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Research in Other Countries => New Zealand => New Zealand Completed Requests => Topic started by: Marrel on Friday 28 September 12 23:50 BST (UK)
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I am wondering if anyone can help me find some information about this person.
He was John Gunn, born abt 1845 in Helmsdale Scotland. His parents were George Gunn and Marion Polson. I know that three of John's siblings came to New Zealand in 1862 on the Mermaid. They were Ann, Donald and Robert. Ann became Mrs James Sutherland Bruce of Palmerston. I am pretty sure I have evidence to prove Donald lived in the Canterbury region and Robert in the Queenstown region.
John Gunn was still in Scotland for the 1871 census living with his parents. By 1881 he had gone from there and can't be found in any other census or death records. So I'm assuming he may have joined his siblings in New Zealand. I have come across a death notice in the North Otago Times on 12 December 1888: John Gunn at the Oamaru Hospital, native of Scotland, aged 42 years. The age would be right and the death place close to his sister Ann. I'm wondering if it him.
Can anyone look up the Oamaru cemetery records for me please?
Any help would be appreciated
Adair
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Hi Adair,
The old cemetery records are at the Nort Otago Museum
http://www.northotagomuseum.co.nz/
Try emailing them
Cheers Janette
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Hi Marrel,
BDM NZ https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/home/ gives a date of death of 11 December 1888.
The NZ Society of Genealogists Kiwi Index lists a John GUNN aboard the 1874 voyage of the Douglas to New Zealand. Might be him.
And you might want to contact the Oamaru branch of the NZ Society of Genealogists if you have no luck with cemetery records as the Index has death record giving them as a contact for further information.
Spades
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Thank you!
These are great leads to follow up.
Adair
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And I omitted to mention that the NZ Society of Genealogists holds information for a John GUNN in their First Families Collection (e.g. families prior to 1900). If you're not a member of the Society I can make a request on your behalf.
I believe that there was another John GUNN with references prior to 1874, in fact going back to the 1840's, so the First Families Collection may refer to them and not your ancestor.
By the way, in 1875 a John GUNN married a Jane BURGESS. Location not provided. This the only likely marriage between 1874 and 1888.
Do you know if your John married or had children?
Spades
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Thanks for your offer - I have just joined the NZ Society of Genealogists so hoping to find some more information there. I don't know if there was a marriage or children but I will follow that through.
Like you I think the reference in First Families will be an earlier John Gunn.
Do you know if there is a recorded passenger list for the Douglas? I see reference to its arrival in Papers Past but can't find a list of passengers. Not in the other immigrant ship sites I go to either.
Adair
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Hi Marrel,
I googled 'douglas 1874 nz' and while i didn't find a passenger list, did find these:
http://www.nzpictures.co.nz/pandorasboxshipdouglas.htm
This site includes an anecdote of the ship's captain.
http://www.gazzard.net/jessegazzard.html
This site discusses quarantine burials on Wellington's Somes Island including the Douglas.
http://nzgenealogy.blogspot.co.nz/2011_11_01_archive.html
Spades
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Do you know if there is a recorded passenger list for the Douglas? I see reference to its arrival in Papers Past but can't find a list of passengers. Not in the other immigrant ship sites I go to either.
[Mmm ... possibly it is a list the transcribers avoided - there being some 465 passengers on that 1874 voyage !!?? :D ]
But Archives NZ (Wellington) does have the passenger list*.
http://archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=4085359
[* Different to the first-mentioned list in Spades previous post. ] ;)
~ Lu
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Here is the manifest for the voyage to Wellington that left UK 2nd July 1874 arrived in Wellington 22nd Oct 1874,I can't see any Gunn's on the list
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12405-66732-39?cc=1609792&wc=MMRD-3W1:n1745839256
Cheers Janette
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Good find, Janette. ;D
I checked the Petone Settlers Museum Passenger List database and found several J GUNN's but not on the Douglas.
http://www.huttcity.govt.nz/Leisure--Culture/Museums-and-galleries/Our-museums/Petone-Settler-DB/
Spades
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Hello there
"Mary became Mrs James Sutherland Bruce of Palmerston".
You might like to e mail the Waihemo District Museum at Palmerston and make an inquiry:-
waihemomuseum[at]xtra.co.nz
Then there is this:-
http://www.archives.presbyterian.org.nz/marriageregisters/palmerston1.htm
Cheers
Alex G
Moderator Comment: e-mail edited, to avoid spamming and other abuses.
Please replace [-- at --] with @
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The majority of New Zealand passenger lists record persons brought here under the various Immigration schemes.
As John GUNN had family already established in NZ, it may be that they sponsored his travel ... or that he paid his own passage to the colony. [Unfortunately there are very few lists naming those who paid their own way. ] :(
~ Lu
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The North Otago Museum has replied with a mother listed on the death records for the John Gunn in the NT death notice - Ann McDonald. Wrong mother so that has drawn a blank
Archives have done a check through a few records with no luck, but did say John Gunn could have come as an unassissted passenger and not have had his name recorded.
I'm going to leave the search for now and have a rethink.
Thank you to everyone who has responded so generously.
Adair
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Hello there.
If the NZ GUNN line you are researching can be tied back to the Shetland Iles, please PM me, and I will arrange a contact for you with a NZ Mr Gunn, with whom I have contact.
- Alan.
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Please note I have modified my original post after an alert from a PM.
John Gunn's sister who became Mrs James Bruce was Ann not Mary.
Apologies!! I have the correct name Ann in my original records so not sure how I managed to change her name to Mary.
Adair
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Hi Marrel
Have come across the family of Ann Gunn and James Bruce in a family tree on Roostweb. (The Carter and Patrick family of Canada) They have the details of Ann and James' family in NZ all correct as far as I know, and I am fairly sure it is the same family. However according to the details Ann did not have a brother John.
Her parents are shown as George Gunn and Marion Polson and they had 5 children. Mary (b. 1835), Robert (b. 1837), Donald (b. 1839), Esther (b. 1841), and Alexander (b. 1843). No mention of a John.
I have been tracing Ann Gunn to thry and determine if she was related to the Mary Gunn who was married in Waikouaiti about 6 months before Ann.
RussJ
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Hi Russ,
There were eight children born to George and Marion.
In the 1841 census the eldest three, Ann, Robert and Donald, are listed.
In 1851 Robert, Donald, Esther, Alexander, John, William are listed. Ann is obviously away working somewhere else.
Lastly Jessie was born just after this census.
No Mary in the census records for this family.
I know the family tree you are referring to. It is extensive but does have one or two errors.
Regards
Adair