The story of why Daniel Heenan's coffin lies visible behind the wrought iron gates of his mausoleum has been written before I began to blog and written better than I could do it - so I direct the reader to the below address. It will not disappoint.
http://www.cemeteries.org.nz/stories/heenandaniel90805.pdf
Basically, Daniel Heenan believed in a bodily resurrection and somehow believed that, if he was unimpeded by six feet of dirt, he could be first out and get the best Taieri land - a very important consideration for a farmer.
The mausoleum can be presumed finished by May, 1901, when a photograph of it featured in the "Otago Daily Times."
For a small cemetery as it is, East Taieri is remarkable in having two imposing mausoleums. Close to that of Daniel Heenan is the resting place of Elizabeth Joseph, built by her husband William after her death in 1882. "Papers Past" seems to have only one reference to William, who died and and took his place beside Elizabeth in 1907. The reference is to William's remarriage, to Priscilla Barnes, in 1886.
Good to know this history. My husband's Bell family and immediate descendants are buried here (John Bell was a settler from Glasgow aboard the 'Phillip Laing'), his farm at Woodside called 'Fogo'. Kempshall is another name in the cemetery associated with the family.
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