Today we went to Echuca, a bit over an hours drive from home, so I took the opportunity to go to the Echuca cemetery to find the grave of my great-great-grandfather, Peter Hart just a few days past the 119th anniversary of his burial on the 4th of September, 1900.
I had visited Echuca nearly 12 months ago but when I went to go to the cemetery I found the road closed for roadworks that day. So I emailed the cemetery and Jodie, the lovely office manager, gave me the location of his grave which is Section A (Church of England), row number 22 and grave number 21. Today Jodie showed me the actual site.
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| Section A (Church of England), row number 22 and grave number 21 |
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| In the earliest part of the cemetery, there are many unmarked graves (the grey squares) |
Peter, a farm labourer at Kanyapella, died of apoplexy at the Echuca hospital on the 2nd of September 1900.
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| The Riverine Herald, 4 Sept 1900. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article114955051 |
Peter married Agnes Mason at Talbot, Victoria on the 18th of July 1870.
They went on to have eleven children, the eldest being my maternal great-grandmother Margaret Hart.
Peter's wife Agnes obviously held fond memories of Echuca.
"HOLIDAY AT ECHUCA"
Account of a holiday given to her grandson, George Rathbone, by Agnes Hart:
In 1883, after harvest time, Wlliam Rathbone took Elizabeth, Leah and George to Echuca for a holiday. William who had taken his wheat to the Echuca flour mill, knew that this bustling town had the greatest inland port on Australia's largest river, the Murray, which with its tributaries the Darling, Murrumbidgee, Edwards and Goulburn were the highways for paddle-steamers carrying the squatters' wool and the merchandise for all the inhabitants of that vast area.
William put the cover back on the wagon which served as a safe sleeping quarters. They loaded their bedding, cooking utensils (camp oven, black pots and a pan) as well as tent and hammocks.
Peter and Agnes were friends of William and Elizabeth Rathbone, in Talbot and they had travelled to Echuca in 1875 in a covered van drawn by one horse. They carried their own goat for a milk supply for three little girls, Margaret, Hannah and Mary Ann.
Peter and Agnes conducted many tours during the Rathbones ten-day holiday in Echuca.
Peter's wife Agnes obviously held fond memories of Echuca.
"HOLIDAY AT ECHUCA"
Account of a holiday given to her grandson, George Rathbone, by Agnes Hart:
In 1883, after harvest time, Wlliam Rathbone took Elizabeth, Leah and George to Echuca for a holiday. William who had taken his wheat to the Echuca flour mill, knew that this bustling town had the greatest inland port on Australia's largest river, the Murray, which with its tributaries the Darling, Murrumbidgee, Edwards and Goulburn were the highways for paddle-steamers carrying the squatters' wool and the merchandise for all the inhabitants of that vast area.
William put the cover back on the wagon which served as a safe sleeping quarters. They loaded their bedding, cooking utensils (camp oven, black pots and a pan) as well as tent and hammocks.
Peter and Agnes were friends of William and Elizabeth Rathbone, in Talbot and they had travelled to Echuca in 1875 in a covered van drawn by one horse. They carried their own goat for a milk supply for three little girls, Margaret, Hannah and Mary Ann.
Peter and Agnes conducted many tours during the Rathbones ten-day holiday in Echuca.
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