Alexander Dunn (1848 - 1904)

Born 26 Mar 1848 in Lee, Kent, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Catherine Amelia (McKay) Dunn — married 30 Jul 1873 in Residence of John Hayhurst, Greenhays Estate, Temuka

Descendants

Died 24 Apr 1904 at age 56 in Masterton, New Zealand

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Noel Dunn [send private message]

Biography

Alexander Dunn was born in England.

Alexander Dunn was born about 1848 in Lee, Kent, England ^[1]. His parents were John Dunn and Emma Andrews.

Census

At the 1851 Census in Lee Kent, a possible family of Alexander Dunn aged 3 is shown with his family living in Kent, England and his three elder siblings and one younger brother as John 38, Elizabeth 42, Sarah Ann 15, Sophia Ann 6, John 5, Alexander 3 and George 0 ^[2].

In the 1861 Census, shows a possible family of Alexander Dunn aged 13 years is shown with his family living in Kent, England and his four siblings also all born in Kent, England as John 45, Emma Eliz Dunn 36, Alexander 13, George 11, Archibald 5, Charlotte Ann 3 and James Andrew 0 ^[3].

1871 census at Kent shows three of his siblings (no parents) as: Charlotte A 13, James A 10, Henry D Dunn 5 all born Lee, Kent ^[4]. The 1881 census at Lewisham, Kent shows a John Dunn 65, Emma 55 and Henry D Dunn 15 born Lee, Kent, England ^[5].

New Zealand

There is a shipping record for an Alexander Dunn aged 16 years from Kent who is a labourer, arriving on the ship Indian Empire in 1863 into Lyttleton, Christchurch, New Zealand ^[6].

He married Catherine Amelia McKay in 1873 in the residence of John Hayhurst, Greenhays Estate, Temuka, New Zealand ^[7]. The marriage witnesses were John Hayhurst and Samuel Burrows, Hotel Keeper at Temuka. Alexander is shown as a farmer, batchelor and full age (32) on their marriage licence whereas his wife Annie was a minor (15).

According to his death certificate they had 8 children: 4 sons and 4 daughters. At at his death there were 2 sons aged 14 and 25 yrs; and 4 daughters aged 10, 14, 17, 23 yrs. In his 4th daughter's wedding Kathleen, it mentions a 3rd daughter named Nina Dunn.

Alexander is buried at Havelock Nth., Hastings, New Zealand, with his wife Catherine and their two sons Archibald and Robert ^[8]. He came down with a very bad case of influenza to which he never fully recovered from ^[9].

Sources

1. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NLXG-4LB : 19 March 2020), Alexander Dunn, 1848
2. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1851," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGRM-B3P : 12 September 2019), Alexander Dunn in household of John Dunn, Lee, Kent, England; citing Lee, Kent, England, p. 16, from "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey
3. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1861," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MG-PV53 : 10 December 2017), Alexander Dunn in household of John Dunn, Lee, London, Kent, England; from "1861 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 9, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey
4. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1871", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VB63-1X8 : 19 February 2021), James A Dunn in entry for Charlotte A Dunn, 1871
5. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q277-8LXN : 11 December 2017), Emma Dunn in household of John Dunn, Lewisham, London,Kent, England; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 47, Piece/Folio 734/27, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,774,386
6. ↑ "New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Passenger Lists, 1839-1973," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FSYK-JYF : 8 August 2017), Alexander Dunn, 24 Mar 1864; citing ship Indian Empire, Archives New Zealand, Wellington; FHL microfilm
7. ↑ "Births, Deaths & Marriages Online", [digital index], New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs (www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz), Marriage Registration of Alexander Dunn and Cath Amelia McKay; citing Marriage Certificate 1873/11191
8. ↑ "Births, Deaths & Marriages Online", [digital index], New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs (www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz), Death Registration of Alexander Dunn, aged at death 56Y, Date of death 24/4/1904; citing Death Certificate 1904/3018
9. ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HAST19040425.2.10.21?

Research Notes

His parents are shown as Emma Eliza Dunn/John Dunn in the census records, however his death certificate shows Sarah Reid/John Dunn. So is the death certificate information wrong (as some are), did John Dunn remarry although there is the 1881 census in Kent showing John 65, Emma 56 and Harry D 15 (youngest son). John passed away in 1886 so it is unlikely that he remarried, so presume the death information about his mother being Sarah Reid is incorrect and Emma Eliza is his mother.

In 1871 census at Kent, three of his siblings show as:

Charlotte A Dunn 13

James A Dunn 10

Henry D Dunn 5

All born in Lee, Kent. If Alexander went to New Zealand in 1863 then this matches. "England and Wales Census, 1871", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VB63-1X8 : 19 February 2021), James A Dunn in entry for Charlotte A Dunn, 1871.

In 1891 census there is a James Andrews Dunn, 30 yrs, born Kent "England and Wales Census, 1891," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:3PR6-7N2 : 2 May 2019), James Andrews Dunn, Fulham, London, England, United Kingdom; from "1891 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 12, London county, subdistrict, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.