I am John Charles, the great grandson of James Charles and Margaret (Maxwell) Charles. I live in Canada and have been researching the history of the Charles family for several years. My recent research focused on finding the location of my great grandparents’ and great aunts’ gravesite in the historic Belfast City Cemetery. The cemetery contains over 230,000 graves. A local restoration firm located the gravesite and sent photos of the current derelict state of the once beautiful Charles monument.

Over the course of my research, I’ve discovered Charles family relatives in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, and the Netherlands. I’m hoping that we can all help out with donations towards the restoration costs. Any amount would be gratefully received. With your help the restoration work will be completed by May 31, 2024.

Charles Family Monument Restoration - Background and Objectives

The Charles family monument was erected in 1918 in the Glenalina Extension of the Belfast City Cemetery in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The gravesite contains the remains of James William Charles (1847-1918), his wife Margaret (Maxwell) Charles (1850-1933), and their daughters, Jeanie Ethel Charles (1892-1918) and Margaret 'Peggy' Charles (1882-1975).

The original white marble monument featured a three-tiered plinth surmounted by a cross. The inscription on the base is as follows:

In Loving Memory Of JAMES W. CHARLES,

Formerly of Donaghadee,

Who Departed This Life 17th December 1918.

Also His Daughter JENNY ETHEL,

Who Departed This Life 9th December 1918.

The inscription on the cross is an excerpt from Tennyson's Crossing the Bar "...And may there be no moaning of the bar, When I put out to sea, ..."

The gravesite was originally enclosed by marble curbs. The marble cross, plinth and curbs have been blackened with age and fallen apart. Fortunately, all of the individual pieces have survived, making the opportunity for a full restoration a reality.

A local grave restoration company has visited the site and provided the following quote.

Statement of work:

• Reassemble grave curbs and corners

• Reassemble plinth and attach cross

• Clean monument and curb stones to original condition

• Restore inscriptions

• Recap enclosure interior with cement and top up with decorative pea gravel

• Remove overhanging tree branches

• Restoration Cost: 750 GPB, (1,281 CA), (950 USD), (876 EUR)

• Recommended contingency for labour and materials +5%

• Subtotal: 788 (GPB), (1345 CA), (998 USD)

• Annual maintenance for 2025 and 2026: 140 GPB, (239 CA), (178 USD), (164 EUR)

• Total Cost: (restoration, contingency, 2 yrs. annual maintenance): 890 GPB, (1131 USD), (1517 CA), (1,044 EUR),