This Broken Column memorial in Sandgate General Cemetery has inscriptions for Archibald Rodgers who was 57 years old when he died in 1870, and Allison Rodgers and Hannah Bruce Rodger(s) (presumably Archibald's daughters - per following transcription) who died in 1971, in their 20's.
In Memory
of
Archibald Rodgers
who died June 11th 1870
Aged 57 years
Allison Rodgers
Died April 24, 1871
Aged 28 years
Hannah Bruce Rodger
Died October 8, 1871
Aged 26 years
The base is made of sandstone, so after more than a 140 years the inscription is rather hard to read from the photograph, so I am glad that I wrote it down while there.
On-line researching has yielded the following information: "a broken column marks the grave of Mr. Archibald Rodgers who was the founder of the business carried on by his son Alderman Rodgers and latterly by his grandsons Messrs Rodgers Bros., Mr. Archibald Rodgers who died in 1870 was practically the first man to start a foundry in the city." ex-"Free Settler or Felon": 173770 Cottage Creek Cemetery.
Also, from Trove, which copies old newspapers is the lengthy report of his death:
"DEATH OF MR. ARCHIBALD RODGERS.
(From the Newcastle Chronicle.) Thursday, 16 June, 1870, page 4
"It is with deep regret we have to record the death of our esteemed friend and citizen, Mr. Archibald Rodgers, of the Newcastle Foundry, Blane Street, which mournful event took place on Saturday evening last, at a quarter-past ten o'clock. Our readers are already aware that, on Friday afternoon, the 3rd instant, whilst Mr. Rodgers was superintending the lowering of a ponderous iron cylinder in the foundry yard, the palm of his left hand was accidentally crushed between the descending cylinder and another cylinder that lay on the ground close by. Although all has been done that medical skill could devise to save the limb, and although it was, for three or four days after the mishap had occurred, hoped that amputation would not be rendered necessary, yet it was found, on Wednesday morning, that mortification had set in to such an extent as to necessitate the hand being amputated at the wrist. This operation, as stated in our last issue, was successfully performed, on Thursday morning, by Drs. Bowker, Degner, and Hector. On Friday, symptoms of tetanus appeared, and on the following day, Friday, Mr. Rodgers' medical attendants perceived a change for the worse in him, and at once apprehended that, in all probability, he would not live beyond a day or two, unless a change for the better took place. On Saturday his sufferings increased considerably, and articulation became painfully difficult. His consciousness was not much affected till towards the evening, when he became slightly delirious, and at intervals seemed not to know those around him. He recovered consciousness about two hours before he expired, and appeared to have recognised some of his family. A few hours prior to his death, the Rev. Mr. Bain read the thirty-fourth Psalm, and engaged in prayer with him, and he then, as well as on previous occasions, expressed himself as being peacefully interested in the merits and mediation of his Saviour--the words used by him being the following :-" When I look to the righteousness of Christ I have peace."
"Mr. Rodgers was born in the village of Barnyards, parish of Kilconquhar, Fifeshire, Scotland, in the year 1814, and was slightly over fifty-six years of age when he died. His father was an elder in the original Secession Presbyterian Church, at Barnyards, and also superintendent of the Sabbath-school in connection with the same church. The subject of our notice had, therefore, the advantage of an early religions education, and ever since he was ten years old he took delight in imparting similar instruction to the young. In 1840, he emigrated to New South Wales, and had been, therefore, thirty years in the colony. For a period of fourteen years he resided in Sydney, and was for the greater part of that time partner in the late firm of Rodgers, Buller, and M'Vey, engineers, &c., in the metropolis. In 1854, he removed to this city, and started the Newcastle Foundry, and has carried on an extensive business ever since. Of late years the business greatly increased, as compared to what it was for several years after its establishment, and Mr. Rodgers was enabled to employ a large amount of labour of various descriptions. About eighteen months ago the concern was transferred to his two sons, Messrs. James and Alexander Rodgers, but the worthy father never ceased to take the greatest interest in the concern, and invariably rendered every possible aid in the management thereof, believing, as he did, that it was his duty to assist his sons to the utmost of his power. Mr. Rodgers was a man of no small activity and energy, and he always felt pleasure in promoting not only his own welfare, but also that of others. For several years he occupied the position of alderman in this city, and it is to him we are chiefly indebted for the resuscitation of our present School of Arts. He also took a prominent part in the formation of the City Gas and Coke Company, and was for some time one of its directors. At the time of his demise he was chairman of the Hulfe Gottes Silver and Lead-mining Company, of which he was one of the largest shareholders. As a citizen and an extensive employer of labour, he will be missed, for few amongst us exhibited a greater desire for progress and improvement than he. In point of liberality, Mr. Rodgers could scarcely be excelled--his purse being at all times open to the calls of charity; and those who knew him best could bear testimony to his having often contributed to objects to a greater extent than even his means allowed. Whilst in Sydney, he at first attended the ministry of the Rev. Dr. Lang, and subsequently that of the Rev. John M'Gibbon. On removing to Newcastle be joined St. Andrew's church--the only Presbyterian Church in the city at that time--and was ordained an elder of that congregation during the incumbency of the Rev. Mr. Nimmo, the Rev. Mr. Coutts's immediate predecessor. Of late years Mr. Rodgers attached himself to the Rev. Mr. Bain's congregation, and since the Presbyterian Union (in 1865) he represented the Kirk Session of the Hunter-street Presbyterian Church in the Presbytery of the Hunter, and in the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New South Wales. He took an active part in the deliberations of the church courts, and always expressed his views conscientiously. To the Presbyterian College Fund he subscribed £25, and regarded the establishment of such an institution as essential to the prosperity of the Presbyterian cause in this colony. For the past five years he occupied the office of superintendent of the Hunter-street Presbyterian Sabbath School, and took pains to instil into the minds of the pupils those scriptural tenets and principles which it was his own privilege to have been exercised in, whilst under his father's roof, in his tender years. He loved the children over whom he thus presided, and they duly reciprocated his regard for them. Mr. Rodgers leaves a wife and a family, consisting of two sons and five daughters, to mourn their loss. He also leaves two brothers, one of whom--Mr. William Rodgers -- resides in Newcastle; the other brother, the oldest of the family, we believe, resides in his native village, Barnyards.
"An inquest was held on Monday afternoon, when the particulars of the accident were repeated as already published. In the medical evidence there seemed to be a slight difference of opinion between Drs. Degner and Bowker, the latter gentleman apparently thinking that amputation should have been performed immediately after the accident. Had this been done, he thought--as a matter of medical opinion--the case might have turned out differently. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death, and that there was no blame attached to anyone." Trove: Archibald Rodgers
Visited: 1450, Saturday, 8 July, 2017