Biography

Charlotte Balfour (1792 - 1825) was the wife of Colonel William Balfour (1785-1838) of the 40^th Regiment, who was civil and military commandant in Launceston in 1825 and 1826. They arrived in Sydney in January 1825 on the ‘Castle Forbes’ and sailed to Van Diemen’s Land with a special detachment for Port Dalrymple.

Charlotte unfortunately died on 22^nd August 1825, aged 33, leaving several young children. This appears to have been one of the earliest burials in the settlement of person of note. Her body was laid to rest in a brick vault outside the then east end of the Church. Twice after her burial the Church has been extended over her place of rest and she lies undisturbed beneath the floor of St. John’s Church. A marble tablet was erected in the nearby south ambulatory to mark the passing of this lady.

It was not until October 1938, when the floor of the church was lifted during alterations to the nave, that the brickwork of the vault was uncovered.

Charlotte died at the Government Cottage, situated in today’s City Park, near where the cannon stands. Balfour Street would have been named in honour of the Colonel.

The marble memorial tablet has had, in living memory, two situations. Originally, it was hung on the east wall of the nave facing inwards, but since 1938 it has been hung in the south ambulatory of St. John’s Church. The inscription on the tablet reads:
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF CHARLOTTE,
THE WIFE OF LT. COL. BALFOUR OF THE 40TH REGT.,
WHO DIED AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE, LAUNCESTON
AUGUST 22ND 1825

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