Stillwater Cemetery

Date: [unknown]
Location: Stillwater, West Coast

Stillwater Cemetery
Location
Coordinates: -42.43948, 171.34944 · The Stillwater Cemetery is at 26 Arnold Road, Stillwater, West Coast, New Zealand.

Stillwater Cemetery Entrance

The cemetery on uneven ground is well maintained. Very early graves appear as mossy mounds, some with stones around them. In the centre is a very large grave where there was a mass burial of several of the miners killed in the Brunner Mine disaster in 1896. Some were buried in individual or family graves at Stillwater and others in the Kororo Cemetery in Greymouth.

Some graves have metal, wood or concrete surrounds many have no headstones and the headstones that are there are signifcantly varied in appearance, size and condition. Also buried in this cemetery are families destroyed by fire and landslip and individuals accidentally killed.

Stillwater
Stillwater, West Coast - New Zealand topographic map. WGS84 coordinates: -42.44039065, 171.35272000. The town was originally often named Arnold, after the river, in 1877 it was Stillwater Creek and at some time before 1887 was referred to as Richardson-Town after Mr Richardson, Minister of Land turned the first sod for the building of the Midland Railway at Stillwater. The Stillwater Junction Junction Railway Station was opened in 1887. The current name Stillwater is said to have it origins in flood waters backed up the valley when the Māwhera River flooded and which sat there as still-water for long periods.
^[1]

Gold
The Arnold goldfield was opened up by William Jenkins and his fellow prospectors and a Maori party in August 1865. The diggings began at the junction of two main tributaries of Stillwater Creek, running parallel to the Arnold River, and joining the Māwheranui-Grey River about a mile below the Arnold-Grey confluence. ^[2] Early in 1869 the population of Stillwater Creek was reported to be increasing and that because a store had been erected by Mr Ryland the diggers no longer had to carry provisions for six or seven miles. ^[3][4] By August 1869 the population of the Arnold sub-district was estimated to be 650 ^[5]and by February 1871 at 700.^[6]

Coal
The Brunner Coal Mine was opened in 1848 and was one of New Zealand's earliest coal mines. It was named after Thomas Brunner who first discovered it in 1848. The first commercial mine opened in 1864. In July 1869, the Government invited tenders for the building of a bridge across the Stillwater Creek on the road from the coal pits to the Arnold River. All the tenders offered were too high ^[7]and tenders were again called for called in November 1869. ^[8][9] By January 1870 building the bridge was underway. Coal production reached a peak in 1901 then declined rapidly and ceased in 1942. Dobson, Brunnerton, Wallsend and Taylorville, in close proximity to each other, were all associated with the Brunner coal mine which was the site of New Zealand's worst mining disaster in March 1896 when 65 miners were killed. A monument to those miners now stands beside the road on the north bank of the site and the mass grave for several of the men is located at Stillwater, a few kilometres up the valley on SH7.

Coke and bricks were made at the mine site as ancilliary industries to coal extraction. The beehive coke ovens are a rare and impressive sight. Other features are a suspension bridge, mine chimney and mine entrances. The site is extensively interpreted with information panels on both sides of the river.
^[10]

Timber
In February 1887 G Perotti and J m Garland ^[11] and in October 1887 R T Webb were granted the lease of land in the Grey Coal Reserve, for the purpose of sawmilling.

^[12] Several sawmills were developed in the area and by 1906 the Stillwater's industry was centred on milling timber. The town had a hotel, store, post and telegraph office and a school which opened in 1888.

Burials
Find A Grave has 220 memorials for people interred in the Stillwater Cemetery. Billion Graves has 203 and 88 photos of headstones. The first death notice found in West Coast papers was for Richard Rennels whose funeral left the residence of John Langdon, Brunnerton 18 August 1887.
^[13] Others buried in this cemetery are families destroyed by fire and individuals accidentally killed.

Brunner Disaster Miners' Grave

Brunner Coal Mine Disaster
In March 1896 the 'Inangahua Times' published a list, taken from the coal Company's letter book, of the names of the miners believed to be trapped in the mine. At that time 18 bodies had been recovered. On 26 March, 1896 disaster struck as an explosion at the mouth of the main drive of the mine left 67 miners entombed. Round the clock rescue parties took several days to unearth the bodies of the men, some being so badly mutilated that only clothing or a distinguishing mark could make for identification. The mine had been idle for four or five days and it was presumed that gas had accumulated to a dangerous level. The 14ft 5 in tall and 3ft 6 in square red granite memorial obelisque, standing on a 3ft base, at the Stillwater Cemetery lists the names of the 33 miners who were buried there in a mass grave. Altogether 50 miners (of 65 killed) were buried in the cemetery
^[14][15]

John Allen Born in 1857, John (38-39), married with four small children, was accidentally killed 26 March 1896 in the mine disaster at Brunnerton.

David Anderson age 16 years, single, was buried in the mass grave at the Stillwater cemetery.

Joseph Baxter, widower age 48 years and his son Charles Baxter, age 18 years, single, were both killed in the disaster. They were buried with Margaret Baxter, wife and mother who died at age 32 years, 24 July 1886. The headstone has been renewed.

Thomas Henry Beaman age 33 years, was married with four children when he was killed in the mine disaster.

William Boyd. Born in 1833, Willliam was 52 or 53 and married when he was killed inthe Brunner mine disaster. He was buried in the mass grave.

Thomas Clark. Tom, age 45 years, was married with two children and was buried in the mass grave at Stillwater after his death in the Brunner mine disaster.

Edward Collins was 39 years old and married with seven children when he died in the mine disaster at Brunnerton. He was buried in the mass grave at Stllwater Cemetery.

William Cunliffe was only 17 years old when he was killed in the Brunner mine disaster.

Henry Denson Husband of Caroline Denson (1840 - 1925) was 58 years old when he died in the mine disaster and was buried in the mass grave.

Harry William Paul Detert Henry was 28 years old and married with one child at the time of his death in the mine disaster and was buried in the mass grave.

Robert Duncan age 41 years from Scotland, left a wife and nine children when he was killed in the mine disaster at Brunnerton. He was buried in the mass grave.

John Dunn aged 27, sone of William and Mary Dunn was one of the victims of the Brunner Mine Disaster. He was buried with his sister, Sabella who died age 14 months, 30 March 1886

Frances Frederick Franklinwas 16 years old when he was killed in the mine disaster. He was buried in the Stillwater Cemetery.

Jeffrey Lefroy Geoghegan, born in 1872 in Ireland, 24 years old and James Hudson Geoghegan, born in 1879 in New Zealand, age 17 years, were the sons of Sarah Ann and George Geoghegan and had one sister and one brother. Jeffrey was married with three children. They were both killed in the mine disaster and were buried in the Stillwater Cemetery.

David Hall, born in 1876 was 20 years old and single when he died in the disaster. He was his mother's only support.

William Henderson born in 1859, William, single, was 37 years old when he was killed inthe Brunner mine. He was buried in a family grave.

Herbert Alexander Heron born 12 Feb 1878 in Whanganui, Whanganui District, Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand was 18 years old when he was killed in the mine disaster at Brunnerton. He was the third son of Mrs Sarah Jane (Gabriel) and Rev A H Heron of Napier and had four brother as and three sisters. Herbeert was buried in the Stillwater Cemetery.

Thomas Heslin Jr age 34 years , single, was killed in the Brunner mine disaster. Thomas was identified by his clothing. ^[16] He was buried with his brothers, John Heslin, 21 years, died 4 April 1890, Charles Heslin, age 27 years, died 7 February 1892 and Jessie Heslin, died at age 21 years 1 October 1894. Their father Thomas Heslin Snr, miner age 66 years, of Brunnerton who went missing on his way home from Taylorville 6 August 1894 and whose body was found on North Beach, Cobden, is also buried there. He had fallen into the Grey River and drowned.^[17]

Benjamin Hill was age 20 years and single. He was buried in the mass grave.

David Hooley was buried in the mass grave. He was 33 years old, was married and had three children

William Hunter was a widower who had twelve children.

Charles James was born in 1857. He was 39 years old when he died inthe Brunner Mine disaster and was buried in the mass grave.^[18]

Richard Henry Julian who was buriedin the mass grave, was 18 years old and single

Edward Stevens Kent was married and had four children.

John Miller Langdon was age 33 years and single

William Liddle, age 54 years, was married and had six children. He was buried in the mass grave.

Thomas McIvor , born in 1877, was the son of Mary Simpson (McDill) and Joseph McIvor. He was 19 years old. His brother Joseph McIvor, born 1871, was 25 years old and single. They were both buried in the mass grave,

William Angus Mc Kinnon who was only 17 years old and single, had supported his mother and three siblings. He was buried in the mass grave.

William McLuskie, father of Robert who was also killed in the mine disaster, was married with six children

Robert Mc Luskie son of William McLuskie who was killed in the disaster, was married and had one child.

Peter Mc Mahon was buried in the mass grave. He was 35 years old and left a wife and six children.

James Mc Minn age 52, left a wife and two children. He was buried in the mass grave.

William Moonie and his widow had six children

John Morriswas 72 years old and was buried in the mass grave.

Richard O'Loughlin was 18 years old and single when he was killed in the disaster.^[19]

John William Pattinson, born in 1860, John was 36 when he was killed and was buried in the mass grave. ^[20]

Paul Peillion was 48 years old and married with three children. He was buried in the mass grave.

James Richards was 49 when he died and left a widow and five children.^[21]

David Roberts, born 25 June 1880 in Brunnerton, Grey District, West Coast, New Zealand, David was 15 years old when he was killed in the mine disaster. He was buried in the mass grave with his father and two brothers who were also killed in the mine.

John Roberts Snr, born 15 February 1851 in Milton Abbot, West Devon Borough, Devon, England, was 46 years old and was married with five children when he was killed in the mine disaster. John was the underground manager of the mine and three of his sons, William John, Samuel and David, were also killed. They were all buried in the mass grave.

William John Roberts born in 24 November 1873 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Metropolitan Borough of Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England, was 22 years and married with one child when he was killed in the Brunner mine He was buried in the mass grave as were his father and two brothers.

Samuel Roberts , born 2 January 1878 in Brunnerton, West Coast, New Zealand, was 18 years old and single when he was killed. He was buried in the mass grave as were his father and two brothers.

James Rowe was 36 years old, married and had eight children. He was buried in the mass grave.^[22]

Joseph Scobie Jr was 36 years old and single. It is uncertain where he was buried^[23]

James Scott was born in 1863.He was 33 years old, living in Dobson and had been widowed 5 January 1896 and was buried with his wife Mary Jane (Dawson) Scott who was aslo 33 years old.^[24]

Humphrey Smith was 45 years old and married with six children when he died inthe mine disaster. He was buried in the mass grave.^[25]

John Teward. Born in 1861in Durham, Durham Unitary Authority, County Durham, England Jon was 35 and married with three children at the time of his death. He was buried in the mass grave.^[26]

John Watchman who was buried in the mass grave, was 25 years old and single. He was born in 1871 in England. His left his father, Thomas, and four siblings. ^[27]

John White who was born in County Cork, Ireland was married to Annie White and had seven children. He was buried in an individual grave where Annie was also buried in 1917. ^[28]

Alfred Ernest Willyams Born in 1860, Alfred was 36 years old and married with six children. He was buried in the mass grave. ^[29]

William James Tonking Worthley. James was 40 years old, a widower and had five children. His wife, Mary Marina (Baskerville) Willyams had died 11 May 1887 and was buried in the Old Kaitangata Cemetery Kaitangata, Clutha District, Otago, New Zealand.^[30]

Cosgrove Family Tragedy

Cosgrove Children's Headstone

^[31]

At Brunnerton, a landslide with mud, stones, boulders, trees and water at about 2.30 am 25 May 1904, wrecked houses killing 8 people and took a corner out of the Terminus Hotel.

The cottage of Ellen and Walter Cosgrove was carried across the road and buried. Walter, wakened by the first crash rushed to the back rooms, but they were already smashed and buried, He eventually managed to escape through a window. Ellen managed to reach the two youngest children, but, a second, heavier slip buried her and the children until she was rescued. Their seven children, Elizabeth (13), Margaret (12), Mary (10), Thomas (8), John (5), Nellie (4 and Nora (18 months) were tragically killed, five smothered in their sleep. Their funeral was hed at the Catholic Church and they were buried with their brother, Walter, who had died in 1898, in the Stillwater Cemetery. A year after their tragic loss, Ellen and Walter Cosgrove had another son, Joseph, who died in 1965.

Henry Jones, 60 years, a pioneer of Brunner and proprietor of the Terminus Hotel, whose bedroom was on the lower floor, was also killed. It took some time before his body could be revovered and buried at the Stillwater Cemetery 28 May 1904. His three daughters and son escaped injury.
^[32]

Sources

1. ↑ Stillwater [1]
2. ↑ May, philip Ross, 'The West Coast Gold Rushes', Pegasus, Christchurch, 1967. p 203
3. ↑ 1869 Newspaper: "Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand"
   West Coast Times, Issue 1054, 6 February 1869, Page 2
   Papers Past Article (accessed 28 December 2023)
4. ↑ 1869 Newspaper: "Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand"
   Grey River Argus, Volume VII, Issue 479, 9 February 1869, Page 2
   Papers Past Article (accessed 28 December 2023)
5. ↑ 1869 Newspaper: "Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand"
   Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 561, 21 August 1869, Page 2
   Papers Past Article (accessed 28 December 2023)
6. ↑ 1871 Newspaper: "Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand"
   Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 790, 7 February 1871, Page 2
   Papers Past Article (accessed 28 December 2023)
7. ↑ 1869 Newspaper: "Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand"
   Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 599, 18 November 1869, Page 2
   Papers Past Article (accessed 28 December 2023)
8. ↑ 1869 Newspaper: "Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand"
   Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 597, 13 November 1869, Page 3
   Papers Past Article (accessed 28 December 2023)
9. ↑ 1869 Newspaper: "Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand"
   Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 544, 13 July 1869, Page 2
   Papers Past Article (accessed 28 December 2023)
10. ↑ Brunner Mine Site [2]
11. ↑ 1887 Newspaper: "Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand"
    West Coast Times, Issue 6407, 3 February 1887, Page 2
    Papers Past Article (accessed 29 December 2023)
12. ↑ 1887 Newspaper: "Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand"
    West Coast Times, Issue 86615, 20 October 1887, Page 2
    Papers Past Article (accessed 29 December 2023)
13. ↑ 1887 Newspaper: "Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand"
    Grey River Argus, Volume XXXV, Issue 5976, 18 August 1887, Page 2
    Papers Past Article (accessed 29 December 2023)
14. ↑ 1896 Newspaper: "Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand"
    Inangahua Times, Volume XXI, Issue 879, 30 March 1896, Page 2
    Papers Past Article (accessed 29 December 2023)
15. ↑ 1899 Newspaper: "Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand"
    West Coast Times, Issue 11371, 17 August 1899, Page 2
    Papers Past Article (accessed 29 December 2023)
16. ↑ 1896 Newspaper: "Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand"
    West Coast Times, Issue 10242, 28 March 1896, Page 2
    Papers Past Article (accessed 29 December 2023)
17. ↑ 1894 Newspaper: "Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand"
    Grey River Argus, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8029, 30 August 1894, Page 2
    Papers Past Article (accessed 29 December 2023)
18. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
    Find A Grave: Memorial #156869336 (accessed 10 January 2024)
    Memorial page for Charles James (1857-26 Mar 1896), citing Stillwater Cemetery, Greymouth, Grey District, West Coast, New Zealand; Maintained by JjH (contributor 48491654).
19. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (no image)
    Find A Grave: Memorial #240241874 (accessed 10 January 2024)
    Memorial page for Richard O'Loughlin (unknown-26 Mar 1896), citing Stillwater Cemetery, Greymouth, Grey District, West Coast, New Zealand; Maintained by Katherine (contributor 48995023).
20. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
    Find A Grave: Memorial #156869330 (accessed 10 January 2024)
    Memorial page for John William Pattinson (1860-26 Mar 1896), citing Stillwater Cemetery, Greymouth, Grey District, West Coast, New Zealand; Maintained by JjH (contributor 48491654).
21. ↑ Memorial: "Billion Graves"
    Stillwater Cemetery, 34 Arnold Valley Road, Greymouth West Coast 7805, New Zealand
    BillionGraves memorial (accessed 10 January 2024)
    Memorial page for James Richards (d 26 March 1896); Transcribed by Wayne, Jun 9, 2021; Photographed by Pam Bourke-Shaw, Aug 25, 2014.
22. ↑ Memorial: "Billion Graves"
    Stillwater Cemetery, 34 Arnold Valley Road, Greymouth West Coast 7805, New Zealand
    BillionGraves memorial (accessed 10 January 2024)
    Memorial page for James Rowe (d 26 March 1896); Transcribed by Wayne, Jun 9, 2021; Photographed by Pam Bourke-Shaw, Aug 25, 2014.
23. ↑ 1896 Newspaper: "Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand"
    Grey River Argus, Volume LVII, Issue 9402, 28 March 1896, Page 2
    Papers Past Article (accessed 10 January 2024)
24. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
    Find A Grave: Memorial #178628484 (accessed 10 January 2024)
    Memorial page for James Scott (1863-26 Mar 1896), citing Stillwater Cemetery, Greymouth, Grey District, West Coast, New Zealand; Maintained by JjH (contributor 48491654).
25. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
    Find A Grave: Memorial #156869321 (accessed 10 January 2024)
    Memorial page for Humphrey Smith (1851-26 Mar 1896), citing Stillwater Cemetery, Greymouth, Grey District, West Coast, New Zealand; Maintained by JjH (contributor 48491654).
26. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
    Find A Grave: Memorial #156869343 (accessed 10 January 2024)
    Memorial page for John Teward (1861-26 Mar 1896), citing Stillwater Cemetery, Greymouth, Grey District, West Coast, New Zealand; Maintained by JjH (contributor 48491654).
27. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
    Find A Grave: Memorial #156869344 (accessed 10 January 2024)
    Memorial page for John Watchman (1871-26 Mar 1896), citing Stillwater Cemetery, Greymouth, Grey District, West Coast, New Zealand; Maintained by JjH (contributor 48491654).
28. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
    Find A Grave: Memorial #178628505 (accessed 10 January 2024)
    Memorial page for John White (unknown-26 Mar 1896), citing Stillwater Cemetery, Greymouth, Grey District, West Coast, New Zealand; Maintained by LaVerne's Granddaughter (contributor 48747107).
29. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
    Find A Grave: Memorial #156869333 (accessed 10 January 2024)
    Memorial page for Alfred Ernest Willyams (1860-26 Mar 1896), citing Stillwater Cemetery, Greymouth, Grey District, West Coast, New Zealand; Maintained by JjH (contributor 48491654).
30. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (no image)
    Find A Grave: Memorial #240241907 (accessed 10 January 2024)
    Memorial page for William James Tonking Worthley (unknown-26 Mar 1896), citing Stillwater Cemetery, Greymouth, Grey District, West Coast, New Zealand; Maintained by Katherine (contributor 48995023).
31. ↑ 1904 Newspaper: "Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand"
    Greymouth Evening Star, 25 May 1904, Page 3
    Papers Past Article (accessed 30 December 2023)
32. ↑ 1904 Newspaper: "Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand"
    Greymouth Evening Star, 28 May 1904, Page 3
    Papers Past Article (accessed 30 December 2023)

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