am Frühjahr als es warm werden sollte wurde es kalt. Jetzt haben wir eine furchtbare Hitze. Vor 14 Tagen haben wir ein so schweres Gewitter, welches in Forst, Deidesheim, Wachenheim sehr viel Schaden gethan hat, auch ein Haus hat es mitgenommen. Bei niedrigen Wohnungen stand das Wasser den Fenstern gleich im Zimmer und auf der Straß. Auch bei uns hat das Wasser Schaden gethan. Die Hofleuthe hatten Wassersnot. Der ganze Hof war wieder unter, unten an der Scheuer und haben 3 Löcher auf die Straß gehaun, dass das Wasser abfluß bekam.

Die Schweine mussten sie aus den Ställen thun die Brunnen sind übergelaufen. Der ganze Zwenger war unten bis über der Bauer Lisel ihr Haus.

Linker Rand S. 4

Ich muß mit meinem Schreiben schließen, da Mari noch einige Zeilen einlegen will, sonst wird der Brief zu dick, da ich dir doch unser Kleinen einlegen will.   L.E.

English Translation

Dear sister and brother in law!

At long last you let something hear about you. You bemoan that we do not let something hear from us. I wrote several times to you, but I never received an answer. I sent you a photo, but do not know, whether you received it or not. This time I want to put (a photo) from our small darling (in the letter), please tell me, you received, or not.

Laiser`s girls from America write so busily. They know everything that happens with him and what happens in Germany. If someone from us would be asked, there is no (chance to) answer, except about brother Jakob and David.

At our place everything is all right, only Mari has a liver disease, which becomes worse.  Father is rather animated but has often diarrhoea ( the German word “abweichen” I could not understand, that means something completely different today: depart or deviate). He can see only bad, he has a cataract, that can be operated, if we are fast.

Brother Adolph is married to Maria Bender from Göllheim and has a small awake jumper (springer). His name is Heinrich Jakob and is going to be 14 weeks old in September.  We suppose, you already know that Johannes Bender is married. He has two children, Jakob and Babette. Jakob is father`s  and  everybody`s darling, especially mine. He does not ask for his parents, as long he ( has me) is together with me and says I shall tailor a “Ketze” (old word for a rucksack/ back pack to put kids in and carry them) and hang him on my back, that he is always with me. He is going to be 3 years old the 22^nd of July. He is awake (jolly) and sometimes bad and takes a lot of father`s time, which is hard for him (father) because he can not read and write good. Therefore we must read out for him, that he is not bored.

Brother Abraham bought a house several years ago (at or close to?) Aunt Ella, has a shop that works well, sister Babette is with him. Peter is (works) in Ramsen in the mill of Krebiel (a Mennonite name!). He likes it there and he wants to marry, I hope I can write about next time.  Sister Mari stays home, because she can not do much. She began with a knitting school (teaching children, how to knit).

Left border page 3: Please dear sister, don`t let us wait so long this time, I think if someone wants, he can do much. I could write you a lot more, but I`ll do the next time. Please don`t let (us) wait so long (for you). Regards from yours sister Lenchen Ellenberger

We have had a good winter this year, but in spring, when it should become warm it became cold. Now we have a terrible heat. 14 days ago we hat such a badly tempest, which damaged a lot in Forst, Deidesheim, Wachenheim, it took even a house (with the flood). In basely apartments the water went in and and was as high as windows in the rooms and the street. In our place the water destructed things too. The people, who lived in the yard, had emergency because of the water. The whole yard was under water at the barn, therefore they carved (hewn) 3 holes in the street, so that the water could flow.

The pigs we had to put out of the stables, the springs were flooding. The whole “Zwenger” (??) was down up of the house of Bauer Lisel. (the last sentence, I can not understand, we have the word “Zwinger” today, that is a place, where the dogs come in).

I must finish the letter, because Mari wants to write something, otherwise the letter becomes too thick, because I want to put in our small (a photo of the small).     L.E.

The Meng Letters - Letter from 1879

Letter to Karl Meng and children in New Zealand from Friedelsheim, 06-07-1879

Writer Maria Ellenberger, Karl Meng‘s Sister-in-law

Brief von Maria Ellenberger aus Friedelsheim, an Karl Meng in NZ

1879

Lieber Schwager und Kinder!

Die traurige Nachricht von dem schnellen Hinscheiden unserer lieben Schwester, Deiner lieben Frau, berührte uns sehr schmerzlich. Um so schmerzlicher noch da Du lieber Schwager nicht einmal bei ihr sein konntest in ihrer letzten Stunde, oh wie hart ist das, wenn man einander gesund verlässt und so einander wieder finden muss, wenn wir keine Hoffnung hätten, uns einst wieder zu treffen in der jenseitigen Heimath, ich glaube gewiss annehmen zu dürfen, dass sie selig im Herrn entschlafen ist. Wie ich aus Deinem Briefe schließe, so hat sie auch nicht versäumt ihre Kinder zu dem hin zuführen, der unser aller Heiland ist, der ja selbst den Kindern seinen Segen verheißen hat, führe und leite sie auch auf diesem Wege fort, denn das ist der einzige Weg der uns zum wahren Leben führt, nur durch ihn können wir selig werden. Du schreibst, dass Du selber noch nicht weißt wie nun was Du anfangen sollst, das glaube ich Dir von Herzen gern. Auch will ich dir sagen, bleibe wie Du bist, das musst Du am besten, wenn man freilich voraus wüsste, dass die Kinder eine gute Mutter bekämen, so wäre es vielleicht besser, dass Du Dich wieder verheirathest, das musst Du am besten wissen, des bin ich überzeugt, dass Du nur Deinen Kindern ihr bestes Wohl willst und suchst. Das kannst Du Deiner Frau nicht thun, dass Du Deine Kinder leichtfertig preis gibst. Das dachten wir nicht als unser Vater starb, dass Schwester Elise die erste nun so bald folgen würde ich habe es aber geahnt, doch konnte ich mir nicht denken wer das sein wird ich hatte in selber Zeit immer eine solche innerliche Unruhe die ich mir nicht erklären konnte, als der Brief kam wurde es mir klar, ich kann fast darauf gehen wenn ich eine bange beklemmende Anhung habe dass was besonderes vorfällt.

Ihr habt meinen Brief nach dem Tode der Elise erst erhalten, dass unser l. Vater gestorben, das hat sie nicht mehr hier in dieser Welt erfahren dürfen, drüben aber werden sie sich miteinander freuen und gefreut haben, jetzt sind 5 von unserer Familie uns voraus gegangen, und haben uns den Weg bereiten zu unserem Gott und  Heiland, so Gott will werden wir uns einst alle wieder vereinigen droben im Himmel, der Herr gebe uns seinen Heiligen Geist und Segen dazu Amen.

Lieber Schwager bitte sei Bruder Jakob auch jetzt  Bruder und Schwager wie du es bisher warst, daß Elise es nicht haben konnte, wenn du zanktest mit ihm, kann ich ihr nicht verargen, denn sie war so weit getrennt von ihren anderen Geschwistern und Eltern und hatte nur den einen Bruder in ihrer Nähe, dass sie da so viel als möglich im Friede mit ihm leben wollte ist ganz selbstverständlich. Wäre es nicht so weit und ich nicht schon so alt, so käme ich zu Dir und führte dir die Haushaltung aber so geht’s nicht mehr, wenn du aber nach Deutschland kommen willst mit den Kindern so seid ihr uns herzlich will (kommen) gefällt es dir nicht mehr so kannst du ja später wieder nach Neuseeland gehen wenn deine Kinder groß sind. Deine Geschwister würden sich gewiß auch freuen. Der Pfarrer von unserer neuen Deutschen Gemeinde bediente bei Euch, hat uns bis jetzt noch nicht besucht und auch noch nichts von sich hören lassen. Schreibe mir im nächsten Brief, wie er heißt und wo er zu Hause ist.

Schreibe mir nur öfters wie es dir und den lieben Kindern geht, sage ihnen dass sie in Deutschland auch noch Tanten haben die an sie denken und für sie beten. Auch werde ich ihnen ein Büchlein schicken (wenn es nicht zu theuer kommt) wo Erlebnisse von ihrem Großvater darin stehen auch Bruder Jakob eins, Bilder aus dem Pilgerleben ist der Tittel. Habt ihr schöne Blumen bei euch die man in Deutschland nicht hat, bitte und schicke mir etwas Samen in einem Brief, Bruder David hat uns schon viel aus Gavestone (Texas) geschickt, sehr schöne Sachen dabei. Von eurem wilden Flachs möchte ich einige Samenkörner haben. Habt ihr auch einen Garten bei eurem Haus, ist euer Haus ein Steinhaus oder Holzhaus und wasem. Euer Vieh ist auch das ganze Jahr im Freien oder doch nicht, verkauft ihr den Butter, was bekommt ihr fürs Pfund, wenn ihr die Milch verkauft was bekommt ihr da für die Maas oder Schoppen, wie ihr sie verkauft. Hier kostet das Pfund 1 M (Mark) oder 35 Kreuzer, der Schoppen Milch 6 Pfennig oder 2 Kreuzer.

Ich und Schwester Lenchen, die Älteste und die Jüngste Schwester sind jetzt noch allein im Eltern Haus respektive Pfarrhaus, so lang als sie uns wohnen lassen, das wissen wir aber nicht wie lange das noch wärt, dann müssen wir uns nach einer anderen Wohnung umsehen. Was ist doch das Menschenleben ein Quer- und Kreuzgang und doch bedenkt man es so wenig wie ernst und schwerwiegend dieser Schritt vom Leben zum Tode ist, was macht der Mensch so viel Getöse aus sich und ist doch nur ein so kurzer Schritt oder Spann das Menschenleben. Schreibe mir bald wieder lasse mich nicht so lang warten wie es euch geht. Viele herzliche Grüße von Allen Geschwistern, Schwäger und Schwägerinnen.

Wir nehmen alle innigsten antheil an deinem schmerzlichen Verlust deiner lieben Frau. Auch von mir und Schwester Lenchen nimm die herzlichsten Grüße für dich und die lieben Kinder. Rufe ihnen ihre Mutter so oft als möglich ins Gedächtnis zurück, dass sie sie nicht vergessen, dass sie sich ihrer oft in Liebe erinnern,

Deine treue Schwägerin

Maria Ellenberger

English Translation

Dear brother in law and children!

The sad news about the fast passing (death) of our dear sister, your dear wife, touched us bitter. Even more dolorous it is, because you couldn't be with her in her last hour, dear brother in law. Oh how hard is that leaving each other healthy, and then meet again like this. If we had no hope, that we may meet in the afterlife: I am sure she slept in (died) blessed in god.

In your letter I can read, that she did not fail to lead her children to the one, who is our redeemer, who gave and promised his mercy to the children. Go on leading them this way, because this is the onliest way to true life, only threw this (way) we become blessed.  

You write, you don`t know yet what to do, I can believe that (in my heart). I want to tell you, remain as you are, you must know best, if someone knew in advance that the children could get a good mother, then it would be probably better, that you marry again. You must know best, I am persuaded that that you only want and look for the best well-being for your children. You can`t do that to your wife, that you give up (not care) about your children.

When father died we couldn`t think that Elise could be the first following him so soon. I had a clue, but couldn`t think about who could follow. This time I had such an inner agitation, which I could not understand. When the letter came I understood why, I can be sure, whenever I have a foreboding, something special happens.

You received our letter after the death of Elise. She wasn´t told on earth about the death of our father. In the afterlife they will meet and be happy. Five from the family now went (died) and afford the way to our god and redeemer. If god wants we all be united some day in heaven, god give us his holy spirit and mercy, Amen.

Dear brother in law, please be a brother and a brother in law, like you were in the past….because she was so far apart from her sisters and brothers and only had this one brother, that she wanted to live in peace with him is self- evident.

If it wasn`t so far and I weren`t so old I would come and do the housekeeping for you, but that doesn`t work. If you want to come to Germany with the kids, you are welcome. If you don`t like it here anymore, you could go back to NZ, when your kids are grown up. Your sisters and brothers surely would be happy too. The priest of our new German community served (worked) for you. He did not visit us yet and did not let something hear (took no contact). Tell me in your next letter, what his name is and where he has his home. 

Please write more often to me, how you and the kids are, tell them, they have aunts in Germany, who keep them in their mind and pray for them. I want to send them a small book (if it is not too expensive), where happenings of their grandfather are written in and one about Jakob, the title is Pictures of Pilgrim life.

Do you have nice flowers, which we don`t have in Germany, then send us some seeds in a letter. Brother David sent us already some from Gavestone (Galveston, Texas - is spelt wrong), were nice things. I would like to have some seeds of your wild flax. Do you have a garden at your house, is your house a stone house or a wood house and do you have grass around (the German word “wasem” does not exist, it means grass or a meadow). Your cattle is outdoor the whole year, or not? Do you sell your butter, how much you get for a pound? When you sell milk, how much you get for a  Maas or Schoppen (one litre, or half litre)?  Here a pound (butter) costs 1 Mark or 35 Kreuzer, the Schoppen (half litre) milk costs 6 Pfennig or 2 Kreuzer.

I and sister Lenchen, the eldest and the youngest sister are now alone in our parents house, which is the vicarage, we live there as long as they let us live there, we don`t know how long that will be, then we have to look for another place to live. Life is a cross and cloister and we think so little how grave and serious this step from life to death is. This step from life to death is such a short step and interval, but people make such a noisiness about.. the human life. Please write soon again, don`t let me wait how you are. Best greetings from all sisters and brothers, brothers in law and sisters in law. …heartfelt part on your dolorous bereavement of you dear wife. Take the heartfelt greetings from me and Lenchen for you and your children. Remember them (they shall keep in memory) for their mother as often as possible, that they don`t forget about her, and remember her in love. Yours faithfully sister in law   Maria Ellenberger

Amazing Photo Discoveries!

In the past couple of years I have discovered who are in old photos I own.  This is always extremely exciting.

A photo I owned, I suspected it might be one of the three Meng girls who were born in the 1870s, but I didn't know which one.  I found the Jack Baker album a few years ago on the Internet, on one of my favourite historic photo blogs where there was a definite photo of Kate Meng - .  Kate and her sister Mary were friends with Clara Harris who also lived in Ohoka.  They must have swapped a lot of photos.

Kate Meng is in a window with lots of beads around her neck.  She has the same look on her face as all her other photos.  A very distinctive face.

Then I realised that I had a similar photo in my album but of a girl with her hair more out.  It was Kate's little sister Emma Meng - I could now see the resemblance.  This was very exciting as I could now name the girl in the photo.  They have been dressed in the same dress with the same beads around their necks.

It is photos like these that have inspired my own photography.  I love dressing up girls and boys for photos.  Often people don't have their own fashionable clothing or old fashioned gown.  Just like these girls, they had to borrow some clothing for the photo instead of wearing their everyday dresses for school and farm life.  Check out my website for my own modern day take on classic photos.

James Edwin Gillespie - West Coast Gold Chaser

I am still trying to trace my ancestors William Henry Luff and Elizabeth Gillespie.  One way of doing this is to find all the Gillespies in NZ at the time Elizabeth was here and to do short biographies to rule them out of being related to her.  It is unusual for a woman to come by herself to NZ without some sort of relative already here.  She may have had a cousin here bearing a different surname, but for now I will just continue in my quest to find Gillespies.  If I can't find anyone related then I could assume that she has escaped Scotland because of some calamity she got herself into, or the surname of friends and family is different to her own.

The first person I'm tracing is James Edwin Gillespie, gold chaser on the West Coast.

He was apparently the person who discovered gold at what is now called Gillespie's Beach.  My ancestors were in the vicinity when he discovered it and Elizabeth happened to have the same surname.  Hence this blog post!

This is what I've found so far and this proves he is probably not related to my Elizabeth:

James Edwin Gillespie was born in America according to his burial record.  He was interred in Orowaiti Old Cemetery on 11 June 1890.  He died from congestion of the lungs aged 62.  His occupation was inspector and he was a protestant.

He was buried with his wife who happened to be named Elizabeth Gillespie, the same as my ancestor. She died several years after him and was interred on 13 March 1912.  She died on Senile decay aged 78 and was a Roman Catholic of Irish descent.

I looked up their marriage and they were not married in New Zealand.   I looked in Australia as if he is a gold chaser it is likely he came from Melbourne.  I then found a James Edwin Gillespie marrying an Elizabeth O'Brian in 1856 in Victoria.  This is likely them.  O'Brian being an Irish name.

They had a son Edwin in about 1857 in Beechworth, Victoria, Australia and one in New Zealand named Thomas in 1869.  The son named Edwin was most likely named James Edwin.

James Edwin Gillespie Jnr son of James Edwin Gillespie tragically died on 26 May 1882 aged 24 in the Taranaki area.  And Thomas died aged four in 1874.  It appears the couple may have been childless after 1882 which is extremely tragic.

I searched the newspapers for articles about James Edwin Gillespie and found quite a lot.

In 1861 a letter from James Edwin Gillespie was quoted in a Sydney Newspaper.  It says that he is very experienced in gold mining in both NSW and Victoria.

In 1863 he was in Arthur's point, near Queenstown.

In 1864 J. E. Gillespie was still at Arthur's Point, near Queenstown mining. He was a definite gold chaser.

That same year he was also the secretary of the Arthur's Point races.

In May 1864 his speech was quoted in the newspaper.  

Sometime in 1865 James Edwin Gillespie must have discovered Gillespie's Beach which was named after him.  By April 1866 there were reports of the chaos at this beach.  Here is the account published on 19 April in the West Coast Times.  There were no other mentioned of Gillespie's Beach in any newspapers before this, so this is the first ever mention of the name.

In 1866 James Edwin Gillespie was in the Hokitika area.

In 1868 he owned Gillespie's Waverley Hotel

In 1869, James was named as a miner and witnessed a drowning at Charleston.  Here is his account:

In 1870 he was the manager of the Charleston Progressive Water race company  He also went bankrupt that same year and had to go to the Charleston Courthouse.

In Jan 1877 James was Secretary of the Miner's Association and organised a meeting at the Southern Hotel, Reefton.

In 1886 he was appointed the Registrar of Dogs for the Westport Borough

in 1890 he died and in 1912 his wife died, leaving no children.

My Uncle Had An Old Banjo

My Grandma taught me a song when I was little which came from my Great Grandad Arthur Cyril Pearce (known as Cyril).   It is a weird song which sounds like it comes from either Australia or the deep south of America or maybe both places!!!  I wish to find out where the song originates from and would love to hear from anyone else who knows this song or a slightly different version of this song. I have a suspicion that it comes from the Victorian Goldfields of Australia as my Great Grandad's grandfather (William Henry Luff) was there way back in the 1850s.  The "Oka Rocka Roo" sounds so Australian.  I'll eat my hat if it isn't from there!  If the song has survived in another goldchaser's family it would indicate maybe a connection to that time.  So here it goes.  Sorry for the spelling mistakes in the nonsensical verse at the end!

My Uncle had an old banjo and it was made of tin
He used it for a frying pan to fry a sausage in
And as the sausage sizzled in the pan, it went off with a bang
And the old man grieved in sadness, and his story loudly rang

Ay-o ring-kim cocum candy
Ring ting John with a rum tum too
Ex-cep flip flop gelatina candy
Ang-eye Twang-eye
Oka Rocka Roo

Updates on my book the Chrysolite

Here are some updates for my book on the Chrysolite.  Every time I publish a book new information always comes out of the woodwork.  One day a man banged on my door saying his ancestor was on the Chrysolite and I hadn't included a biography for him in the book.  Ian, this is for you.  Your ancestor is now in my updates:

MCILROY

John McIlroy was the son of William McIlroy and was born on 25 May 1816 in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.  He married twice, first to Jean Through, (they had four children) and then once Jean died in about 1850, he married Georgnia Christie.  They married on 5 Sept 1853 and had five children, one of whom was born in New Zealand.

John had a market garden at Burntisland, Scotland but other occupations included gardener, labourer and engine worker.

In 1862 John, Georgina and eight children came to New Zealand on the Chrysolite.  On the shipping list they were listed as John (44), Georgina (37), John (23), Jane (20), Robert (17), William (13), Joseph (8), Elizabeth (6), Georgina (2), James (2).

John purchased a farm in Rolleston and had a prize stallion, grew mangles (similar to turnips) and other crops.  They had their own traction engine and some of his sons did farm contract work.

John died at Springston on 6 January 1892 aged 77 years and was buried in the Springston Cemetery. Georgina died at Ashburton on 4 February 1901 aged 72 years. (courtesy of Ian McIlroy)

Flaxton Cemetery, North Canterbury - Photos of all the graves - a cute New Zealand Cemetery

Today I went for a trip to Flaxton Cemetery in North Canterbury.  My great great great grandparents are buried there, Carl Philipp Meng and Elise Katharina Meng nee Ellenberger along with three of their children.  Two of their children are in unmarked graves, twin girls who wouldn't feed and died as infants of malnutrition.  And buried with her father is Elise Mary, a 12 year old who died of pneumonia.  So sad!

Anyway,  I took photos of all the graves today as there are not many.  If you are interested in seeing a photo of your ancestor's grave, please check it out here.

The lighting wasn't great on some graves (afternoon would have been better for photos - a tip everyone - go in the afternoon!)  And some were unreadable.  Louis, 4,  found it quite interesting and even spent a moment sitting by the graves of his 4x great grandparents.  I thought it quite sweet.  He even found a hut up in the trees.

This used to be the site of St Paul's Church, Flaxton on the corner of Flaxton and Hicklands Roads, Flaxton.  This photo shows there were no trees around the church at one point, it being plonked in the middle of fields.  The Toeless family donated land for the church in 1866 for the people of Rangiora and Mandeville Swamp areas.  The church was consecrated on 25 March 1867 by Bishop Harper.  Click here to read about the consecration in the old newspapers.  It served the people until 1875 but because of poor roads and floods communication was often difficult.  Then a decision was made to build at Eyreton as it was drier land.  It was still used until 1920 but then demolished in 1934.

Now the site has the old graves and a lot of different trees which have grown up over the years.

The following article has many names in it of living people who are now buried in this cemetery. Quite sad really to read.  They are now all at rest.