ERROL
The Carse of Gowrie Sustainability Group welcomes you to the heart of the Patrick Matthew Memorial Trail, and his resting place in Errol Graveyard. This part of the trail also includes research and study and art work that the children from Errol Primary School have carried out into Patrick Matthew’s strong connection with the village.
Errol Graveyard
Patrick Matthew died, penniless, on the 8th June 1874, and was buried in Errol graveyard. No headstone has ever been located, and the exact location of his grave was lost in time. More recently, research by a local historian, Peter Symons, involving the original burial records, confirmed that Patrick, his wife, an aunt and two daughters are interred in plot 184, purchased by Patrick himself. The plot also contains one later burial, marked by a headstone dated 1924 - a distant family member, Alexander Fraser.
The Carse of Gowrie Sustainability Group welcomes you to the heart of the Patrick Matthew Memorial Trail, and his resting place in Errol Graveyard. This part of the trail also includes research and study and art work that the children from Errol Primary School have carried out into Patrick Matthew’s strong connection with the village.
Errol Graveyard
Patrick Matthew died, penniless, on the 8th June 1874, and was buried in Errol graveyard. No headstone has ever been located, and the exact location of his grave was lost in time. More recently, research by a local historian, Peter Symons, involving the original burial records, confirmed that Patrick, his wife, an aunt and two daughters are interred in plot 184, purchased by Patrick himself. The plot also contains one later burial, marked by a headstone dated 1924 - a distant family member, Alexander Fraser.
Photograph 1: Errol Graveyard, photograph courtesy of Ian Bell, 2017
The exact spot, marked by the red flag in Photograph 1., where Patrick Matthew is buried was only determined by Frank Gibson of PKC Burial Services in June 2017, after a detailed site survey and in conjunction with the original burial records.
The image alongside (Fig 1.) is a copy of the photocopy of the page of the original register of burials in Errol burying ground, in division number 184, which belongs to "Peter Matthew, Esq. of Gourdiehill".
It is clear that Patrick Matthew's wife is buried in the same plot, but is recorded as Mrs P (Mrs Patrick) Matthews.The spelled the surname Matthew wrong a couple of times on this document, as so many people did then and still do today (Patrick Matthew Project, 2017).
It is clear that Patrick Matthew's wife is buried in the same plot, but is recorded as Mrs P (Mrs Patrick) Matthews.The spelled the surname Matthew wrong a couple of times on this document, as so many people did then and still do today (Patrick Matthew Project, 2017).
Fig 1. Photocopy of the original register, PKC
The Matthew plot is on the north side of the burial ground, row 14 from the main gates off School Wynd, and three plots south of the footpath. It is shown on the 1841 layout below. In the traditional Scottish pattern, each Plot contains three Lairs at 3 foot centres, designated North, Middle and South.
Fig 2. Archive Lair Plot Layout, Errol Graveyard, PKC Burial Records.
It is believed that Patrick is interred in the Middle Lair, and Alexander Fraser in the North Lair (see Fig 2). In the future, once ownership is transferred to the living descendants of Patrick Matthew, they plan to erect a fitting family headstone to commemorate his resting places and legacy.
Errol Park and Patrick Matthew’s daughter, Euphemia
There are also other links in Errol, and to Errol Park Estate. During the 1890’s Patrick Matthew’s daughter Euphemia lived at Park Cottage, which is still an estate property. Euphemia was born in 1826, so she would have been in her sixties when she lived there. Not much more is known about Euphemia, but as the eldest daughter, it could be presumed she is either the one playing guitar in this family photograph below, or the daughter behind
Errol Park and Patrick Matthew’s daughter, Euphemia
There are also other links in Errol, and to Errol Park Estate. During the 1890’s Patrick Matthew’s daughter Euphemia lived at Park Cottage, which is still an estate property. Euphemia was born in 1826, so she would have been in her sixties when she lived there. Not much more is known about Euphemia, but as the eldest daughter, it could be presumed she is either the one playing guitar in this family photograph below, or the daughter behind
Photograph 2: Patrick Matthew, his wife Christian, and three daughters. Unknown date.
One thing that is known about Euphemia (1826-1915) is that she was involved in keeping the family records. She is mentioned as the keeper of the Oliphant family genealogy by Millar, 1890, and also consulted as a source of Matthew family history by Calman in 1912 (Patrick Matthew Project, 2017). Kept in the National Records of Scotland, is an original letter sent to Miss Euphemia Matthew at Errol Park Cottage, the date looks like 1898 but it isn’t clear.
Fig 3. Copy of an original of a letter to Miss [Euphemia] Mathew, Errol Park Cottage. Patrick Matthew Project, 2017
Junior Carsonians
Since March 2015 the Junior Carsonians, the pupils from the six Carse Primary Schools, undertook the following aspects of Patrick Matthew, life and his descendants. Although given the area through discussion, the response is very much that of their own making with support by staff in the schools and sources provided by members of the Carse of Gowrie Sustainability Group. They also were able to access information from members of their local community.
The display is very much their own work and involved
Since March 2015 the Junior Carsonians, the pupils from the six Carse Primary Schools, undertook the following aspects of Patrick Matthew, life and his descendants. Although given the area through discussion, the response is very much that of their own making with support by staff in the schools and sources provided by members of the Carse of Gowrie Sustainability Group. They also were able to access information from members of their local community.
The display is very much their own work and involved
- Researching primary and secondary sources
- Oral histories
- Using technology to download images
- Accessing information given by experts in the field
- Discussion with peers and staff
Artwork by the JC’s. 2017. Patrick Matthew Memorial Weekend Logo (left) Abernyte Primary School. Family Tree (centre) by Inchture Primary School and ‘Touchy Feely’ redwood display is by Errol Primary School
All of the work undertaken by the JCs is shared in a range of ways with the wider audience of the their school community – displays, talks, presentations at assemblies and discussion with peers. The work is set within the context of Curriculum for Excellence Experiences and Outcomes and Skills for Learning and Skills for Life.
The JCs explored the travels and lives of two of Patrick’s sons who settled in New Zealand, a reflection of the encouragement Patrick gave to his children. He published his book ‘Emigration Fields’ in 1839. The visual display of the JCs depicts the story of Charles and James Matthew building a life in New Zealand, where they settled and where their descendants still live - – ‘the New Zealand boys’ as the JC’s have named them. The two boys established orchards and nurseries in the Matakana area (North East of Auckland).
The JCs explored the travels and lives of two of Patrick’s sons who settled in New Zealand, a reflection of the encouragement Patrick gave to his children. He published his book ‘Emigration Fields’ in 1839. The visual display of the JCs depicts the story of Charles and James Matthew building a life in New Zealand, where they settled and where their descendants still live - – ‘the New Zealand boys’ as the JC’s have named them. The two boys established orchards and nurseries in the Matakana area (North East of Auckland).
Fig 4. Artwork by Longforgan Primary School, 2017
They described this area as having many similar features to the Carse of Gowrie. Today this area of New Zealand is well known for its market gardens, fruit growing and farmers’ markets. The children used, as source material the book is ‘Shadows on my Wall, Memoirs of Errol Jones’ (2010). Errol was Patrick’s great granddaughter and she died in November 2016 on her 102 birthday. They also used photographs and oral histories from Ian and Coral Bell when they visited Matakana and Jones descendants in February 2016.
The artwork below is their contribution to the JC Exhibition at Errol Village Hall in Errol from Saturday 29th September-1st October from 10am-4pm.
For more information about the weekend visit www.carsesus.org or
facebook at Patrick Matthew Festival Weekend@PMFestivalWeekend
or by email to carsesus@btinternet.com
This project is hosted by the Carse of Gowrie Sustainability Group and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Figures:
Fig 1. Fig 1. Photocopy of the original register, PKC
Fig 2. Fig 2. Archive Liar Plot Layout, Errol Graveyard, PKC Burial Records
Fig 3. Copy of an original of a letter to Miss [Euphemia] Mathew, Errol Park Cottage. Patrick Matthew Project, 2017
Fig 4. Fig 4. Artwork by Longforgan Primary School, 2017
Photographs
Photograph 1: Errol Graveyard, photograph courtesy of Ian Bell, 2017
Photograph 2: Patrick Matthew, his wife Christian, and three daughters. Unknown date.
Photograph 3: Patrick Matthew Project. Copy of an original of a letter to Miss [Euphemia] Mathew. 2017. Available at https://patrickmatthewproject.wordpress.com/?s=euphemia&submit=
References:
PMP, Patrick Matthew Project, 2017. Available at https://patrickmatthewproject.wordpress.com/
The piece of the puzzle for QR 3 (Errol) in the Patrick Matthew Trail is EUPHEMIA
The artwork below is their contribution to the JC Exhibition at Errol Village Hall in Errol from Saturday 29th September-1st October from 10am-4pm.
For more information about the weekend visit www.carsesus.org or
facebook at Patrick Matthew Festival Weekend@PMFestivalWeekend
or by email to carsesus@btinternet.com
This project is hosted by the Carse of Gowrie Sustainability Group and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Figures:
Fig 1. Fig 1. Photocopy of the original register, PKC
Fig 2. Fig 2. Archive Liar Plot Layout, Errol Graveyard, PKC Burial Records
Fig 3. Copy of an original of a letter to Miss [Euphemia] Mathew, Errol Park Cottage. Patrick Matthew Project, 2017
Fig 4. Fig 4. Artwork by Longforgan Primary School, 2017
Photographs
Photograph 1: Errol Graveyard, photograph courtesy of Ian Bell, 2017
Photograph 2: Patrick Matthew, his wife Christian, and three daughters. Unknown date.
Photograph 3: Patrick Matthew Project. Copy of an original of a letter to Miss [Euphemia] Mathew. 2017. Available at https://patrickmatthewproject.wordpress.com/?s=euphemia&submit=
References:
PMP, Patrick Matthew Project, 2017. Available at https://patrickmatthewproject.wordpress.com/
The piece of the puzzle for QR 3 (Errol) in the Patrick Matthew Trail is EUPHEMIA
