I adviced my young kid and his mother to wait for me at the entrance while I entered inside to roam about the place.
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| Marked outside the gate |
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| From the outside |
What attracted me were
a. The different styles of tombs and memorials. I was under the impression that all would have graves but there were many which had epitaphs written on erected walls / stylish structure. Some designs were as seen by me in few of the Churches I have visited. some had to my opinion Muslim design and some had absolutely modern design with decorative motifs.
b. Difference in sizes. It went on to show that death was actually a leveller. We had senior officials of the then army / ships / regiments with a smaller memorials while some junior officers and individuals (relatives of officials serving the East India Co.) had large and well-designed tombs/memorablias.
c. The various fonts in which the epitaphs were written. Some had simple Times Roman font, some Arial, still some Fatfrank and some were in Litania. Some were engraved, some written and still some were etched.
d. Description of the deaths of some, their importance described by those bereaving the death. Some of them were very elaborative and were written by different people.
e. Some of them tell about the nature of work of the individuals and the institutions (with the East India Company and the British Empire) to which they belonged.
Each of the grave had a silent story to tell. Some had details bearing the names and some had a brief and some had a much larger description of the person and very few had the story of their deaths too. Many were marked as Endangered by Tree Rootson it. Most probably there is a recoed of each of the grave because I saw a number written in red in most of them.
Some of the graves I found bearing names were as follows
1. Sarah Thomson
2. Charles Scott Waring, Adjutant to the Body Guard to the Right Hon. the Governor General
3. Blenora Jones
4. Edmund Stone William Archibald (1758-1803)
5. Mrs Eliza Sallet (d 09-Feb 1806)
6. Hastings Impey Esq., S/o Sir Elijah Impey (famous for the infamous reasons) d 04-Dec. 1805 aged 14 years
7. Robert Lister
8. Arthur Hastings Vansittart Esq. of Bengal civil Service (d 19 Feb. 1807)
9. James Brice Esq. (d 28-Oct 1808 aged 43 years)
10. Henry Moore (d 02-Jun 1823)
11. Thomas Boileau (June 1806)
12. Alexander Carnegy Esq. (d 23-May 1806)
13. John Dalley Esq. (d 18-Apr 1806)
14. Mrs M Dennison aged 26 and her infant daughter (d 30-Sep. 1806). There was the mention of another memorial as:” Capt. E S Dennison who survived his wife and child but a few days for on 16th Oct. following their deceased, he was united to them in death.15. Mr. Thomas Syars Driver (Architect) d 06-Dec 1797
16. Lieutenant Colonel Keaunan (05-Feb. 1803)
17. Alix Allardice Esq. d 02-Nov 1806
18. Edward Dashwood, S/o Thomas Dalhwood Esq. d 22-Dec 1802
16. Lieutenant Colonel Keaunan (05-Feb. 1803)
17. Alix Allardice Esq. d 02-Nov 1806
18. Edward Dashwood, S/o Thomas Dalhwood Esq. d 22-Dec 1802
19. The next one which I recorded was inscribed with His depositumest quod mortale fuit Joannis Caulfield hac vita September 25th anno 1804. A similar inscription is mentioned on the grave of Issac Newton in the West Minister’s Abbey. The wordings translate to: Here lies that which was mortal of…20. Marc Mercer, daughter of M Charles Weston d 29-May 1804 ages 27 years. An interesting write-up caught my attention: a tender mother, an affectionate wife and dutiful daughter loved and lamented by those who knew her.
21. Lt. Joseph Ferris of HM 24th Regiment of Foot, second son of Joseph Ferris Esq. of Trure in Cornwell; d 14-Oct 1812
21. Lt. Joseph Ferris of HM 24th Regiment of Foot, second son of Joseph Ferris Esq. of Trure in Cornwell; d 14-Oct 1812
22. Thomas Andrews; late post master of DH Road d 5-July 1809 (45 years). A wonderful inscription was mentioned here too; though, I could not fathom some of the punctuation and the language.With bore as blasts and stormy winds
I was tossed too and fro
By God’s decree from danger free
I am harboured here below
Where at an anchor I do ride
With numbers of the fleet
Wuntil again I do set sail
My admiral Christ to meet
As also one Daughter
And two sons of the above
23. Margaret Holling d 6-Jan 18__. I have placed the blanks because the year was not visible but a quote attracted me found below her name: She lived respected and died lamented.
24. Captain W Mackay 1741-1805
25. Mrs. Anne Meade d 04-Dec __ (blanked out because the year was not properly visible)
26. Harriet and Caroline Augusta. The description went as this: Smith Daughters of I B Smith Esq. of the Civil Service on the Establishment Harriet
27. Sir John Meredyth Bar
28. Capt. John Galloway 1774-1808
29. Major George Downic d 14-Dec. 1808. What a long and wonderful description follows-
A character every way
Creditable to human nature
If honest, if purity of principle
Filal and fraternal affection
A consciencious discharge of
His public and private duties
If charity and the practice of every virtu
That ennables the character of man
Merit the Kingdom of Heavem
The living only have to lament
His premature death
30. Henry Hollings, late Captain in the 66th Regiment BNI died in Lucknow 22-Feb. 1847
31. Lieut E S Frissell d 01-Feb. 1807
Assistant to the Resident of Poona
A young man whose superior abilities
Extraordinary attainments of high integrity
Rendered him an ornament to public
And private life
31. W C Jones of Bengal Engineers d 18-Dec. 1818
32. Maj. William Mc Quilae of Bengal Artllery d 23-Oct 1824 in Calicut
33. Charles Knowles; third son of Charles Knowles Robinson, one of the magistrates of Calcutta (02-Sep 1827 – 22-July 1828)
34. Alexander Watson Esq., Indigo planter d 12-Oct 1828
35. Lieut. Col. Valentine Blacker. The inscription further read as: companion of the Bath of the Light Cavalry on the establishment of Fort George during ten years quarter master general of the Madras Army and subsequently Surveyor General of India OBT.
IV FEBRUARY MDCCCXXXVI AET XL
He happens to be the most influential person in the development of the Trigonometric Society of India.
36. Edward Gordon Esq. of Madras Merchant, formerly a Lietenant in His Majesty’s 66thRegiment of Foot and for several years Commandant of the Military Escort of HH The Nizam of Hyderabad.
37. One of the famous graves i.e. of Henry Louis Vivian Derozio. It had a huge bust (b 18-Apr 1809, d 26-Dec 1831). The inscription on his tomb reads as:
Pioneer of the 19thcentury Indian Renaissance, greatest teacher of the Era, Great rational and first of the patriotpoets who like ancient Socrates inspired a generation of students to be rational, international and deep lovers of the muse. He died for humanity.
The same is maintained by Derozio Commemoration Committee. Another inscription is :
All is silence. Let him sleep.
No dream shall flit into that slumber deep
No wondering mortal hitherto once shall wend
Here nothing over him but the heavens shall weep
Here never piligrim at shrine bend
But holy stars alone their nightly high and keep
38. Solomonis Hamilton
39. Mr. William Graham b Feb 1775 d Dec 1819. The said grave has been restored by his great-great grand daughter Gloria Graham in 2014.
40. John Sheppey Drury-First Lt. of His Majesty’s ship Modeste d 29-Ap 1808
41. Captain Charles Eggleston d 10-Sep. 1809. The inscription read as: esteemed and respected in an extensive Circle and much regretted as an honest man, a warm friend, a dutiful son and an affectionate brother.
42. Capt. Wemyss Orrok, Late Commander of the Hon. East India Co.’s ship Lord Nelson.
43. Sir William Jones d 27th Apr 1794 aged 47 years & 7 months. The founder of Asiatic Society had the largest memorial. The quote written on one side of the structure was impressive. It reads as follows:
Here was deposited the mortal part of a man
Who feared God but not death
And maintained independence
But sought not riches
Who thought
None below him but the brave and unjust
None above him but the his wife and virtuous
Who loved
His parents, kindered, friends, country
With an ardour
Which was the Chief Source of
All his pleasures and all his pairs
And who having devoted to their service
And to
The Improvement of his mind
Resigned it calmly
Giving Glory to his Creator,
Wifting peace on Earth
And with
Good will to all creatures,
On the twenty seventh day of April in the
Year of our blessed redeemer
One thousand seven hundred and ninety four.
I knew about the contributions of this person but not so much as was written poetically about him by his admirers.
The trip, I consider incomplete because I could not take photographs. I shall make it one day once again with permission.
I was tossed too and fro
By God’s decree from danger free
I am harboured here below
Where at an anchor I do ride
With numbers of the fleet
Wuntil again I do set sail
My admiral Christ to meet
As also one Daughter
And two sons of the above
23. Margaret Holling d 6-Jan 18__. I have placed the blanks because the year was not visible but a quote attracted me found below her name: She lived respected and died lamented.
24. Captain W Mackay 1741-1805
25. Mrs. Anne Meade d 04-Dec __ (blanked out because the year was not properly visible)
26. Harriet and Caroline Augusta. The description went as this: Smith Daughters of I B Smith Esq. of the Civil Service on the Establishment Harriet
27. Sir John Meredyth Bar
28. Capt. John Galloway 1774-1808
29. Major George Downic d 14-Dec. 1808. What a long and wonderful description follows-
A character every way
Creditable to human nature
If honest, if purity of principle
Filal and fraternal affection
A consciencious discharge of
His public and private duties
If charity and the practice of every virtu
That ennables the character of man
Merit the Kingdom of Heavem
The living only have to lament
His premature death
30. Henry Hollings, late Captain in the 66th Regiment BNI died in Lucknow 22-Feb. 1847
31. Lieut E S Frissell d 01-Feb. 1807
Assistant to the Resident of Poona
A young man whose superior abilities
Extraordinary attainments of high integrity
Rendered him an ornament to public
And private life
31. W C Jones of Bengal Engineers d 18-Dec. 1818
32. Maj. William Mc Quilae of Bengal Artllery d 23-Oct 1824 in Calicut
33. Charles Knowles; third son of Charles Knowles Robinson, one of the magistrates of Calcutta (02-Sep 1827 – 22-July 1828)
34. Alexander Watson Esq., Indigo planter d 12-Oct 1828
35. Lieut. Col. Valentine Blacker. The inscription further read as: companion of the Bath of the Light Cavalry on the establishment of Fort George during ten years quarter master general of the Madras Army and subsequently Surveyor General of India OBT.
IV FEBRUARY MDCCCXXXVI AET XL
He happens to be the most influential person in the development of the Trigonometric Society of India.
36. Edward Gordon Esq. of Madras Merchant, formerly a Lietenant in His Majesty’s 66thRegiment of Foot and for several years Commandant of the Military Escort of HH The Nizam of Hyderabad.
37. One of the famous graves i.e. of Henry Louis Vivian Derozio. It had a huge bust (b 18-Apr 1809, d 26-Dec 1831). The inscription on his tomb reads as:
Pioneer of the 19thcentury Indian Renaissance, greatest teacher of the Era, Great rational and first of the patriotpoets who like ancient Socrates inspired a generation of students to be rational, international and deep lovers of the muse. He died for humanity.
The same is maintained by Derozio Commemoration Committee. Another inscription is :
All is silence. Let him sleep.
No dream shall flit into that slumber deep
No wondering mortal hitherto once shall wend
Here nothing over him but the heavens shall weep
Here never piligrim at shrine bend
But holy stars alone their nightly high and keep
 |
| At the entrance itself... |
38. Solomonis Hamilton
39. Mr. William Graham b Feb 1775 d Dec 1819. The said grave has been restored by his great-great grand daughter Gloria Graham in 2014.
40. John Sheppey Drury-First Lt. of His Majesty’s ship Modeste d 29-Ap 1808
41. Captain Charles Eggleston d 10-Sep. 1809. The inscription read as: esteemed and respected in an extensive Circle and much regretted as an honest man, a warm friend, a dutiful son and an affectionate brother.
42. Capt. Wemyss Orrok, Late Commander of the Hon. East India Co.’s ship Lord Nelson.
43. Sir William Jones d 27th Apr 1794 aged 47 years & 7 months. The founder of Asiatic Society had the largest memorial. The quote written on one side of the structure was impressive. It reads as follows:
Here was deposited the mortal part of a man
Who feared God but not death
And maintained independence
But sought not riches
Who thought
None below him but the brave and unjust
None above him but the his wife and virtuous
Who loved
His parents, kindered, friends, country
With an ardour
Which was the Chief Source of
All his pleasures and all his pairs
And who having devoted to their service
And to
The Improvement of his mind
Resigned it calmly
Giving Glory to his Creator,
Wifting peace on Earth
And with
Good will to all creatures,
On the twenty seventh day of April in the
Year of our blessed redeemer
One thousand seven hundred and ninety four.
I knew about the contributions of this person but not so much as was written poetically about him by his admirers.
The trip, I consider incomplete because I could not take photographs. I shall make it one day once again with permission.
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