Continuing with last week's grave post, this gravestone can be found in the Ingersoll Rural Cemetery. Charles Fortescue Ingersoll was the younger brother of Laura Ingersoll Secord. He was one of the founding families of the town of Ingersoll which he named after his father who brought the family to Upper Canada from Great Barrington, Massachusetts in 1793.
Charles was a busy man, working with his brother James at building a sawmill, gristmill, potash plant, and distillery. He also served as postmaster at the general store he started. In 1824 he would be elected to the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada and then again in 1830.
A year later, while still in office, Charles died of cholera leaving his wife, Maria. They had children, but I haven't found any sources saying how many. Charles himself was one of many siblings as his father had married three times and had four daughters with his first wife, Elizabeth (the eldest being Laura) and seven more children with his third wife, Sarah (the eldest being Charles).
The family were re-interred from the Episcopal Church Cemetery in 1888
Due to the shared history, (and probably to coincide as part of the War of 1812 commemorations) in 2012 the town of Ingersoll was twinned with the town of Great Barrington.
It's kind of unsettling to think that when you are buried you could be dug up later and moved somewhere else. I really think burial grounds should be left where they are unless they are being threatened by flooding.
ReplyDeleteI just found this entry:
DeleteAfter the closing of this church the trustees placed an advertisement in the press asking all who had relatives buried in the cemetery to remove the bodies to the Ingersoll Rural Cemetery. A few were moved but most of the remains were dug up and placed in a common grave near the Canadian Pacific Railway trunk. The church was sold to a local resident who had it demolished.
I doubt this would be allowed now.
I agree that it's a bit unsettling to think that bodies could be moved, just for land development. I do know, though, that it happens (although not in modern times, I don't think). What a disappointment that the person who bought the land demolished the church --- and it makes me wonder what they built there, instead.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post! Thanks for sharing on Taphophile Tragics!
I may check ou the area next time I'm there (but it could be awhile....)
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