Boatmans Cemetery
Boatman's Cemetery
In May 1887 the Inangahua County Engineer was reported to have communicated with the Commissioner of Crown Lands and had been told that ten acres had been set apart for the purpose of establishing a cemetery at Boatman's. In May 1888 tenders were called for the cemetery to be fenced. In July 1889 the funeral of Sarah Carter, wife of John Carter of Upper Buller, left their residence to go to the Boatman's Cemetery. Councillor Silcock proposed in October 1896, that the Council Engineer be instructed to improve the road near Boatman's Cemetery in order to improve access to the cemetery.
Pioneer Families
Archer:
Frederick Adolphus Greeves Archer , born in 1850, died 6 May 1938 age 85 years. His wife, Margaret (Lawson) Archer. was born in Tasmania Australia in 1852 and died 17 Jan 1918 (aged 65–66).
Their son, Thomas Foster Archer ( visit his Grave) was born 16 July 1887 and died after Discharge from wounds Inflicted while on Active Service, 17 November 1920 (aged 33) in the Buller District, West Coast, New Zealand. Thomas served as an engineer on the Western Front, 1917-18 during WWI. Their daughter, Margaret Daisy Archer (Buckland) was born 25 December 1881and died 24 April 1943 aged 61.(Margaret is also the mother of Eva Crossman another Cronadun personality not buried at Boatmans) ...Margaret's husband Herbert John Buckland was born in 1872 and died 2 December 1961 (aged 88–89). All five are buried in Boatman's Cemetery, Cronadun, Buller District, West Coast, New Zealand.
Frederick William Archer was born 1877 and died 17 May 1967 age 88 years. He was buried at Boatman's but his wife and seven children , were buried in Reefton Cemetery
Headstone for Thomas Foster Archer
Katherine Anastasia Rogers was born in Richmond, Clarence City, Tasmania, Australia in 1842. She died 4 April 1932 (aged 89–90) (Visit her Grave) in the Buller District, West Coast, New Zealand. Her son, Bernard Ambrose Rogers was born 7 December 1870 and died 24 April 1946 (aged 75).
Frances Ashton Rogers, born in 1879 died 23 July 1955 (aged 75–76),(Visit her Grave) Her Children
Catherine Elizabeth Rogers, born 11 May 1910, died15 Apr 1987 (aged 76).Bernard Francis Rogers born 25 July 1911 died 14 Dec 1982 aged 71. Mary Agnes Rogers born 29 Aug 1913 Died 11 June 1993 aged 79. Are all buried together at Boatmans Cemetery Cronadun (Visit their Grave)
Infants and Children
Mary Ann McBean was born in 1880 and died 4 August 1894 (aged 13–14). Her mother was Ellen O'Leary McBean born in 1848 in County Kerry, Ireland and died 4 May 1920 (aged 71–72). Her father was John McBean, born in Scotland and died 4 August 1905. They are buried in Boatman's Cemetery.
Margaret Johanna Twomey, born 17 Aug 1896 Margaret died at age 2 years 17 Aug 1898.
Walter McCabe born 12 September 1906 lived only 19 days and died 1 Oct 1906.
Clifford Arthur Hopcroft was born and died 1 Mar 1913. (Visit his grave)He was buried in the Boatman's Cemetery, Cronadun,
William Gilsenan was born 24 March 1914 he died 3 April 1916, aged 2 years. His father was Edward Thomas Joseph “Terence” Gilsenam born in1877 in Walhalla, Baw Baw Shire, Victoria, Australia and died 13 Oct 1940 (aged 62–63). His mother, Ellen Coghlan Gilsenan was born in 1877 and died in April 1916 (aged 38–39). all three are buried in the Boatman's Cemetery.
Margaret May Coghlan, born 15 September 1916 and died 12 June 1923 (aged 6). Se was the daughter of Peter Coghlan (1848 - 1942) and Elizabeth Mary (O'Leary) Coghlan (1892 - 1959). All three are buried in the Boatman's Cemetery as is Margaret's brother, Peter John “Jim” Coghlan (1911 - 1970)
Louis John Knight died 7 April 1928. He was 15 years old.
Evelyn Grace Gibson born in 1931, lived for only one hour and died 29 April 1931.
Baby Cooper whose date of birth is unknown, died 8 September 1951
Burials After 1900
Michael Twomey who was born in County Cork, Ireland in 1847, emigrated to New Zealand and worked as a gold miner in the Inangahua District before being employed by the Inangahua County Council at Capleston. A few years before he died 29 Jan 1919 (aged 71–72), Michael bought a small farm in Cronadun where he was living. He was survived by his wife, Ellen Twomey born in 1859 in County Cork, Ireland, married Michael in 1884 and died 22 March 1937 (aged 77–78). Michael and Ellen were buried in the Boatman's Cemetery.
Margaret Ann (Knight) Mitchell (mother of Jimmy who died 2008) born 24 Feb 1908, died 20 May 1987 (aged 79). Her husband James Aaron Mitchell, born 15 June 1894 in Cronadun, Buller District, West Coast, New Zealand and died 18 Aug 1964 (aged 70) was also buried in Boatman's Cemetery.
Burials After 2000
James Thomas “Jimmy” Mitchell, born 17 January 1941, died 20 Jul 2008 (aged 67). Buried in Boatmans Cemetery.
Allan Archer Photo Collection
Allan Archer Photo Collection
On a damp windy ANZAC day in Boatmans Valley a time weathered headstone has stood forgotten for a number of decades.
I recently spotted the moss covered Celtic Cross, recognising it as a returned servicemans headstone, thinking that our family member Foster Archer was the only returned soldier in the Boatmans Cemetery, it is good to see he has some company from another WW1 veteran that left his country to fight for our freedom.
A brief search of the ole papers show that WILLIAM PERCY HUBBUCK was a resident of Cronadun (possibly the Landing also) for 20 years, possibly originating from Westport ? wounded in 1917 at a very respectable age of 43 !
Married twice, to Elizabeth, secondly to Edith, both pre-deceasing 'Bill' no mention of children.
Private William Hubbuck of Cronadun.......LEST WE FORGET.
Allan Archer
Birth
1878
Yackandandah, Indigo Shire, Victoria, Australia
Death
29 May 1939 (aged 60–61)
A COGHLAN FAMILY REUNION was held over the weekend 21 January 2001. plaque was unveiled at Boatmans' Cemetery
John (Jack) Coghlan and Dan Gilsenan unveiled the plaque at the cemetery.
