Old Catholic Cemetery Stone #1 Reverend William Chisholm Dimensions: 7’x2’x2’ Orientation: East Carver: Not identified Inscription: On file at the Antigonish Heritage Museum: Rev. William Chisholm/ A Native of Invernesshire/ Scotland, who departed this life/ 31 Day of August A.D. 1819/ (Note: this inscription may be missing a line or more, as more characters are visible on the stone than indicated in the transcription above) New Black Granite Plaque installed on East Face (Front) REVEREND WILLIAM CHISHOLM/ BORN: KNOCKFIN, SCOTLAND 1779/ SON OF DONALD CHISHOLM/ <GOBHA> A GAELIC BARD./ EDUCATED: ROYAL SCOTS COLLEGE./ VALLEDOLID, SPAIN AND A JESUIT/ HOUSE NEAR BALTIMORE./ ORDAINED: U.S.A. 1811. PASTOR OF/ ANTIGONISH, SEPT. 1817 – 3 AUG. 1818/ ALSO TO OTHER HIGLANDERS IN THE/ COUNTY. DIED WHILE ON A SICK CALL/ TO CAPE GEORGE, 3 AUG. 1818/ South face: The law of truth/ was in his mouth/ and iniquity was/ not found in his lips/ he walked with me/ in peace and in/ equity and turned/ many away from iniquity/ Malach[i II.vi] Material: Sandstone Condition: Reverend Chisholm’s stone is a bit of a puzzle. The gabled roof top of the stone is quite worn and covered in moss/lichen growth, but the sides of the pillar/body of the monument are quite clean and barely worn looking. The inscription on the front face was worn enough to warrant a new black granite plaque installed over it, but the north and south face are still in good, legible condition. Additionally, the carvings on both sides – a thistle on the north and chalice or candlestick on the south – are in good condition. Reverend William Chisholm, son of Donald Chisholm, a gobha (blacksmith), was born in Knockfin, Scotland in 1779. He was educated at Royal Scots College in Valladolid, Spain between the 30^th of October and the 22^nd of November 1808. After being ordained in the US in 1811, Reverend Chisholm served in the Diocese of Baltimore before becoming the Pastor of Antigonish in September of 1817 where he served until his death on August 3, 1818. He died on a sick call to Cape George. Connie Feltmate (edited by Christopher Greencorn) [ Back ]