Benjamin Henry Tayler
foundHeadstones #done #checkInscription
ca. 1841 — 11 March 1870
Benjamin Henry Tayler (29A)
Headstone
A fragment of Benjamin Henry Tayler's headstone discovered in a Toowong Cemetery Archaeological Dig in 2021.
- Erected: North Brisbane Burial Grounds, Episcopalian section. After 11 March 1870
- Moved to: North Brisbane Burial Grounds, Reserved Area. ca. 1914. Recorded as B. H. Tayler
- Demolished and disposed of in: Toowong Cemetery, Portion 29A. ca. 1930
- Discovered: Toowong Cemetery, Portion 29A near Section 72. 20 May 2021
Inscription
Benjamin Henry Tayler
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England
Drowned at Oxley
11th March 1870
aged 29 years
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Cobb & Company Queensland
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Learn more
Death registration: Benjamin Henry Tayler
Death date: 11/03/1870
Mother's name: Harriet Sauter
Father/parent's name: Richard Collins Tayler
Registration details: 1870/B/6228
THE OXLEY CREEK ACClDENT.
A MAGISTERIAL enquiry upon the body of Benjamin Taylor late an employee of Messrs Cobb and Co., who was drowned whilst attempting to cross Oxley Creek on Friday last, with Her Majesty's mails, was held at the Police-office on Monday morning, before the Police Magistrate. Francis Gill, a clerk in the Government Savings Bank, deposed that a little after 4 o'clock on the afternoon of the 11th, he met the deceased at Woogaroo on his way down with the Ipswich mail to Brisbane ; deceased had just arrived with the mail from Brisbane, and while there, a telegram arrived requesting him to return to Oxley with the Ipswich mails, and stating that a skiff would be waiting for him ; he then expressed a wish to get on as fast as he could ; he packed the mail upon one horse, and rode another ; they rode together until about three miles from Oxley, when his (Gill's) horse knocked up ; deceased then went on with the mails ; it was arranged between them that if no boat should be there they would wait until dark and then return to Goodna ; he arrived at Oxley Creek about 5 minutes after the deceased, who was then in conversation with Cobb & Co.'s groom stationed at Oxley ; this was on the Ipswich side of the Oxley Hotel, there was a large sheet of water flowing between us and the other side ; I said "where is the skiff?" he said, "there is no signs of it," I then suggested going back but he refused, and said he would go as far as the public house, but I attempted to dissuade him. I enquired of the groom if he knew what depth of water there was, he said about ten feet ; I as well as the groom again entreated him not to start and did all we could to prevent him ; he appeared annoyed with us for trying to prevent him going ; he shouted to the horse and said "Here goes !" these were the last words he spoke ; after proceeding about 20 or 30 yards the horse he was riding began to plunge, but the one with the pack swam well— every time the horse plunged it would rise from the water and fall back immediately afterwards right under water, but he evidently touched the ground every time he went down and the deceased was consequently submerged. Up to this time he had been leading the horse with the pack ; he then let the horse go and threw away his whip ; the horse and rider sank and did not rise again ; I said, " He is down, can you swim!" he said, " Only a little ;" after a short time we obtained the assistance of some butchers, who dived after the body without success ; at this time deceased must have been under water ten minutes ; this occurred about half-past 6 o'clock ; I then got the horse to return to Woogaroo, but was overtaken by darkness and returned to Oxley, and stopped on the Ipswich side of the creek ; I went to Goodna, and after seeing Sergeant Brady, telegraphed to Ipswich reporting the matter, and when the sergeant and witness arrived in Ipswich the body had been found ; there were no marks of violence upon it. Henry Erminich, a groom in the employ of Messrs Cobb and Co., corroborated the above statement in the main particulars. Sergeant Brady deposed to having arrived at Oxley immediately after the body was found ; I examined it and found no marks of violence thereon ; some articles of value were in his pockets, but which have been given up. The depositions as usual were forwarded to the Attorney-General. — Express.
One of Cobb and Co.'s coachmen, a young fellow named Henry Taylor, was drowned in Oxley Creek, on March 11, 1870, aged 29, and his fellow employees erected a stone over his grave.