The majority of the inscription on this stone is indecipherable.
The central motif on this burial monument indicates that James Cohen was a Mason (member of a masonic lodge), searching through historical records for reference to his activities as a member is still underway.
Inscription:
*Mason’s Symbol as central motif*
(Unknown text)
June 18 1895
Aged 48 Years
(Unknown Hebrew Text)
Born: 1848, Holland.
Died: June 18th, 1895 at approximately 2:30 PM.
Historical Records:
- Ancestry.ca identifies James A. Cohen, giving various details of his life and the identity of his wife.
- From the 1891 Canadian census, we know that James Cohen was originally from Holland, and that his birth year was 1848
- The Daily Colonist published an article on June 19th, 1895, page 8, remembering James A. Cohen. The circumstances of his health are discussed; the cause of death was unsure and an autopsy was ordered. According to the article, Cohen had been ill and consuming laudanum for what he claimed to be stomach pains.
Photogrammetry – plot F37. Image by Melanie Heizer. February 2017.
Photogrammetry – plot F37. Image by Melanie Heizer. February 2017.
Photogrammetry – plot F37. Image by Melanie Heizer. February 2017.
Note: Cohen’s Hebrew name was Yakov b. Moshe.
The Daily Colonist states that Cohen and his family belonged to the Order of the Frontiers, and that he was a member of ‘other secret societies.’ This may be a reference to Cohen being a Freemason.