Reflection of Yarborough Cemetery
History
The Yarborough Cemetery was named after the magistrate who owned the land in 1781,
Yarborough Cemetery in Belize City was a burial ground for Belizean “notables.” Located a few
short blocks west of St. John’s Cathedral, after 1870, Yarborough Cemetery
was also used to bury “ordinary folks” including many Belizeans who had
volunteered and died in Mesopotamia during World War II. By 1890 the
cemetery had run out of burial plots and was abandoned. A new cemetery
was established at the entrance to what is today the Western Highway.
To restore dignity to the interred, in 1999 the cemetery was renovated with the addition of a
perimeter fence, landscaping and stabilization of all remaining headstones and a marble
memorial wall highlighting the names and contributions of those buried there. The Yarborough
Cemetery was the first public cemetery in Belize, dating back to 1787 and finally closed in 1896.
In 1877 The Old Cemetery was almost full, and the New Cemetery was opened just a bit south of
it but by the end of 1881 the New Cemetery had to be abandoned due to the low level of the land.
The vaults, which involved burial above-ground were erected and opened in 1882 in the area
known as Queen Charlotte Town (once called Coolie Town or Calcutta as the area was the home
of Belize City’s East Indian population until the destruction of the 1931 hurricane.) Apart from
being unpopular in the settlement, the Vaults became full in 1886. A new burial site constructed
in 1885 and name Lord's Ridge Cemetery was opened on a pine ridge on the western edge of
Belize City.
Mr. Tucker gave us instruction prior to visiting the Yarborough Cemetery what we are supposed
to look for. In groups of three’s we are to record the date of birth and death at the cemetery. We
are to state the groups of the family whether military. We are to state the social class whether
middle, upper or lower class. We also needed to mention if they were slaves. We are to record
inscriptions on the tomb stone which should state what they died from. We are to also mention
the period of time for the area from first buried to last.
We left school by car pooling. Our group left at approximately 2:30 p.m. from U.B. Faculty of
Education. We arrived at the Cemetery at approximately 2:45p.m. We began our task by writing
what was on the tomb stone. We ventured on individual tomb we started at the beginning of the
cemetery. When we were almost finished it began to rain and we disperse and got all wet.
Finally we went home.
Thomas Paslow, Belizean Hero
The history books say that Thomas Paslow was one of those whom distinguished himself in the
Battle of St.George’s Caye, and his tombstone at the Yarborough Cemetery in Belize City
confirms this. The message on his tombstone says Lt. Col.Thomas Paslow commanded the
H.R.H. 2nd. Artillery. He was an Irishmen who came to Belize at the age of 26 and died at the
age of 66, having spent 40 years in the service of the Settlement.
The tombstone recalls he fought gallantly and successfully against the Spaniards who invaded on
the 10th September in 1798. Sadly, Thomas died on February 11, 1825, followed 12 years later
by his beloved Clarisse, who reports say, was a black woman.
Thomas Paslow owned a number of properties along the Belize River, notably the logging camps
of More Tomorrow, Paslow Falls & Clarissa Falls. It was at Clarissa Falls that Thomas &
Clarissa settled, and how the falls & area received its name