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“Tanna - The graves of Mrs. Paton (died 3rd March) and her infant son (died 20th March 1859). In his Autobiography (page 130) her husband, Rev John G. Paton writes:- ‘Stunned by that dreadful loss, my reason seemed for a time almost to give way. But I was never altogether forsaken. The ever-merciful Lord sustained me to lay the precious dust of my beloved ones, in the same quiet grave, dug for them close by my house in all which last offices my own hands, despite breaking heart, had to take the principal share. I built the grave round and round with coral blocks, and covered the top with white coral, broken small as gravel and that spot because my sacred and much-frequented shrine, during all the months and years when I laboured on for the salvation of these savage islanders amidst difficulties, and dangers and deaths. Whensoever Tanna turns to the Lord, and is won for Christ, men in after-days will find the memory of that spot still green, when with ceaseless prayers and tears I claimed that land for God in which I had buried my dead in faith and hope. But for the fellowship Jesus Christ vouchsafed me there, I must have gone mad and died beside that lonely grave.’” Exterior view of a small palm tree in front of two white mounds which may mark the graves of John Gibson Paton’s wife and son. Paton worked for over three years on Tanna. In May 1861 a Canadian missionary, George N. Gordon, and his wife, on the neighbouring island of Erromango, were murdered and the Tannese, encouraged by the example, redoubled their attacks on Paton, who fled from Tanna to New South Wales.
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