Biography

EDWARD HENRY ESQUILANT

Burial register ID: 4892
Surname: ESQUILANT
First name: EDWARD
Middle names: HENRY
Gender: Male
Age: 22 Years
Cause of death: Unknown
Burial type:
Date of death: 23-Jan-1887
Date of burial: 26-Jan-1887

Block: 117A
Plot: 6
Inscription:

IN MEMORY OF

HENRY EDWARD,

THE BELOVED SON OF

EDWARD & LOUISA

ESQUILANT,

AGED 23 YEARS.

ACCIDENTALLY KILLED BY FIRE

JANUARY 23rd 1887.

THOUGH LOST TO SIGHT TO MEMORY DEAR.

On the right side of the monument:-

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

EDWARD ADOLPHUS

THE BELOVED HUSBAND OF

LOUISA ESQUILANT,

WHO DIED SEPT. 14th 1892

AGED 66 YEARS.

ALSO HIS WIFE

LOUISA JANE

DIED JUNE 7th 1899,

AGED 63 YEARS.

REST IN PEACE.

[The monumental mason was G. Munro.]

Bio contributor: Historic Cemeteries Conservation Trust

Edward Henry Esquilant died as a result of an extensive and disastrous fire at the Dunedin Iron and Woodware Company’s premises in Princes Street South in January 1887. The building was four storeys high, had frontages to Princes and Bond Streets of nearly 200 feet, and was 100 feet in depth, yet only the furniture department at the south end of the building survived the fire.

The first people to go back into the building were trying to save property. Later volunteers went in to try to save the earlier men who became trapped by massive falling debris. Two were completely buried and as a result dead, but Edward Esquilant and another man were partially buried and were trapped for several hours while others tried, with great difficulties while avoiding falling debris, to release them. Both men died at the hospital during the evening.

(Details from Otago Witness, 28th January 1887)

There are 1 Interments in this grave:

Surname First names Age Date of death Date of burial
ESQUILANT EDWARD HENRY 22 Years 23-Jan-1887 26-Jan-1887