The format for entries will be:
a) Photograph of ossuary plaque
b) details given on plaque
c) details from transcripts of cemetery/burial records
d) additional information found through research
PLEASE NOTE that some plaques contain errors in spelling of
names which is why additional detail from other records proves so important.
The top two rows of plaques in each section are very high
and it has not been possible for me to obtain an image of the full inscription. However, the niche numbers always run in
sequence down the row with rows running from left to right, whilst the year of
death can normally be surmised from surrounding niches.
The first 27 niches in Block B refer to graves exhumed from
Section 36. The above photo shows
Section 36 as it was in the 1880s and it will be seen that many of the graves
were marked with just a numbered stone.
It was the remains from these graves which were exhumed in the 1970s and
placed in the ossuary in 1983.
Niche 289
Genealogy records show a Ralph BURNOP born in Whitby 3 December 1819, son of Richard and Miriam BURNOP. Ralph BURNHOP born Whitby is listed in the Register of Merchant Seaman with number 250118 having registered sometime between 1845 and 1854.
Niche 292
Niche 293
Niche 294
Niche 295
A monument to the memory of the men of No. 8 Battery 2nd. Brigade Royal Artillery who died whilst the Battery was stationed in Hong Kong from 1864 to 1872 shows that Gunner B. JOHNSTON died on 9 July 1865
Niche 298
Niche 299
Niche 300
Niche 301
The remains in this niche have been mis-identified as Barbara COUTTS/COUTIS. Burial records show that Barbara Bain COUTTS was buried in Grave 3086 on 17 July 1865. Exhumation records confirm that Mrs. COUTTS was buried in Grave 3086 and show that this grave was moved from Section 10 to Section 5 in the mid 1970s during the Aberdeen Tunnel Project. Her headstone survives in Section 5.
Niche 305
W.W. DAVIES
Niche 307
Niche 310
Q. HARRISON buried
1865
O. HARRISON,
Carpenter, British Ship Sandringham
buried in Grave 3056 Section 36 on 5 July 1865
O. HARRISON,
Carpenter of Ship Sandringham
died of cholera on 4 July 1865 age 35
Genealogy records show an Onus HARRISON, born in Birmingham
in September 1828. Onus HARRISON born Birmingham is known to have enlisted in
the US Army on 24 May 1850 and to have deserted in July 1850. Onus HARRISON
born Birmingham is listed in the Register of Merchant Seamen with number 23873 having
registered sometime between 1845 and 1854.
Niche 290
R. BURNOP buried 1865
R. BURNOP, Seaman,
buried in Grave 3063 Section 36 on 6 July 1865
R. BURNOP unemployed
Seaman died in Civil Hospital on 5 July 1865
Genealogy records show a Ralph BURNOP born in Whitby 3 December 1819, son of Richard and Miriam BURNOP. Ralph BURNHOP born Whitby is listed in the Register of Merchant Seaman with number 250118 having registered sometime between 1845 and 1854.
Niche 291
Frederick KAHLER
buried 1865
Frederick KAHLER
buried in Grave 3067 Section 36 on 8 July 1865
Frederick KAHLER,
seaman died 8 July 1865
Claus PETERSON buried
1865
Claus PETERSEN buried
in Grave 3069 Section 36 on 9 July 1865
Claus PETERSEN, Carpenter, died of fever
on board the Hamburg barque Notos
on 9 July 1865 age 35 - a native of Flensburg
George BINCHELL buried
1865
George BINCHELL,
Police, buried in Grave 3070 Section 36 on 10 July 1865
George BINCHELL,
Police Constable, died at the Civil Hospital on 10 July 1865
George BURCHELL, Police Constable, died 8 July 1865. Unclaimed balance of $14.40 from intestate estate paid into Treasury on 9 August 1865.
William DUNCAN buried
1865
William DUNCAN of the
British Barque Jane Woodburn
buried in Grave 3071
Section 36 on 10 July 1865 age 23
William DUNCAN,
Steward, died on board the barque Jane
Woodburn on 10 July 1865 of fever and diarrhoea. Effects sold in Hong Kong - £12 13sh 11d
John B. ROWLAND
buried 1865
John Benson ROWLAND
of the British ship Zemindar
buried in Grave 3072
Section 36 on 10 July 1865 age 29
John Benson ROWLAND,
Third Officer of Zemindar,
died at the Seaman’s
Hospital on 10 July 1865 age 29 years
John Benson ROWLAND was born on 2 April 1835 and baptised in April 1836
at Walton on the Hill, Liverpool - the son of John and Mary. At the age
of 20 he went to sea. John was awarded his 2nd. Mates Certificate in
Liverpool in November 1863 - ticket number 29502.
John died of fever
in Hong Kong on 10 July 1865 and his effects were sold for £28 6sh 2d. Three weeks prior to John’s death Alfred
SHORT the two year old son of Captain SHORT of the Zemindar had died in Hong Kong.
At a later date, when the Captain erected a headstone on his son’s grave,
he included an inscription to the memory of his Third Officer, John Benson
ROWLAND. This headstone can now be found in Section 20.
Niche 296
Bernard JOHNSTON
buried 1865
Bernard JOHNSTON
Gunner R.A.
buried in Grave 3073
in Section 36 on
10 July 1865 age 29
years 3 months
A monument to the memory of the men of No. 8 Battery 2nd. Brigade Royal Artillery who died whilst the Battery was stationed in Hong Kong from 1864 to 1872 shows that Gunner B. JOHNSTON died on 9 July 1865
Niche 297
H. MULLER buried 1865
H. MULLER of Hamburg
ship Alardus
buried in Grave 3077 in Section 36 on 12 July
1865
H. MULLER, Seaman of Hamburg ship Alordus
died on 12 July 1865
in the Seaman’s Hospital
Thomas ROCHE buried
1865
Thomas ROCHE of HMS Princess Royal
buried in Grave 3078
in Section 36 on 12 July 1865
Thomas ROCHE died on
board HMS Princess Royal
on 12 July 1865 age 27
Thomas was born in Whitegate, Cork on 4 April 1837. On 5 October 1855 at the age of 18 he
volunteered for service with the Royal Navy as a Boy 1st.
Class. His registered number was 25152
and his first posting was to the naval training ship HMS Conway.
Charles WILSON buried
1865
Charles WILSON of the
Hong Kong Police Force
buried in Grave 3080
Section 36 on 13 July 1865
Police Constable
Charles WILSON died suddenly on 11 July 1865 at the Civil Hospital
Alfred DAVIS buried
1865
Alfred DAVIS age 24
of the Zemindar
buried in Grave 3081
Section 36 on 13 July 1865
Alfred DAVIS,
Carpenter’s Mate
died of fever aboard
the Zemindar on 13 July 1865 – effects
sold
Loui Vandr HAAS
buried 1865
Loui Vander HAAS age
24 of Dutch ship Hollandia
buried in Grave 3082 Section
36 on 13 July 1865
Loui Vander HAAS,
Seaman of the Dutch ship Hollandia
found drowned on 13
July 1865 aged 24 years
Niche 302
Daniel MANN buried
1865
Daniel MANN age 40 of
the ship Ruby
Buried in Grave 3083
Section 36 on 13 July 1865
Captain MANN of the
ship Ruby died of insolatio
in the Seamen’s
Hospital on 13 July 1865 aged 35 years
Captain David MANN of Whitehaven, Master of the Barque Ruby out of Liverpool, died at Hong Kong on 13 July 1865 aged 37 years. Much Respected.
David MANN was born in Whitehaven, Cumberland on 7 October
1827. At the age of 14 he went to sea as
an Apprentice Seaman and was described as being 5ft 1ins in height with a fair
complexion, light brown hair and light blue eyes. Between 1848 and 1857 he travelled the world
on the trade routes to China, India, Brazil and Cuba. He was awarded his First Mates certificate in
1853 and his Masters in January 1857 – registered ticket number 39953.
Lloyds List of 1865 shows Captain D. MANN as Master of the
barque Ruby which had been built in
Quebec in 1863 and was owned by J.G. Ross.
During 1865 she was listed as being on the Liverpool to India route.
Niche 303
Charles BEASLOCK
buried 1865
Charles BEASTOCK of
the Zemindar
buried in Grave 3087
Section 36 on 17 July 1865
Charles BEASLOCK,
Seaman of the Zemindar died in the
Seaman’s Hospital on
17 July 1865 aged 32
C. BATCHTOCK age 28
of Zemindar died in Hong Kong on
16 July 1865 of fever - effects sold
Niche 304
Barbara COUTIS buried
1865
Barbara Bain COUTTS buried
in Grave 3086 Section 10 in 1865
Barbara COUTTS of
Praya East
Buried in Grave 3086
on 17 July 1865 age 29
The remains in this niche have been mis-identified as Barbara COUTTS/COUTIS. Burial records show that Barbara Bain COUTTS was buried in Grave 3086 on 17 July 1865. Exhumation records confirm that Mrs. COUTTS was buried in Grave 3086 and show that this grave was moved from Section 10 to Section 5 in the mid 1970s during the Aberdeen Tunnel Project. Her headstone survives in Section 5.
If the remains in this niche are not Mrs. COUTTS then who is
in residence? Research shows that the
most likely candidate is Gustavus VON DER BERG.
Burial records show that Gustavus VON DER BERG of the Hamburg Barque Maria Lucia was buried in Grave 3088 on
17 July 1865. Exhumation records confirm
that the remains from Grave 3088 in Section 36 were scheduled for removal to
the Ossuary as a result of the Aberdeen Tunnel Project, however, the name for
the grave is incorrectly listed as Barbara COUTTS. As Mrs COUTTS could not possibly have been
buried in Grave 3086 in Section 10 AND in Grave 3088 in Section 36 an
unfortunate error has been made.
Although the Ossuary Plaque for Niche 304 does not bear the
name of Gustavus VON DER BERG I hope that this research gives the young boy the
entry he deserves.
Gustavus VON DER BERG
Boy of the Hamburg
barque Maria Lucia
Died at the Seaman’s
Hospital Hong Kong on 17th. July 1865
Buried in Grave 3088
in Section 36
Remains from this
grave scheduled to be moved to the Ossuary
as a result of the Aberdeen Tunnel Project
Niche 305
John H. SWIFF
John SWIFT of East
Point
Buried in Grave 3089
Section 36 on 18 July 1865 age 32
John H. SWIFT boiler
maker to Messrs Russell & Co.
Died of cholera at
Wanchai on 17 July 1865 aged 32 years
Niche 306
W.W. DAVIES
William W. DAVIES
died at the
Government Civil Hospital aged 60
buried in Grave 3090
Section 36 on 18 July 1865
William W. DAVIES,
Compositor in the Daily Press Office, formerly Government
Printer at Sydney, died in the Civil
Hospital on 18 July 1865 aged 60
Niche 307
Peter CLOSE buried
1865
Peter CLOSE of HM
Dockyard
buried in Grave 3093
Section 36 on 22 July 1865
Peter CLOSE, Police
Constable late of HM Dockyard
died at the Civil
Hospital on 19 July 1865
Niche 308
Joseph PRIME buried
1865
Joseph PRIME died in
the Government Hospital
buried in Grave 3097
Section 36 on 24 July 1865 aged 24
Joseph PRIME, Private
2nd. Battalion 11th. Regiment
died of apoplexy 24
July 1865 at the General Hospital aged 24
In 1861 J. PRIME service
number 1110 was shown as being a Private with the 2nd. Btn. 11th.
Foot (North Devon) Regiment stationed at Portsmouth.
Niche 309
Charles A. FISHER buried 1865
Charles Alfred FISHER died aboard Ship Hercules
buried Grave 3038 on 20 June 1865 age 7 months
Exhumation records give different details for the burial of Charles - showing Charles A. FISHER had been buried in Grave 3098 in Section 36 in 1865. However Grave 3098 was the grave of Robert LAING a seaman who was buried on 25 July 1865. As Baby FISHER could not have been buried in grave 3038 and 3098 it is an apparent that an error has been made. As this portion of the ossuary contains removals from Section 36 and as many of the burials within Section 36 relate to seamen it is possible that the remains in Niche 309 are those of:
Robert LAING, Stoker ss Wokee
died of insolatia on 24 July 1865 age 33
buried in Grave 3098 on 25 July 1865
Research shows that Charles Alfred FISHER was a child of the 11th. Regiment born in 1864 who died aboard the hospital ship HMS Hercules in June 1865. The location of his grave is not known, however, other babies and children who died in the summer of 1865 were buried in Section 9 not Section 36.
John DENISON buried 1865
John DENISON buried in Grave 3102 Section 36 on 29 July 1865
John DENISON, unemployed Seaman,
died in the Civil Hospital on 29 July 1865
Niche 311
C. GALVA buried 1865
G. GALVA, Sailmaker, Hamburg barque Ceres
buried in Grave 3197 on 1 October 1865
G. GALVA, Sailmaker
died on board the Hamburg barque Ceres on 1 October 1865
Exhumation records list C. GALA buried in Grave 3197 in Section 25 in 1865 and C. GALVA buried in Grave 3107 in Section 36 in 1865. Burial records list G. GALVA buried in Grave 3197 on 1 October whilst the occupant of Grave 3107 is shown as T. THOMPSON buried on 5 August 1865. As this portion of the ossuary contains removals from Section 36 in July/August 1865 it is possible that a simple mis-reading of the grave number occurred during the administrative process and that the remains in this niche are THOMPSON.
Thomas THOMPSON, unemployed Seaman,
died in the Civil Hospital on 4 August 1865
buried in Grave 3107 on 5 August 1865
Niche 312
James KEMP buried 1865
James KEMP of Aberdeen
buried in Grave 3110 Section 36 on 7 August 1865
James KEMP, Foreman Blacksmith, Aberdeen Docks
died suddenly on board the steamer Kinshan
on 5 August 1865 on the passage from Whampoa
Niche 313
Francis PAINTER buried 1865
Francis PAINTER, Carpenter, died on HMS Cormorant
buried in Grave 3111 Section 36 on 7 August 1865 aged 21
Francis PAINTER, Carpenter, died suddenly
on board HMS Cormorant on 7 August 1865 aged 21
Francis PAINTER was born at Tottenham Court Road, London on 8 November 1842 and volunteered for service with the Royal Navy on 22 August 1861 as a Boy 1st. Class. He was 5ft. 5ins tall with a fair complexion, light brown hair and blue eyes.
A monument to the memory of the seamen and marines of HMS Cormorant who died during her commission in China 1862 - 1866 can be found in Section 43.
William FORD buried 1865
William FORD, Private 2/11th. Regt.
buried in Grave 3113 Section 36 on 7 August 1865 aged 36
William FORD, Pravate 2nd. Battalion 11th. Regiment
died of fever in the General Hospital aged 36
Philip DICKERSON buried 1865
Philip DICKERSON
died in Hong Kong Gaol
buried in Grave 3115 Section 36
on 10 August 1865 aged 40
Philip DICKERSON, violinist formerly with Risley's Circus died on 10 August 1865
