Frank Jastrzembski, who is also a historian, came across the story of Chaplain William Ancient at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in 2017 and noted the memorable name of the chaplain involved in rescuing people from the sinking SS Atlantic in 1873. The steamer left England for New York in March, but is running low on coal. The captain changed course to Halifax. Ran ashore near Lower Prospect, NS, on Marrs Island. The ship sank on the morning of April 1 and 565 passengers and crew drowned. But locals rescued more than 200 others. Rev. Ancient played a part in this rescue, memorably telling one of the last people saved to “never mind your shin, we’re looking for your life”, before bringing him to safety. Ancient also took on the difficult task of seeing that the hundreds of dead were properly buried. Reverend William Ancient’s heroic deeds are now recorded on his new tombstone in St John’s Cemetery, Halifax. (Jon Tattrie/CBC)
“A special place in my heart”
Jastrzembski learned that the Ancient One rests in an unmarked grave in Halifax’s St. John’s Cemetery. Jastrzembski founded and operates Shrouded Veterans, which typically provides grave markers for American soldiers.
He made an exception for the Ancient.
He raised about $3,000 and the headstone ended up costing a little more than that. But Heritage Memorials made up the difference. He said the money came from a few major donors and many small contributions.
Jastrzembski said he was excited to see photos of the finished project.
“I was thrilled! It’s always a great feeling when you see a newly placed headstone on a previously insignificant grave. It’s hard to believe that it all started with my visit to the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax. Combined with my interest in 19th century military and religious history, I think it was meant to be,” he said.
“It’s a great feeling. There’s nothing more rewarding than honoring a hero like Ancient. He’s someone all Canadians should be proud of. Canada, especially Nova Scotia, will always have a special place in my heart .I’m glad I was able to do a good deed for my Canadian neighbors.”
The 1st White Star Line disaster in the Atlantic
Historian Bob Chaulk says we can find inspiration in the actions of our ancestors. (Jon Tattrie/CBC)
Bob Chaulk is the author of Atlantic’s Last Stop and a member of the SS Atlantic Heritage Park. The park donated money to the cause and helped with local logistics.
Chaulk spent a decade researching the “strange” story of how the White Star Line suffered its first major disaster off Canada’s East Coast, decades before it lost the Titanic, many of whose victims lie near the Ancient in the adjacent cemetery Fairview Lawn.
“It buried about 277 people,” he said of Ancient, noting that meant figuring out who was Catholic and who was Protestant and burying them appropriately.
Chaulk believes the Ancient was buried with a grave marker, but it was lost sometime in the last century.
“It was probably wood, because Ancient was a humble man. He was a minister in the Anglican church,” he said.
The new one is built to last.
“History is very important and the people who have come before us are very important,” Chaulk said. “We don’t spend a lot of time learning about Canadian history and the wreck of the SS Atlantic is very important, as is the story of William Ancient.”
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