Sheffield Memorial Cards
The cards here were collected by Isabella Smith O’Donnell and any handwritten notations were made by her. Her father’s parents, then, are Edward and Ann Smith, her aunt Martha Abel, and her brothers John, Arthur, and Ernest. They are all buried in Sheffield with the exception of John Howe, who is buried in Highwood Cemetery in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. In the cards, Ecclesall Church is All Saints Ecclesall Parish Church where the burials of most of the family residing in or near Ecclesall Bierlow may be found.
Ann Smith, died January 18th, 1864, age 71
Arthur Smith, died August 23rd, 1871, age 30
Edward Smith, died November 25th, 1871, age 81
Elizabeth Smith, died December 27th, 1867, age 51
Ernest Smith, died January 11th, 1865, age 21
Ernest Smith, died March 9th, 1888, age 19
John Howe, died March 30th, 1896, age 58
Marrian Smith, died August 9th, 1881, age 16 months
Martha Abel, died September 13th, 1861, age 61
Mary Hammar, died January 31st, 1886, age 74
Sarah Ann Wingfield, died October 28th, 1894, age 52
In memory of the Sheffield Dam burst March 12th, 1864
Thomas Pinder, died December 18th, 1876, age 46
In Affectionate Remembrance of
Ann Smith,
Who died January 18th, 1864,
Age 71 years,
And was interred at Ecclesall Church, on Thursday, January 21st.
Her languishing head is at rest,
It’s thinking and aching are o’er;
Her quiet immovable breast
Is heaved by affliction no more.
[handwritten] Grandmother My Father[‘s] Mother
In Affectionate Remembrance of
Arthur Smith
Who departed this life August 23rd, 1871,
In the 30th year of his age,
And was interred at Ecclesall Church, August 25th.
He suffer’d, but his pangs are o’er,
His gentle spirit’s fled
Unto that bright and happy shore,
Tho’ number’d with the dead.
With the family’s kind regards.
[handwritten] My Brother
In Affectionate Remembrance of
Edward Smith
Who departed this life November 25th, 1871,
Aged 81 years,
And was interred at Ecclesall Church, Dec. 1st.
Rejoice for a brother deceased,
Our loss is his infinite gain;
A soul out of prison released,
And free from its bodily pain.
The voyage of life’s at an end,
The morthal affliction is past;
The age that in heaven they spend,
For ever and ever shall last.
With the family’s kind Regards.
[handwritten] My Father[‘s] Father
In Affectionate Remembrance of
Elizabeth Smith,
died December 27th, 1867,
Aged 51 years;
And was interred at Ecclesall Church, near Sheffield, Jan. 1st, 1868.
Her languishing head is at rest,
It’s thinking and aching are o’er;
Her quiet immovable breast
Is heaved by affliction no more.
With the Family’s Respects.
[handwritten] My Mother
In Affectionate Remembrance of
Ernest Smith,
Who departed this life January the 11th, 1865,
In his 21st year,
And was interred at the Ecclesall Church, January the 17th.
He has gone, and the grave hath receiv’d him,
‘Twas Jesus that call’d him away;
He has gone to the Lord who redem’d him,
From night to the splendour of day.
With the family’s respects.
[handwritten] My Brother
In Affectionate Remembrance of
Ernest Smith
Who departed this life March 9th, 1888,
Aged 19 years,
And was interred at the Ecclesall Church, March 12th.
In bloom of life I was cut off,
I could no longer stay,
Because it was my Saviour’s wish
To call me hence away.
[handwritten] My Brother Arthur[‘s] Son
In Loving Remembrance of
John Howe
Who fell asleep in Christ March 30, 1896,
In his 58th year,
Was laid to rest April 1, 1896, at
Highwood Cemetery.
When trouble, like a gloomy cloud,
Has gathered thick, and thundered loud,
He near my sould has always stood;
His loving kindness, oh, how good!
– Samuel Medley.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
Psalm 103:2.
In Affectionate Remembrance of
Marrian,
The beloved Daughter of John & Mary Ann Smith,
Who departed this life August 9th, 1881,
Aged 16 Months,
And was interred at Burngreave Cemetery, August 12th.
O, lost too soon! O, loved too well!
too dear for earth — farewell, farewell!
One soothing solace yet is given,
Though lost on earth, she lives in Heaven.
[handwritten] My Brother John[‘s] Daughter
In Memory of
Martha Abel,
Who departed this life September 13, 1861,
Aged 61 years.
And was Interred at Ecclesall Church, on September 17th.
Lo! the prisoner is released,
Lighten’d of her fleshy load!
Where the weary are at rest,
She is gather’d into God.
Lo! the pain of life is past,
All her warfare now is o’er;
Death and hell behind are cast,
Grief and suffering are no more.
[handwritten] My Mother[‘s] Sister
In affectionate remembrance of
Mary Hammar,
Who departed this life January 31st, 1886,
Aged 74 years,
And was interred at Ecclesall Church, February 3rd.
In affectionate remembrance of
Sarah Ann,
The beloved wife of Robert Wingfield,
Who departed this life Oct. 28th, 1894,
Aged 52 Years,
And was Interred at Walkley Cemetery, October 31st.
In Memory of the
Unfortunate Sufferers
Who were
Drowned by the bursting of a dam, at Bradfield, near Sheffield
On March the 12th, 1864,
Between the Hours of Twelve and Two in the Morning,
When upwards of 300 lives were lost.
We cannot, Lord, the purpose see,
But all is well that’s done by thee.
In Affectionate Remembrance of
Thomas Pinder,
Who departed this life December 18th, 1876,
Aged 46 Years,
And was Interred at Ecclesall Church, December 23rd.
Dear husband, thou art gone before us,
And the saintly soul has flown,
Where tears are wiped away for ever,
And all sorrow is unknown.
O’er the toilsome way thou’st travelled,
And endured the heavy load;
Christ hath brought the footsteps languid,
Safely to his blest abode.