A Memorial Unearthed – grave tales

Peter tells me that Annie, Ann Stewart nee Huntly, was an older sister of his great grandfather James Huntly (1856 – 1923). She was born in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, England in 1850. Her husband, Thomas Bell (her fourth husband!), also died in the Kalgoorlie hospital on 4th November 1928. He is buried in the Methodist Portion of the Kalgoorlie Cemetery.  It’s odd they are not buried together. Each is alone in their individual grave.

Kalgoorlie Miner 25 October 1909, page 4

The entries in the Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital admission records show the following:

BELL Annie – Address: Husband, Wycliffe Street, Brownhill – Female age 57yrs – Cause: Gangrene of Ilium (small intestine)  – Admitted 23 Oct 1909 at 12 noon – Died 24 Oct 1909 2:35am – Cause of death: Syncope – Remarks: Greenwood Funeral directors.

BELL Thomas- address, 70 Wilson Street, Kalgoorlie, known as The Remembrance Home – Widower – age 76 – Pensioner – Church of England – Cause, Bronco Pneumonia, Cardiac failure – Admitted 28 Oct 1928 – Died- 2 Nov 1928- under Dr. Grey

Her former husbands were Leonard Short MELROSE in Scotland in 1868, John Paris STEWART in South Australia in 1880, and Henry Passfield (date and place not known). She married Thomas Bell in Coolgardie in 1897.

John Paris Stewart deserted his Wife Annie and was prosecuted in the Benalla court in June 1885.

Mr. Henry Passfield passed away in Burbanks near Coolgardie on 7th April 1897 due to cardiac syncope, accelerated by excessive drinking according to the doctor who attended his death. Mrs. Annie Passfield was in Perth at the time due to ill health according to newspaper reports. Annie re-married in the same year to Thomas Bell

Elizabeth Stewart and Anne Huntley – Photo Huntley family

The marriage certificate of Annie and Thomas is as follows:​

On 18th Sept 1897 at Mrs. Bennet’s Residence Coolgardie, Groom: Thomas BELL age 41yrs, Occ: Miner – Widower – Father William BELL (Labourer) – Mother Gladys DAVIS, Bride: Annie PASSFIELD age 41 – Widow – Father: George HUNTLEY (Labourer) – Mother Annie PURVIS, brides parents resident in Barwick England. Witnesses: Morgan and Mary WILLIAMS.

The good news is that Peter contacted two of his cousins in Australia who are direct descendants of Annie, and they all clubbed together for the funding to have the grave properly restored. They said:

“I would be delighted for Moya to continue the story of Annie and the marvellous restoration of her grave site” and the other said “I have no objection to the publication of Annie’s gravestone restoration.

The following are the photographs taken recently, what an amazing job.