A single grave with a well-preserved tombstone is located in Sandwick Cemetery in Courtenay.

It reads: "Sacred. To the memory of JEANIE, beloved wife of Jacob Blessing. Born Jan 5, 1847 - Died Nov 8, 1878.鈥�

Her tombstone is made of Italian marble and was produced in Victoria by Wright and Rudge. In 1998, Doug Robinson completely overhauled the stone, which may explain why it looks so clean to this day despite being almost 150 years old. 

But who was Jeanie Blessing? And why was she buried alone in Sandwick Cemetery? Why isn鈥檛 Jacob Blessing buried near his beloved wife?

To find out who Jeanie Blessing was, Catherine Siba of the Courtenay & District Museum assisted with research. Siba was paramount in learning more about Blessing. The trace began on why Blessing was buried where she was. 

Inquiries as to who and where Jacob Blessing might be has left Siba somewhat stumped. She noted that there are two Jacob Blessing graves but both are in the United States which may be one of the explanations on why Jeanie is buried alone. 

Jeanie does share the plot area with one person, Isabella Robb, who was the first Caucasian woman to come to the Comox Valley and build a homestead with her husband, James Robb. 

In the burial records for Isabella Robb, the notation reads that she was 73 when she died of natural decay, and 鈥渂uried near her daughter (unreadable text) the old group of graves.鈥� 

In records of Isabella and James Robb coming to Canada from Scotland via England, three daughters and one son are referenced in the ship鈥檚 manifest - Emma, Jane, Jessie and Willie. In a 1851 census, Jane is listed as born in 1847 - the same year that Blessing is listed as being born.

Emma鈥檚 occupation in England is listed as an under-nurse; Jane was in charge of 70 children and toddlers in a poorhouse and Jessie was listed as being a student.

All three daughters were brought to Canada as the prospects for marriage in their native England were limited due to so many men leaving to settle in Canada or the United States. Being in Canada, it was believed three women would have better opportunities for marriage. 

In the records that can be found, Jane is left out after she is left behind in Victoria "to join the service."  Isabella, James, Willie and Jessie are moved up island to what is now Comox in hopes of settling there. 

While other daughters' marriages and lives are kept in records, Jane falls by the wayside. After being referred to as being in the service in Victoria, there are no further updates to her life on the island. 

This calls into question Jeanie Blessing's cemetery plot; Could Jeanie Blessing actually be Jane Robb?

Stories about the Robb family are well-known in the area; Isabella was a midwife who never lost a baby in her care. James brought his family to Comox Bay and took on the harder land, filled with giant fir trees (instead of the easier Valley land) as he wanted to have a wharf and make it accessible to ships and trading. 

While James built the homestead, Isabella lived with an Indigenous woman in a shack with one of her daughters, Jessie. As soon as the barebones of the homestead were complete, Isabella moved herself and her daughter in, using sheets as walls and toughing out the weather. 

In the history of the Robbs in the Comox Valley, the most is known about their son, Willie. Jane was last referenced in 1864 in family documents which may indicate that she died early. The tombstone for Blessing has her dying at the young age of 31. 

In the obituary for James Robb, he is listed as the father-in-law of Jacob Blessing, who may be the same one referenced on Jeanie Blessing鈥檚 tombstone. 

The research suggests that Jeanie Blessings could be Jane Robb.

Where or how she got the nickname Jeanie, is a mystery but it is thought to be a term of endearment from her husband, Jacob.