I was recently cleaning a grave in order to photograph it for someone on Find a Grave. There was a plaque lying loose on the top of the grave under vegetative detritus and years of accumulated grime. A quick wash and light scrub revealed the inscription
In Loving Memory
Harry Escott, M.P.
Pahiatua,
1910-1916
Harry Escott, M.P.
Pahiatua,
1910-1916
There was no obvious connection to the occupants of the grave upon which it rested, A quick search of newspapers of the time revealed that Harry (Henry James) ESCOTT had been an active and respected parliamentarian for seven years prior to his death, entering parliament as Reform member for Pahiatua in 1911. He had also fought as a trooper in the 2nd Contingent with the New Zealand forces in the Boer War from January 1900 until May 1901. When WW1 started Harry decided he had to sign up for more action, so he enlisted and was about to go into training camp at Trentham when he took ill and died at Bowen Private Hospital. He was 44 when he died so would have been born about 1872. He was a single man.
Although he had been farming in Woodville prior to entering parliament, his remains were interred at Karori Cemetery, in Plot 57N in the second Public section. His sister Harriet (Hetty) RUSSELL, who had died on 8th June 1911, was already in Plot 57N. Hetty was “the beloved wife of George RUSSELL” who owned Palmer’s Café at 168 Lambton Quay, almost opposite Stout Street. The headstone is very decorative, with a pretty wee angel standing guard, mounted on an elaborately draped and decorated rectangular column. There's a slightly alarming cavity under the structure but that's not unusual in Karori Cemetery.
Although he had been farming in Woodville prior to entering parliament, his remains were interred at Karori Cemetery, in Plot 57N in the second Public section. His sister Harriet (Hetty) RUSSELL, who had died on 8th June 1911, was already in Plot 57N. Hetty was “the beloved wife of George RUSSELL” who owned Palmer’s Café at 168 Lambton Quay, almost opposite Stout Street. The headstone is very decorative, with a pretty wee angel standing guard, mounted on an elaborately draped and decorated rectangular column. There's a slightly alarming cavity under the structure but that's not unusual in Karori Cemetery.
The death in France in 1916 of Hetty and George’s only son George Burton Escott RUSSELL is commemorated on the plinth below the headstone.
Harry’s plaque has now been returned to its rightful place, resting at the foot of the headstone in the grave of his sister and nephew. And thanks to that wonderful online facility PapersPast it was quick and easy to get some facts together and sort out why Harry's plaque should be with Hetty Russell's grave.
The only mystery now, which I will never solve, is how and why the plaque got moved onto someone else's family plot.
Harry’s plaque has now been returned to its rightful place, resting at the foot of the headstone in the grave of his sister and nephew. And thanks to that wonderful online facility PapersPast it was quick and easy to get some facts together and sort out why Harry's plaque should be with Hetty Russell's grave.
The only mystery now, which I will never solve, is how and why the plaque got moved onto someone else's family plot.
