Supplemental Posts

Thursday, April 18, 2019

Barrack Hill Cemetery Plaque

In the eastern part of Beechwood Cemetery, southeast of the National Military Cemetery of the Canadian Forces stands a plaque overlooking the reinterred remains from and commemorating the Barrack Hill Cemetery.


Map showing location of Barrack Hill Cemetery


Barrack Hill Cemetery, Bytown's first public cemetery, was located on a two-acre plot of land in the region of the city block surrounded by modern-day Sparks, Elgin, Albert, and Metcalfe Streets. The cemetery was originally established by Lieutenant-Colonel John By and was used from ca. 1827 to ca. 1845. The individuals buried at Barrack Hill Cemetery lived alongside the founders of the nation's capital and were its earliest settlers.

During construction of the Ottawa Light Rail Transit system, human remains were discovered, with the first find occurring in 2013. Analysis of these remains was conducted by experts from the Canadian Museum of History to determine the circumstances of death, pattern of disease, sex, stature, and the age at death of the individuals.

Through the generosity of Beechwood Cemetery, the National Cemetery of Canada, these early Bytown residents were reinterred at this site, in accordance with their faith traditions.


Le cimitière Barrack Hill, premier cimitière public de Bytown, occupait un lot de deux acres dans le secteur actuellement constitué par les rues Sparks, Elgin, Albert, et Metcalfe. En fonction de 1827 à 1845 environ, ce cimitière a été établi par le lieutenant-colonel John By. Contemporains des fondateurs de la capitale nationale, les personnes inhumées faisaient partie de ses plus anciens colonisateurs.

On a trouvé les premiers restes humains en 2013, pendant la construction du train léger sur rail d'Ottawa. Des spécialistes du Musée canadien de l'histoire ont effectué des analyses pour établir les ciconstances du décès, les maladies, le sexe, la taille et l'âge au décès des prsonnes inhumées.

Grâce à la générosité du Cimetière Beechwood, désigné cimitière national du Canada, ces premiers résidents de Bytown reposent à nouveau en paix en accord avec les rites de leur foi.


Human remains of a minimum number of 79 individuals from Barrack Hill Cemetery, mainly working-class citizens, including 32 children and 47 adults, were reinterred at this site on October 1, 2017

Les restes humains d'au moins 79 personnes inhumées au cimetière Barrack Hill, dont 32 enfants et 47 adultes, principalement issus de la classe ouvrière, ont été remis en terre ici le 1er octobre 2017.