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Republic of Texas
Robert Oliver
Capt. Marine Corps
Died
Oct. 11, 1842
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| Full Name: |
Robert Oliver |
| Location: |
Section:Republic Hill, Section 2 (C2)
Row:U Number:15 |
| Reason for Eligibility: |
Republic of Texas Veteran; Texas Navy |
| Birth Date: |
January 13, 1816 |
| Died: |
October 11, 1842 |
| Burial Date: |
Reinterred January 15, 1955 |
| | OLIVER, ROBERT (1816~1842) Robert Oliver, Captain in the Texas Marine Corps, was born January 13, 1816, in North Berwick, Scotland. While in the Marines, Oliver was aboard the sloop "Austin," which had been sailing up and down the Mexican coast in search of "prizes." While there, Oliver came down with congestive fever, or Malaria.
As the "Austin" was on its way to New Orleans, Oliver, who had been suffering for about fifteen days, died on October 11, 1842. His body was taken and buried in the Girod Cemetery, next to two other Republic of Texas Navy and Marine veterans, Lt. Charles F. Fuller and Midshipman Fielding R. Culp. Oliver's headstone in the Girod Cemetery read: Robt. Oliver / Capt. Texas Marine Corps / Born Jan. 13, 1816 / At North Berwick Scotland / Died Oct 11, 1842 / Honored, loved and esteemed by / All who knew him.
Girod Cemetery belonged to the Episcopal Christ Church Cathedral and was New Orleans' first large protestant burial ground and the final resting place to many of the city's former leaders.
In 1945, due to neglect, the city health department condemned the cemetery as a burial ground. Suffering from even more neglect and subsequent years of vandalism, the cemetery languished until July 30, 1953, when the city ordered the removal of all the remains.
When the Sons and Daughters of the Republic of Texas heard what was to happen to the graves of three Republic of Texas veterans, they had their bodies returned and buried in the Texas State Cemetery with full military honors on January 15, 1955.
Information taken from: ?The Texian,? Vol. 2, No. 4, January 3, 1955, published by the Sons of the Republic of Texas; "The Crumbling World of Girod Cemetery", Dixie, Times-Picayune States Roto Magazine, August 29, 1954; "AUSTIN." The Handbook of Texas Online. [Accessed Sat Nov 23 15:32:49 US/Central 2002]. |
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