Sydney’s Botany Cemetery was consecrated in 1888, and initially located on a ten hectare site. It is now known as the Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park.
Source – Randwick City Council
When fifty year old Thomas George Jones died in Sydney in 1947 his body was identified by his sister Sophia and his sister-in-law, Lily Jones. He was buried in the Botany cemetery with his older brother William, who had passed away the previous year.
Note that the funeral took place on April Fool’s Day; quite appropriate considering what later transpired, but it was definitely no joke.
A Western Australian newspaper published a photo of Jones family members visiting the grave before an unbelievable blunder came to light.
Tending the grave.
Two months after the funeral the twice widowed Thomas was spotted in the Phoenix Hotel at Woollahra by his astonished nephew.
Source – architecture.org.au
Thomas immediately set the record straight by visiting his brother and sister-in-law at Mascot. His lodgings were in Woollahra, but he had been working up-county for some months.
It was all the result of a remarkable set of circumstances. Not only did the Sydney men share the same surname and first names, but they were around the same age and build. Even their facial features were similar.
And in her defence, Tom’s sister Sophia said that she had to view the body through a small window at the morgue. ‘I did not think it was Tom, but I was swayed from my opinion by my sister-in-law. ‘
THE TRAGEDY OF THE DECEASED MAN
The Thomas Jones who actually died had been picked up as being homeless, and taken to Reception House at Darlinghurst. This was where the mental health of such people was assessed before they were transferred to gaol or an asylum.
Reception House, Darlinghurst.
Jones was found to be sane, but he died before a decision could be made about his immediate future.
Born in Hobart in 1901, he had been living in Sydney for some years, working as a wharfie. The irony is that his birth name was George Thomas. Of course if he had not swapped those names around, the mistaken identity would not have occurred.
He married Kathleen Alma Butterworth in 1934 using the names Thomas George, but was estranged from her at the time of his death. There were two young children, aged six and eight. The cause of death was not revealed, but it could well have been alcohol related. Whether there was an attempt to trace any Tasmanian relatives I have no idea. Perhaps someone will read this and make a connection.
One troubling aspect of the mix up was that although Thomas was Anglican, he was interred in the Catholic section of Botany Cemetery.
At the time the Catholic Church and the family of William David Jones were reported as being happy for Thomas to remain in the ‘wrong’ grave. He may well be there to this day.
Meanwhile, William’s very much alive brother Thomas was having the time of his life, being shouted drinks by old mates in the pub and enjoying his new found fame as the man returned from the dead. He said he didn’t mind a stranger being in the family grave as he had a spot reserved for himself at Waverley Cemetery. As for celebrating his ‘rebirth’ , he announced that the first thing he intended doing was to marry for the third time. However, he was coy about the identity of his girlfriend and refused to divulge her name. There is no record of him marrying in the years that followed, so he may have been playing reporters along!
He died in 1960 and this time there was no mistake.
FOR THE HISTORY OF BOTANY CEMETERY, CLICK HERE.
