A Tragic Accident
Besides many famous and infamous people who call Rookwood "home" there are many people who are remembered not for their great works or deeds but the way they tragically died. The Cemetery has many headstones stating the manner of death of it's inhabitants. Train accidents, building site accidents and many others including those that seem rather freakish. Today's blog is about one of those horrific, tragic accidents. JOSEPH LEEDS Joseph was born in Maitland NSW in 1850, the youngest of eight children to John, a native of Yorkshire England and free settler, and Rachel nee Aarons, the daughter of Joseph and Rachel, German Jews who were sentenced for life (later commuted) for the theft of a bolt of woollen fabric. The family relocated to Wellington after the death of his father when Joseph was three years old. His mother died nine years later and Joseph became an orphan at the age of twelve. He remained in the area, was involved in pastoral pursuits and rose through th...