This grave tells a rather tragic story of shattered dreams of a new life. The Gardiner family arrived aboard the Eden on 29th October 1850 and R.B Gardiner selected town section 642, on the corner of Queen and Young streets on 13th November, two days after the birth of a daughter. However, wife and mother Agness died after a short illness two weeks later. Robert Gardiner disposed of the property on 17 June 1851, and probably left the settlement.

The wording and layout of the inscription recall a type found in old churchyards in England. The soft Oamaru stone, combined with the font, have made the memorial quite hard to read today.

Inscription

 

Here resteth the body

of Agnes, wife of

Robert Barlow Gardiner

late of Tonbridge, County of Kent

and daughter of Thomas Courthope Esqre

of Camberwell, Surrey.

born July 6th 1814, Died Novr 26th 1850

Issue

Robert Barlow, born 23rd May 1843

Frederica Elizabeth, 23rd Decr 1844

Agnes Fanny, 27th May 1846

died 30th Dec, 1847

Alice Mary, born 4th May 1848

Agnes, 11th Novr 1850


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