The answer to the question of how the headstone came to Dundas Harbour was finally found in the archives of the Hudson’s Bay Company in Winnipeg. The HBC leased the buildings at Dundas Harbour from the RCMP between 1934 and 1936. In July of 1935, C. Russell, the post manager, along with some of the Inuit from the post, made a trip by dog team to the western end of Devon Island. At Fellfoot point the journal states “A board was picked up on the east side of Maxwell Bay which originally had served to mark a grave, it apparently had been dislodged by the wind and blown or drifted to where it was found. It is inscribed as follows: – In memory of John Davidson, Peterhead, who died 1st August 1885, aged 42 years, S.S. "Resolute", Dundee". They brought the headstone with them when they returned to the Post.
Late in the 2003 season the C.C.G.S Louis S. St Laurent stopped at Fellfoot Point on their way from Resolute Bay to Arctic Bay. It took a couple of attempts but shore parties located a modern grave on the gravelly shores of the point. The grave was unmarked but a simple wooden cross with no inscription was lying next to it. 
No one knows for sure, but it was likely the lonely grave of John Davidson. The plan to return the headstone was finally starting to come together.
Upon her arrival at Arctic Bay, the headstone was transferred to the Louis S. St Laurent. A closer look at the headstone made it obvious that one hundred and eighteen years of Arctic weather had taken its toll, and it was decided that a replica of the headstone would be made, and a suitable home found for the original. The crew of the Louis, once again, came to the rescue and a beautiful oak and pexiglass headstone was fashioned.
All that remained was to place it above John.
On October 16th, 2003, the Louis S. St Laurent returned again to Fellfoot Point. Captain Klebert, along with some of the crew, Kautaq Joseph, an Elder from Arctic Bay, and Mishak Allurut, a representative of the Hamlet of Arctic Bay, held a short poignant ceremony marking the re-dedication of the grave, and then once again John was left to rest in peace. Strangely enough, although repatriating the headstone was satisfying, the job still felt unfinished. For while John’s grave was no longer unmarked, there was still no one to remember him, no relatives were known to mark his passing.
In Peterhead, Fiona Riddell and Helen Chavez worked hard to find a relative of John’s. Articles about his grave were put in local newspapers and online. Davidson family gatherings were attended, archives searched. But none of these efforts bore any fruit. It appeared that John’s grave would go unnoticed by anyone but those of us who had worked at finding it.
And then a couple of weeks ago a breakthrough. And a breakthrough with a twist, for it turns out that John Davidson wasn’t really John Davidson.
To be continued…
Photos courtesy of Capt. Stewart Klebert
Comments
6 responses
Stop the torture. More please!!!!
i know, i know!!! not gonna spoil it – Clare’ll tell soon!
In an age where it seems that our appreciation of history is at a terrible low I’m heartened by stories such as this one. Can hardly wait til the next instalment.
You’re killin’ me Clare! Please tell me all will be revealed in Part IV.
When I came north last year I never imagined how much Scottish influence I would encounter. Being of Scottish parents I have found it a comforting and sometimes hilarious surprise.
-Ian
I’m holding my breath …
O.k., Clare–I’m just back from days of hiking in hot canyons and now I’m on the edge of my seat with a displaced grave marker and a dead man who may not have been who he might have been. Please finish this before I take off again for the field!!!