Henry Edward Dodd died on 18 January 1791, approximately one year after the first burial in the cemetery. Dodd was superintendent of convicts employed in cultivation at Rose Hill and his was the first public funeral in the colony. His headstone is the earliest in situ in Australia. It was an indication of the esteem in which Henry Dodd was held that when the colony was facing famine, a headstone was provided. It is simply inscribed H. E. Dodd 1791.
This is an entry in Julie's Taphophile Tragics meme.
10 comments:
Wow the oldest grave in Australia. That was a great find. Which cemetery? Would the plaque have been laid by the First Fleeters association?
I still find it strange that the lovely name of Rose Hill should be swapped for Parramatta. But I love this amazing find! Especially like the idea of a Fellowship of First Fleeters.
I have not found a grave anywhere near as old as this one. Not that was readable at any rate. Some down at Pioneer Park, Botany may be the closest. The ones at Camperdown are eroding fast because of the state of disarray that the church seems to think is permissible. Headstones standing in a few inches of mud is not my idea of preservation.
But back to Mr Dodd. I wonder what he died of, and how old he was. I wonder if he came as a convict or as a freeman?
Now, I have just remembered that I need to go back and check what other posts you have about St John's during the last week.
Diane - St John's at Parramatta, same place as last week. Yes the plaque would have been laid by the First Fleeters' group.
Julie - I googled Mr Dodd (wanted a photo) but turned up nothing except the info put out by St John's/Parramatta Council. If you have more time that I did you may have more luck.
He entered the colony as a freeman aboard HMS Sirius, and for a time served as a servant to Governor Phillip. No image, drawn or otherwise. No family (of the same name) came with him.
Interesting story.
Julie is good at this sleuthing, isn't she?!
I suppose the first needs to be recorded. The second and third and fifth are probably left to their own.
Very nice. I mean, after your explanation, it is even nicer.
Wow, that is an early grave. He must have been very well thought of.
Herding Cats
i see that the grave also looks very old!
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