Field Trip: Magill Historic Cemetery

Back in 2021 I finally made my way to the Magill Historic Cemetery to visit Charles Paynter, my 2x great grandfather, and Susanah Thornton, my 2x great grandmother.

The Magill Cemetery is owned by the City of Burnside, it is 5,639m² in size and was a little hard to find as it is off main roads. It is bordered by Pepper St, Jackson St and Carey St, Magill.

The history of the place is that land for a chapel and burial ground were set aside for a cemetery at Magill when the area was subdivided in 1838 as ‘The Village of Makgill’ by two Scots who had met on board ‘The Buffalo’, Robert Cock and William Ferguson. The chapel did not eventuate on this site, but the cemetery did, and it is one of only two in Burnside (the other one is the Glen Osmond Anglican Cemetery attached to St Saviour’s Church). In 1878 the land comprising the cemetery was donated to the Magill Methodist Church.¹

The Magill Cemetery is now closed, except for those with leases and then in only limited circumstances.

Unfortunately I do not know a great deal about Charles and Susanah Paynter. I know that Susanah was born in July 1849 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. Charles was born either 12 February or 2 December 1845, and they were married on 3 July 1869 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. They emigrated to South Australia on the Hesperus ship in 1883 and may have lived in Mile End as the records I have found state that Susanah died on 11 February 1936 in Mile End. Charles passed away the year before either 1 September or 9 January 1935. While searching the South Australian Directories in 1890 I found mention of one Charles Paynter who was a plumber listed working at Dartmouth St – North Side, Goodwood West but I am yet to confirm whether this was my 2x great grandfather or not.

South Australian Directories 1890 which may mention my 2x great grandfather as a plumber²

The only photo I have of my 2x great grandmother Susanah Paynter

They had seven children, the five eldest were born in England (the first four in Shropshire, the next in Herefordshire) and the two youngest were born in South Australia, the youngest of the lot being my great grandfather Arnold. The children were as follows:

Henry Harold Paynter (1871-1942)
Lucy Frances Thornton Paynter (1872-1959)
Rosabelle Mary Paynter (1874-1878)
Alice Mary Paynter (1878-1956)
Oliver Arthur Paynter (1882-1968)
Letitia Helen Paynter (1885-1970)
Arnold Frederick Paynter (1890-1970)

I wrote to the Burnside Council stating that I am a direct descendent of Charles and Susanah Paynter who are buried in the Magill Historic Cemetery. I enquired as to whether someone has the lease for their plots, or if their plots are protected and preserved under some heritage laws. The last thing I wanted was for the lease to lapse and for their plots to be recommissioned. The council responded confirming that the Paynter plot is number 682 with a lease expiry date of 8^th July 2034. The Magill Cemetery is classified as a historic cemetery which is protected by historic classifications and will remain as is.

The following is a slide show of photos from my two trips to the cemetery. You will see in them both myself and my mum.