Pictured are 2 headstones of the Logan family relocated to Ebenezer from Sydney's Devonshire Street Cemetery (also known known as Sandhills) which was established in Sydney in 1819. The Old Sydney Burial Ground operated between 1792 to 1820. The cemetery in Devonshire Street closed in 1867. The cemetery became dormant and was neglected. In 1901 Central Railway Station was expanding and the cemetery was resumed, with over 30,000 burials exhumed and reinterned.
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| Logan family headstones from Ebenezer Church. Photo: M. Nichols |
John Logan was born in Scotland and married Ann in the 1840s. Their children were born approximately James 1847, George 1849 and Ann 1853. George was a baker and they lived in Sussex Street Sydney.
Tragedy struck on the 16 July 1851, when it was reported in the newspaper that 2½ year old infant George was struck with a cart wheel and he died 2 hours later. According to the Inquest the boy’s death was caused by the cart and the driver George Burnett, was charged with manslaughter.
Further heartbreak was to follow when just two years later, John's wife Ann died 25 September 1853 aged 32. John and Ann's 12 week old daughter died 10 December 1853. It is quite possible that Ann died from complications, giving birth to Ann, who was born in late September.
John remarried in 1854 at Sydney’s Scots Church, to Matilda Isabella, a member of the Grono-Books family, daughter of Alexander Books and Margaret nee Grono of Bear’s Hip Farm on the Hawkesbury River.
John’s eldest son James, died 21 June 1866 aged 19 years. His cause of death is not known. The following year, John Logan died 5 November 1867 aged 46 years. It is transcribed on his headstone that John was originally from Dunkeld Scotland and died at his residence, Woodland Cottage in Ryde but formerly of Bathurst Street in Sydney. Although is headstone states he was from Dunkeld, his death notice states he was a native of Kinross, Scotland. There is 50km between the locations.
Matilda Logan was living in Balmain when she passed away on 7 March 1901, aged 74. Her
obituary notes that her casket was taken from Balmain to Mulgrave by train and then transported by Mr Primrose, the local undertaker to Mr A. Books at Pitt Town. The
“casket was then taken by boat to Ebenezer burial ground & interred in the family vault alongside the deceased mother and father.” Her death notice says she was interred at
Ebenezer Church but there is no marker recording Matilda’s burial other than the mention in the Books vault. By 1904, the newspaper records two Logan headstones (with remains) had been exhumed and relocated from the Devonshire Street Cemetery to the Ebenezer Cemetery. The exhumation permit was issued to John Carmichael, from Balmain. Carmichael was in fact the brother-in-law of Matilda Logan, as he was married to her younger sister, Jane nee Books.
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| Obituary from the Windsor & Richmond Gazette 30 Mar 1901 |
