The Hampshire Family Historian | Vol.49 No.1 | June 2022

Member’s article

tank, THE FINAL REST. June 30th 1886. A great public funeral to Mrs WATSON and her babe and the Chinaman, Ah Sam, who were the victims of the Lizard Island tragedy, took place at Cooktown on Sunday afternoon. All flags were half mast all day. The bodies were removed from the police station on the previous evening and placed in the Town Hall to await burial, visitors being allowed to see the coffins. On reaching the cemetery, Mr.

agonising condition from the spear wounds. AFTERWARDS . Nothing has been said about Mary’s parents or Robert WATSON in all the reports of the tragedy although from advertisements in various newspapers we find that The Brisbane Courier reported the administration of Thomas OXNAM ’s will dated January 15th 1886 and his death on June 28th 1886. The record confirms Thomas’s parents as James

and Mary OXNAM nee MOORE . The news of his death was relayed back to Cornwall and the notice appeared in The Royal Cornwall Gazette on September 10th 1886. The Friends of Mr. WM. LEIVESLEY (married to Susan OXNAM ) are respectfully invited to attend the funeral of his deceased Father-in law, Mr. T. OXNAM to move from his late Residence, Red Lion Hotel, Denham street, This (Wednesday) afternoon, at 4 o'clock, for the Rockhampton Cemetery. TUCKER and NANKIVELL Undertakers Denham and Alma Streets. Morning Bulletin June 30th 1886. Mary OXNAM nee PHILLPS married John BARTLETT on February 10th 1892 Mary BARTLETT nee OXNAM died on December 30th 1904, the record confirming that her parents were William and Mary PHILLIPS nee SPARGO . Robert WATSON died on October 30th 1894. The record confirms that his parents were Robert WATSON and Elizabeth nee FERRIER . Margaret Bowman ( Member #12356) SOURCES – Trove Australia for newspaper reports, Find My Past, Queensland Museum, Australia National Library for births,

Watson Memorial

HOSKINS read the remainder of the burial service in a very impressive manner. After this portion of the ceremony had been performed the firemen and band returned to the Town Hall for Ah Sam’s body, which shortly after 4 o'clock was carried to the cemetery, the procession being as before, except that there were Chinamen in front of the hearse scattering pieces of paper. The Chinese Band and several Chinese mourners followed the hearse. At the end of the procession was a spring-cart containing crackers, these being lighted and thrown down all along the road. The firemen having deposited the body in the grave the Chinese made a fire on the brink of the grave and paid the accustomed marks of respect to the dead body, bowing while crackers were thrown in all directions. At the gate they distributed brandy and Chinese drinks freely to all. The people of Cooktown raised money and built a monument to this brave, patient and noble Australian heroine Mary Beatrice WATSON nee PHILLIPS . Poor Ah Sam also did all he could to help, in spite of his

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