Biography

Herbert J Stebbeings (1861-1941) was born on 16^th July 1861 at Deloraine, son of James Stebbings, a farmer, and Sarah Anne, formerly Dixon, who both arrived in Tasmania from England in July 1857. Herbert was given a local education and worked for many years on his father's holding at Westbury. On 27^th April 1885 he married Sarah Ralph, daughter of Thomas Farmer Vilder Ralph and Caroline, formerly Stuart. The family moved to Launceston and lived a few years in White Street. About 1900 Herbert was appointed sexton at the Cypress Street Burial Ground, and when it was closed in 1905, he became caretaker at Carr Villa Cemetery and moved to a cottage provided there. On the day of the opening, the first funeral there took place, for which he dug the grave, and from that day until he retired on 30^th April 1936, he saw the interment of 10,303 persons. He also supervised the planting of many shrubs, gardens and lawns about the cemetery. For many years, every Sunday, Herbert and Sarah made the long journey on foot from Carr Villa to St. John's Church to attend service. Their children were involved in the activities at St. John's and several of them married there. Herbert died on 19^th April 1941 aged 79 and in his memory stained- glass window depicting 'The Good Shepherd' was placed in PPP the south ambulatory next to his wife’s memorial. A credence table was also given in memory of Herbert. The inscriptions read:

Window – The Good Shepherd

TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF

HERBERT JAMES STEBBINGS 1861 - 1941

Creedence Table

"IN MEMORY OF HERBERT JAMES STEBBINGS 1861 - 1941