A pair of wall mounted tombs in the Protestant Cemetery of Salonica, with the graves of members of the Charnaud and the von Mayer family. At this stage it is not clear if the de Charnaud family are the same as the long term Turkey based Levantines, the Charnaud family, eventhough register evidence shows this family were active in this city at this time (the ‘de’ addition could be for aristocratic purposes?). These (De) Charnaud graves seem to be the descendants of the British Consul of Salonica during 1791-1832, Francis Charnaud [google book segment], before the period of Charles Blunt from 1835 [google book segment of an academic article].
The top panels transcribed below:
Ici reposent réunis les restes mortels de Victoria, Félix, Guillaume et John Charnaud en levés à l’âge le plus tendre à l’affection de leurs parents inconsolables Frédéric et Adèle Charnaud qui ont posé cette pierre en leur mémoire. Priez pour eux. |
Ici git Emilie Charnaud, fille chérie de Frédéric et Adèle Charnaud. Elle (???) de vivre à l’âge le plus tendre le 20 janvier 1875(???) son âme candide et contemple au milieu des anges ce (???) de l’affection et des regrets qu’elle a laissés. Priez pour elle. |
Ici repose aussi Félix Lafont, mort à l’âge de 4 ans laissant inconsolable sa mère Adèle veuve Lafont. Priez pour lui. |
D.O.M. Ici repose Philomene de Charnaud, nee le 18 Fevrier 1865, envolée dans les bras du seigneur le .. Octobre 1902, laissant la mere inconsolable. |
translation |
Here lie the reunited remains of Victoria, Felix, Guillaume and John Charnaud departed at the most tender age with the affection of their inconsolable parents Frederic and Adèle Charnaud who placed this stone in their memory. Pray for them. |
Here rests Emilie Charnaud, daughter of Frederick and Adele Charnaud. She passed (???) this life at her tender age on 20 January 1875, her ingenuous heart contemplates in the middle of angels, the affections and regrets she leaves behind. Pray for her. |
Here rests also Felix Lafont, dead at age the 4 years leaving inconsolable his widowed mother Adèle Lafont. Pray for him. |
D.O.M. Here rests Philomene de Charnaud, born on February 18, 1865, flown away in to the arms of the Lord on .. October 1902, leaving her mother inconsolable. |
Further information from contributor Nadia Giraud: In fact, Adèle (born Aslan = Armenian name?) was the widow of Pierre Lafont (grandson of Gabriel, the French surgeon who died 1817 and had 5 children, at least 2 of whom were doctors: Jean (? - 1796), François (1792 -1840), Joseph Phocion (1798-1849), Joseph Nestor (1802- 1833), Pierre (1804-1843) - from local parish registers. Adèle later maried Frédéric Charnaud. The couple had a son Edward who maried Olga Mayer, daughter of Joseph Gottlieb MAYER and Antonia Alberti. Further information from contributor Marie Anne Marandet: Olga Mayer had a brother, Rodolphe, who maried in Smyrna the Levantine, Philomena Castelli.
Note: From the Charnaud family tree we see that Frederic Charnaud was the son of James, and grandson of Francis Charnaud, the British Consul in Salonica. Francis in turn was the son of Jean, the naturalized British subject, the first Charnaud in the Levant who died in Smyrna 1773. The family tree does not record the descendants of Frederick, so this is a useful find.
Lower panel:
Hier Ruhen in Gott, Joseph Gottlieb von Mayer, geb. 12 April 1852 (Bamberg-Bayern) gest. 17 April 1901 (Salonik), und seine Gemahlin, Antonia von Mayer-Alberti, geb. 6 Dezember 1841 (Smyrna), gest. 3 Januar 1914 (Salonik). O Herr gib ihnen die ewige ruhe und das ewige licht leuchte ihnen! |
translation |
Here rests in God, Joseph Gottlieb von Mayer, born 12 April 1852 (Bamberg Bavaria) died 17 April 1901 (Salonica), and his wife, Antonia von Mayer-Alberti, born 6 December 1841 (Smyrna), died 3 January 1914 (Salonica). Lord God give them the eternal rest and the eternal light will shine for them! |
Joseph Von Mayer may have been a merchant or a diplomat, of whom at present nothing more is known. |