THE RAMSAY GRAVEYARD
Along with the Church, Manse and School, Sarah Ramsay ensured
that there was provision for a family graveyard on the land which she conveyed to the Presbyterian Church. This Graveyard,
which was called the Vault Reserve, was established as a private burial ground for the Ramsay Family, and there are only 3
burials not of family members. The families of these people, one the wife of the first Minister of St Davids, Annie Mackenzie,
John Mills and his wife Emily, and Percy, the infant son of the first Mayor of Ashfield, John Pope, who was also a trustee
of the property, would have been close to the Ramsays, and permission possibly given by Sarah herself. There have been no
burials other than of family members since 1887.
The Vault for Dr David Ramsay was completed prior to 1862, but
David had been buried on the estate before this. His coffin, that of the unnamed son and a grandson, Buchan Thomson, aged
6 weeks, were transferred to the Vault. Ten of the children of Sarah and David Ramsay are buried in the Graveyard or in the
vault. Percy Robert Ramsay died and was buried in Queensland, although his wife and son are buried the graveyard. Many of
the grandchildren of Sarah and David are also buried there. Burials are no longer permitted, but ashes of family members can
be placed in the Vault, and memorial plaques erected in the reserve.
The inscription on the vault reads:
IN
LOVING MEMORY
OF OUR DEAR MOTHER
SARAH ANNE LORD
BELOVED WIFE OF
DAVID RAMSAY, M.D.
BORN 3. MARCH 1806
TAKEN HOME 28. JAN. 1889.
UNDERNEATH ARE THE EVERLASTING ARMS
Under this tablet:
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
DAVID RAMSAY
BORN 9th MARCH 1832
DIED 11th DEC. 1901
HIS WIFE
KATE DOROTHY
BORN 2ND DEC 1836.
DIED 21ST JULY 1905
AND THEIR THIRD SON
CHARLES DE MESTRE
BORN 25th MARCH 1866
DIED 20th FEB. 1884
On the opposite side:
SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
DAVID RAMSAY, M.D.
WHO DIED 10TH JUNE 1860
AGED 66 YEARS.
But ye are come unto Mt. Sion, and unto the city
of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels. To the general assembly and Church of
the first-born which are written in Heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect.
And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and
to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
A small group of Ramsay descendants meets twice each year for
a working bee, to clean up the Vault Reserve, and to carry out any necessary repairs to gravestones and surrounds. This group
is also joined by a descendant of Annie Mackenzie, Malcolm Mackenzie, some descendants of the Mills, and Gwen Gardiner, who
as a member of the local Historical Society, and a Haberfield resident, has always shown an interest in the history of the
Ramsay family and the Church. We have had strong support from the past Minister, Alan Russell, and the current Minister, Graeme
Tutt, who also drops in to offer his encouragement and support.
Burials in the Ramsay Graveyard Click here to see a complete list of burials in the Graveyard.
