Ascension : Thank You
Submitted by The Islander (Gavin Yon) 04.10.2007 (Article Archived on 18.10.2007)

Less than 2 weeks ago I posted a short message which was included in the Islander E-Newsletter. At the time Ascension Island seemed so far away.

Thank You
Less than 2 weeks ago I posted a short message which was included in the Islander E-Newsletter. At the time Ascension Island seemed so far away.
I was seeking information about the grave of an ancestor, Jonathon Ambrose who was buried on Ascension in 1872 after dying at sea, on route from Mauritius to England.
Within days I received 2 responses in my Inbox here in Perth, Western Australia - one from Geoffrey Fairhurst, who knew of a former minister who had gathered information about Ascension grave inscriptions, and the second, the following day from Shari Parkhill from the Ascension Historical Society with a transcription of Jonathon's headstone and 5 photos of the grave, its memorial and the entry to the cemetery. Suddnely Ascension didn't seem so far at all.
What excitement these pictures and information brought to an avid family historian! I discovered that Jonathon Ambrose had worked for many years for Blythe Brothers a trading company on Mauritius, which exists today.
Thank you so much for publishing my enquiry. (I have already thanked Geoffrey and Shari directly, but would like to acknowledge their generosity).
If there are readers who would like help with tracing ancestors in Australia - perhaps I can return the favour. I also have access to Ancestry UK's database so I can look up information about births, deaths and marriages 1837 on, and censuses from 1841-1901 for England, Scotland and Wales.
Again, many thanks for your help too!
Jenni Ibrahim
jenniib@iinet.net.au
Perth, Western Australia