The details of his burial were written up on the cemetery fiche, transcribed by the New Zealand Society of Genealogists, and found in most libraries. To my amazement, I also found buried with him, a daughter that I never knew existed.
In plot number F046195 I found:
Burial Details:
Headstone: Captain Henry JACOBSEN who died Oct 28 1914 aged 80 years. At rest.
Residence: St Heliers Bay.
Birthplace: Hamburg
Occupation: Captain Mariner.
Next Of Kin: Mrs J H JACOBSEN, address as above
Headstone: Iva Ethel May Jacobsen died 20 Sept 1949 aged 71 years.
Burial No: 15511B.
Burial Date: 22 Sep 1949
Residence: 33 Devore St, St Heliers
Birthplace: New Zealand
Occupation: Spinster
Next Of Kin: not stated
Jane JACOBSEN
Residence: Wellington St, St Heliers Bay
Birthplace: Watford, England
Occupation: Widow
PCD: senile decay
Next Of Kin: Miss Jacobsen, address as above
Alice Grace ROSS
Burial No: 10104B
Burial Date: 13 May 1931
Residence: Matamata
Birthplace: Westport
Occupation: Widow
PCD: Cancer
Undertaker A HOLMES
NOK Miss Iva JACOBSEN, sister, Matamata.
Murdoch Sutherland ROSS
Burial No: 9974B
Burial Date: 25 Sep 1930
Residence: Dairy Flat, North Auckland
Birthplace: Dunedin
Occupation: Orchardist
PCD: Heart Failure
Undertaker: A Holmes
NOK: Mrs. Murdoch ROSS, widow, 47 Esplanade Rd, Mt Eden.
Can you imagine the leads I had here! It was some time before I found the time to visit the cemetery itself on my next trip to Auckland.
The grave was very easy to find as the numbering supplied by the NZSG matched the cemetery system. It was simply a case of driving in to the FO section, and finding grave 46 195. However, the state of the grave was not such a nice surprise.
It is a large grave, with three plots side by side and joined in one concreted finish. There was a marble cross on top in the middle, which has fallen over. There is also a more standard inscription to the right of the cross. The concrete has fallen in.
It is the family's responsibility to maintain graves, however, years of neglect have marked this one. One day I will get back to Auckland and tidy it up.
While the grave was a disappointment, it was heartening to follow up on the addresses in the burial records. Devore Street was Williams Street in a previous life, so it appeared that Iva Ethel May had remained in her parent's house until she died. 33 Devore Street is a hillside section, with fantastic views of the harbour. One can imagine the old captain with his telescope, watching the comings and goings in the harbour. Captain Henry's grandson Jules HUFFAM, had described his grandmother signalling him from the home, as he left port bound for Samoa. Unfortunately the house there now is not the original.
