Chaffey's Lock Cemetery & Memorial Wall

Chaffey's Lock Cemetery & Memorial Wall occupies a location east of Chaffeys Lockstation between Brown's Marina and Rideau Lakes Cottages on the south side of Chaffeys Lock Road. The cemetery is hidden from the road. It may be accessed by walking a short distance south on the roadway to Rideau Lakes Cottages where it may be seen on the right. Alternately behind an almost hidden sign that says, 'Chaffey's Cemetery,' there is a path that leads to the site.

CHAFFEY'S CEMETERY

Chaffey's Lock Cemetery & Memorial Wall

Resting Place of Mary Anne Chaffey and Canal Builders

A project of
The Chaffey Lock & Area Heritage Society

in cooperation with
parks Canada - Rideau Canal

Chaffey's Lock Cemetery

The Chaffey's Lock cemetery probably dates back to the mid 1820's when Samuel Chaffey developed a mill site and settlement at the rapids running from Indian Lade to Opinicon Lake. It 1827, Samuel died with malaria and was interred in this plot. It is highly probably that his father-in-law, Joseph Poole, also was buried here in 1825. During the subsequent building of the lock between 1827 and 1832, the graveyard would have provided a final resting place to canal workers.

Samuel's widow, Mary Anne, remarried John Scott, a man involved with lock construction. Scott drowned in a canoe accident in 1834 and was interred in this location as well. Throughout the nineteenth century various village residents were buried in the old cemetery, particularly members of the Simmons and Flemming families. These two related families provided lockmasters to the village for most of the century. Even in the 1950's there were still headstones of various Simmons evident in the cemetery.

Mary Anne Chaffey Scott, although she resided near Newboro for the last fifty years of her life, was buried in the cemetery beside her two husbands in 1888. A newspaper article from that year stats that the body of the 84 year old woman was stored in the vault in Elgin before a spring burial. Her brother, John C. Poole erected a large memorial stone to the pioneer woman.

Thomas Simmons and Charles Simmons, both lockmaster's sons, were the last two people buried in the cemetery, just on the eve of the Great Depression. Oral history points to the fact that the cemetery was consecrated for this purpose in 1930.

The Chaffey's Lock and Area Heritage Society is grateful for Parks Canada's support in creating a memorial wall at the location of this historical burial plot.

HANDS ACROSS THE BORDER

This plaque is dedicated to all the Canadian and American men and women who were veterans of World War II (1939-1945) and for whom Chaffey's Lock and area was home, or as summer residents, home away from home. Some were resident at the time and some have found Chaffey's Lock and area after their service.

Among all these names were Privates, NCO's and Officers including Admirals, Vice Marshals and Generals. All are distinguished in the eyes of a grateful community.

They served their respective countries and our shared values during that crucial period in our history.

DEDICATED AUGUST 14, 2004

In Honour of the Irish Workers

This half acre cemetery became the final resting place for many Irish immigrants who died at Chaffey's Mills during construction of the Rideau Canal.

Chaffey's Mills was one of several locks and canal construction sites where malaria, a disease not understood then, devastated the labour force. During the late summers of each year from 1828 to 1832 up to 95 percent of the workers were stricken.

Many of these Irish immigrants had no family or ties here. Some family records in Ireland indicate that many who immigrated to Canada were never heard from again. No record exists today of their names to enable us to honour them as individuals who helped build this country.

THEY LIE HERE IN UNMARKED GRAVES

This plaque is dedicated to the memory and contribution of those brave Irish immigrants.

Go gcuimhnilid go deo orthu afúd atá curtha anseo in uaigcanna gan lorg, go hílrlthe lad sin a chailleadh gan goineadh, it nganfhios di gclann.
(May they always remember those who have been buried here in the wilderness without a trace, many of them lost without mourning, without the knowledge of their children.)

Unveiled July 23, 2008 by Donal Denham, Charge d'Affaires of Ireland.

Erected by the Kingston Irish Folk Club, Tir na nÓg, The Chaffey's Lock and Area Heritage Society.

Unknown Irish Workers

These unmarked stones commemorate the burial sites of many brave Irish and other immigrants who lost their lives while building the Rideau Canal, 1828 - 1832.

Dedicated July 21, 2001 by Donal Denham, Charge d'Affaires of Ireland.

Samuel Chaffey

Founder of Chaffey's Mills

Born April 2, 1793
In Somersetshire, England.

Died July 26, 1827
Buried here, near his mill sites,
at the falls between the lakes.

This plaque dedicated July 21, 2001

Erected by
The Chaffey's Lock and Area Heritage Society