Cooktown Cemetery
Cooktown Cemetery
La Republique Francaise aux Marins De L/Allier
1879-1907
From FNS La Place
29 Aprril 1993
En Souvenir
This column was erected by the French Govt in memory of French nationals who fell victim to yellow fever ??? In those days victims ???
were washed onto shore ??
French sailors and interred here.
1er Avril 1989
Patrouilleur
"La Glorieuse"
Mar ne Nationale
Alliance Francaise
French sailors
Died 1879
Ages unknown
Four unknown French sailors were
re-interred here in 1907. They and 76
fellow passengers and crew of the naval
ship Allier, died at sea early in 1879. They
were on a voyage from France to New
Caledonia when yellow fever soon
after a refuelling stop in Java.
The Allier diverted to Cooktown for
medical assistance. A rudimentary
quarantine station was established on the
north shore of the Endeavour River.
After a stay of nearly two months the
survivors set sail for New Caledonia.
Four bodies were washed ashore
following a 1907 cyclone. They were
identified as victims who had died soon
after the Allier had arrived off Cooktown.
Cooktown Cemetery
La Republique Francaise aux Marins De L/Allier
1879-1907
From FNS La Place
29 Aprril 1993
En Souvenir
This column was erected by the French Govt in memory of French nationals who fell victim to yellow fever ??? In those days victims ???
were washed onto shore ??
French sailors and interred here.
1er Avril 1989
Patrouilleur
"La Glorieuse"
Mar ne Nationale
Alliance Francaise
French sailors
Died 1879
Ages unknown
Four unknown French sailors were
re-interred here in 1907. They and 76
fellow passengers and crew of the naval
ship Allier, died at sea early in 1879. They
were on a voyage from France to New
Caledonia when yellow fever soon
after a refuelling stop in Java.
The Allier diverted to Cooktown for
medical assistance. A rudimentary
quarantine station was established on the
north shore of the Endeavour River.
After a stay of nearly two months the
survivors set sail for New Caledonia.
Four bodies were washed ashore
following a 1907 cyclone. They were
identified as victims who had died soon
after the Allier had arrived off Cooktown.
Cooktown Cemetery
La Republique Francaise aux Marins De L/Allier
1879-1907
From FNS La Place
29 Aprril 1993
En Souvenir
This column was erected by the French Govt in memory of French nationals who fell victim to yellow fever ??? In those days victims ???
were washed onto shore ??
French sailors and interred here.
1er Avril 1989
Patrouilleur
"La Glorieuse"
Mar ne Nationale
Alliance Francaise
French sailors
Died 1879
Ages unknown
Four unknown French sailors were
re-interred here in 1907. They and 76
fellow passengers and crew of the naval
ship Allier, died at sea early in 1879. They
were on a voyage from France to New
Caledonia when yellow fever soon
after a refuelling stop in Java.
The Allier diverted to Cooktown for
medical assistance. A rudimentary
quarantine station was established on the
north shore of the Endeavour River.
After a stay of nearly two months the
survivors set sail for New Caledonia.
Four bodies were washed ashore
following a 1907 cyclone. They were
identified as victims who had died soon
after the Allier had arrived off Cooktown.
Cooktown Cemetery
La Republique Francaise aux Marins De L/Allier
1879-1907
From FNS La Place
29 Aprril 1993
En Souvenir
This column was erected by the French Govt in memory of French nationals who fell victim to yellow fever ??? In those days victims ???
were washed onto shore ??
French sailors and interred here.
1er Avril 1989
Patrouilleur
"La Glorieuse"
Mar ne Nationale
Alliance Francaise
French sailors
Died 1879
Ages unknown
Four unknown French sailors were
re-interred here in 1907. They and 76
fellow passengers and crew of the naval
ship Allier, died at sea early in 1879. They
were on a voyage from France to New
Caledonia when yellow fever soon
after a refuelling stop in Java.
The Allier diverted to Cooktown for
medical assistance. A rudimentary
quarantine station was established on the
north shore of the Endeavour River.
After a stay of nearly two months the
survivors set sail for New Caledonia.
Four bodies were washed ashore
following a 1907 cyclone. They were
identified as victims who had died soon
after the Allier had arrived off Cooktown.
Cooktown Cemetery
La Republique Francaise aux Marins De L/Allier
1879-1907
From FNS La Place
29 Aprril 1993
En Souvenir
This column was erected by the French Govt in memory of French nationals who fell victim to yellow fever ??? In those days victims ???
were washed onto shore ??
French sailors and interred here.
1er Avril 1989
Patrouilleur
"La Glorieuse"
Mar ne Nationale
Alliance Francaise
French sailors
Died 1879
Ages unknown
Four unknown French sailors were
re-interred here in 1907. They and 76
fellow passengers and crew of the naval
ship Allier, died at sea early in 1879. They
were on a voyage from France to New
Caledonia when yellow fever soon
after a refuelling stop in Java.
The Allier diverted to Cooktown for
medical assistance. A rudimentary
quarantine station was established on the
north shore of the Endeavour River.
After a stay of nearly two months the
survivors set sail for New Caledonia.
Four bodies were washed ashore
following a 1907 cyclone. They were
identified as victims who had died soon
after the Allier had arrived off Cooktown.
Cooktown Cemetery
Beatrice Emily KINGSFORD
daughter of R.A. and Emily KINGSFORD
d: 13 Nov 1885 at Cooktown
aged 8 y and 11 mo
Beatrice Emily was a member of the
aviation pioneer family to become famous as the
KINGSFORD-SMITHs.
Cooktown Cemetery
Beatrice Emily KINGSFORD
daughter of R.A. and Emily KINGSFORD
d: 13 Nov 1885 at Cooktown
aged 8 y and 11 mo
Beatrice Emily was a member of the
aviation pioneer family to become famous as the
KINGSFORD-SMITHs.
Cooktown Cemetery
Mrs WATSON
heroine of Lizard Island tragedy of 1881
and her infant son Ferrier
Mary WATSON (nee PHILIPS)
d: Oct 1881
aged 23
Mary Watson's death has long been a
poignant reminder of the dangers faced
by pioneer women. Mary migrated with
her parents from England in the 1870s.
After marrying R.E. Watson, a beche de mer
fisherman, in May 1880, they moved
to Lizard Island. Their son Ferrier was
born in 1881.
Late that year Mary's husband was away
when Aborigines attacked, apparently
angered by the presence of Europeans on
a sacred site. One Chinese servant, Ah Leong,
was killed. The second, Ah Sam,
was wounded. Mary, Ferrier and Ah Sam
fled to sea in a boiling down tank. They
died of thirst on No 5 Howick Island
several days later.
Mary left a diary of these final days.
Cooktown Cemetery
Mrs WATSON
heroine of Lizard Island tragedy of 1881
and her infant son Ferrier
Mary WATSON (nee PHILIPS)
d: Oct 1881
aged 23
Mary Watson's death has long been a
poignant reminder of the dangers faced
by pioneer women. Mary migrated with
her parents from England in the 1870s.
After marrying R.E. Watson, a beche de mer
fisherman, in May 1880, they moved
to Lizard Island. Their son Ferrier was
born in 1881.
Late that year Mary's husband was away
when Aborigines attacked, apparently
angered by the presence of Europeans on
a sacred site. One Chinese servant, Ah Leong,
was killed. The second, Ah Sam,
was wounded. Mary, Ferrier and Ah Sam
fled to sea in a boiling down tank. They
died of thirst on No 5 Howick Island
several days later.
Mary left a diary of these final days.
Cooktown Cemetery
Mrs WATSON
heroine of Lizard Island tragedy of 1881
and her infant son Ferrier
Mary WATSON (nee PHILIPS)
d: Oct 1881
aged 23
Mary Watson's death has long been a
poignant reminder of the dangers faced
by pioneer women. Mary migrated with
her parents from England in the 1870s.
After marrying R.E. Watson, a beche de mer
fisherman, in May 1880, they moved
to Lizard Island. Their son Ferrier was
born in 1881.
Late that year Mary's husband was away
when Aborigines attacked, apparently
angered by the presence of Europeans on
a sacred site. One Chinese servant, Ah Leong,
was killed. The second, Ah Sam,
was wounded. Mary, Ferrier and Ah Sam
fled to sea in a boiling down tank. They
died of thirst on No 5 Howick Island
several days later.
Mary left a diary of these final days.
Cooktown Cemetery
Albert A MacLAREN B.A.
b: 14 Feb 1883 England
d: 27 Dec 1891 between Samarai and Cooktown
missionary priest, founder of New Guinea mission 10-Aug 1891
worked in Gravesend (England), Maitland (NSW), Mackay (Qld), New Guinea
Involved in rescue of the wrecked R.M.S. Quetta in Torres Strait 28-Feb-1890
Cooktown Cemetery
Albert A MacLAREN B.A.
b: 14 Feb 1883 England
d: 27 Dec 1891 between Samarai and Cooktown
missionary priest, founder of New Guinea mission 10-Aug 1891
worked in Gravesend (England), Maitland (NSW), Mackay (Qld), New Guinea
Involved in rescue of the wrecked R.M.S. Quetta in Torres Strait 28-Feb-1890
Cooktown Cemetery
Albert A MacLAREN B.A.
b: 14 Feb 1883 England
d: 27 Dec 1891 between Samarai and Cooktown
missionary priest, founder of New Guinea mission 10-Aug 1891
worked in Gravesend (England), Maitland (NSW), Mackay (Qld), New Guinea
Involved in rescue of the wrecked R.M.S. Quetta in Torres Strait 28-Feb-1890
Cooktown Cemetery
Albert A MacLAREN B.A.
b: 14 Feb 1883 England
d: 27 Dec 1891 between Samarai and Cooktown
missionary priest, founder of New Guinea mission 10-Aug 1891
worked in Gravesend (England), Maitland (NSW), Mackay (Qld), New Guinea
Involved in rescue of the wrecked R.M.S. Quetta in Torres Strait 28-Feb-1890
Cooktown Cemetery
Abby Albin SEAGREN
b: 28-Jul-1920
d: 17-Feb-1998
father, father-in-law of Ross SEAGREN, Jan PAGE
husband of Prances
Father of Albin and Melissa SEAGREN
Cooktown Cemetery
Abby Albin SEAGREN
b: 28-Jul-1920
d: 17-Feb-1998
father, father-in-law of Ross SEAGREN, Jan PAGE
husband of Prances
Father of Albin and Melissa SEAGREN
Cooktown Cemetery
Abby Albin SEAGREN
b: 28-Jul-1920
d: 17-Feb-1998
father, father-in-law of Ross SEAGREN, Jan PAGE
husband of Prances
Father of Albin and Melissa SEAGREN
Cooktown Cemetery
Albert Ross HOVELL
d: 5 May 1888 aged 55
master mariner,
son of Captain Hovell who with HUME discovered the Murray River NSW
Albert Hovell was the son of William Hovell who, with Hamilton HUME, explored the Murray River in NSW.
Albert was a mariner engaged in 'blackbirding' - the practice of importing Pacific Islanders to work on cane plantations. It was a sensitive issue. Hovell fell foul of the regulators. He was sentenced to death by a Sydney court. The sentence was later commuted.
He returned to sea and died in Cooktown sometime later of natural causes.
Cooktown Cemetery
Albert Ross HOVELL
d: 5 May 1888 aged 55
master mariner,
son of Captain Hovell who with HUME discovered the Murray River NSW
Albert Hovell was the son of William Hovell who, with Hamilton HUME, explored the Murray River in NSW.
Albert was a mariner engaged in 'blackbirding' - the practice of importing Pacific Islanders to work on cane plantations. It was a sensitive issue. Hovell fell foul of the regulators. He was sentenced to death by a Sydney court. The sentence was later commuted.
He returned to sea and died in Cooktown sometime later of natural causes.
Cooktown Cemetery
Rev Francis TRIPP B.A.
(Oxford)
d: 20 May 1874 aged 44 at Cooktown
Francis TRIPP arrived in Cooktown on 10 May 1874. Ten days later he died. He came to administer the Cooktown parish for the Church of England. He originally left England in 1863 to serve in Amuri, New Zealand and later in Copperhead near Clermont, Queensland.
In New Zealand he was considered eccentric. Suggestions of an appointment to a neighbouring parish net frosty reception. In contrast ther Cooktown Courier of 1874 reported TRIPP was 'followed to the grave by nearly all the most influential residents of the town'. TRIPP's headstone is the earliest surviving in the cemetery.
Cooktown Cemetery
Rev Francis TRIPP B.A.
(Oxford)
d: 20 May 1874 aged 44 at Cooktown
Francis TRIPP arrived in Cooktown on 10 May 1874. Ten days later he died. He came to administer the Cooktown parish for the Church of England. He originally left England in 1863 to serve in Amuri, New Zealand and later in Copperhead near Clermont, Queensland.
In New Zealand he was considered eccentric. Suggestions of an appointment to a neighbouring parish net frosty reception. In contrast ther Cooktown Courier of 1874 reported TRIPP was 'followed to the grave by nearly all the most influential residents of the town'. TRIPP's headstone is the earliest surviving in the cemetery.
Cooktown Cemetery
Rev Francis TRIPP B.A.
(Oxford)
d: 20 May 1874 aged 44 at Cooktown
Francis TRIPP arrived in Cooktown on 10 May 1874. Ten days later he died. He came to administer the Cooktown parish for the Church of England. He originally left England in 1863 to serve in Amuri, New Zealand and later in Copperhead near Clermont, Queensland.
In New Zealand he was considered eccentric. Suggestions of an appointment to a neighbouring parish net frosty reception. In contrast ther Cooktown Courier of 1874 reported TRIPP was 'followed to the grave by nearly all the most influential residents of the town'. TRIPP's headstone is the earliest surviving in the cemetery.
Cooktown Cemetery
Normanby Woman
who was buried in the vicinity of this ground in 1980.
No one knows where she came from, or who she was, she took that secret with her.
She was a European woman brought up by the Normanby Aboriginal tribe (60 km S.W. of Cooktown)
She was captured by the European authorities and brought to 'civilisation' in which she could not survive.
Cooktown Cemetery
Chinese shrine
Cooktown Cemetery
Chinese shrine
Cooktown Cemetery
Chinese shrine
Chinese death rituals are complex and elaborate. Shrines provide a focus for these ceremonies. Funerals involve offerings of food and temple 'money' to ensure a smooth transition to the life beyond.
Over 300 Chinese were buried in this area between 1873 and 1920. The shrine was built in 1887. Chinese emigrants fear they might die, never to return to the land of their ancestors. Most of those initially buried here were later exhumed and returned to China.
Inscriptions
The three characters on the shrine read Tjin Ju Tsai - Respect the dead as if they are present.
The date the shrine was erected is on the right: alucky spring day in the third month of the thirteenth year of the reign of the Emperor Kuang Hsu (1874-1908), Ching dynasty.
On the left the inscription reads - 'Erected with respect by the Chinese community of Cooktown'.
The two burning towers in front of the central shrine were used to make offerings to the spirits.
Cooktown Cemetery
Lian Gee Yet Foy
b: 18 Mar 1887
d: 28 Oct 1887
erected by the descendants of Yip Hoy and Ah How
Cooktown Cemetery
This structure stands over the remains of an unknown Chinese person whose bones were found on the Palmer River Goldfield. There were thousands of Chinese people buried on the goldfields of Cape York Peninsula, most of whom still lie, forgotten in the bush. This is a memorial to all of them.
Cooktown Cemetery
Elizabeth COOPER (nee STEPHENS)
d:16 Aug 1874, aged 26
eldest daughter of John STEPHENS
Elizabeth Cooper, Thomas Graham and Mrs Siebold drowned off St Patrick's Point on 16 Aug 1874. Only Elizabeth's grave is marked.
The cutter Platypus with eleven people abord, capsized during a reef trip. The deaths sparked a heated debate in the newspapers. There were accusations of cowardice against some of those on-board who allegedly failed to try to rescuing the deceased.
Mystery surrounds the choice of this site for a grave. Was it an isolated section of the cemetery or were others buried nearby? Was this actually the main part of the cemetery in those early years of Cooktown?
Cooktown Cemetery
Elizabeth COOPER (nee STEPHENS)
d:16 Aug 1874, aged 26
eldest daughter of John STEPHENS
Elizabeth Cooper, Thomas Graham and Mrs Siebold drowned off St Patrick's Point on 16 Aug 1874. Only Elizabeth's grave is marked.
The cutter Platypus with eleven people abord, capsized during a reef trip. The deaths sparked a heated debate in the newspapers. There were accusations of cowardice against some of those on-board who allegedly failed to try to rescuing the deceased.
Mystery surrounds the choice of this site for a grave. Was it an isolated section of the cemetery or were others buried nearby? Was this actually the main part of the cemetery in those early years of Cooktown?
Cooktown Cemetery
Elizabeth COOPER (nee STEPHENS)
d:16 Aug 1874, aged 26
eldest daughter of John STEPHENS
Elizabeth Cooper, Thomas Graham and Mrs Siebold drowned off St Patrick's Point on 16 Aug 1874. Only Elizabeth's grave is marked.
The cutter Platypus with eleven people abord, capsized during a reef trip. The deaths sparked a heated debate in the newspapers. There were accusations of cowardice against some of those on-board who allegedly failed to try to rescuing the deceased.
Mystery surrounds the choice of this site for a grave. Was it an isolated section of the cemetery or were others buried nearby? Was this actually the main part of the cemetery in those early years of Cooktown?
Cooktown Cemetery
Solomon LYON
d: 15 Sep 1875 (A.M. 5635) aged 47
The Hebrew year A.M. 5635 corresponds with 1875 A.D. "A.M." means "anno mundi", i.e. the year of the world.
Cooktown Cemetery
Solomon LYON
d: 15 Sep 1875 (A.M. 5635) aged 47
The Hebrew year A.M. 5635 corresponds with 1875 A.D. "A.M." means "anno mundi", i.e. the year of the world.
Cooktown Cemetery
Judaism in Cooktown
in this secluded section are the graves of
several members of Cooktown's small Jewish
community. Among them are the prominent
merchant Solomon Marks (died 1875),
former mayor, Lewis Solomon (died 1926)
and his non-Jewish wife Esther (died 1941)
Strangely two Jewish burials are in the
Presbyterian section. Charles Liskov a
painter was buried on 15 April 1883 and
John Davis, a Commisions agent on
28 March 1897. Davis was mayor of
Cooktown 1882, 1886/87 and 1889/90.
Both graves are unmarked.
Cooktown Cemetery
Cooktown Cemerery
Significant heritage?
Over 3000 burials have taken place here since 1873. Most are unmarked.
The sire reflects historical events, social attitudes, and places the lives of ordinary people in perspective.
The tombstones, or lack of them, reflect wealth, social status and religious customs.
Graves of Aborigines, Chinese, English, French, German, Irish, Jews, New Zealanders, and Scots reflect a cosmopolitan origin.
Cemetery layout
Like many graveyeards, areas were allocated to Christians, heathens and Jews.
The Cooktown Cemetery is a time capsule of far north Queensland. Unlock the past as you wander among the graves and along the walking trail.
More information :
Wikipedia: Cooktown Cemetery
Find-a-grave: Cooktown General Cemetery
Cook Shire cemeteries with
cemetery map
Australian cemeteries index - Cooktown
Australian cemeteries - Cooktown Cemetery
Explore Cooktown and Cape York - Cooktown Cemetery
Qld state archives - Register of the Cooktown Public Cemetery
Qld heritage register entry
Billion graves - Cooktown Cemetery
Weekend Notes - Cooktown Cemetery
Jocelyn Watts - Cemetery steeped in history
Cooktown & District Historical Society : Records currently available
Exploroz - Cooktown Cemetery - QLD
Cooktown Cemetery and Chinese Shrine
Commonwealth war graves - Cooktown
If the dead could speak - Cooktown Cemetery reveals FNQ history
Facebook - Cooktown Cemetery
Sydney Morning Herald - Cooktown
Centre for Indigenous Family History Studies - Cooktown Public Cemetery - Some Extracts 1877 - 1987 (burial register)
Qld historical atlas - Chinese shrine, Cooktown Cemetery, 1972
NLA Trove - Chinese headstone in Cooktown Cemetery, Cooktown, Queensland, ca. 1960
Photographed: (partial) Jul 2016
Displayed images are scaled down to fit on the screen, but full-size images can be obtained by clicking.
