Kilmartin Cemetery
Lot 12, Concession 11
Yarmouth Township (Central Elgin Township as of 1998), Elgin County
11487-11807 Yarmouth Centre Rd, St. Thomas, ON N5P 3T3, Canada
Abandoned
Gravestone Inscriptions and
Burials without Monuments
YA 814
OGS 5676
Recorded by
Miss Catharine McIntyre
Mrs. Harold R. Davis
Yarmouth Glen Women’s Institute
Map, inscriptions and index by Tony Hofstee
Elgin County Branch OGS
1982
Revised and formatted for the Internet and Mobile Devices 20 August 2017 by BCJ
Latest revision 17 October 2013 by CVH
Copyright by the Genealogical Society, Elgin County Branch 1982 – 2002
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microform reproduction, recording, or otherwise – without prior permission of the publisher.
Kilmartin Cemetery
site of
Kilmartin Church
1838 – 1858
1858 – 1905
Kilmartin Cemetery occupies ½ acre on the southeast corner of Lot 12, Concession 11, Yarmouth township. The land was donated by Alex Douglas, owner of the property in 1838 and cleared of trees by members of the pioneer Ferguson family who lived on Lot 9, Concession 12. A descendant, Duncan Ferguson still owns the family homestead.
In 1838 a log church was built in the cemetery which served for 20 years. In 1858 a frame church was built across the road to the east on Lot 13, owned by Hugh Douglas. After about 20 years this church was moved across the road into the cemetery property and stood there until 1905.
The church was removed from the property in 1906 when St. James Presbyterian church was built on the corner one mile north. St. James Church, which replaced the old Kilmartin church, celebrated its 144th anniversary June 20, 1982.
After the church was removed from the property the graveyard was not fenced for a number of years and stray cattle and horses wandered in and cracked and destroyed many of the stones.
The information on interments in the cemetery was copied from the stone still standing in the late 1940’s or early 1950’s by Miss Catharine McIntyre who died about a year or so ago at Elgin Manor. Her sister Miss Ethel McIntyre is still living there to the best of my knowledge, but she is very old.
This cemetery is very old and was in a very bad state when Miss McIntyre gathered the information on the stones. There may have been interments in the empty spaces listed but no trace remained at the time when this list was made. It is said that there were a number of children and young persons interred here that no stones were ever put up for, or there may have been wooden markers that rotted with age.
When the Yarmouth Glen Women’s Institute was organized in March 1959, Miss Catharine McIntyre asked the group to do something about the cemetery. It was the first project carried out by the group. Money was raised by public subscription and other means. All the stones with the exception of the Smith and MacDonald monuments were removed. The site was graded and leveled and an enclosure built where all the stones that remained could be preserved in good condition. Many of the stones were so fragile and cracked that they could not be preserved but the following lists all the interments that are now known to have been made in the cemetery.
There are 11 rows of graves from east to west and the interments are numbered from south to north.
Mrs. Harold R. Davis, Curator
Tweedsmuir History
Yarmouth Glen Women’s Institute
R. R. #1 Belmont, Ontario
644 – 0097
1. Red granite oblong
Catharine McKAY / died December 31, 1883 / age 84 years
2. Red granite pillar type; inscription on east side
In / memory of / Margaret / wife of / A. McMILLAN / died / June 7, 1880 / aged / 41 years / our dear mother /
3. Red granite three layers with grey base, obelisk
2nd layer – Duncan / died Jan. 18, 1865 / aged / 18 yrs & 4 m’s / Bella / died April 18, 1893 / aged 38 y’rs / children of / J. & M McINTYRE /
3rd layer – ‘Twas sweet to listen / to the words that / flow’d, from their dear / lips, alas now sealed / in death
Base – McINTYRE F. Doggett, St. Thomas
4 Grey slab, chains enclosing F L TIn / memory of / Samuel A. GREER / 1857 – 1937 / at rest / GREER /
5. MacDonaldMonument
West side – Ronald MacDONALD / born May 25, 1842 / died at Isaquena / Co. Miss. U.S. / July 20, 1867 /
Donald J. MacDONALD / born Dec. 13, 1839 / died at Greenvill / Mich. U.S. / Mar. 19, 1894 /
South side – Hugh MacDONALD / born Sep. 21, 1844 / died May 18, 1879 /
John Alex MacDONALD / born Feb. 16, 1848 / died May 23, 1887 / Mary MacDONALD / died / September 27, 1930 /
East side – John MacDONALD / born 1815 / died 1855 / a native of / Inverness Scotland / Margaret MacKAY / wife of the above / born 1805 / died 1877 / a native of Ross-shire Scotland /
North side – Kate Innis / wife of / Dr. L. FLECKENSTEIN / of Port Hope Mich / & dau of the late / John & Margaret / MacDONALD / born Jan. 12, 1851 / died Mar. 11, 1899 /
[note: at foot of north side are four small stones – to the left Hugh & John A.; to the right, Mother & Father
6. Red granite stone
SMITH / Colin SMITH / died Sept. 6, 1863 / aged 85 years / Margaret GILLIES / his wife, died Aug. 15, 1864 / aged 81 years / Natives of Kilmartynshire, Scotland /
The rest of the stones make up the inner wall of wall surrounding stones #1, 2, 3 and 4. Stones are listed going from left to right
7. White slab stone, thistle at top
Erected by Duncan F. FERGUSON / to the / memory of / Anabella / his wife / and daughter of / Wm. & Annabella BUCHANAN / who died Nov. 27, 1850 / aged 25 y’s & 3 mo. / leaving two children as follows / Nancy, born June 16, 1848 / Catherine, born June 27, 1850 /
8. White slab stone, willow motif
In / memory of / Wm. BUCHANAN / who died / Nov. 18, 1854 / AE 66 yrs / A native of Inverary Argyleshire / Scotland
9. White slab stone
In memory of / Margaret / daughter of / Alex & Marg’t BUCHANAN / March 21, 1872 / AE 20 yrs / 11 mos & 27 ds / Oh, early lost, if now thine eyes can see [rest is missing]
10. White slab stone
In / memory of / James / son of Alex & Margaret / BUCHANAN / died / Feb. 12, 1871 / AE 22 ys 4 ms /
11. White slab stone, willow motif
In / memory of / Mary / dau of Daniel & Mary / BUCHANAN / died Sep. 22, 1865 / AE 9 ys 2 ms / & 17 ds / So fades the larch blooming flower / Frail smiting solace of an hour / So soon our transient comfort fly / and pleasures only bloom to die / J. W. Smyth / London
12. White slab stone; hands clasped in wreath motif
Margaret / CAMPBELL / wife of / Alex BUCHANAN / died / Jan. 31, 1891 / aged / 74 yrs /
13. White slab stone / finger pointing to wreath motif
In / memory of / William /son of Wm & Joanna / BUCHANAN / died / Mar. 23, 1861 / AE 16 yrs / & 11 ms /
14. Part of white slab stone
[possibly Archibald] / son of Alex & Marg’t / BUCHANAN / Feb. 5, 1868 / AE 26 ys 6 ms / & 6 ds /
15. White slab stone; lamb motif
Duncan / son of / Duncan & Mary J. / BLACK / died / Dec. 16, 1863 / AE 15 mos & 15 ds / John / son of the above / died / Oct. 24, 1865 / AE 7 [or 2] ys. 8 ms. & 1 dy. / Beautiful lovely / They were but given / Fair buds to earth / To blossom in Heaven /
16. White slab stone
In memory of / Catharine / daughter of / Farquhard & Mary / CAMPBELL / who died / Oct. 20, 1843 / aged 1 yr. 9 mos / & 29 days
17. White slab stone
In memory of / Daniel BLACK / a native of / Argyleshire Scotland / who died / Feb. 11, 1841 / aged 63 years /
18. White slab stone
In memory of / Jas. CAMPBELL / died / July 30, 1859 / AE 82 yrs / Margaret / wife of the above / died July 31, 1852 / AE 76 yrs /
19. White slab stone
Erected / by / Duncan CAMPBELL / in memory of his beloved wife / Nancy / who died / Jan. 22, 1861 /
20. White slab stone; lamb motif
In / memory of / Arch’d / son of Wm & Jane CAMPBELL / died / June 10, 1861 / AE 4 yrs / Dearest Archie thou hast left us / Here thy loss we deeply feel / But tis God that hath bereft us / He can all our sorrow heal /
21. White slab stone; lamb motif
In / memory of John / son of Arch’d & Catherine / CURTIES / died Dec. 31, 1860 / AE 2 yrs 11 ms / & 13 d’s / Dearest son thou hast left us / Here thy loss we deeply feel / But tis God that hath bereft us / He can all our sorrows heal /
22. White slab stone; willow motif
In memory of / Christy / dau of Arch’d & Christy / GILLIES / died / Oct. 19, 1867 / AE 22 ys 4 ms / & 11 ds /
23. Small white slab; upper part has K. B. G. on it
Ann / daughter of / Angus JOHNSON / died Feb’y / 3rd, 1846 / aged 10 years /
24. White slab stone
In memory of / Ann JOHNSON / a native of Kintyre / Argyleshire Scotland / who died / November 22nd 1850 / aged 56 years / wife of Angus JOHNSON /
25. Small slab
Cathrine / daughter of / Angus JOHNSON / died Aug. 21st, 1847 / aged 26 years /
26. White slab stone; hand holding bouquet motif
In memory of / Jane / wife of / Robert G. JEFFERY / died / May 26, 1875 / AE 25 y’s, 10 m’s / & 16 d’s / Weep not for me, my children dear / I am not dead but sleeping here / [rest is missing]
27. White slab stone; willow motif
In / memory of / Colin McCALLUM / died / Sep. 1, 1858 / AE 30 yrs / son of Arch’d & S. McCallum /
28. White slab stone ; willow motif
Sarah / wife of / A. McCALLUM / died / June 5, 1856 / aged 46 y’rs / As a wife devoted / as a mother / affectionate / behold the pilgrim as she lies / with glory in her view / [rest missing]
29. White slab stone; willow motif
In memory of / Nancy / wife of / Duncan McCALLUM / who died / Apr. 22, 1858 / aged 32 years / Peel & Bowell / London
30. White slab stone ; willow motif
In / memory of / Neil McINTYRE / died / Jan. 22, 1861 / AE 41 y’s / a native of Argyleshire Scotland / J. W. Smyth / London
31. White slab stone; thistle motif
In / memory of / Archibald / son of / Neil & Jennet / McINTYRE / who died in 1843 / age 29 y’rs / A native of Argyleshire / Scotland
32. White slab stone
In / memory of / Janet / daughter of / Angus & Margaret / McINTYRE / who died / Oct. 16, 1848 / in the 19 year / of her age / The old, the young, the middle aged / Prepare to follow me / Your days are short, O, be [illegible] / for great eternity /
33. White slab stone
In memory of / Duncan McINTYRE / died / May 22, 1845 / AE 4 mos / adored child of / [illegible] & Isabella / McIntyre /
34. White slab stone; willow motif
In / memory of / Angus McINTYRE / died / Aug. 12, 1867 /
35. White slab stone ; open book motif
In / memory of / Hugh McINTYRE / died / June 2, 1843 / aged / 78 years / a native of Kilmartin Parish / Argyleshire Scotland / But thanks be to God which giveth us / the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ / 1 Cor XV. 37 / Coutts & Fletcher / Strathroy /
36. White slab stone
In / memory of / Dugald / son of John & Margaret / McLARTY / died / Nov. 24, 1866 / AE 30 y’s & 5 m’s / J. R. Hughes / St. Thomas
37. White slab stone; thistle motif
Erected by / John TAYLOR / to the memory of / Catharine / his wife / daughter of / Wm & Anabella / BUCHANAN /
38. White slab stone ; flower motif
In / memory of / Euphemia / beloved wife of / Arch’d McKELLAR / who died / Oct. 12, 1853 / aged 44 yrs & 4 m & 10 d / also their children / Jane died Mar. 5, 1840 / [illegible] died [ illegible] 14, 1841 /
39. White slab stone; willow motif
In / memory of / Janet / wife of / Neil McINTYRE / a native of Kilmartin Argyleshire / Scotland / who died Sept. 12, 1859 / aged 72 years /
40. White slab stone; willow motif
In memory of / Margaret / wife of / Angus McINTYRE / [rest is missing]
41. White slab stone; willow motif
In / memory of / Rob’t MUNRO /
42. White slab stone; lamb motif
In / memory of / Duncan / son of / Archibald & Ann / McINTYRE / died / Sep 24, 1860 / AE 17 m’s & 3 d’s / also our little girl / who died / infancy /
43. White slab stone; willow motif
In / memory of / Sarah / wife of / Duncan McINTYRE / died / Oct. 27, 1864 / AE 71 yrs / A native of Argyleshire, Scotland /
44. White slab stone; hands clasped motif
Erected by / John McINTYRE / to the / memory / of his wife / Isabella / who died / Jan. 20, 1876 / Aged 34 ys. / & 4 m’s / In death’s cold arms lies sleeping here / a tender parent, a companion dear / [rest missing]
45. White slab stone
In / memory of / Mary / dau of Angus & Marg’t / McINTYRE / died / Apr. 20, 1857 / AE 41 ys & 4 ms / & 18 d’s /
46. White slab stone; willow motif
In memory of / Neil McINTYRE / died / Oct. 9, 1868 / AE 79 yrs / A native of Logan, Argyleshire Scotland / O death where is thy sting, O grave where is thy victory / The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is / the law / But thanks be to God which giveth us the / victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ /
47. White slab stone; hands clasping out of wreaths motif
In / memory of / Hugh / son of Donald & Christy / McINTYRE / died / May 24, 1871 / AE 24 ys. 4 ms / & 21 ds /
Note: Further information on Annabelle Buchanan and her husband Duncan Ferguson, Jr., as well as the Kilmartin Church in North Yarmouth can be found in Duncan Ferguson of Yarmouth, His Times and Descendants, by J. N. Ferguson and M. S. Ferguson
Burials without Monuments
McINTYRE – St Thomas Journal, 20 November 1909, Page 1, c5 – Died – John ‘Burwell’ McINTYRE, 70 years, Nov 19, son of Malcolm McINTYRE; father of Mrs William GERMAN, Mrs S. B. HAYDEN and Duncan McINTYRE; brother of Archie McINTYRE. Funeral November 23 to Kilmartin Cemetery. No monument found – CVH November 2007