Recently, Honourable Gail A. Shea, Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs, was presented with documentation on the restoration of the Old Protestant Burial Ground on University Avenue by the Burial Ground Committee. Minister Shea accepted the documents for the Provincial Archives Office.
"I am honoured to receive these documents on behalf of the Provincial Archives Office and the people of Prince Edward Island," says Minister Shea. "These documents will serve as an information tool for generations to come."
The Old Protestant Cemetery Restoration began in 1999. Work included restoring more than 400 headstones, erecting fences, levelling and re-seeding the grounds, collecting family histories of the individuals buried in the cemetery, documenting the process and collecting information and photographs to share with future generations. Gravestone documentation includes a photo and description of every stone, including all legible inscriptions.
It is estimated that up to 5,000 may have been buried here during the burial ground operation from 1784 to 1873. This covers almost the entire colonial period of the Island. Although there are only 475 headstones remaining, from the information on them and other sources, mainly the St Paul's Anglican Church Burial Records, more than 2,000 burials have been documented. No burial records or plans of the Burial ground itself have been located.
"The Old Protestant Burial Ground Committee felt that it was important to make this documentation available to all Islanders to learn from or use as a research tool," says Reverend Gordon Matheson, Chair of the Committee. "The Public Archives seemed to be the logical place to ensure that all Islanders could have access to these documents and that they would be properly maintained."
"Island cemeteries are special places that remind us of people we love, teach us about our past and our family and leave a legacy of Islanders," says Minister Shea. "The restoration and preservation of our cemeteries is part of celebrating our heritage."
Islanders are invited to visit the Old Protestant Burial Ground and view the restoration work. There will be various programs scheduled during the coming summer.