"Glancing backwards" from the grave

Our ancestors who immigrated to Australia must have missed their homelands. While their move to Australia was the start of a new part of their lives, the places they left mustn't have been far from their daily thoughts. Yesterday, at the Running Waters of History Conference at Wyong, historian Dr Richard Reid described how the wording on our ancestors' gravestones were examples of "glancing backwards" to their homelands.

Here are a few examples of how my ancestors' graves showed how their families wanted their origins to be remembered, even in death.

One of my great-great-grandmothers was Ellen TORPY (c. 1833-1906). She was from a small place known as Ballyfliugh, outside the town of Windgap in County Kilkenny. She became Ellen FLEMING when she married Patrick FLEMING in 1853. Ellen is buried in a grave on the edge of Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney.

Ellen's Irish origins are recorded in the wording on her headstone:

ELLEN FLEMING

Native of the Co. Kilkenny, Ireland

Died 25 July 1906

Aged 73 years

Ellen FLEMING’s grave details: Rookwood Cemetery, Section Graves, Mortuary 1, Area N, grave no. 226. Registration no. 2236332.

One of my great-granduncle's was Michael BUTLER (1852-1913). His grave at Rookwood Cemetery also "backward glances" to his origins. He was born in County Clare, Ireland. 

His headstone on his grave reads:

In Loving Memory of

MY DEAR HUSBAND

MICHAEL BUTLER

DIED 19TH OCT 1913

AGED 62 YEARS

NATIVE OF CO CLARE IRELAND

SACRED HEART OF JESUS HAVE MERCY ON HIS SOUL

ERECTED BY HIS LOVING WIFE AND FAMILY

Michael BUTLER’s grave details: Rookwood Cemetery, Section Graves, Mortuary 2, Section C, Row 7, grave no. 492. Register no. 22132682.

Michael's brother was Thomas BUTLER (1862-1929). He is also buried at Rookwood Cemetery.

His native place of County Clare is recorded on his headstone:

In 

Loving Memory of

MY DEAR HUSBAND & OUR FATHER

THOMAS BUTLER

DIED 28TH JANUARY 1929

AGED 63 YEARS

BORN IN COUNTY CLARE IRELAND

Thomas BUTLER’s grave details: Rookwood Cemetery, Section Graves, Mortuary 2, Area 6, Row 11, grave no. 341. Registration no. 22113332.