HERITAGE
THE WEDDING GIFT AND A FORTUNE IN COLONIAL GOLD
T
he clipper Glenmark lay at anchor Off the coast of South Africa, the ship in Lyttelton in 1872, awaiting a ran aground. As hundreds of locals took to cargo of wool and £80,000 of West canoes to claim the tempting prize, panic Coast gold. Since her maiden voyage in 1864, ensued, and weapons were handed to the Glenmark had made eight voyages to crew and male passengers. Fortunately, Lyttelton, bringing immigrants and returning the Glenmark came away and continued with the fruits of colonial labour. her journey to Lyttelton. During Lyttelton Built in an Aberdeen shipyard, she sailed layovers, First Officer William Gordon met exclusively for Lyttelton. As the vessel was Louisa Jones from Heathcote Lodge, Opawa. about to set sail from London on her maiden They married in January 1872 and departed voyage, a woman attempted to board with for London onboard the Glenmark on two children only to be turned away by the February 1. A cyclone struck off the south ship’s doctor when the children were found to coast of New Zealand five days later. On the have Scarlet Fever. The woman was without second day, another ship passed enormous funds, and her husband was already in New quantities of wreckage. One year after the Zealand. The woman soon returned without Glenmark had set sail from Lyttelton laden the children and explained she had left them with passengers and gold, all hope was gone with her sister. As they neared New Zealand, for its safe arrival. the woman climbed the bulwarks and jumped In a family churchyard plot in Kirkcudbright, overboard. A lifebuoy was thrown to her, but Scotland, stands a white marble cross known she didn’t attempt to save herself. She could no as ‘The Wedding Gift’. The inscription reads: longer live knowing that she had abandoned “To the Dear Memory of William and Louisa, A the children on the streets of London. Mother and Sisters’ Wedding-Gift.” lostchristchurch.wordpress.com
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