700 unmarked graves, Mission Ground Cemetery

[whiteout7]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503450&objectid=11401726

A leafy, green inner-city park could be home to up to 700 graves of some of the pioneers, vagrants, waifs and strays of early Whangarei.

Local researcher Joan Leversedge has been working with Whangarei District Council staff to piece together the story - and faces - behind the Mission Ground Cemetery in Selwyn Ave, which was a "public burial ground" some time from 1852 to 1941.

While initial research found 83 names of people buried there - which have been engraved on a cairn at the site - Ms Leversedge is appealing for information about another 57 names, and believes there could be up to 700 people buried on the 0.3-hectare site.

[whiteout7]

I've posted this out of interest. I did a search in paperspast and was able to locate one funeral here. There really needs to be a place where people in this burial ground are listed if there in no paper record in Whangarei!

[whiteout7]

There is a link to make contributions to this graveyard on findagrave:  Whangarei's Mission Ground Cemetery records

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=mr&MRid=47792282

[Jayzelle]

Super to see this posted, thank you. The names currently on the Find a Grave site are only those already recorded on the memorial cairn. I will find a way to make the list of the additional names identified since the cairn was engraved available online. Once I have confirmation or otherwise the names are correct, I'll update Find a Grave with the 'final' list. The cemetery was also known as Waiarohia, Rust Lane, Rust Ave and Whangarei cemetery.

[whiteout7]

That would be great Jayzelle, I know some researchers that are quite interested there are certainly a few mysteries in Northland as to where different people are buried.

[Jayzelle]

Greetings
Here is a list of the names, sorted by category, as at 18 February 2015.
Please be aware that the data is in a constant state of change.
We are keen to know:

• if anyone on the list should not be there
  
• if anyone who should be there is missing

Also, if anyone would like to share information to help enrich these peoples' life stories in the second volume of 'In Memoriam - Mission Ground Cemetery 1840-2010', that would be wonderful.
Many thanks for bringing this forum to my attention and for any information your community can provide.
Warm regards
Jayzelle

[whiteout7]

Frederick and Maria Potbury, Whangarei arrival in NZ:

"The New Zealander" Saturday 30th January 1858
ARRIVAL - Jan 28 Tamar barque, 556 tons Captain Joseph John Ross from London to Auckland

http://www.ozlists.com/genies/shipping/news_nz/nl5801.htm

and a burglary of the Potbury's shop in Whangarei in 1864
http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=OW18640806.2.23&e=-------10--1----0--

After Federick Potbury died in 1866,  Mrs Anslie McGregor was sent to live with Maria Potbury, as a young girl to keep her company.
http://whangarei.recollect.co.nz/nodes/ocrtxt/2774/12266


Ann Maria Potbury's shop appears to have been on the corner of Cameron and Walter Street and was up for sale in 1884 (the same year she died aged 75)
http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NZH18841231.2.3.4&srpos=1&e=-------10--1----0Potbury%2c+Walton+street--

http://whangarei.recollect.co.nz/nodes/ocrtxt/2832/12318

[prkhan]

Re Frederick and Maria Potbury:
Frederick and Maria were cousins and married 2 Jan 1851 in Holy Trinity Parish Church in Windsor, Berkshire.
Maria was the sister of Mr George Ross (1804-1888) of Parua Bay.
I have a very grainy photocopy of a photograph of Maria Potbury with mention in an accompanying article about businesses of the time.  The photograph was supplied by Northland Regional Museum.
I have copies of Marriage and both Death certificates.

[prkhan]

Thanks for the pm Jayzelle......... I'm new to Rootschat and apparently need to post 3 times before I can send a pm.  Will get back to you asap.