East of Merrickville, Ontario, The McGuican Cemetery Rememberance Plaque rests on a cairn in McGuigan Cemetery about 100 metres east of Burritts Rapids Road about a kilometre northeast of County Road 43.
IN REMEMBRANCE
This
memorial marks the area where an unknown number of persons were buried
in this cemetery between the years 1800 and 1900. Despite the scarcity
of records, it is believed that many died of pestilence, principally
malaria, during the construction of the Rideau Canal from 1826 to 1832.
They were mostly Irish labourers and the children of pioneer settlers.
Their graves were marked only by simple fieldstones, some of which still
remain visible.
MAY THEY REST IN PEACE.
À LA MÉMOIRE
Ce mémorial marque l'emplacement où un nombre indéterminé de personnes furent inhumées dans ce cimetière entre 1800 et 1900. Malgré le peu de documents disponibles, on pense que beaucoup périrent de peste, principalement du paludisme, lors de la construction du canal Rideau, de 1826 à 1832. Il s'agissait pour la plupart de travailleurs irlandais et d'enfants de pionniers. Leurs tombes étaient simplement marquées par de simples pierres des champs, dont certaines sont encore visibles.
QU'ILS REPOSENT EN PAIX.
