We came across this record in the WCC Archives which is an application to erect a headstone at Karori Cemetery. The document is dated 28th February 1895. The applicant was William Mansfield, monumental mason (see our story on Mansfield here https://friendsofkaroricemetery.co.nz/walter-mansfield/), and he writes to the Town Clerk:
‘I beg to apply for permission to do the following work at Karori Cemetery:
Erect marble tombstone on grave of late Alexander Allan. Said monument to be on concrete base and to have on it following inscription:
‘In loving memory of Alexander Allan, died March 14 1894 aged 71 years God is love’
Grave is in Public Division Wall 6 x 9 already erected’.
[John] Alexander Allan was born in 1822. We have not been able to establish his birth place or parents. In 1865, Alexander married Anne Dearing in New Zealand. Their children were Agnes, John, William Alexander and James Deering. The mother’s name was recorded in the birth records as Anne, Annie and Sarah interchangeably.
Alexander Allan was described as a very clever and experienced chemist, with considerable ‘Home’ experience. He ran a business on Lambton Quay and then on Cuba Street. He was also a city councillor for four years. He took part in establishing the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand and was for several years its secretary and examiner. Alexander was a member of the Thorndon School Committee and of St Andrew’s Church. He died at his home in Majoribanks Street in 1894.
[Sarah] Anne Dearing was born about 1843. We have been unable to confirm the names of her parents or place of birth either. The first record we can find of Anne in New Zealand is her name on a printed list of those who donated to the Taranaki Aid Fund in 1860.
Anne died in 1907. Her funeral departed from her house on Tinakori Road at 10am on 9th February for Karori Cemetery.
We went in search of the grave to see if the headstone was installed as proposed in the sketch, and were rather horrified at the state of the plot. See below video for the results.
Plot: *Public/B/22
By Julia Kennedy
