George H. Schutz
Harbourmaster
SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
CAPT. GEORGE HENRY SCHUTZ
TWENTY SEVEN YEARS
HARBOURMASTER OF BARROW
DIED MAY 11TH 1881
AGED 82 YEARS
Where is the grave?
Just west of the South Chapel, behind the hedge, at the north-east corner of that section.
I was interested in the foreign sounding name – unusual in Furness in the late nineteenth century, and only 33 years before the start of the European War. Schutz was obviously well-respected when the account of his funeral is read:
Barrow News Saturday 14 May 1881 reports:
Barrow News, 14 May 1881DEATH OF CAPTAIN SCHUTZ
We have the painful duty this week to record the death of Captain Schutz, who for many years acted as harbour master of Barrow. He had arrived at the advanced age of 82 years, and for some time past suffered considerably from an illness which increased in its gravity till his death, which occurred on Tuesday (Wednesday according to the headstone). The deceased gentleman, who was highly respected by every one who knew him, commenced his duties as harbour master of Barrow as long ago as January, 1847, and he discharged the functions of that office with great credit until 1874, when, owing to the development of the port, and owing also to his declining years he accepted nominally the position of deputy harbour master, Captain Fitzgerald, R.N., taking his place. Since then Captain Barnett, R.N., has superseded Capt. Fitzgerald. A worthy tribute to the worth of the deceased Captain was paid by the Furness Railway Company in the shape of his full salary up to the time of his death. His funeral took place yesterday afternoon at Dalton Cemetery, and the greatest possible respect was shown to his memory. The bier was carried from the deceased’s residence in the Strand to the Railway Station by workmen over whom he had charge for many years, and the chief mourners were followed by the heads of department of the Furness Railway Company and others, amongst whom we noticed Captain Barnett, R.N., Messrs. H. Cook, T. Edge, W.S. Whitworth, W. Kendall, R. Mason, H. Bagot, Capt. Stokes, J. Horn, C. Mossop, J. Huartson, J. Haines, J. Mawson, J. Mather, J. Hunt, J. Thomas, M. Haslam, J. Lewis, John Robinson, T. McArthur, H. Lange, Captain Young, Captain Gash, J. Shorrocks, J. Huddleston, S. Heaton, J. Stribley, John Geldert, J. Tonge, R. Addison, and others. A large crowd of people watched the cortege move towards the station. The corpse was conveyed by the 2.5 train to Dalton, where the cortege was joined by Sir James Ramsden. The office of interment was performed by the Rev. J. M. Morgan, vicar of Dalton, in a very impressive manner. Special facilities were afforded by the Railway Company to those wishful to pay a last tribute of respect to the first harbour master of Barrow.
There is no record on the Cumbria BMD website of any marriage or children.
