James Nesbitt has laid in an unmarked resting place for the last 150 years. Now, family members are saying it is time to appropriately mark his Heritage Listed Grave.
In 1879, James Nesbitt was killed during the Wantabadgery siege as a member of the gang led by Captain Moonlite (Andrew George Scott). He was just 21 years old.
For the last 150 years, James Nesbitt has laid in an unmarked grave in the Monumental Section at North Gundagai Cemetery.
James Nesbitt’s great-great-great nephew Adam Warren is calling on the local Gundagai community for support in raising funds to mark Nesbitt’s final resting place appropriately.
Through work with the Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council (CGRC) and heritage processes, Mr Warren is hoping to raise between $7000-8000 to install a modest, historically appropriate headstone, so Nesbitt’s grave is properly identified and preserved.
Mr Warren initially intended to place a small plaque on the grave. However, after contacting the CGRC, he learned that Nesbitt’s burial site is within the heritage-listed North Gundagai Cemetery and that both Nesbitt and Captain Moonlite are specifically included in the heritage listing. This means any permanent marker requires formal heritage approval, potentially at state level.
Mr Warren launched a community fundraiser to help cover the expenses. He also intends to investigate whether any local, state or heritage grants may be available to assist with funding the project.
All funds raised will go toward the cost of the headstone, installation, and cemetery fees.
This process includes:
• the headstone itself (stone and base)
• engraving of his name, dates, and inscription
• professional installation at the cemetery
• required cemetery approval fees
• GoFundMe processing fees and small contingency
Any funds beyond what is needed will go toward ongoing care of the grave and preservation of the historical record of James Nesbitt and his connection to Captain Moonlite.
The effort to mark his grave began when Mr Warren discovered through family history research that James Nesbitt was his great-great-great uncle.
“I had known about Captain Moonlite since primary school when we learned about bushrangers,” Mr Warren said.
“Years later, while researching my family history, I discovered that James Nesbitt was actually part of my own family.”
“For nearly 150 years, his resting place has gone without a headstone. Regardless of the circumstances of his life, he was someone’s son, family member, and part of Australia’s colonial history,” said Adam.
“We are aiming to respectfully recognise a small but genuine part of Gundagai’s history and ensure a historic grave in the local cemetery is not left unmarked.”
Mr Warren said that learning more about Nesbitt’s life and the historical record surrounding his death strengthened his resolve to ensure Nesbitt is not forgotten.
“From what is known, James had a very hard upbringing and spent much of his youth in trouble and in prison. Learning about his life, and how he and Andrew George Scott first met while imprisoned at Pentridge, has made his story feel very personal as a member of his family,” said Mr Warren.
“Reading Moonlite’s letters and knowing how deeply James was loved, I feel very sad that his mother never received the lock of his hair that was meant for her.”
Mr Warren and his family hope that the installation of a respectful headstone will not only properly mark James’s grave, but will also acknowledge his place in Australian history, recognise the historical significance of his relationship with Captain Moonlite and provide a place of remembrance for family and visitors.
CGRC Cemetery records confirm James Nesbitt’s burial location at North Gundagai Cemetery in the Monumental Section (General OS 2627).
The graves of both James Nesbitt and Captain Moonlite are jointly listed on the NSW State Heritage Register as a combined heritage item titled ‘Captain Moonlite and James Nesbitt’s graves.’
James Nesbitt is best known for his close bond with Captain Moonlite. Historical letters written by Moonlite after James’s death express deep affection and profound grief for Nesbitt. In one letter to Nesbitt’s mother, Scott enclosed a lock of James’s hair as a keepsake – a letter that was never delivered.
Moonlite requested to be buried beside Nesbitt — a wish that was not granted at the time — though today they rest within the same cemetery, only a short distance apart.
Many historians interpret the relationship between Moonlite and Nesbitt as romantic, and they are often considered among Australia’s earliest known same-sex bushranger couples.
While 19th-century language and relationships were expressed differently than they are today, their connection remains one of the most personal and compelling stories in bushranger history.
Mr Warren hopes this project will ensure a known historic grave in North Gundagai is respectfully recognised for future generations.
“This project is not about glorifying crime. It is about ensuring that a young man who died in 1879 is not left in an unmarked grave. After nearly 150 years, it is time that James Nesbitt’s name is properly marked,” said Mr Warren.
“As far as I am aware, our family may be the only relatives connected to him today. I feel we owe it to him to show that someone still cares that he lived and died, and that he is not forgotten.”
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