14) THE TOMBSTONES FROM THE OLD EUROPEAN BURIAL GROUND (OLD ST. MARY'S CEMETERY) OF CALICUT-Curently preserved in the compound of St. Mary's C. S. I. Church (English Church), Nadakkavu, Kozhikode.

Tombstones from the old European cemetery of Calicut, now on display in the premises of St. Mary's CSI Church, Nadakkavu, Kozhikkode.

In Calicut (Kozhikode), near the Government General Hospital (former Beach Hospital) was an European cemetery. Known variously as old Dutch cemetery, old English or Anglican cemetery, old St. Mary's cemetery-Zillathodie etc., the graveyard became almost full by 1878 and was eventually closed. Today, in the site of the cemetery is a park named after the famous British administrator of Malabar, Henry Valentine Connolly. He was the Collector and Magistrate of Malabar, who held the post for 14 years before brutally murdered by four Mappila insurgents on 11 September, 1855 and was buried in the same graveyard of Calicut. 

 Conolly or Kanoli Park, Kozhikode- the site of former old European cemetery today.

Tombstone of Henry Valentine Conolly

The earliest recorded burial in the cemetery is said to be of Richard Harrison, son of Edward Harrison-Governor of Fort St. George, who died on 14 April, 1717 at the age of 20. The site is assumed to be a Dutch cemetery before the British, but no records of Dutch burials are known. According to William Logan (1887), the earliest inscription in the cemetery goes back to the 17th century; whereas Charles A Innes (1908) assigns an even earlier date (16th century), but none of them have come with any specific burial details. Roberts and Chekkutty (2017, pp. 17-28) have collected an inventory which lists 149 burials in the cemetery, the oldest are from the 18th century. In addition to Richard Harrison (d. 1717), this inventory gives the names of three more individuals from the 18th century, viz. William Burchell, d. March 1793 (1794 is the date on the actual tombstone); John Stevens Agnew, d. May 1793 and Alexander Porter, d. May, 1795. According to this list, the last person to be interred in the old cemetery is an infant named Sidney Smith, dated 28 December, 1879. Ironically, in 1905, when Julian James Cotton surveyed the cemetery, he enumerated only 14 graves, which surprisingly, include all the four burials from the 18th century. Another noted burial in the site is Ensign Robert Anderson Wyse, who was killed by the Mappila rebels at Manjerry in 1849 (see my previous posts on his burial monument). Robert Hodges Peirce (d. 28 November, 1878), co-founder of the famous Peirce & Leslie Co, and two of his infant children were also buried in this cemetery. He was one of the last to be interred in this cemetery.

Memorials for Robert Hodges Peirce and his two infant children in the walls of the St. Mary's CSI Church, Kozhikode

Apparently, in 1958, the Calicut Municipality removed all the crumbling gravestones and converted the place into a 'Conolly Park'. However, it is not clear if the tombstones were shifted to the St. Mary's English church immediately or it was done later. In a report (see here), the transfer of the tombstones to the English church happened only in 1997. Today, 22 tombstones from the old cemetery are on display in the premises of the St. Mary's CSI Church (English Church) at Nadakkavu, Kozhikode. Out of which, 18 tombstones are arranged horizontally on a slanting concrete platform joining the western compound wall of the church, in a section south to the western gate of the church. Conolly's tombstone is kept in a vertical standing position and preserved separately by inserting to the same compound wall, north to the western gate of the church. On either side of the main (west) door of the church are memorials for Robert Peirce and his two infant children who were buried in the old cemetery. However, whether these markers are actual tombstones retrieved from the old cemetery or they are just memorial tablets added afterwards needs to be scrutinized. On a positive note, the sculptor's identity is revealed at the end of the stone tablets as 'C. S. Trotter, Madras', a name seen in tombstones made during the mid-to-late 19th century in South India. Nevertheless, it is unusual that Cotton failed to observe these grave markers in the old cemetery in 1905.  Eastwick (1879) states: "the English burial ground, which is close to the pier (of Calicut) is now so full (1878) that it is about to be closed, and land has been purchased for a new cemetery" and that "many of the inscriptions on the tombs have become wholly obliterated or illegible". 

St. Mary's CSI or English church, Nadakkavu, Kozhikkode

Only 22 tombstones have survived from the old cemetery, and yet not all these epitaphs are complete, because many inscriptions have worn away with time and the letters are faintly visible; some are broken and their fragments lost. The eulogy verses written in some of the epitaphs are beyond recognition. Nevertheless, since they contain usual Biblical verses, Latin phrases etc. used in typical headstones, by identifying the key words, I could retrieve the illegible texts. The biggest challenge was to identify the blurry or obliterated numerals representing dates and ages of the deceased. Thanks mainly to the inventory in Roberts and Chekkutty (2017), I could fill the missing gaps in the difficult grave markers. I am hereby uploading the close-up images of all the 22 tombstones. Among the tombstones from the 18th century, it seems only that of William Burchel (d. 8 March 1794) has survived. Interestingly, it is the only non-rectangular (oval shaped) tombstone in the lot and also one of the best preserved. The latest tombstone is for an infant named George Andrew Frederick Daniel, who died on 21 March, 1882. The youngest interred in the cemetery are the two children of Robert Hodges Peirce, both died at the age of 6 days! Here I have the epitaphs of all the tombstones and their complete inscriptions added along with the corresponding images. 

Following is the list of the 22 tombstones in the ascending chronological order of death (i.e from the earliest to the latest burial).

No	Name	Date of Death	Age
1	William Burchall	8 March, 1794	36
2	Eliza Babington	25 May, 1822	33
3	William Milnes	24 November, 1830	29
4	Daughter of Robert & Margaret Nelson	3 June, 1836	2 months
5	Samuel Adolphus Rehe	14 November, 1837	48
6	Jane Fraser	12 August, 1838	26
7	Christie Hewett	6 March, 1839	24
8	John Shaw Grieve	6 April, 1846	33
9	Harry Gough	22 April, 1846	27
10	Harriet Buchanan	7 August, 1846
11	John Fullerton Brown	30 January, 1848	47 years 9 months 4 days
12	Robert Anderson Wyse	28 August, 1849
13	Frank Arthur Bolton	29 May, 1855	16 days
14	Henry Valentine Conolly	11 September, 1855	48
15	William Ebery	6 December, 1859	57
16	Jessie Caroline	10 March, 1863	6 days
17	Thomas Gwynn	11 August, 1864	65
18	Sarah Montgomery	19 August, 1864	20
19	Charles Gore	17 July, 1871	6 days
20	David Joseph	16 June, 1878	9
21	Robert Hodges Peirce	28 November, 1878	51
22	George Andrew Frederick Daniel	21 March, 1882	4 months 27 days

THE 22 TOMBSTONES PRESERVED FROM THE OLD CEMETERY OF CALICUT ALONG WITH THEIR COMPLETE  INSCRIPTIONS DECIPHERED:

1-WILLIAM BURCHALL (d. 8 March, 1794; age 36 years)-the oldest tombstone

Here Lies
CAPTAIN
WILLIAM BURCHALL
Commandant of the
Second Battalion of
NATIVE INFANTRY. Who
died the 8th of March
1794
Aged 36
Years

2-ELIZA BABINGTON (d. 25 May, 1822; age 33 years)

IN MEMORY OF
ELIZA BABINGTON
WIFE OF
JOHN BABINGTON
MADRAS CIVIL SERVICE
WHO DIES
25 MAY 1822
AGED 33 YEARS

3-WILLIAM MILNES (d. 24 November, 1830; age 29 years)

SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
LIEUT. W. (WILLIAM) MILNES
7TH REG. MADRAS LIGHT CAVALRY
OBT. 24TH NOVR. 1830
AET. 29 YEARS

ERECTED BY HIS AFFECTIONATE
BROTHER

4- DAUGHTER OF ROBERT & MARGARET NELSON (d. 3 June, 1836; age 2 months)

THE INFANT DAUGHTER
OF
ROBT (ROBERT) & MARGARET NELSON
BORN 3RD APRIL
DIED 3RD JUNE
1836

5- MAJOR S. (SAMUEL ) A. (ADOLPHUS ) REHE (d. 14 November, 1837; age 48 years)

To
the memory of
MAJOR S. (SAMUEL) A. (ADOLPHUS) REHE
Late of the
26th Regiment N. I.
who died at CALICUT
on the
14th day of November 1837
Aged about 48 years

6- JANE FRASER (d. 12 August, 1838; age 26 years)

TO THE MEMORY OF
JANE FRASER
WHO DIED AT CALICUT
AUGT. 12TH. 1838
AGED 26

THE LORD GAVE AND THE LORD
HATH TAKEN AWAY. BLESSED BE
THE NAME OF THE LORD

THIS TABLET IS ERECTED BY
HER AFFECTIONATE FRIENDS
FRED. AND ELIZA CLEMENTSON

7- CHRISTIE HEWETT (d. 6 March, 1839; age 24 years)

SACRED
TO
THE MEMORY OF
CHRISTIE HEWETT ESQR.
INDIAN NAVY
DECEASED 6TH MARCH 1839
AGED 24

I KNOW THAT
MY REDEEMER LIVETH

8- JOHN SHAW GRIEVE (d. 6 April, 1846; age 33 years)

SACRED
TO THE MEMORY
OF
JOHN SHAW GRIEVE
LIEUTENANT INDIAN NAVY
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE WHILE
ENROUTE TO THE NEILGHERRY (NILGIRI) HILLS
APRIL 6TH 1846
AGED 33 YEARS 

ONE WHO IN LIFE WHERE'ER HE MOV'D
DREW AFTER HIM THE HEARTS OF MANY
YET THEN AS THOUGH HE NE'ER WERE LOV'D
DIED HERE UNSEEN UNWEPT BY ANY

9- HARRY GOUGH (d. 22 April, 1846; 27 years)

SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
LIEUTENANT
HARRY GOUGH
OF H. M. 25TH REGIMENT
THE KINGS OWN BORDERERS
WHO DIED AT CALICUT
22ND APRIL 1846
AGED 27 YEARS

10- HARRIET BUCHANAN (d. 7 August, 1846)

SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
HARRIET
THE WIFE OF R. H. BUCHANAN
CIVIL SURGEON
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
ON THE 7TH. OF AUGUST 1846

In Calo Quies (L. There is Rest in Heaven)

11- JOHN FULLERTON BROWN (d. 30 January, 1848; 47 years 9 months 4 days )

TO THE MEMORY OF
CAPTAIN JOHN FULLERTON BROWN
OF THE SHIP (WATER) WITCH
WHO DIED 30 JANUARY 1848
AGED 47 YEARS 9 MONTHS 4 DAYS

THE LORD GAVE AND THE LORD
HAS TAKEN AWAY. BLESSED BE
THE NAME OF THE LORD 

12- ROBERT ANDERSON WYSE (d. 28 August, 1849)

SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
ENSIGN
ROBERT ANDERSON WYSE
WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION AT
MUNJERRY
ON THE 28 DAY OF AUGUST
1849

WHILE LEADING A DETACHMT. 43RD REGT. N. I.
HE FELL DEEPLY REGRETTED
BY HIS BROTHER OFFICERS
BY WHOM THIS TOMB IS
ERECTED

For more details see my previous posts here and here.

13- FRANK ARTHUR BOLTON (29 May, 1855; age 16 days)

IN MEMORY OF
FRANK ARTHUR BOLTON
BORN 13TH MAY 1855
DIED 29TH MAY 1855

Their angels do always behold the
face of my Father which is in heaven

14- HENRY VALENTINE CONOLLY (d. 11 September, 1855)

SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
HENRY VALENTINE CONOLLY
MANY YEARS COLLECTOR AND MAGISTRATE
OF MALABAR
AND PPOVISIONAL MEMBER OF COUNCIL
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
ON THE 11TH SEPTEMBER 1855

HIS EUROPEAN AND NATIVE FRIENDS
IN MALABAR
LOVING AND ADMIRING
HIS PUBLIC AND PRIYATE VIRTUES
HAVE UNITED
TO RAISE THIS SLIGHT MEMORIAL
OF HIS EMINENT WORTH AND
CHRISTIAN CHARACTERS

BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHO DIE
IN THE LORD. REV 14: 13

15- WILLIAM EBERY (d. 6 December, 1859; age 57 years)

SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
WILLIAM EBERY
LATE OF THE MADRAS ARTILLERY
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
ON THE VI (6TH) DECEMBER MDCCCLIX (1859)
AGED LVII (57) YEARS
THIS TABLET IS ERECTED
AS A TOKEN OF AFFECTION
BY HIS AFFLICTED WIDOW 

16- JESSIE CAROLINE (d. 10 March, 1863; age 6 days)

IN MEMORY OF
JESSIE CAROLINE
INFANT DAUGHTER OF
ROBERT & CAROLINE PEIRCE
BORN 4th MARCH 1863
DIED 10th MARCH 1863
THY WILL BE DONE

17- THOMAS GWYNN (d. 11 August, 1864; age 65 years)

SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
THOMAS GWYNN
QUARTER MASTER SERGEANT
OF THE LATE 1ST MADRAS FUSILIERS
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
ON THE 11TH AUGUST 1864
AGED 65 YEARS

BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHICH
DIE IN THE LORD

THIS TOMB IS ERECTED BY HIS
BELOVED WIFE

 

18- SARAH MONTGOMERY (d. 19 August, 1864; age 20 years)

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF
SARAH
THE BELOVED WIFE OF
GEO (GEORGE) MONTGOMERY
PRIVATE H. M. 102ND R. M. F. (ROYAL MADRAS FUSILIERS)
WHO DIED 19TH AUG 1864
AGED 20 YEARS
…………………………

19- CHARLES GORE (d. 17 July, 1871; age 6 days)

IN MEMORY OF
CHARLES GORE
THE INFANT SON OF
ROBERT & CAROLINE PEIRCE
BORN 11TH JULY 1871
DIED 17TH JULY 1871
THE LORD GAVE AND THE LORD
HATH TAKEN AWAY

 20- DAVID JOSEPH (d. 16 June, 1878; age 9 years)

SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
DAVID JOSEPH
SON OF
CAPTAIN. D. WILKINS
WHO WAS DROWNED AT BEYPORE AT
THE WRECK OF THE BARQUE JOSHUA
ON THE 16TH JUNE 1878
AGED 9 YEARS

 21- ROBERT HODGES PEIRCE (d. 28 November, 1878; age 51 years)-Memorial Plaque

IN MEMORY OF
ROBERT HODGES PIERCE
WHO DIED AT CALICUT
NOVEMBER 28TH 1878
AGED 51 YEARS

ANOTHER GEM IN THE SAVIOUR'S CROWN
ANOTHER SOUL IN HEAVEN

22- GEORGE ANDREW FREDERICK DANIEL (d. 21 March, 1882; age 4 Months 27 days)-the latest burial

SACRED
TO THE MEMORY
OF
GEORGE ANDREW FREDERICK DANIEL
THE INFANT SON OF GEORGE DECEASED
AND ANN MAGDALINE IGNATIO
BORN AT  24 OCTOBER 1881
DIED AT CALICUT 21 MARCH 1882
AGED 4 MONTHS AND 27 DAYS

THIS LOVELY BUD SO YOUNG AND FAIR
CALLED HENCE BY EARLY DOOM
JUST CAME TO SHOW HOW SWEET A FLOWER
IN PARADISE WOULD BLOOM

Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven

According to Roberts and Chekkutty (2017), the last recorded burial in the old European cemetery of Calicut took place on 28 December, 1879 for an infant named Sidney Smith. If this is indeed the case, the headstone of George Andrew Frederick Daniel was brought from a different cemetery. Roberts and Chekkutty (2017) has "Ignatio, George Andrew Frederick, son of the late George Ignacio & Annie Madeline, died 21 March 1882, age 0/5 (born October 1881)" buried in the New St. Mary's Cemetery, Nadakkavu, which is the current defunct English cemetery in the compound of the St. Mary's CSI church at Kozhikkode. However, based on an inventory reproduced by M. G. S. Narayanan (2006), George Andrew Frederick Daniel was buried in the Christian and German Missionary Cemetery (Basel Mission), which is then the old cemetery of the CSI Cathedral in Kozhikkode. This cemetery is lost and no traces remain today.

REFERENCES

Charles A. Innes (Vol 1, 1908)- Madras District Gazetteers, Malabar and Anjengo

Edward B. Eastwick  (1879)-Handbook of the Madras presidency-with a notice of the overland route to India
John Cantwell Roberts and Chekkutty, N P (2017) Malabar II Christian Memorials, vol. II
Julian James Cotton (1905)-List of Inscriptions on Tombs or Monuments in Madras
Langley W. K. M. (1962)-Century in Malabar, The History of Peirce Leslie & Co. Ltd.

Narayanan, M. G. S. (2006)- Calicut-the City of Truth Revisited

William Logan (1887, vol. 2)-Malabar Manual