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Cemeteries
#3080
Date:
1937
Source: Bev Sherman and Lynda Cunningham, donors
Photographer: Albert House
Information:
The gravestone of William Eppes Cormack 1796-1868. This photograph
was taken in 1937 in New Westminster by Albert E. House. The stone
had fallen but he raised it, cleaned it, touched up the inscription
and photographed it.
Albert
House was born in Pools Island, Newfoundland, Newfoundland in
1882. His older brother Arthur lived in Aguathuna, Newfoundland
and had managed a limestone quarry. Arthur had learned of the
discovery of Cormack's grave from a story in the "Vancouver News
Herald" which had been reproduced in the "St. John's Evening Telegram."
Arthur had asked Albert to try and locate the grave and take a
picture of it. Albert contacted city officials to no avail and
finally had to contact the author of the article in the "News
Herald" in order to get specific directions to the gravestone.
The stone had fallen but he raised it, cleaned it, touched up
the inscription and photographed it.
William
Epps Cormack was born in St. John's Newfoundland on May 5, 1796.
Cormack was best known in Newfoundland for his walk around the
island in 1822. Accompanied by a Micmac Indian guide named Joe
Sylvester, he set out from Bonaventure, Trinity Bay, sailed through
Smith Sound and then began the long overland trek. 38 days later
they reached St. George's on the West Coast where Cormack and
his guide parted company. He had hoped to make contact with the
vanishing Beothuck Indians but did not meet any during his trip.
However, the woman Shawnawdithit, presumed the last of the Beothuck
tribe stayed in Cormack's home for a few months before her death
in 1829. Cormack went to Australia where he raised tobacco, New
Zealand where he raised cattle and horses and sent a tree seed
collection to Kew Gardens in England. He lived in California where
he was involved in mining and mercantile activities and finally
New Westminster which was to be his final home.
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