Monthly Archives: November 2013

Many people ask us. Who was the first person to be buried in the Old Cemetery? The Cemetery officially opened on the 7th May 1846 and on the following day John Peake (who was only five days old) was the first burial. Forty six years later (in 1892) his father John Carr Peake was also buried there and his burial number is noted as 53,860! The first Headstone to be erected in the Cemetery was to Sarah Catherine Targett (Straw Hat Maker) she was also the second person to be buried in the Cemetery on the 12th May 1846. It was a momentous moment when Val, Billy and I managed to locate this grave. Barney was pretty excited as well!