Townsend and Bald Hills Cemetery

William & Elizabeth's Headstone

We know that Captain William Townsend and his third wife, Elizabeth Salmon Thomas, are buried in Bald Hills Cemetery, What some might not know is that Capt Townsend played a role in getting the cemetery started. The Sandgate and Districts Historical Society and Museum Inc. holds a copy of a letter from Townsend to the Minister of Lands in 1869.
A transcript follows.


Brighton near Sandgate
16th August 1869


To the Honourable
The Minister of Lands


Sir
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 22nd July last, wherein I am requested to take the necessary steps for convening a meeting of the residents at the Bald Hills & its vicinity for the appointment of Trustees under the Cemetery Act of 1865 for the land set apart for a cemetery in the district, and further to furnish you with copy of proceedings of the public meeting.


I have now the honour to wait upon you with copy of proceedings held at a public meeting which took place this morning at the Bald Hills, pursuant to circulars issued by me on the 30th July last to the residents of the Bald Hills, North Pine, South Pine, Chinaman's Creek, Cabbage Tree Creek & Sandgate, and from which you will perceive that the following gentlemen were approved Trustees, viz.
J Stewart of Bald Hills for the Presbyterians
E Michael of Bald Hills for the Baptists
A.G.Thorpe of Cabbage Tree Creek for the Church of England
B.R.Lethem of South Pine for the Congregational
A.Slaughter of Sandgate for the Wesleyans.

I have the honour to be
Sir
Your most obedient servant
Wm Townsend J. P.


A public meeting was held this day 16th August 1869 @ 11 am at the Presbyterian Church, Bald Hills, by order of the Honble The Minister of Lands, and pursuant to circulars issued by the undersigned on the 30th July last to the residents of the Bald HIlls, North Pine, South Pine, Chinaman's Creek, Cabbage Tree Creek & Sandgate for the purpose of appointing Trustees under the Cemetery Act of 1865 for the land set apart for a cemetery at the Bald Hills.
The following gentlemen attended the meeting
Name                  residence                       denomination
A.G.Thorpe     Cabbage Tree Creek   Church of England
E.Michael            Bald Hills                       Baptist
J.W.Lee           Cabbage Tree Creek          ditto
J.Wyllie              South Pine                   Presbyterian
J.Stewart             Bald Hills                         ditto
A.G.Richardson        do                       Church of England
J.Buchanan          North Pine                 Presbyterian
J. McCallum      Bald Hill Creek                    do
W.Wilson                   do                               do
A.Norris              Bald Hills                   Congregational
J.Leitch                South Pine                 Presbyterian
C.Dixon               Bald Hills                          do
B.R.Lethem         South Pine                  Congregational
P.Learmonth        Bald Hills                     Presbyterian
J.Barbour                   do                               do

Mr W Townsend J.P. opened the meeting by reading the instructions received by him from the Department of Lands dated Brisbane 22nd July 1869.  He then called up the gentlemen present to appoint Trustees
Mr J. Wyllie proposed Mr J.Stewart to be Trustee for the Presbyterian denomination, which was seconded & approved of by the gentlemen present, & accepted by J Stewart.
Mr J.W.Lee proposed Mr E.Michael to be Trustee for the Baptist denomination, which was seconded & approved of by the gentlemen present, and accepted by Mr E.Michael.
Mr R.G.Richardson proposed Mr A.G.Thorpe to be Trustee for the Church of England denomination, which was seconded & approved of by the gentlemen present, and accepted by Mr A.G.Thorpe.
Mr A.Norris proposed Mr B.R.Lethem to be Trustee for the Congregational denomination, which was seconded & approved of by the gentlemen present, and accepted by Mr B.R.Lethem.
Mr A.G.Thorpe then stated that he was deputed by Mr A.Slaughter of Sandgate to say that he intended to be present at the meeting, but was prevented from doing so, & would, if appointed, accept the Trusteeship for the Wesleyan denomination. This proposal of Mr A.Slaughter's was submitted to the gentlemen present by Mr W.Townsend J.P. & unanimously approved of.
The Roman Catholic denomination not represented.

Brighton 16th August 1869
Wm Townsend J.P.