Nimrod Jones and William Thomas

Jones  Family Grave
Danygraig Cemetery, St. Thomas, Swansea
with thanks Peter May

A name that I would not expect anyone to know, Nimrod Jones. 

Nimrod Jones is commemorated on his parent’s grave, Danygraig Cemetery, who died August 1868, aged 32.  Why commemorated is not he not buried with them.  The simple answer is no, as he has died off the Coast of Peru, and his cause of death was Yellow Fever, 1868.  Sad news did travel back to Swansea, to his parents.  That seems to be end of the information of Nimrod Jones.  His father, Thomas Jones, was the Port Tennant Blacksmith.

Yellow Fever, what kind of disease is that?

Yellow Fever, originated in Africa, spread to South America with the 17^th century slave trade.  There have been some major outbreaks occurring in the Americas, Africa, and Europe.  During the 18^th and 19^th centuries it was one of the most dangerous infectious diseases. The symptoms include fever, chills, loss of appetite, nausea, and muscle pains.

The only outbreak of Yellow Fever to occur in the United Kingdom was during 1865.

The Hecla, sailed from Swansea on the 11^th May 1865, under the captaincy of William Clouston.  Its journey was Santiago de Cuba, to collect a cargo of copper ore and bring it back to Swansea.  Whilst at sea, George Wilson the ship’s boy and John Thompson, able seaman died.  Arriving at port on the 11^th June. Hansel Pearson was taken to hospital.  A further able seamen were taken on as replacements.  They had themselves discharged from hospital the previous day with a clean bill of health.

The Hecla, with set sail back to Swansea on the 26^th July, one of the replacement crew died on the journey back from ague fever. Illness broke out, with the final death the day before they reached the Port of Swansea. The numbers of deaths resulting to five.

Whilst waiting overnight at Mumbles anchorage a pilot was employed to guide the Hecla into the North Dock.  The ship was not displaying quarantine flag, and the authorities were not informed, finally docking on the 9^th September 1865.

William Thomas grave
St. Paul's Church, Sketty, Swansea

Whilst at port James Saunders, 32, able seaman, who was suffering from the disease succumbed shortly after arriving at port. He hasty buried. 

One of those who was working unloading the ship, William Thomas,  he succumbed to Yellow Fever on the 29th September 1865. He is  buried at St. Paul's Church, Sketty.

The inscription on the headstone reads

"Sacred to the memory of William, son of William and Margaret Thomas who died the 29 of September 1865. Age 25"

On the reverse it reads

"Of yellow fever, caught while working in Swansea at a yard near where an infected ship. The Hecla from the West Indies was lying" 

Following the unloading of the cargo, which could have included the mosquitoes, primary carrier of the disease.  The following Saturday, Yellow Fever accounted a further ten or twelve deaths around Swansea. 

The Hecla, under Captain Harris, was allows to set sail for Valparaiso on the 13^th October 1865, after a period of 13 days without a further case of Yellow Fever.