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PIONEER SQUARE - MASONIC INTERMENTS

Brother

William Martyn Doran

(died 7 July 1868, aged 45)

Nanaimo Lodge

At present, the little information we know of Brother Doran's life comes from the Victoria newspaper reports of his death and Masonic funeral. He was a sailor; at the time of his death he was mate on the steamer Douglas. He was a member of Nanaimo Lodge.

William Doran was buried in Pioneer Square on 8 July 1868 but his tombstone was among those later removed by the City of Victoria. Due to Brother Doran's headstone having been removed, we do not know the actual location of his grave in Pioneer Square.

The headstones removed from Pioneer Square, incuding Brother Doran's, are now in the custody of the Old Cemeteries Society.

Here are the reports of Brother William Doran's death and funeral, taken from Victoria's daily newspaper of the day, the British Colonist:

“Died – In this city, on the 7th inst., William Martyn Doran, aged 45 years.

The funeral will take place from the Masonic Hall, This Day, at 3 p.m.”

Source: British Colonist, 8 July 1868, page 3

“DROWNED – We regret to announce the death of Wm Martyn Doran, mate of the steamer Douglas. Mr Doran was missed yesterday morning, but as his coat was lying on the deck of the steamer suspicion of his being drowned occurred to his friends, and on the water being dragged the body was found immediately under the Douglas. This steamer, it appears, was lying alongside the Fly at Dickson, Campbell & Co’s wharf; and the suspicion is that the deceased, on passing along the guards of the Fly in order to reach his own vessel, slipped and in the fall was stunned having previously thrown his coat on board the Douglas. The deceased was about 45 years of age, a native of Ireland and a member of the Nanaimo Lodge of Freemasons. An inquest was held yesterday and a verdict of accidental drowning returned.”

Source: British Colonist, 8 July 1868, page 3

“MASONIC FUNERAL – The funeral of Mr. Wm Martin Doran, who was unfortunately drowned in our harbor on Monday evening, took place with Masonic rites yesterday. The lodges – Vancouver, Victoria and British Columbia – having opened their new Hall, adjourned to St. Andrew’s Church, where divine service was held, and thence the procession marched to the cemetery, where the usual service was read by the Master J F McCreight and the Chaplain, the Rev. T Somerville.”

Source: British Colonist, 9 July 1868, page 3