Little Louisa Mary Pickersgill was just two years old when she became the first person to be buried at Lang Lang Cemetery. Sadly, Louisa’s younger brother Samuel became the third person to be buried there only seven months later.
In 1886 Louisa and Samuel, and their older brother Robert (aged four) lived with their parents Will and Jane on a heavily timbered block near Lang Lang. Will worked for a neighbour during the day and cleared the farm by night. Will was away from the farm and Robert was staying with his grandparents when Louisa and Samuel became ill. Alone, with no neighbours or doctor nearby their mother decided to yoke up the horse and take the children to the doctor at Griffith’s Point (San Remo) thirty miles away. Jane made them as comfortable as she could, piling up blankets and rugs around them to keep them warm. But, according to the memoirs of Louisa and Samuel’s uncle, Samuel Jabez Pickersgill, Louisa died on the way. Samuel died some seven months later. The memoirs of Samuel Jabez Pickersgill cite diphtheria as the cause of the children’s deaths, their death certificates, however, list ‘natural causes’. Our thanks to the Lang Lang & District Historical Society for helping us with the finer details of the children’s deaths.
Jane gave birth to her fifth child in 1890, but the baby was stillborn and she herself died a few hours later. Jane was just 28 years old and was buried beside Louisa and Samuel.
Reference: Lang Lang Cemetery Tour 2013 by Narre Warren & District Family History Group.
A plaque was unveiled on Saturday 24 June 2017.
Louisa Mary Pickersgill plaque
Transcription
This plaque marks the site of the / first grave / in the Lang Lang Cemetery / Interred here are the remains of / Louisa Mary Pickersgill / of Grantville / aged 2 1886 / The grave was dug by James Baker / who also officiated at the funeral / Laid as a joint initiative of / Lang Lang and District Historical Society / and / Lang Lang Cemetery Trust / -201
Surveyed on: 24 Jun 2017
Surveyed by: Lynne
Lang Lang VIC 3984, Australia
Hi James,
You’ve caught my curiosity.
What year did Frederick die?
I assume if you know he is in Lang Lang you obviously have a record of death or burial.
I’m prepared to help in your search if you can give me a little more to go with.
Regards
Shane
There is an Australian Americasn Civil War veteran buried in Lang Lang Cemetery in an unmarked grave..Frederick Williams was born in Australia in 1843 and later migrated to the United States. On January 21, 1863, at the age of 19, Williams enlisted in New York City for the duration of the American Civil War, into the United States Navy as an able bodied seaman. Anyone with information on him, his life, death or descendants is requested to send them to me for a memorial. If descendants are found, I can acquire a FREE bronze memorial plaque from the American Government for his grave.