Old Catholic Cemetery Stone #3 Ann Chisholm Dimensions: 34”x17” Orientation: N/A. Laying flat. A stones in the St. Mary’s/Old Catholic Cemetery have been moved from original position. Carver: Not identified Inscription: IN MEMORY OF/ ANN/ WIFE OF/ DUNCAN CHISHOLM/ DIED/ AUG. 31, 1873/ AGED 36 YRS/ R.I.P./ Condition: The stone is among the more legible of the examples to be found in this graveyard. Almost all are lying on their backs with the inscriptions getting direct exposure from any and all weather. Had the carver not used majuscule block letters for the entire inscription this might not be the case, as the fine details in the wooden cross image at the top are barely visible. According to census information, Ann Chisholm (full name Mary Ann Chisholm) was originally from New Brunswick, of Irish extraction, and raised a Roman Catholic. She and Duncan lived in Antigonish Harbour, next to the Bigelow family, with five children: Mary, Flori, Margaret, William, and John. Mary was born in New Brunswick, which is probably where the couple met, and a few others born in the United States, where the family must have lived for a period of time before finally moving to Antigonish. It is possible that Ann’s early death occurred during childbirth. The fact that the family’s burial plot was bought thirty years in advance and Ann’s small and plain headstone might very well indicate that the family did not have much disposable income. Mandi Hayne (edited by Christopher Greencorn) [ Back ]