One of the many men who had first-hand experience of the cholera epidemics in Hull, was the Rev James Sibree. He was appointed the non-conformist Chaplain to the Hull Cemetery Company when the Cemetery opened.
Cholera
In his book ‘Recollections of Hull’, he gives a harrowing account of the never ending funerals that he conducted at the cemetery during the summer of 1849.
He states “ The men employed in digging the graves had no respite, but pursued their doleful task both night and day. At first single graves were dug for the reception of 8 or 9 bodies; but the demand for room became so urgent that double graves were constructed, in which coffins were piled one upon the other, without any earth between them. Only 2 of these, however, were opened; the sight was so appalling that the men refused to dig any more. The cemetery hearse was in constant requisition to remove the stricken poor from all parts of the town, and the common phrase of the men was about fetching ‘another load’.
Dark Valley
The cholera plot presented the appearance of a quarry or a ploughed field. There was no time to make the graves neat. Persons were seen crowding the entrance gates early in the morning, long before the wearied Superintendent was up, to order graves for friends or relatives who had died during the night; and, sad to relate these informants were themselves, in a day or two, called to pass through the ‘Dark Valley’, so short was the summons.
Sometimes as many as 5 or 6 mourning trains were crowding the gravel walks of the Cemetery at the same time, while during the day, at some periods, the trains occupied the entire space between the Beverley Road end and the Cemetery gate”.
Family life
Rev Sibree was born in Frome, Somerset in 1805. He married Lydia Jane Newsom in 1832. Sadly Lydia died giving birth to their daughter, also called Lydia. Luckily the child survived and lived until 1909 aged 76.
James married Martha Goode Aston in 1835. They moved to Hull were he became the Independent Minister for Salem Chapel, in Cogan St. They lived in a large house, 6 Tremayne Terrace Anlaby Rd. This was situated between Fountain St and Arlington St.
They had 6 further children. One of his sons, James became a civil engineer and independent missionary, travelling to Africa and writing of his experiences. Another son, Thomas born 1841, married Rachel Coverdale in 1866.Sadly their daughter Ethel Mary died the following year, aged 9 months. This family emigrated to Adelaide South Australia, where they had another child, Leila Rachel, Unfortunately, both her and her father died in 1869.
Buried in the cemetery
Ethel Mary Sibree is buried in Hull General Cemetery, along with her grandparents Henry and Mary Ann Coverdale. Although not listed in the EYFHS MI books ,the Rev James Sibree is buried in Hull General Cemetery. James Sibree died in December 1891.The family gravestone has not survived.
Bill Longbone has had a long relationship with the Hull General Cemetery. He is an active member of the FOHGC and manages the work of the volunteers on the site. His biographical sketches of some of the people buried in the cemetery are one of the highpoints of the success of the Facebook site.
As always, a very interesting set of articles well put together. Thanks to all involved.
A quite harrowing story yet needed to be told. Thank you all.