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Back in August, I wrote a column about my concerns about bank erosion at the cemetery in Marche's Point (a settlement named after Jean Marche who was one of the first settlers). Before I give you an update on what has happened, I feel it necessary to give you some background.
The cemetery was first used by the Diocese of St. Georges back around 1890 and purchased or donated from Thomas (Tom) Young.
Note: an additional graveyard in Greene Head was found to be too rocky and was abandoned. Tom Young's first wife, Mary Rosalie Carter who died on May 7, 1901, along with some children are buried in the Green head cemetery.
Note: The oldest burial of have found to date in Marche's Point is of John Martin Ogden, who died on Dec 23, 1896 at the age of 3 years old. there should be burials prior to that, however many death records found in Stephenville and St. George's do not show place of burial. I will be continuing to research this.
The old Marche's Point cemetery and the old Cape St. George cemetery (on land purchased from Yves Carfon) continued to be used even after the new church (originally called St. Benedict's Parish) was opened in De Grau in 1918 until they were both filled to capacity and the new cemetery in De Grau was created. It's (De Grau Cemetery) first burial, in 1937, was that of the late Genevieve (Jane) Chiasson, second wife of Julian Chiasson, Sr. (originally from the Cheticamp area). She was daughter of Francois Benoit and Marie Duffenias (Duffeney) a Mi'kmaq family of Port au Port.
The De Grau cemetery had a serious problem because the whole area was a bog. There have been many stories of coffins floating back up to the surface. The situation was eventually controlled when ditching was dug to allow drainage. After the cemetery became full, however, the local parish again needed a new location. It was successful in purchasing the entire field surrounding the original cemetery in Marche's Point. Thus, the old graveyard became the new official one, with new graves being put on the north side of the original one. It is the only cemetery being used by Our Lady of the Cape Parish today.
The Marches's Point cemetery continued to be used until 1963 and was considered full. Thanks to decades of ocean storm erosion, the most southerly rank of graves were on the edge of the 75 foot gravel bank facing the ocean, family members was shocked to learn that the remains of two graves had fallen to the beach last year. Sister Nicole had been asked by Cornelius Benoit that something had to be done. She retired in August and was unable to complete the exhumations of the rank of graves to a safer location in the graveyard. I had volunteered to help her see this task completed. Out of respect for our deceased family members and relatives, I met with and was appointed to the cemetery committee, consulted with, the Provincial Dept of Justice, Russell's Funeral Home, The RCMP and relatives of the deceased involved.
The necessary paper work was filed, keeping in mind that the parish could not afford to pay an outside contractor such as a funeral home to do the work. Add to that the fact that there was no time to fundraise, with the eminent threat of the graves collapsing over the bank. And the fast approaching winter season was also a factor in getting this done fast.
Materials to build the transfer coffins were donated by Abbott and Haliburton. The coffins were built and delivered by Ivan Young. Masks and gloves were donated by Brookside Variety and Red Brook Variety.
After getting the permits, the cemetery committee met, updated the new Priest, Father Simon on Tuesday. We even got the blessing of the Bishop, who dropped by.
On Thursday, November 26, 2003 1:00 p.m, Rowe's Excavation dug the 8 new graves with a backhoe. Myron Benoit, Howard Benoit and Steve Russell help prepare the new gravesites.
On Friday, November 27, 2003, under supervision of the RCMP representative and myself representing the Cemetery committee, teams of volunteers carried out the exhumations, started at 8:00 a.m. and finished up at 12:00 noon. The remains of eleven individuals were involved dating back 60 years to as recent as 45 years ago since their original burials.
The volunteer teams included members of the Cape St. George Volunteer Fire Dept: Leon Simon, Norman Chaisson, Melvin Rouzes, Billy Dubie, Paul Young, Jason Bennett and Gerard Chaisson. Other family members, relatives and friends included: Howard Benoit, Rex Benoit, Kevin Benoit, Aden Benoit, Francis Benoit, Steve Russell, Michael Jesso, Rod Benoit, Danny and Evelyn Campbell, and Stephen Benoit. Many thanks is extended to all those who helped in any way with this very important project. The work was carried out discreetly without spectators, with respect and dignity for our dearly departed.
It is good to see family come together out of respect for their loved ones who have passed on. The next step will be to begin fundraising in the New Year to raise money to have the bank reinforced so no other graves will be in danger of collapsing over the bank.
Note: This photo shows the configuration of the remains found. Only four were identified. This was not included with the original newspaper story.
Note: The following link will shed some light on the identities of the remains moved.
Wantaqo'ti, (peace).
Written by Jasen S. Benwah
Local Mi'kmaq Researcher
Degrau, NL.
jasenbenwah@hotmail.com
The Georgian Newspaper, December, 2003
updated on Feb 6, 2004
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Website Copyright © 2003-2004 Jasen Sylvester Benwah
