John Gunn born abt 1845 Helmsdale Scotland

[Marrel]

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

[Janette]

Hi Adair,

The old cemetery records are at the Nort Otago Museum

http://www.northotagomuseum.co.nz/

Try emailing them

Cheers Janette

[spades]

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

[Marrel]

Thank you!
These are great leads to follow up.

Adair

[spades]

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

[Marrel]

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

[spades]

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

[Lucy2]

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 !!??    ]

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

[Janette]

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