St John’s Catholic Cemetery – Kapunda: 
Burial Records: Old and Early Section:
 O-S

Researched and compiled by Peter Swann

I would like to acknowledge the support of local historian and former caretaker of St John’s Cemetery, Peter Swann for supplying the cemetery records, and his ongoing support.

     Surname                        Christian Names                  Age            Date of Death       Row/ Location

  St John’s Catholic Cemetery – Kapunda: 
Burial Records: Old and Early Section:
 J-N

Researched and compiled by Peter Swann

I would like to acknowledge the support of local historian and former caretaker of St John’s Cemetery, Peter Swann for supplying the cemetery records, and his ongoing support.

Surname                        Christian Names                        Age            Date of Death       Row/ Location

  St John’s Catholic Cemetery – Kapunda: 
Burial Records: Old and Early Section:
 D-H

Researched and compiled by Peter Swann

I would like to acknowledge the support of local historian and former caretaker of St John’s Cemetery, Peter Swann for supplying the cemetery records, and his ongoing support. 

     Surname                      Christian Names                      Age            Date of Death       Row/ Location

St John’s Catholic Cemetery – Kapunda: Burial Records: Old and Early Section: A-C

 St John’s Catholic Cemetery – Kapunda: 

Burial Records: Old and Early Section:

 A-C

Researched and compiled by Peter Swann

I would like to acknowledge the support of local historian and former caretaker of St John’s Cemetery, Peter Swann for supplying the cemetery records, and his ongoing support.

 Scotty's Grave - Allendale North

If you are a taphophile or into geocaching, then chances are you’ve probably already come across “Scotty’s Grave” just north of the Wheatsheaf Hotel at Allendale (near Kapunda).

This unusual little grave, set back in a farmer’s field, with its own access gate cut into the boundary fence, has been a talking point in the local community since 1865 when the first headstone was installed.

There is many a legend about “Scotty”, who he was, and how he came to be buried in the field, some of the stories, no doubt, have been exaggerated in retellings in the local watering hole down the road over the past hundred and sixty-five plus years.





One legend tells of Scotty being in his native Scotland and falling madly in love with a girl, but being forced to immigrate to Australia. He arrived in the Kapunda region and could be heard often in the Wheatsheaf Hotel, singing about his lost love.

One day, the publican entered the bar after being away for some time. He entered with a new wife, who turned out to be Scotty’s long lost love from back in Scotland.

Scotty and his love hatched a plan to run away together and met at the back of the hotel where he had hitched two horses. They rode away together into the night, but Scotty’s horse threw him off, and he died on impact.

His long lost love rode back to the hotel, with her new husband, none the wiser, and the following day, when Scotty was discovered, she took it upon herself to oversee his burial.

The truth about Scotty’s Grave is that “Scotty” is actually a man named James Burnett who was a local Shepard in the Allendale North area. While trying to cross the River Light at Baker’s Flat, on the 2 August 1846, he slipped from his horse and drowned.

The reason he was buried where he is, was stated in The Advertiser in 1903 as being “where Scotty’s hut was located when he was alive”.

His headstone was erected in 1863 via subscription from locals, advertised in the Kapunda Herald. W Flavel, thoughtfully, copied the inscription on the headstone in 1865 for prosperity’s sake.
An ornate fence was erected in 1885, cast in Kapunda at Mellors, and over the years there have been numerous restorations and upkeep projects of the grave.

Believe it or not, there are actually two graves at Scotty’s Grave Road, lying next to Scotty is a man by the name Carrol, who died two years earlier in 1844 – not much, if anything is really known about this particular gentleman.

Sources: 

'The Saturday Express.', The Advertiser, (31 Jan, p. 903), p.6.
'Current Comment.', Kapunda Herald, (18 Jan 1935), p. 3.
Allendale North Scotty’s Grave, Grave Secrets, http://headstones2.gravesecrets.net/allendale-north-scottys-grave.html

First published on The Haunts of Adelaide 19 April 2016. © Allen Tiller

 Dr. Edward Waddy

Dr Edward Waddy was born at Dudley, England on 27 August 1815. He was Baptised on 10 Sep 1815 at Saint Thomas, Dudley, Worcester, England.
Waddy came to South Australia in 1846 as a Medical Practitioner and settled at Kapunda. 

He married Jane Russell on 11 January 1847 at the Holy Trinity Church, North Terrace, Adelaide. 

Jane and Edward had four children:

Richard William Mackie Waddy (1848–1933)

Ann Eliza Waddy (1850–1892)

Jane Russell Waddy (1852–1879)

Edward Russell Waddy (1855–1856)

Jane died on 17 April 1863 at Strathalbyn aged 34. 

Two years later Waddy married Mary Thomas James at St Paul's in Adelaide on 20 June 1865. Waddy worked as the Clerk of the Strathalbyn Local Court for 21 years before his death.

Dr Edward Waddy died at 'The Briars' Strathalbyn on 31 October 1878.


From the Southern Argus:

It is with regret that we (Southern Argus) have to record the death of one of our oldest townsmen, Mr. Edward Waddy, which took place at his residence, Strathalbyn, on Thursday last. Mr. Waddy had always been in good health until within the last two or three months, when it was painfully evident that he was fast breaking up. Latterly he was confined to his house, and his critical state caused much anxiety to his friends.
 He seemed daily to grow worse, until death terminated ius earthly career on October 31, _

We understand that the deceased studied for the medical profession in England, but. like many others in the early days of the colony he came out here without having taken his diploma. Shortly after his arrival he was ' appointed Clerk of the Local Court at Mount Barker, but when a Court was established at Strathalbyn, he was removed to take the Clerkship here, and has held the position ever since. The deceased has been in the Government service for some twenty-two or twenty-three years, and has always been regarded as an efficient officer. Ia . the discharge of his duties he was always, cheerful and obliging. About two years since

the local magistracy and the members of the legal profession showed their appreciation oE his services and kindliness of disposition by presenting him with a handsome souvenir.

With his superior education, and a long experience in the -practice and procedure of the Court, the late Mr. Waddy's advice and counsel was always of great assistance to the lay Magistrates presiding in his Court. By reason of his official position, he was prevented from taking a prominent part in public matters.

He took considerable interest in the affairs of the local Institute; and. was for many years a member of the Committee of Management.

His familiar face will.be much missed in the town, and his death again reminds us that the number of our old colonists is fast diminishing.

His remains were interred at the Strathalbyn Cemetery on Friday last, the Bev. J.F. Henderson officiating at' the grave. In addition to the family and relatives of the deceased there was a goodly number at the grave, among whom we noticed the leading residents in the town and district.

SLSA: B44124

1863 'Family Notices', The South Australian Advertiser, 22 April, p. 2., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article31822702

1878 'WILMINGTON, NOVEMBER 6.', South Australian Chronicle and Weekly Mail,  9 November, p. 21.,  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article92263553

The Tragic Death of James Bernard Meggins

The Tragic Death of James Bernard Meggins

In 1868, Daniel Meggins (sometimes misspelled Megins), a farm hand at St John's, near Kapunda, married Margaret Haughey at St Johns Roman Catholic Church. The couple had ten children together, 4 girls and 6 boys:

Catherine Meggins (1870–1942)

James Bernard Meggins – (1871–1886)

John Daniel Meggins (1873–1948)

William Meggins (1876–1876)

William Thomas Meggins (1877–1939)

Mary Ann Bernard Megins1879–1973

Rosey Maud Meggins (1882–1885)

Walter Edward Meggins (1884–1885)

James Edward Meggins (1886–1974)

Gertrude Johanna Meggins (1890–1922)

When he was old enough, James, the eldest son of the couple, took a job carting hay in the local area. On December 2^nd, 1886, he was between Tarlee and Kapunda loading hay onto his cart when tragedy struck.

 A storm had brewed, and with it came lightning. One bolt of Lightning directly hit the cart at about 2pm, incinerating the cart, killing both of James’ horses, and James.

 Young James, just 15 years old, was later buried in St Johns Cemetery, near Kapunda.

 It is not known what became of the Meggins family, but 70 years later, Margaret Meggins name appears in the newspapers of the time. A large gathering of 500 people was at St Johns Cemetery to witness the blessing of the ceremony, and the dedication of a new gravestone for Father John Fallon, the first Parish Priest of the area.
 Mrs Meggins was 93 years old on her visit, and stated in the papers, that she remembers Father Fallon very well.

One has to wonder if while there, she wept over the grave of her oldest son, James.

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2018
Photographs by Allen Tiller © 2011

Bibliography

1886 'THUNDERSTORMS IN THE COUNTRY.', South Australian Register, 3 December, p. 5. , viewed 26 Jan 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article45848707

1936 'Pilgrimage to Hallowed and Historic Ground', Southern Cross, 9 October, p. 15. , viewed 26 Jan 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167080745

Ancestry.com. Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.