The Honorary Secretary

LIST OF LEGIBLE INSCRIPTIONS ON STONES IN THE FOREIGN CEMETERY ON DOUBLE ISLAND, SWATOW, 1922

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By R. M. TALBOT ______

The Honorary Secretary, North China Branch Royal Asiatic Society, Shanghai

Dear Sir,

Whilst stationed at Swatow in 1922 I spent the summer on Double Island (Masu) at the mouth of the river. On this island was an old foreign cemetery, the inscriptions on the stones of which were fast becoming obliterated. Thinking it would be well to have a record of those still legible, I made as complete a list as possible with the assistance of Mr. Stocker, a permanent resident on the island. As the list may have some historical interest I am now forwarding it to you that it may be filed with other material you may have of the same sort.

Yours faithfully, R. M. TALBOT.

Custom House, Aigun/Taheiho 12th January, 1929

DATE. INSCRIPTION.

1857 Hier ruht Andreas Nicolaus Ander, Capitain der Hamb. Bark LIMA. Geb. Den 7. April, 1827. Gest den 22ten April, 1857.

1857 Ici Repose Charles Leclerc, M.D. Au bord du trois mats L’ANAIS, de Bordeaux. Decide le 10 Fevr. 1857. Age 34. Priez pour le repose de son ăme.

1858 Hier ruht Wilhelm Van Hees, Kapitain van het Neederlandsch ship JOHANNES ANTHONIUS. Geboren a Heuled, 17 February, 1825. Overleden 30 March 1858.

1858 Hier ruhen Carl Zabock, August Rork, Feodor Sieffert, matrossen vom Preuss. Schiff AGNES aus Colburg. Ertrunken den 1 August 1858. Sanst ruhe ihre Asche. 1859 Sacred to the memory of David Baumgarten, late of the ship WIDE AWAKE, who was drowned at Swatow, 14th April, 1859.

1859 I.H.S. Pray for the soul of Emily Milbourne, born 21st September, 1857, Died 14th November 1859.

1860 Sacred to the memory of Mr. James Malley, late assistant engineer of H.M. Gunboat “Cockchafer,” who departed this life March 1860, aged 23 years. “In the Midst of Life, we are in Death.”

1860 Sacred to the memory of Robert M’Cann. Died 16th May, 1860. Aged 27 years.

1861 Sacred to the memory of J.G. Barton. Born 26thJuly, 1860. Died 9th August, 1861. (Note – four illegible lines of verse follow).

1862 Errinerung an Georg Tio, gestorben 26 Mai, 1862, am bord OSCAR.

1862 Sacred to the memory of Harriett, wife of John H. Wood, master mariner, who died 1st October, 1862. Aged 36 years.

1863 Sacred to the memory of Richard King, who departed this life 11th January, 1863.

1864 L.V. May 2nd, 1864. (Note – crude lettering, large stone).

1869 Hier ruht B. H. Fischer, Geb. in Bremen den 26ten Maerz 1833. Gest. In Swatow den 21ten Januar 1869. “Requiescat in Pace.” (Note – Masonic emblem on head of stone).

1870 Hier ruht in Gott, Steurman “FOLRABE.” Geb. In Wolgast, D. 26 June 1805. Ertrunken 20 Decr. 1870, in Swatow.

No date Hier ruht H.F. Gorloch, Loitfer. Gestrb. a m 7 Febr. (Note – many letters obliterated).

“ “ Mary Antoinette Piersdorff. Born on Double Island in the year 1868 (Note – evidently a child’s grave).