Burials in Buenos Aires during 1871, the year of the yellow fever epidemic

Source: St John's Cathedral archives, items 30-25-03 and 30-25-06

1871 in Buenos Aires was a terrible year. An epidemic of yellow fever broke out in February, with the result that thousands of citizens died in the three months that followed. Only with the onset of the colder weather of winter did the fever die away.

A detailed study of this episode can be found on the web pages authored by Graeme Wall. This includes an alphabetical listing of all known (at the present) victims from the British community. Reference should be made to Graeme's site in order to explore the background detail of that devastating epidemic.

This present page is a transcription of the St John's Church burial register for 1871, with a small amount of further information from an additional register put together by the Rev. Francis N. Lett, the assistant priest at the church.

The beginning of 1871 found St John's without a chaplain. The Rev. John Chubb Ford had died the previous March, and within a few days the Rev. Thomas E. Ash had been appointed Acting Chaplain and the Rev. Francis N. Lett the Assistant Chaplain. It was on to the shoulders of these young men that the pastoral care fell of many hundreds British immigrants living in Buenos Aires, until the arrival of the new chaplain, the Rev. Francis Smith, in July 1871.

The burial register shows that generally interments before and after the period of the yellow fever epidemic were made in the Victoria Cemetery. But that once the authorities had realised that the epidemic was upon them, a temporary cemetery much further out of the city was used to bury the victims the Cementerio del Sud, Avenida Caseros al 2800, previously the burying ground for victims of Cholera in the 1867-1869 outbreak. From mid April 1871, burial of the victims of yellow fever took place in the Chacarita Cemetery.

The sequence of the St John's burial register shows how the three cemeteries were used during that year. Furthermore, a quick glance below at the entries reveals that they are far from in date order. We can only assume that the clergy were under such pressure that the process of entering the details of the people buried was done days or even weeks later.

Jorge Alfonsín has pointed out that the Lazaretto, the place of death of some of the victims, is the present day Hospital Muñiz.

This record makes grim and terrible reading.


Victoria Cemetery

Date
d/m/yy
Last Name, First Name Age Birth place Occupation Cause of death Abode at time of death Officiant
12/1/1871 Bowen, John 19 Wales Seaman Accidental Outer Roads, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
16/1/1871 Wyates, George 36 England Seaman Heart Disease Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
20/1/1871 Wilks, Jane 15 Buenos Aires   Epilepsy Hospital de Mujeres Francis N. Lett
24/1/1871 Jordan, Swinfen (jun.) 23 England   Epilepsy Lobos Francis N. Lett
28/1/1871 Chapman, Jacob 72 England Merchant Peritonitis Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
7/2/1871 Cook, Mark 22 England   Fever Buenos Aires Thomas E. Ash
26/2/1871 Russell, Anita Sheridan de 25 Buenos Aires Married woman Typhoid fever Buenos Aires Thomas E. Ash
26/2/1871 Nelson, George Henry 27 Marchester Clerk Fever Buenos Aires Thomas E. Ash
6/3/1871 Hillyer, Henry Neale 45 England Employee of the Great Southern Railway Drowned Domselaar Francis N. Lett
13/3/1871 Dawney, Edith L. E. 7½m. Buenos Aires     Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
18/3/1871 White, James 70 Scotland Estanciero Inflammation of bladder Buenos Aires Thomas E. Ash
19/3/1871 Quirk, Henrietta 67 Liverpool   Inflammation of throat San Fernando Thomas E. Ash
20/3/1871 Stanfield, Mary Anne 39 Buenos Aires Widow Childbirth Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
11/4/1871 Furze, Sophia Matilda 4 Buenos Aires   Gastric fever Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
14/4/1871 Crabtree, Frederick Seymour 8½m. Yorkshire   Dysentery Palermo Thomas E. Ash
18/4/1871 Scobell, William 45 England Engineer Consumption Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
24/4/1871 Daws, William 53 London   Pneumonia Flores Francis N. Lett
5/1/1871 Taylor, James 71 Scotland        
13/1/1871 Wiston, George 35 U.S.A.   Cancer    
14/1/1871 Gibson, Andrew 37 Scotland        
23/1/1871 Cooper, Jacob 46 Germany        
4/3/1871 Van Santi, A. 27          
4/4/1871 James, Charles 68 England        
5/4/1871 Kelin(?), Augustus            
12/4/1871 Clark, John 32 England        
1/5/1871 Lafone, Samuel Fisher 68 England Merchant Cerebritis Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
4/6/1871 Kitchen, Gerrard 19 Cape Town Seaman Fall from aloft "Southern Cross" Thomas E. Ash
25/6/1871 Kelly, C. 28 England Sailor Fracture of skull Buenos Aires James Smith
24/7/1871 Agrian, S. 40 Switzerland Carpenter Typhus fever Buenos Aires Francis Smith
24/7/1871 Bunn, C. F. 35 England Clerk Dropsy Buenos Aires Francis Smith
20/8/1871 Page, Randolph A. S. 6w. At sea   Bronchitis Buenos Aires Francis Smith
25/8/1871 Watson, George 28 Ireland Master mariner Smallpox Buenos Aires Francis Smith
2/10/1871 Crane, Emily Jane 4m. Buenos Aires   Smallpox Buenos Aires Francis Smith
7/11/1871 Nelson, Isaiah S.   Nova Scotia Master mariner Drowning Buenos Aires Francis Smith
29/11/1871 Slant(?), Mary 4m. Buenos Aires Child Gastro-enteritis Buenos Aires Francis Smith
8/12/1871 Sidders, Honor 56 London   Disease of heart Buenos Aires Francis Smith
14/12/1871 Neild, John 33 Scotland   Phthisis British Hospital Francis Smith

Register of Yellow Fever Cases in 1871

Cementerio del Sud

10/3/1871 Herring, Thomas   England Butcher Yellow fever Paseo Julio, Buenos Aires Thomas E. Ash
12/3/1871 Cameron, William 24 England Labourer Yellow fever British Hospital Francis N. Lett
15/3/1871 Southron, Jane Sangster 45 Newcastle, England Married woman Yellow fever Independencia 24, Buenos Aires Thomas E. Ash
15/3/1871 Woodley, Ann Maria 78 London, England Widow Yellow fever Estados Unidos 327, Buenos Aires Thomas E. Ash
16/3/1871 McLean, Susan 74 Inverness, Scotland Widow Yellow fever Junín 69, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
17/3/1871 McLean, Margaret 44 Inverness, Scotland   Yellow fever Junín 69, Buenos Aires Thomas E. Ash
18/3/1871 Moore, George   England   Yellow fever 25 de Mayo 184, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
??/3/1871 Southron, John James Moody 14 Buenos Aires Tramway employee Yellow fever Independencia 24, Buenos Aires Thomas E. Ash
??/3/1871 White, Mary 24 Buenos Aires Widow Yellow fever Independencia 24, Buenos Aires Thomas E. Ash
19/3/1871 Allinson, William 50 Whitehaven Stable keeper Yellow fever Independencia 17, Buenos Aires Thomas E. Ash
18/3/1871 Allinson, Mary 49 Scotland Married woman Yellow fever Independencia 17, Buenos Aires Thomas E. Ash
19/3/1871 McCready, Margaret 56 England Nurse Yellow fever Artes 407, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
??/3/1871 Jones, John (alias William Edward Williams) 28 England Railway guard Yellow fever Independencia 376, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
21/3/1871 Reincke, Leonora Isabel 20 Buenos Aires   Yellow fever Estados Unidos 209, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
23/3/1871 Godfery, Mary Watson 27 Norfolk, England Schoolmistress Yellow fever Europa 191, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
23/3/1871 Tweddle, Anne 50 England Widow Yellow fever San José 23, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
25/3/1871 de Llano, Elizabeth     Married woman Yellow fever Bolívar 189, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
25/3/1871 Lee, Dorothy 48 Newcastle on Tyne, England Married woman Yellow fever Independencia 12, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
26/3/1871 Moules, William   Bristol, England Pilot Yellow fever Maipú 276, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
27/3/1871 McMarr, Edward 34 Ireland Mechanic Yellow fever Balcarce 255, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
27/3/1871 Crozier, Thomas 38 Ireland Mechanic Yellow fever Balcarce 255, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
4/3/1871 Offord, Martha 51 Devonshire, England Lodging house keeper Yellow fever 25 de Mayo 159, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
15/2/1871 Carniegan, Jane 35 Liverpool, England   Yellow fever Tucumán 13, Buenos Aires  
4/3/1871 Hunter, Robert 32 Scotland Merchant Yellow fever Europa 76, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
8/3/1871 Butterfill, George 65 England   Yellow fever Lorea 285, Buenos Aires Thomas E. Ash
8/3/1871 Stanfield, James Field 45 England Merchant Yellow fever Europa 191, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
----- Briggs, Daniel   England Workman Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
??/3/1871 Tweddle, William 18 England Workman Yellow fever Balcarce 175, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
----- Humphries, Samuel   England Engineer Yellow fever 25 de Mayo, Buenos Aires Thomas E. Ash
28/3/1871 Walker, George Robert 30 England Broker Yellow fever Parque 84½, Buenos Aires  
30/3/1871 Reincke, Helena Anita 22 Buenos Aires   Yellow fever Estados Unidos 209, Buenos Aires Thomas E. Ash
1/4/1871 Nunes, Henry 40 Nova Scotia Blacksmith Yellow fever 25 de Mayo 150, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
----- Bettison (or Betson), Jane 75 England Nurse Yellow fever Esmeralda 307, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
1/4/1871 Nicholson, Henry R.   Ireland Schoolmaster Yellow fever Victoria 564, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
1/4/1871 McMan, Jessie 18 London, England Servant Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
2/4/1871 Langford, Charles   England Pilot Yellow fever Reconquista, Buenos Aires Thomas E. Ash
2/4/1871 Moore, Richard   England   Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
2/4/1871 Gibson, John A.   Buenos Aires Tailor Yellow fever Temple 400, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
5/4/1871 Frute, John 20 North America   Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
5/4/1871 Tidblom, George   Buenos Aires Merchant Yellow fever Callao, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
6/4/1871 Atkinson, William 70 Cumberland, England   Yellow fever Artes 407, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
6/4/1871 Gray, Annie 36 England Nurse Yellow fever Tacuarí, Buenos Aires  
6/4/1871 Hill, John Flagg 48 London, England Brewer Yellow fever San Juan 286, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
7/4/1871 Davis, Edward 44 England Ship captain Yellow fever San Juan 296, Buenos Aires  
8/4/1871 Tidblom, Charles Samuel 45 Buenos Aires Merchant Yellow fever Arenales, Buenos Aires Thomas E. Ash
----- Woodley, Charles 18 Buenos Aires Clerk Yellow fever Estados Unidos 327, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
----- Hill, John 17 Buenos Aires   Yellow fever San Juan 286, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
----- Brown, George 37 Scotland Engineer Yellow fever Cangallo 408, Buenos Aires  
4/4/1871 Claypole, William 32 Montevideo Merchant Yellow fever San Martín, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
28/3/1871 Grace, John 56 England   Yellow fever Lazaretto  
18/3/1871 Milton, Francis 41 England   Yellow fever Lazaretto  
19/3/1871 Kanes, John 21 England   Yellow fever Lazaretto  
24/3/1871 Young, Adolphus 21 Ireland   Yellow fever Lazaretto  
29/3/1871 Williams, Henry 21 U.S.A.   Yellow fever Lazaretto  
27/3/1871 Millen, Peter 37 U.S.A.   Yellow fever Lazaretto  
18/3/1871 Nowell, Raymond 29 England   Yellow fever Lazaretto  
4/4/1871 Frazer, John 33 England   Yellow fever Lazaretto  
28/3/1871 Siggins, Nicholas 40 Ireland Peon Yellow fever Barracas  
29/3/1871 Siggins, Bridget 33 Ireland Married woman Yellow fever Barracas  
9/4/1871 Charles, Stuart B. 28 U.S.A. Merchant Yellow fever Juncal 142, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
10/4/1871 Critchley, Grace 68 England Married woman Yellow fever Corrientes 516, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
10/4/1871 Junor, Hannah 29 England Married woman Yellow fever Corrientes 516, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
10/4/1871 Thomson, John 32 Buenos Aires Labourer Yellow fever Balcarce 156, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
10/4/1871 Gordon, John 22 England Fireman Yellow fever Barracas Thomas E. Ash
10/4/1871 Harris, Henry 26 U.S.A. Steward Yellow fever British Hospital Francis N. Lett
1/4/1871 Berrian, Stephen D. 52 U.S.A. Pilot Yellow fever Reconquista, Buenos Aires Thomas E. Ash
2/4/1871 Gallagher, William 40 Scotland Engineer Yellow fever Suipacha 274, Buenos Aires Thomas E. Ash
11/4/1871 Seamann, Otto 22 Hamburg Workman Yellow fever Balcarce 175, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
12/4/1871 Heley, William 26 Ireland Shoemaker Yellow fever Potosí 46, Buenos Aires  
13/4/1871 Brill, Charles E. 29 Buenos Aires Schoolmaster Yellow fever Garantias 263, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
13/4/1871 Douglas, Adam Thomson 17 Scotland Clerk Yellow fever Reconquista, Buenos Aires Thomas E. Ash
13/4/1871 Aylett, Charles F. 35 England Painter Yellow fever Barracas Thomas E. Ash
13/4/1871 Casey, James   England Workman Yellow fever Barracas Thomas E. Ash
13/4/1871 Levy, John Donne 60 England   Yellow fever Estados Unidos, Buenos Aires  
13/4/1871 Walsh, Jonathan   England Mechanic Yellow fever Barracas  
14/4/1871 Taplin, Samuel 26 England Butcher Yellow fever Tucumán 25, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
1/4/1871 Curry, Ellen 22 Ireland Married woman Yellow fever Independencia 58, Buenos Aires  
28/3/1871 Ellis, Emily   England   Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
1/4/1871 Malman, Jessie 17 England   Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
4/4/1871 Walter, Theodore   England   Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
10/4/1871 Steffil (or Sleffit), John 55 U.S.A.   Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
11/4/1871 Turner, Thomas 25 England   Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
11/4/1871 Crats, Peter 42 England   Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
14/4/1871 Rice, Richard 52 England   Yellow fever Barracas Thomas E. Ash
23/3/1871 Fowler, John   Ireland   Yellow fever Colón 277, Buenos Aires  
----- Tait, John   England   Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
7/4/1871 Palmer, James 57 England   Yellow fever Barracas  
15/3/1871 Hazell, Samuel 36 England Carpenter Yellow fever Comercio 97, Buenos Aires  
----- Day, Henry G. 40 England   Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
12/4/1871 Davis, Mary Ann 28 England   Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
9/4/1871 Braving, William 30 Plymouth, England Engine driver Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
23/3/1871 Murray, William 37 London, England Tailor Yellow fever Victoria 261, Buenos Aires  
22/3/1871 Morris, Timothy H. 29 Kent, England late Lieutenant, 3rd Infantry Yellow fever Esmeralda 322, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
----- Sterno (or Sternus), Richard   England   Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
10/4/1871 Jaurel, Mary 27 England   Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
2/4/1871 Strange, Mary 89 England   Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
18/4/1871 Henderson, Mary 37 England   Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
14/4/1871 Dalpi, Mary 31 Ireland   Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
14/4/1871 Doleri, John 33 U.S.A.   Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
14/4/1871 Relando, Michael 34 England   Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
14/4/1871 Redeli, Charles 35 England   Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
----- Creuil, Francis 38 North America   Yellow fever Buenos Aires  

Chacarita Cemetery

15/4/1871 Wilkinson, Michael 38 Buenos Aires Stable keeper Yellow fever Rivadavia, Buenos Aires  
15/4/1871 Gloede, Anna   Buenos Aires Married woman Yellow fever Temple 209, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
16/4/1871 Thomson, John 38 Scotland Merchant Yellow fever Belgrano, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
17/4/1871 Arey, ???? 5     Yellow fever Charcas 156, Buenos Aires  
17/4/1871 Ussher, Carmen 28 Buenos Aires Washerwoman Yellow fever Tucumán 228, Buenos Aires  
17/4/1871 Differt, Theodore 37 Germany Engineer Yellow fever Florida 335, Buenos Aires  
18/4/1871 Woodcock, Frederick 30 England Clerk Yellow fever Defensa 488, Buenos Aires Thomas E. Ash
19/4/1871 Harper, James 51 England Mechanic Yellow fever Barracas Francis N. Lett
19/4/1871 Perry, Robert 26 England Clerk Yellow fever 25 de Mayo, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
18/4/1871 Foster, William 25 England Seaman Yellow fever 25 de Mayo 111, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
----- Roberts, Patrick 30 Scotland   Yellow fever Méjico 72, Buenos Aires  
----- Cashman, William 30 Ireland   Yellow fever Méjico 72, Buenos Aires  
----- Sheriff, George 30 U.S.A.   Yellow fever Méjico 72, Buenos Aires  
19/4/1871 Lowry, John J. 60 Maryland, U.S.A. Merchant Yellow fever Juncal, Buenos Aires Thomas E. Ash
19/4/1871 Franklin, William 35 Germany Labourer Yellow fever Rivadavia 509, Buenos Aires  
19/4/1871 King, George   U.S.A. Pilot Yellow fever Paraná 286, Buenos Aires  
20/4/1871 Schmidt, Catherine Daws de 56 England Widow Yellow fever Córdoba 369, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
??/4/1871 Driver, Caroline 37 England Married woman Cancer Bolívar 448, Buenos Aires  
19/4/1871 Munce, Anna   England   Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
20/4/1871 James, Harriet 58 England Widow Yellow fever 25 de Mayo 226, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
17/4/1871 Turner, Thomas   England Druggist Yellow fever Defensa 65, Buenos Aires  
15/4/1871 Smith, William 30 England   Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
15/4/1871 Foster, Benjamin 84 North America   Yellow fever Lazaretto  
24/4/1871 Munroe, Charles   Scotland Workman Yellow fever Balcarce 177, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
26/4/1871 Hainsworth, Titus P. 40 England Broker Yellow fever Callao, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
26/4/1871 Herbert, Thomas 42 Wales Mechanic Yellow fever Casa Amarilla, Buenos Aires Thomas E. Ash
26/4/1871 Tidblom, Hannah 76 London, England Widow Yellow fever Callao, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
27/4/1871 Henry (or Kennedy), Thomas 48 Ireland Labourer Yellow fever 25 de Mayo 139, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
1/5/1871 Dalton, John 35 Ireland   Consumption Balcarce 170, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
2/5/1871 Stafford, Mary 25 England   Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
4/5/1871 Tidblom, Emma 38     Yellow fever Callao, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
3/5/1871 Barron, Joseph 30   Engine driver Yellow fever Barracas  
12/5/1871 Hall (or Heele), Richard 28 Ireland Labourer Yellow fever Lazaretto  
13/5/1871 Marsh, Martha   England Servant Yellow fever Irish Hospital  
28/4/1871 Nelson, Thomas 17 England   Yellow fever Lazaretto  
28/4/1871 Bird, James 32 England   Yellow fever Lazaretto  
9/5/1871 Wilson, Thomas 18 England   Yellow fever Lazaretto  
9/5/1871 Peters, Henry 44 England   Yellow fever Lazaretto  
3/5/1871 Victor, Henry 75 England   Yellow fever Lazaretto  
14/5/1871 Smithers, Thomas 30 England   Yellow fever Lazaretto  
14/5/1871 Daving, William 19 U.S.A.   Yellow fever Lazaretto  
2/5/1871 Wilkinson, William 30 England Packer Yellow fever Venezuela 14, Buenos Aires Francis N. Lett
----- Hill, James S. 28 Buenos Aires Broker Yellow fever Ranchos  
29/3/1871 Godsell, Richard 39 England Railway employee Yellow fever Belgrano, Buenos Aires  
18/4/1871 Trellia, Eliza Joanna     Lodging house keeper Yellow fever Ranchos  
18/4/1871 Hargreaves, Frederick 70   Merchant Yellow fever Merlo  
??/5/1871 Manson, R. 60     Yellow fever Jeppener  
12/5/1871 Alexander, James 44 England Engineer Yellow fever Tigre  
3/5/1871 Doyle, James 25 Ireland   Yellow fever Calle Nueva de Retiro, Buenos Aires  
3/5/1871 Gilck, Henry 40 England   Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
2/5/1871 Stewart, James 27 Scotland Clerk Yellow fever Corrientes 61, Buenos Aires  
??/5/1871 Lynn, George   Buenos Aires   Smallpox Barracas Francis N. Lett
21/5/1871 Roberts, James 40 England   Pneumonia Calle Nueva del Retiro, Buenos Aires  
24/4/1871 Cormac, Ellen 20 England   Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
25/4/1871 Contran, Ellen 50 Ireland   Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
27/4/1871 Callada, John (or James) 36 England   Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
27/4/1871 Carty, Margaret 19 England   Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
10/4/1871 Hoilant, Matthias 45 Ireland   Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
28/4/1871 Hearle, Joseph 20 England   Yellow fever Lazaretto  
5/5/1871 Smith, William 28 England   Yellow fever Lazaretto  
5/5/1871 Brown, Joseph 30 England   Yellow fever Lazaretto  
----- Leggat, James   Scotland Teacher Yellow fever Artes 112, Buenos Aires  
15/4/1871 Seva, Henry 70 England   Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
15/4/1871 Chiné, John       Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
----- Machin (or Meachin), ???? 45 England Widow Yellow fever Buenos Aires  
19/6/1871 Curtis, John 56 England Married Yellow fever British Hospital Thomas E. Ash
© The form of presentation of this information is the copyright of Jeremy Howat, March 2003
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