THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY PIONEER CEMETERY (1840-1884)

This cemetery, located on the north-east corner of Church and Mary Streets beside St. George’s Church, was established after the Hudson’s Bay Company Fort was built to the north-east in 1839.  Approximately 30 people were buried here until the Fort Langley Cemetery was created in the 1880s.  The predominantly wood grave markers disappeared quickly.  The Fort closed in 1886 and the surrounding land, including the cemetery, was purchased by Alexander Mavis.  He sold the land to members of an Anglican congregation in 1900, and in 1901 St. George’s Anglican Church was built.  The research of Bob and Sheila Puls resulted in the following list. 

Known Burials

Peopeoh (Pion Pion) (b.1798 d. after 1859)
Catherine (Katrina) (wife of Peopeoh)
Infant son of Henry and Eliza Peers (1850)
Ovid Allard (1817-1874)
Ovid Allard Jr. (1880-1884)
William Henry Newton (1833-1875)
Etienne Pepin (Magice or Maille) (1798-1874)
William Cromarty (1815-1875)
Elizabeth (Cromarty) Dawson (1847-1883)
Catherine (Falardeau) Taylor (1841-1874)
An Unnamed Sapper of The Royal Engineers (18??-1859)

Presumed Burials

Joseph Allard (b.1862) likely died as a child.
Marie Allard - (b.185?)
Matilda Allard (1851-1879)
Isabelle Pepin (wife of Etienne Pepin)
Ann Cromarty (b.1850 died before1875)
Salum=mia (aka. Eliz, Jane, Jenny) Cromarty (1830-1869)
Ten-ta-coose (d.1867 aged about 100).
Katherine Morrison (1875-1876)
Ovid John Morrison (1872-1876)
Peter Apnaut (Ohule Ouahi, Apnath) (b.1825 d. before1867)
Aglae (Paiwa) (Peopeoh) Ohier (b.1827 d. after1856)
Charles Ohier (d. after1856)

Approximately 30 to 35 people were buried in this cemetery during its active life.  Another 15 people are named in the Company's  records as having served in Ft. Langley but whose burial places are presently unknown. Their names will be added to this memorial list if evidence of their burial here can be established.

Sarah Brousseau (1842-1889) may not be buried in this cemetery - she was believed to have been buried in the Company's cemetery at Derby, her headstone having been brought here for safekeeping as the Derby cemetery eroded into the Fraser River.