Alfred Henry Sheppard
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ca. August 1865 — 15 October 1866
Alfred Henry Sheppard (29A)
Headstone
A fragment of Alfred Henry Sheppard's headstone discovered in Toowong Cemetery Archaeological Digs in 2023.
- Erected: North Brisbane Burial Grounds, Episcopalian section. After 15 October 1866
- Moved to: North Brisbane Burial Grounds, Reserved Area. ca. 1914. Recorded as A. H. C. Sheppard
- Demolished and disposed of in: Toowong Cemetery, Portion 29A. ca. 1930
- Discovered: Toowong Cemetery, Portion 29A near Section 72. ca. May 2023
Inscription
In mem…
their inf…
Alfred
born Augus…
died October…
Learn more
- NOTES OF THE WEEK. (1866, January 27). Queensland Daily Guardian (Brisbane, Qld. : 1863 - 1868; 1883 - 1884), p. 5.. Edmund and Mary Sheppard and their family travel from Sydney to Brisbane by steamer.
NOTES OF THE WEEK.
Edmund Sheppard, Esq., the newly appointed judge in the Metropolitan District Court, arrived on Friday last in Brisbane with his wife and family, by the Telegraph, steamer, from Sydney.
- Death Record - Queensland Government. Alfred dies 9 months after arriving in Brisbane.
Death registration: Alfred Henry Sheppard
Death date: 15/10/1866
Mother's name: Mary Grace Murray
Father/parent's name: Edmund Sheppard
Registration details: 1866/B/3626
DEATHS.
SHEPPARD.—On the 15th October, at Beaumont, South Brisbane, Alfred Henry, the infant son of Edmund Sheppard, Esq., aged 14 months.
DEATH.
SHEPPARD.—On the 28th June, suddenly, of disease of the heart, Mary Grace, the beloved wife of Edmund Sheppard, Esq., aged 29.
WOMAN WHO LIES IN THE PADDINGTON CEMETERY.
Mary Grace Sheppard, who died on June 28, 1869, was the wife of Edmund Sheppard, judge of the Metropolitan District Court. Her infant son, Alfred Henry, had died on October 15, 1866. One of our chief Government officers tells the following grusome story : —
In 1869 a young fellow named Davidson was out one night, with some boon companions, and they were on their way home late at night. Davidson lived in North Brisbane, the others on the South side. He went with them to the ferry and they advised him to go home. The ferry boatman was a Chinaman, named George. A punt also ran across on a rope, there being no bridge. They pushed the boat off, and Davidson took off his coat and trousers and dived head first after it. The Chinaman merely said, “Oh, let him swim out," and pulled away. Davidson was drowned and the police for two days without success. On the third day the ferry boat left the steps with Mrs. Sheppard, then on the eve of becoming a mother, two other passengers, and the tells the story. When a short distance out the punt was coming in from the south side. Suddenly, at the, stern of the boat, the body of Davidson rose from the river, head- first, shot up
UNTIL BREAST HIGH,
glared, as it were, for a second with those ghastly, glassy, staring eyes; turned over on the back, and floated away. The second it rose, the officer, with remarkable presence of mind, instantly caught Mrs. Sheppard by both arms, to prevent her turning, round to look at the body, and held her for at least a hundred yards, speaking to her softly, and telling her he would give a clear explanation. The judge afterwords thanked him earnestly, expressing a belief that he had saved his wife's life. Alas ! poor Mrs. Sheppard got puerperal fever after the birth of that baby, and lies there in the Paddington cemetery, so her life went after all.
DEATH OF MR. JUSTICE SHEPPARD.
A cablegram from London announces the death in England of Mr. Justice Sheppard, Judge of the Northern Supreme Court. He was at the time of his death on leave of absence on account of ill-health.
Mr. Justice Edmund Sheppard, ca. 1874 - State Library of Queensland.