Despite being the person the cemetery is named for, Isabella Ross's grave was unmarked. In 1994 the Old Cemeteries Society erected the marker shown in the photo. It is a replica headboard similar to many once found in the cemetery.
Isabella was born on 10 Jan 1808 to Joseph Mainville and Cree Indian woman Josette (Josie) at Michili Mackinac, Lake Superior, Minnesota.
She originally came here with her husband who was employed by the Hudson's Bay Company as Chief Factor (Chief Trader) who was in charge of building Fort Victoria, a fur trading post and the headquarters of Hudson's Bay Company operations in British Columbia. The fort was the beginnings of a settlement that grew into the modern Victoria, the capital city of British Columbia.
Isabella Ross was the first woman to own property in British Columbia. After her husband's death Isabella bought land for a farm that now makes up the eastern two-thirds of Ross Bay Cemetery, where she is buried. Not only is Ross Bay named for her but she also named Foul Bay, though it was originally spelled "Fowl".
Isabella died at St. Anne's convent in 1885 at age 77 years.
Isabella Mainville Ross was the wife of fur trader Charles Ross. Her father, Joseph Mainville was Ogibway and her mother, Josette, was Saulteau. After her husband died, she bought 99 acres of waterfront farmland, and thus became the first woman registered as a land owner in BC.
Isabella died in 1885 while being cared for by the Sisters of St. Ann. She was buried on land that had once belonged to her, within site of her old home, near the bay that bears her name in Ross Bay Cemetery.
Isabella was born on 10 Jan 1808 to Joseph Mainville and Cree Indian woman Josette (Josie) at Michili Mackinac, Lake Superior, Minnesota.
She originally came here with her husband who was employed by the Hudson's Bay Company as Chief Factor (Chief Trader) who was in charge of building Fort Victoria, a fur trading post and the headquarters of Hudson's Bay Company operations in British Columbia. The fort was the beginnings of a settlement that grew into the modern Victoria, the capital city of British Columbia.
Isabella Ross was the first woman to own property in British Columbia. After her husband's death Isabella bought land for a farm that now makes up the eastern two-thirds of Ross Bay Cemetery, where she is buried. Not only is Ross Bay named for her but she also named Foul Bay, though it was originally spelled "Fowl".
Isabella died at St. Anne's convent in 1885 at age 77 years.
Isabella Mainville Ross was the wife of fur trader Charles Ross. Her father, Joseph Mainville was Ogibway and her mother, Josette, was Saulteau. After her husband died, she bought 99 acres of waterfront farmland, and thus became the first woman registered as a land owner in BC.
Isabella died in 1885 while being cared for by the Sisters of St. Ann. She was buried on land that had once belonged to her, within site of her old home, near the bay that bears her name in Ross Bay Cemetery.
Despite being the person the cemetery is named for, Isabella Ross's grave was unmarked. In 1994 the Old Cemeteries Society erected the marker shown in the photo. It is a replica headboard similar to many once found in the cemetery.
Isabella was born on 10 Jan 1808 to Joseph Mainville and Cree Indian woman Josette (Josie) at Michili Mackinac, Lake Superior, Minnesota.
She originally came here with her husband who was employed by the Hudson's Bay Company as Chief Factor (Chief Trader) who was in charge of building Fort Victoria, a fur trading post and the headquarters of Hudson's Bay Company operations in British Columbia. The fort was the beginnings of a settlement that grew into the modern Victoria, the capital city of British Columbia.
Isabella Ross was the first woman to own property in British Columbia. After her husband's death Isabella bought land for a farm that now makes up the eastern two-thirds of Ross Bay Cemetery, where she is buried. Not only is Ross Bay named for her but she also named Foul Bay, though it was originally spelled "Fowl".
Isabella died at St. Anne's convent in 1885 at age 77 years.
Isabella Mainville Ross was the wife of fur trader Charles Ross. Her father, Joseph Mainville was Ogibway and her mother, Josette, was Saulteau. After her husband died, she bought 99 acres of waterfront farmland, and thus became the first woman registered as a land owner in BC.
Isabella died in 1885 while being cared for by the Sisters of St. Ann. She was buried on land that had once belonged to her, within site of her old home, near the bay that bears her name in Ross Bay Cemetery.
Isabella was born on 10 Jan 1808 to Joseph Mainville and Cree Indian woman Josette (Josie) at Michili Mackinac, Lake Superior, Minnesota.
She originally came here with her husband who was employed by the Hudson's Bay Company as Chief Factor (Chief Trader) who was in charge of building Fort Victoria, a fur trading post and the headquarters of Hudson's Bay Company operations in British Columbia. The fort was the beginnings of a settlement that grew into the modern Victoria, the capital city of British Columbia.
Isabella Ross was the first woman to own property in British Columbia. After her husband's death Isabella bought land for a farm that now makes up the eastern two-thirds of Ross Bay Cemetery, where she is buried. Not only is Ross Bay named for her but she also named Foul Bay, though it was originally spelled "Fowl".
Isabella died at St. Anne's convent in 1885 at age 77 years.
Isabella Mainville Ross was the wife of fur trader Charles Ross. Her father, Joseph Mainville was Ogibway and her mother, Josette, was Saulteau. After her husband died, she bought 99 acres of waterfront farmland, and thus became the first woman registered as a land owner in BC.
Isabella died in 1885 while being cared for by the Sisters of St. Ann. She was buried on land that had once belonged to her, within site of her old home, near the bay that bears her name in Ross Bay Cemetery.
