Clippings
THE SILENT LAND
XIV. -- DERRIAGHY BURIAL GROUND
(By "THE CHIEF.")
Judging by the great number of ancient forts which have been found in the immediate district, Derriaghy must have been a centre of military activity in the days gone by. That the inhabitants of the neighbourhood were tenacious of the soil is evident if the report be true that French surnames are still common enough thereabouts, and that there can be found some who can claim direct descent from the Huguenots still occupying the same farms that were worked by the original settlers. Be that as it may, the graveyard contains proof of at least one family who have been burying their dead in the same plot for over two hundred years. The old stone stands beside the modern marble memorial. Here is a copy of the inscription on the ancient slab, which is said to be the oldest stone in the cemetery -
| HERE LYETH THE BODY OF ROBART HARRIS Who dyed Sept. 0 ember y 21 1702 |
In the newer portion of the graveyard the same arrangement has been carried out in connection with a perhaps more celebrated family. In this case the old slab was removed from among its contemporaries to its present position, where it lies beside a beautiful granite obelisk. At the head of the old stone there is an embossed device showing a hand holding a sheaf of wheat, and below the following inscription:--
HERE LYETH THE BODY OF
WILLIAM SEEDS OF BELFAST
MERCHANT, who died ye 13th
of November 1746 aged
67 years.
also his wife MARY SEEDS
who died the 19th of said
month aged 62 years.
HER LYETH THE BODY OF
STEPHEN SEEDS OF BELFAST
MERCHANT, who departed this
life 23rd September 1755 aged 32
years.
Here Lyeth the
Bodys of Stephen,
Frances, Robt. and Ann,
children of William
SEEDS, MECHANT IN
BELFAST.
The adjoining monument records the interment of more recent members of the family, among whom may be specially mentioned Henry Seeds, of Belfast, Solicitor, Born 30th Nov. 1815, Died 1st May 1877. This man was a prominent politician in his day, and contested one of the divisions of Belfast before the redistribution of seats.
In the neighbouring plot there is a quaintly-shaped memorial, which bears the following inscriptions side by side:--
| In AFFECTIONATE REMEMBRANCE of JANE ELIZABETH Beloved wife of Revd. SAMUEL M. MOORE, M.A., Who fell asleep at Derriaghy Vicarage 25th Feby. 1879 --------------------------- In LOVING MEMORY of Revd. SAMUEL M. MOORE, M.A. Prebendary of Cairncastle and for 28 years Vicar of this parish, He fell asleep at Derriaghy Vicarage 12th July 1898 |
There are some very grim tales told in connection with Derriaghy, and one is in connection with a past vicar of the parish, although I am not prepared to vouch for the authenticity of the story. It is related that the clergyman was very much disturbed in his mind by a peculiar dream in which the graveyard predominated. He dreamt the same dream on three consecutive nights, and unable to stand the strain any longer he got up, dressed and went to the church, which is situated in the middle of the burial ground, and there sure enough he found a young girl standing at the door. She explained she had come to keep an appointment with her lover. Upon going further the vicar found this man in a secluded part of the grounds busily engaged in digging a grave for his faithful sweetheart, of whom he was anxious to be rid. History does not relate what punishment was inflicted on the would-be murderer, but if the story be true it should form a strong argument for those who believe in dream warnings.
It might be mentioned in passing that although the present church is quite modern in appearance there was a time when it was thatched. Certainly there are a great many tombstones recording the deaths of good people who lived in the seventeenth and early in the eighteenth centuries. Away down in a hollow surrounded by a wall which has probably supported a roof at a time in its history, are a quartette of very ancient slabs. The dilapidated structure has a gate, but entrance is more easily obtained by scaling the wall. One of the stones bears the following inscription:-
| HERE LYETH the body of Hugh Murray who departed this life the 23th day of April 1773 aged, 42 years e Also y body of his daughter e Margaret, who dyed y 9th of Sept. 1732 aged 11 months. |
The '23th" taken with other evidences already published, would indicate that the sculptors of the early days have been univormaly careless. Another of these stones has three most peculiar devices carved in relief at the top. In one circle there is winged mind glass above cross bones; in another two cherubim seem to be playing with Father Time's scythe; while the third shows a grinning skull above a heart. What these were intended to convey it would be difficult to suggest, but the work has been splendidly executed, and I only regretted that the camera which I carried was not equal to the task of reproducing them. Here is another peculiar item:--
| ERECTED by Alexander Tuten to the memory of his children viz. John Tuten, senr., aged 2 years John Tuten, junr., aged 2 years Hamilton, aged 1 year |
It is not often that brothers of the same name are identified by "senr." And "junr." As a contrast to the youthful occupants of the plot we have one close by recording the death of
| Wm. Dunlop, 86 years and MARY his wife 104 |
while an adjoining slab intimates that
| This stone was erected By Rodger Thompson of Old Park Anno Domini 1814 |
although no burials are mentioned, and I understand the ground has not been claimed in accordance with the notice issued recently by the authorities. There is another railed-in space which has a local interest -
| Here lies the remains of Isabella The tender and beloved wife of William Smith of Lisburn Esqr. who departed this life on the 25th day of June 1809 aged 53 years Here also lie the remains of William Smith of Lisburn Esqr. who departed this life on the 26th day of January 1811 aged 63 years. Here also lie the remains of Robert Seymour Smith Esqr. Manager of the Belfast Bank Antrim who departed this life the 19th day of February 1883 aged 36 years. Here also lie the remains of Samuel, third son of the Revd. Nathaniel Smith Rector of Derrynoose and of Clonoe Diocese of Armagh and grandson of the above named William Smith who departed this life at Belfast the 27th day of Feby. 1886 aged 80 years. |
This plot is claimed by Rev. N.E. Smith, the respected pastor of Drew Memorial Church.
There are many memorials showing the wandering nature of Ulstermen, and there are records of some who have been buried in distant lands. One notice states that a young man died of apoplexy on a C.P.R. train near Montreal on his way home, and that his remains were interred by the "Sons of Portadown" L.O.L. 919 on the 7th August, 1906, in Prospect Cemetery, Toronto, while another Derriaghy man lies buried at Oamaru in New Zealand. But perhaps the most interesting monument is one that is situated close to the little entrance gate. The peculiar shape is sufficient to attract attention.
| Underneath lie the mortal remains of NATHANIEL KRONHEIM (Born in Prussian Silesia and an Israelite according to the flesh but converted by the grace of God to the faith of the gospel which he afterwards lived to promote in public and in private for the space of 20 years during 18 of which he was employed in Ireland and especially Ulster as agent to The Society for Promoting Christianity Among the Jews. Thus did he endeavour to serve the Saviour in whom he believed and whom he loved until in death he could say "Lord now lettest thou thy servant Depart in Peace according to thy word For mine eyes have seen thy salvation." This monument has been erected by A few of his personal friends as a small memorial of affectionate regard. He departed to his rest on the 18th Sept. 1852 aged nearly 80 years. |
There is also an inscription in Hebrew on the face of the column.
Is it not remarkable that a Prussian should be buried in such an out of the way place as Derriaghy? It is difficult to foretell what fate fortune has in store for us.