马六甲古堡里的少儿合棺

进入马六甲古堡城门向上走，便可看到三口大石棺。其中有口石棺的碑文如下：

Sacred to the memories of

Sabella Caroline Velge, who departed this life on the 28^th November 1855, born 22^nd February of the same year, aged 9 months & 6 days;

Robert Malcolm Evans, who departed this life on the 16^th January 1856, born 28^th October 1855, aged 2 months & 19 days;

Anna Maria Evans, who departed this life on the 21st January 1856, born 7^th July 1831, aged 21 years 6 months & 17 days;

Edward Nagel Evans, who departed this life on the 24^th January 1856, born 12^th August 1852, aged 3 years 5 months & 12 days;

Louisa Augusta Evans, who departed this life on the 2^nd February 1856, born 15^th April 1851, aged 4 years 9 months & 17 days;

Frederick Theodore Velge, who departed this life on the 8^th February 1856, born 1^st October 1854, aged 1 year 4 months & 8 days.

This tablet is erected as a last of testimony of the love and affection their father and grand father J. H. Velge

这块碑文镶嵌在石棺上，记载了六位墓主的生卒年月，其中两位姓Velge，四位姓Evans，立碑人为父亲和爷爷J. H. Velge。

这六位孩子均死于1855年11月28日到1856年2月8日不到三个月内，年龄最大的21岁，最小的仅两个月。这个家庭究竟发生了什么事情呢？让我们根据碑文不多的信息作一番猜测。