Murder! – Michael Garbis or Carbis?
Sacred
to the memory of
Michael. Garbis.
departed this life
October 3, 1880.
Aged
48 yrs. & 9 mos.
Native of Cornwall
England.
Dying is but going
home.
Death thou art, but another birth,
Freeing the spirit of the clogs of Earth.
Erected by his son, Michael.
Cemetery: Protestant Pioneer – Silver Reef, Utah
I found the following quote in the book: Ghost Towns of the West, by Lambert Florin, Copyright 1970, 1971 by Superior Publishing Company and Promontory Press pg 392
Silver Reef experienced the usual murders expected in an unrestricted mining camp (some described in Boot Hill). One is commemorated by a beautifully carved tombstone in the camp’s cemetery, placed on the grave of Michael Garbis by his son, Michael Jr. The father was slain by a discharged employee who was tried in St. George and found guilty, the execution thwarted by a mob that snatched him from the jail and hanged him at the edge of town. The hanging rope was tied to a bush so that the body was left swinging on the tree. Passing the spot the next morning, the town wag was reported to have said, “I have observed that tree growing there for the last 25 years. This is the first time I have ever seen it bearing fruit.”
I found the family in the 1880 census index at Family Search, listed as Carlis, but all the other records seem to have the name as Carbis, including the 1841 census of Cornwall, England at find my past. But the author of the book above and I see Garbis on the Tombstone.
In 1880 Michael was 48 and a Miner, with his wife Mary Ann Odgers 44, and Michael Jr. 20 a Blacksmith, born in California, as were the other two kids, Minnie 15 and Bertie 12.
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By Terry Thornton, January 2, 2009 @ 10:43 am
Interesting post about a wonderful grave marker and a sad tale.
Terry Thornton
By Heather Carbis, April 14, 2009 @ 5:05 am
Michael could very well be CARBIS and not GARBIS….. Bearing in mind the Cornish accent his pronunciation of his surname may have made the first letter sound like a “G”. Michael may well have felt it easier to go along with Garbis as it saved a lot of trouble.
Possible candidate for Michael
From Parish of Chacewater Cornwall, Baptisms
3 April 1831, Michael CARBIS s/o Michael & Anne of Kenwyn. Fathers Occupation, miner. Ceremony performed by John Hall.
By Randy C, April 14, 2009 @ 2:16 pm
@Heather Carbis: Thank you Heather, I can almost hear what that pronunciation could sound like.
I got the 1841 census hit in Cornwall from the new “familysearch” site, but its only an index to the records at findmypast.com, so I don’t know what part of Cornwall, but there was also a hit for a Michael 37 yrs old so that could be the Michael from your marriage reference.
By Heather Carbis, April 15, 2009 @ 7:14 am
My pleasure Randy.
I have a keen interest in all matters CARBIS and have done a little more digging in my files for you.
Michael Carbis was son of Michael Carbis and Mary Ann Solomon. His parents married c1825 and he was one of about 9 children.
Michael Carbis jun. married Mary Ann Odgers October 1858 at St Michaels Church, Baldhu, Cornwall England.
Heather Carbis, England.
By Randy, April 18, 2009 @ 10:35 am
Hi again Heather
I misread your earlier comment, that is his “birth” record you listed before, not a marriage record,
Thank You again
Randy
By Tobias, October 17, 2012 @ 1:43 pm
Perhaps its Carbis. Being a native of Cornwall England myself, Carbis Bay is an area I grew up in.