Henry and Mary Naysmith's Graves

Henry and Mary Naysmith (nee McLean), passengers on the Duchess of Argyle, arriving Auckland 1842. 

We've known for some time that Henry and Mary Naysmith, our founding family forebears, were buried in  the Presbyterian section of the Symonds Street Cemetery, Auckland, New Zealand.   Husband Mark and I had looked over the same section earlier this year but did not find the grave, although it is fairly obvious once found.  For all the years that I have travelled past the Symonds Steet - Karangahape Road intersection,  and for all the times that I've thought that I must go looking for them, there they were all along, within easy sight and sound of the road.   (See the old map below - pre-Grafton Bridge and motorway changes to landscape.)  

Other descendants have obviously visited, and probably planted the rose which is growing between this grave and the neighbour to their immediate left (facing the grave).  If you are the planter of the rose - here it is, still surviving, although in need of a bit of a prune, which we will do on our next visit.  Please let us know any more about the rose.  

The entire cemetery was precariously wet, soggy and muddy when we visited, and it had rained pretty solidly for the previous week. It started to rain as soon as we found the grave, and then the sun came out when we left. A sign? 

The grave as we found it, with rose growing in front and the base fairly well covered in moss. There's lots of onion weed around  and the surface of the grave was very muddy and squelchy . . . The grave faces Symonds Street. 

The grave after a very gentle clean with water only and a light brush. We avoided the writing area in case the letters got brushed off. The rose branch was carefully moved to behind the headstone so it wouldn't  scratch the letters. 

 Map of the Symonds Street Cemetery, identifying approximate location of Naysmith grave. SO 8 (LINZ crown copyright), unknown date.(Pre-motorway and Grafton Bridge.)

 

Julian - a great-great-great grandson of Henry and Mary. He lives in Auckland CBD and is going to keep an regular eye on the grave.  Nice to know that they are being looked after. 


Oh the coincidences:  Note  below in the death notice of Henry Naysmith is beneath the notice for a 9-month-old child called Clarence Milton Farquhar, son of Alexander and Emma Jane. On my grandmother's side of the family, Thomas Logan Williamson and Elizabeth McKenzie's daughter Annie Williamson was Alexander Farquhar's first wife, before she died and Alexander remarried to Emma Jane. Refer to previous posts about the Williamson family for further information. 

Also,  quite coincidentally, Henry and Mary's grave is right next to Sarah Mark's grave, wife of Captain Hannibal Marks, whose home in Parnell was mentioned as the place of death of Thomas Logan and Elizabeth Williamson's  10-month-old son  Hugh Muir in February 1865. (See notice below.) Again, refer to previous posts for more information and evidence.

Mary Naysmith's  death notice 

Mary Naysmith's (nee McLean) obituary. 

Does anyone have any photos of Henry or Mary?

Two days later: I've just discovered that Mary Argyle McLachan, daughter of Henry and Mary Nasymith, is also buried in the Symonds Street Cemetery. She was buried on 11.11.1918, after dying from the influenza pandemic.   Will look for her on the next trip.