the Roman Catholic MOUNT STREET CEMETERY is a protected heritage site in Wellington, New Zealand (click link for more). It was the first cemetery in Wellington for Catholic burials and contains the graves of the first nuns and priests in Wellington. It remained open until 1891 although burials continued in existing family plots until 1954. The earliest surviving grave marker dates from 1851, and the latest from 1954. Although only around 200 headstones survive, it is estimated that there could have been as many as 1150 burials. Many of the early markers were simple wooden crosses, which have long since vanished.

The original cemetery size was three acres. Two acres were later subdivided and are now occupied by residences and the Victoria university. It is thought that the burials only happened in the remaining acre

Pioneers from many cultural and ethnic backgrounds are buried at Mount Street, including Irish, English, French, Italian, Mâori, Scots, Welsh, Austrian, Silesian (German), and Polish.


The Friends of Mount Street Cemetery group was established under the Archdiocese in 2010, to lead activities to restore the burial sites in this sacred ground; to establish full records; and to conserve the landscape of the Cemetery as an amenity for all. How to become a member of this group can be found at the top link. They have online a PDF of the (so far) 1100 burials in the Cemetery.

using data from their PDF I will research these early settlers and write them up here, as individual journals by alphabetical names, to assist anyone wanting info on their ancestors who they believe may be buried there, or for those interested in the lives and times of these early Wellington settlers
* Most info was obtained from newspapers of the day through Papers Past
Your help in adding or editing is welcome. Please leave comments below

see also Mount Street Cemetery on YouTube where the 'Friends of the Mount Street Cemetery' walk you around and explain some of the headstones, some of the people buried there and what the society is doing to restore this old, protected, heritage cemetery (established 6th January 1841) - (running time 14 minutes)


the 'Residents' of MOUNT STREET Cemetery, Wellington (as at May 2012)
- anything in italics is my addition
- dates may be of death OR burial


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AHERN, John - 30 July 1897 aged 60

ALEX ? Lois - 29 July 1869 aged 39

ALEXANDER, James - 11 April 1858 aged 23

ALEXANDER, Roy - 16 April 1877 aged 28

ALLAN, William Joseph Robert - 13 May 1861 aged 1 day

ALLDY, Ellen Agnes - 20 Nov 1856 aged 15

ALLEN, James - 1 Aug 1880 aged 38

ALZDORF, Mary Elizabeth - 16 June 1885 aged 66
17 June 1885 - The death of another of the earliest pioneers of the colony has to be chronicled. We refer to that of Mary Elizabeth Alzdorf, widow of the late Charles Ernest von Alzdorf, who met his death in 1855 through the falling of a chimney during the great earthquake of that year. The deceased lady and her husband arrived in Wellington by the "Adelaide" in the year 1840 at which time Madame Alzdorf was only 21 years of age. The Alzdorf for some years kept the old Wellington Hotel on the Beach and it was in this house Baron Alzdorf met his death. Madame Alzdorf shortly afterwards retired from business and had resided at Makara for some time prior to her demise. She was beloved by all who knew her and notwithstanding she had been afflicted with blindness for the last 35 years, she possessed those sympathetic and loving qualities which prove so attractive and winning to young people
NOTE their name was actually Von Alzdorf and perhaps this bio belongs under V. Her husband, Baron Charles Ernest Von Alzdorf is buried at Bolton Street (journal still under construction)

ANDERSON, James - 10 Dec 1877 aged 15 months

ANDERSON, unknown - buried 26 Dec 1877
- there was a William John Anderson who died 24 Dec aged 13 months ??

ARMSTRONG, Mrs Mary - 4 Oct 1885 aged 44

ARMSTRONG, Mary Frances - 1 May 1884 aged 2 months
- twin daughter of Edwin Patrick ARMSTRONG & Catherine SOMERS:
1877 - ? Sarah Anna May Armstrong
- nothing known
1879 - 1958 Francis John Armstrong
- Francis married Lilian Sarah BEST in 1904
1882 - ? Henry Samuel Armstrong
- Henry married Ivy Blanche BIRD in 1907
1884 - 1884 Mary Frances Armstrong (twin)
- died aged 2 months (as above)
1884 - 1933 Georgina Lizette Armstrong (twin)
- Georgina married Albert CANNER in 1911
1885 - 1893 Jessie Florence Armstrong
- On the 20th July, at her parents' residence, Cambridge-road (possibly now Cambridge Terrace, Te Aro), Jessie Florence, beloved daughter of Edwin P. and Catherine Armstrong, aged 8 years and 2 months; deeply regretted. Nelson, Blenheim and Sydney papers please copy
1887 - ? Joseph Edwin Armstrong
- nothing known
1890 - ? Frederick Charles Armstrong
- Frederick married Georgina Dorothy SHARP in 1916
- in Feb 1926 he was living in Sturdee Street, now Victoria street, Te Aro
1896 - 1978 Leslie Stephen Armstrong
- Leslie married Lilian POLE (1896-1971) in 1922
- 8th of 10 children of Charles POLE & Martha JACOBS

ARTHUR, Henry 7 May 1863 aged 9

ARTHUR, William Hillman - 7 Sep 1865 aged 6.6

ARUNDEL, Renfrew Thomas - 5 July 1860 aged 23
- should read Reinfric Thomas Arundell, born 16 May 1838 into the House of Wardour, a respected and well-to-do Roman Catholic family in England, 1 of 11 children of Henry Raymond ARUNDELL (1799-1886) and his second wife, Eliza GERARD (?-1872) of Warwickshire, England.
- Reinfric was killed in action in 1860, unmarried, during the Second Maori War (aka the First Taranaki War).
- he gained the rank of officer in the service of the Royal Navy
- the siblings of Reinfric: (some birth dates are very approximate)
* 1829 - 1833 Mary Julia Arundell
- Mary died young
* 1830 - 1839 Amy Mary Arundell
- Amy died young
* 1831 - 1861 Isabel Arundell
- Isabel married Captain Sir Richard Francis BURTON K.C.M.G., F.R.G.S. (1821-1890) in 1861. He was a famous traveller and author. He wrote the book "Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah and Meccah". He wrote the book "The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night".
Isabel wrote the book "The Life of Captain Sir Richard Burton". She is buried with her husband at Mortlake, Surrey in an elaborate tomb in the shape of a Bedouin tent. Fiona Shaw portrayed her in the movie Mountains of the Moon (1990)
- also read: The Romance of Isabel, Lady Burton
* 1832 - 1833 Raymond Everard Arundell
- Raymond died an infant
* 1833 - 1891 Blanche Arundell
- Blanche married John Hugh Wadman SMYTH-PIGOTT Esq., J.P. & Deputy Lieutenant (1819-1892) on 13 Aug 1857. They lived at Brockley Hall, Somerset
1838 - 1860 Reinfric Thomas Arundell - as above
* ???? - 1913 Emmeline Mary Arundell
- Emmiline married Richard van ZELLER in July 1877. He held the office of Portuguese Vice-Consul to London
* 1841 - 1872 Henry Alphonsus Arundell
- He gained the rank of Lieutenant in the service of the Royal Navy. He died at sea on board the HMS Bitten on 19 July 1872
*1842 - 1851 Raymond Ignatius Arundell
- Raymond died young
* 184? - 1902 Elizabeth Mary Regis Arundell
- Elizabeth married Edward Gerald FITZGERALD (1846-1891) in 1873. He was born in Maperton, a son of Major Henry Thomas George FITZGERALD, magistrate and landed proprietor of Maperton House, Wincanton, Somerset & Elizabeth Harriott YATES. His father gained the rank of officer in the service of the 1st Life Guards. He gained the rank of Major in the service of the 1st West Yorkshire Rifles. He held the office of Justice of the Peace. He lived at Maperton House, Somerset, England

ATEREA, Wikitoria - 11 Aug 1865 aged 14
- there were many 'Aterea' from around the Wanganui area. One Aterea was a Maori chief, of the Ngatiruanui, who was one of 7 chiefs killed at Nukumaru during the Waitotara War in Feb 1865

ATKINS, Richard 1 Nov 1883 aged 53
2 Nov 1883 Mr Richard Atkins, an old settler in this district, died yesterday, after a few days illness. He was well known as a member of the Wellinton Guards. He arrived in Wellington in 1864 and for services rendered during the Maori war received the New Zealand Medal. Previously he had received Indian and Crimean decorations

ATKINSON, Clara - 20 April 1874 age not recorded


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PHOTO
Hotel of Baron Charles Ernest von Alzdorf, Lambon Quay, Wellington
1852 drawing by John Pearse (1808-1882)
Charles Alzdorf speaking to John Pearse
View from the beach of the North end of Lambton Quay, just outside Alzdorf's Hotel and John Pearse's early residence after arrival in Wellington