Sebastian Hodge death announcement

Sebastian HODGE, born Zante Island, Mediterranean abt 1833, and married Harriet E Smith, daughter of another member of the 11th Regiment of Foot on 21 Apr 1889 at Scots Church, Pitt St, Sydney. He joined the 11th Regt (like his father William), and after returning to Sydney was first School Sergeant of the Sydney Grammar School, before moving into the hotel business. He was proprieter of the Commercial Hotel on the corner of King and Castlereagh St in Sydney from abt 1880 till he died in 1889. Gillian Kendrigan was kind enough to scan his funeral announcement in the Sydney Morning Herald. His death certificate states that he was 56 years of age.



Sydney Morning Herald
23rd April 1889
"The Friends of the late Mr. Sebastian Hodge are respectfully invited to attend his Funeral THIS (Tuesday) AFTERNOON; to move from his late residence, the Commercial Hotel, King and Castlereagh streets, at a quarter-past 2 o'clock, to the Waverley Cemetery. T. Dixon, Undertaker, 23 Oxford St.

The Friends of John A., Thomas R., Walter H., and Sydney S. Hodge are kindly invited to attend the Funeral of the late beloved FATHER, Sebastian Hodge; to move from King and Castlereagh streets to the Waverley Cemetery, 2:30 p.m., THIS DAY.

The Friends of William Hodge are respectully invited to attend the Funeral of his late beloved FATHER, Sebastian Hodge; to move from his residence, Commercial Hotel, King-street, 2:30 p.m., THIS DAY.

MASONIC - United Service Lodge, No. 24, United Grand Lodge of New South Wales - Worshipful Bretheren - Officers and Bretheren in connection with the above lodge are respectfull invited to attend the Funeral of the late Worshipful Brother Past Master SEBASTIAN HODGE; to move from his late residence, Commercial Hotel, King-street, THIS DAY, Tuesday, at 2.30 p.m., for Waverley Cemetery, Regalia and white gloves to be worn at the grave. Grand and Past Grand Officers will also kindly accept this intimation.
(Signed) W.S. Browne"

The announcements confirm his residence at the Commercial Hotel in Sydney, and the presence of five sons (though two daughters and one son do not publish an annoucnement). Furthermore, we learn that Sebastian was a Worshipful Brother and Past Master of Lodge No. 24 of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales.

The death announcements also confirm the information in his death certificate - that he was buried at the Presbyterian Cemetery, Waverley. Despite this, the headstone index for Waverley Cemetery does not have an entry. Sebastian's wife Harriet died the year before (1888) and was buried at the 'C of E Cemetery, Campbelltown'. I'll continue to search for both their burials.