There was laid to rest in Oakwood
Cemetery, Simcoe, on Sunday last the Venerable Registrar of the County,
who died on the 14th inst., at the advanced age of ninety-five years and
five months.
He was enjoying his usual health until the night of the 12th
instant, when he complained of a pain in his chest which was speedily
removed by medical aid.
He went to his office on the morning of the 13th,
and when near the door of his residence on his return home in the
afternoon he staggered and was caught by his grand-daughter and a young
lady visitor. Medical aid was called in and pronounced him suffering from
conjestion [sic] of the lungs and that his case was hopeless.
His aged and loved partner preceded
him on the journey heavenward only some five months. There is left to
mourn the loss of a good -- in every sense of the word -- father, four
sons and four daughters.
Beyond doubt, Mr. Walsh occupied a
position under the Crown longer than any person who has held a Government
office in the British Empire.
He was appointed Deputy Registrar under his
father, the late Thomas Walsh, the first Registrar of the County in 1800
and held that position until April, 1810, when he was appointed Registrar
of the County and continued in the active discharge of the duties of his
office until his death.
After 84 years of official life he died as he
always desired he should, in harness.
He was 10 years a member of
Parliament for this County, have been first elected in 1820.
Probably no
man was better known or more generally beloved by the people of Norfolk.
His extreme age, his devotion to the duties of his office, his unbounded
hospitality, and his long and intimate acquaintance with the people
combined to render him an object of general esteem and reverence.
A few
years ago he was presented with a costly portrait of himself and a
valuable silver set in token of the love which both political parties bore
towards him and their appreciation of the services of a public officer who
from the Centuary's [sic] gray dawn had worn "The white flower
of a blameless life."
He was a devout Christian letting
his light shine before all men and died in the sure and certain hope of
the resurrection to eternal life.
