The St George's Caye Historic Cemetery was officially declared an Archaeology Reserve by the Institute of Archaeology in 2010. Many of Belize early families were laid to rest here. The earliest burials are from the 1700s and many are unmarked. Today the site has only one original memorial stone since most were lost during Hurricane Hattie which impacted the site in 1961. Thankfully the inscriptions were recorded in 1907 by John Purcell Usher.
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Battle of St George's Caye MemorialIN MEMORY OF THOSE
WHO FOUGHT TOGETHER FOR FREEDOM AT THE BATTLE OF ST GEORGE'S CAYE September 10, 1798 |
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EpitaphsIn 1907 John Purcell Usher published the epitaphs from the tombstones at St George's Caye, British Honduras in Memorial Inscriptions & Epitaphs, Belize, British Honduras. We are thankful for this publication since Hurricane Hattie devastated the cemetery and created a channel through the island along the southern boundary of the cemetery, causing most of the memorial stones to be misplaced. The sarcophagus of Thomas Potts was last observed submerged in this channel and has not been found.
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Sacred to the Memory of
THOMAS POTTS, ESQRE., OF DURHAM SENIOR MAGISTRATE OF THIS SETTLEMENT WHO DIED THE 8TH OF NOVEMBER, 1806, AGED 66 HAVING RESIDED CHIEFLY IN THE COUNTRY UPWARDS OF 40 YEARS, AND FORMED AN EARLY ATTACHMENT TO THE SETTLEMENT. HE WAS A ZEALOUS AND ACTIVE MAGISTRATE, AND IN SOCIAL LIFE HIS AMIABLE QUALITIES WERE HAPPILY BLENDED WITH HIS LABORIOUS HABITS AND UNWEARIED PURSUITS OF BUSINESS. HE CLOSED HIS USEFUL LIFE LAMENTED AS A PUBIC AND PRIVATE LOSS, RESPECTED AND BELOVED BY HIS FRIENDS AND VENERATED AS THE FATHER OF THE COMMUNITY. |
Thomas Potts' sarcophagus was the most elaborate burial at the Historic St George's Caye Cemetery. The tomb is buried in the channel that Hurricane Hattie made on the south edge of the cemetery. The medallon of Pott's profile was removed and delivered to the Institute of Archaeology before it was buried.
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Sacred to the Memory
of JOHN EMMONS HILL, ESQRE, WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE 11th MAY, 1808 AGED 37 YEARS "Long have I been tossed to and fro, Till God's decree is cast, from all storms free, Until my swelling sails shall waft me, Lord, to Thee" In Memory of
REV’D. JOHN C. MORGAN, M.A. INCUMBENT OF ST. MARY’S CHURCH WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON THE 22ND AUGUST, 1860 AGED 60 YEARS. |
HERE ARE DEPOSITED
THE REMAINS OF THOMAS GALE, ESQUIRE, A NATIVE OF GREENOCK WHO DIED ON THE 2ND DAY OF AUGUST 1813 IN THE 29TH YEAR OF HIS AGE ENDEARED TO HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS BY MANY EXCELLENT QUALITIES. IT WAS HIS LOT TO LEAVE THEM IN EARLY LIFE, AND WHEN THE LAPSE OF A FEW BUSY YEARS ********************************* ********** THE PROMISE OF HIS YOUTH HAD RIPENED ATTACHMENT WITH AFFECTION TO SUFFER A FINAL AND LASTING SEPARATION BY A PREMATURE DEATH AS A TESTIMONY TO DEPARTED WORTH AS WELL AS A MEMORIAL OF AFFECTION THIS STONE IS ERCTED BY DISCONSOLATE PARENTS Note.- The stone is split and the words cannot be read, and the Stone is, in addition, very much worn and difficult to decipher, and the name and date may be different. |
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Sacred
TO THE MEMORY OF Mrs. Mary Estill DAUGHTER OF MRS. CATHERINE FERRALL OF THIS SETTLEMENT BORN JULY 1, 1784 AND DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE 23RD OF FEBRUARY, 1818 IN THE 34TH YEAR OF AGE |
Here
LIES THE BODY OF EDWARD JONES, ESQRE. WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON MONDAY THE 9TH DAY OF APRIL, 1804 AGED 49 YEARS E.J. 1804 (born 1755) |
Sacred
TO THE MEMORY OF ROBERT PERRY WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE 14TH OF OCTOBER, 1787 AGED 45 YEARS R.P 1787 Note - This stone is very much worn and hard to decipher. |
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Sacred
TO THE MEMORY OF SARAH POTTS, WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE 7TH NOVEMBER, 1797 AGED 6 YEARS AND TO ANN GRACE WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE 5TH OCTOOBER, 1800 AGED 33 YEARS AND TO CATHERINE DAUGHTER OF SARAH POTTS WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE 5TH NOVEMBER, 1800 AGED 8 YEARS S.P. 1797 A.G. 1800 C. 1800 NOTE. - This stone is very much worn and hard to decipher, and the first age given may be different. |
Sacred
TO THE MEMORY OF JOHN POTTS, SENIOR, ESQUIRE, WHO DEPARTED THIS TRANSITORY WORLD THE 15TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 1821 AT SAINT GEORGE’S KEY AGED 66 YEARS HE FILLED THE SITUATION OF A MAGISTRATE FOR MANY SUCCESSIVE YEARS UPRIGHT IN THIS PRINCIPLES HE ALWYA ACTED THE PART OF AN HONEST AND INDEPENDENT MAN A MOST BENEVOLENT FRIEND TO THE DISTRESSED AND AN AFFECTIONATE FATHER WHOSE LOSS WILL BE IRRECONCILEABLE TO THOSE WHO HAVE SURVIVED HIM (Born 1755) |
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To the Memory
OF JAMES BARTLET, ESQUIRE NATIVE OF ABERDEEN MANY YEARS INHABITANT OF THIS SETTLEMENT WHO, AFTER HAVING FAITHFULLY DISCHARGED THE DUTIES OF THE SEVERAL OFFICES TO WHICH HE WAS CHOSEN, AND EMPLOYED WITH UNREMITTING ASSIDUITY HIS SUPERIOR TALENTS TO PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY DEPARTED THIS LIFE OON THE 24TH DAY JANUARY, 1800, IN THE 47TH YEAR OF HIS AGE NOTE.- This stone is very much worn. |
Sacred
TO THE MEMORY OF EVE BROASTER A NATIVE OF MANDIGO, IN AFRICA WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE 28TH JULY, 1821 AGED 65 YEARS WHOSE INOFFENSIVE PRIMEVAL CONDUCT ENDEARED HER TO ALL WITH WHOOM SHE WAS ACQUAINTED AND AS A TRIBUTE TO DEPARTED WORTH THIS STONE IS ERECTED TO HER MEMORY BY HER DISCONSOLATE DAUGHTER ARIADNE BROASTER THIS RUDE STONE, WHAT FEW SUPERB MARBLES CAN, MAY TRULY BOAST HERE LIES AN HONEST WOMAN. (Born 1756) |
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Sacred
TO THE MEMORY OF WILLIAM HENRY AUGUST WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE 18TH OF SEPTEMBER, 1824 BENEATH THIS TOMB AN INFANT LIES TO EARTH WHOLE BODY LENT HEREAFTER SHALL MORE GLORIOUS RISE BUT NOT MORE INNOCENT WHEN THE ARCHANGLE TRUMP SHALL BLOW AND SOULS TO BODY JOIN WHAT CROWDS SHALL WISH THEIR LIVES BELOW HAD BEEN AS SHORT AS THINE. |
Sacred
TO THE MEMORY OF ELMIRA ELIZABETH MCDONALD WHO DIED OF CHOLERA ON THE 13TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 1836 AT SAINT GEORGE’S KEY AGED 3 YEARS 2 MONTHS AND 9 DAYS. “As round this islet flashing beauteous to the sunbeam Rise the frisking billows then melt in ocean’s womb, So rose to parent’s eyes a darling bud, but sleeping here By pestilence consigned to melt into eternity.” |
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Sacred
TO THE MEMORY OF SELWYN HODGE COX SON OF AUSTIN AND MARY COX WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE APRIL 16TH, 1861 AGED 14 YEARS. “Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye know not The Son of Man cometh.” |
In Memory of
JAMES McNAB WHO WAS BORN AT St. Petersburg IN RUSSIA MAY 21ST, 1833 AND DEPARTED THIS LIFE AT St. George’s KAYE SEPTEMBER 14TH, 1863 THIS TOMB WAS ERECTED BY HIS WIFE Mary Jane MCNAB |
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Sacred
TO THE MEMORY OF THEODOR AUSTIN WILLIAM CRAMER BORN AUGUST 27TH, 1868 DIED FEBRUARY 25TH, 1869 |
In Memory
OF JOSEPH BEVANS DIED SEPTEMBER 5TH, 1889 AGED 89. “He is at rest.” (Wood Cross.) |
In Loving Memory
OF MARY WHITE USHER DIES 3RD AUGUST, 1894 AGED 71 YEARS. |
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In Loving Memory of
AGNES MARY DAUGHTER OF SYDNEY AND AMY JANE CUTHBERT BORN 9TH JANUARY DIED 26TH JUNE, 1892 “Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.” The memorial for Agnes Mary is the only remaining stone after Hurricane Hattie destroyed the cemetery. |
MEMORIAL STONES
Placed in the cemetery in remembrance of loved ones by family members
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IN LOVING MEMORY OF
A SON AND BROTHER OUR LOVED ONE MALCOM ROBERT HAROLD ROE BORN: BELIZE CITY JANUARY 18, 1950 DIED IN A FLYING ACCIDENT. FL USA JANUARY 6, 1971 HIS ASHES ARE SCATTERED OVER ST. GEORGE'S CAYE AND THE REEF I CANNOT SAY, AND WILL NOT SAY THAT HE IS DEAD... HE IS JUST AWAY |
IN MEMORIAM
GEORGE ARTHUR ELLIOT (1895 - 1984) ETHEL LIND ELLIOT (1896 - 1990) GOSTA HUGO STAHLE (1916 - 2009) ANNE MARIE ELLIOTT STAHLE (1924 - 2003) CARL GUSTAF STAHLE (1982 - 1999) WHOM ALL LOVED OUR BEAUTIFUL ST GEORGE'S CAYE |
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
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CHARLES R EYLES
JUNE 19, 1919 DEC 13, 1996 R I P |
CONSUELO HULSE
BRADLEY MARCH 19, 1907 DEC 1, 1996 R I P |
In Loving Memory
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ALICE FRANCES PEARCE
(NEE CUTHBERT WIFE OF DR HW PEARCE) BORN JAN 7, 1895 IN BELIZE DIED JUL 28, 1984 IN DALLAS Frances spent countless happy days, weeks, even months on this Caye in the house of her father, the Honorable Sydney Cuthbert, M.E.C., O.B.E., J.P., which stood on this property adjacent to this cemetery. 
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Oft have I lain in these days of old
And watched the sunlight play with wanton glee Among the palm fronds and and with beams of gold Make myriad twinkles on a dimpling sea. The waving music of the palms aloft The long blue rollers breaking on the reef Like distant thunder muffled deep and soil Smoothed me to slumber sent my soul relief poem by John Rozel Cuthbert brother or Frances Cuthbert Pearce 
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Colonel John Skidmore
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Colonel Skidmore was stationed in Belize working at the US Embassy and visited St George's Caye often. He was well liked by islands residents and was a scuba instructor and certified island residents. The memorial stone is well worn, if anyone knows what is written kindly share the details.
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When John Don Skidmore Sr was born on 31 July 1936, in Shreveport, Caddo, Louisiana, United States, his father, Claude Raphael Skidmore, was 28 and his mother, Mildred Ann Pugh, was 24. He lived in Glenville, Nevada, Arkansas, United States in 1940. He died on 27 March 1989, in Belize, at the age of 52, and was buried in Fairview Cemetery, Midland, Midland, Texas, United States.
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