William Dun - Coroner and Settler
Duninald - Map 2
William Dun was born 25 August 1879 at Bloomsbury, London to William Dun and Frances Renwick.
He arrived from England via Hobart on the Mariner on 15 December 1821 with his wife Maria (nee Burnett) and two young daughters Catherine and Fanny. Other passengers on the Mariner included: Mrs. and Miss Reibey, Miss Jane Reibey, Lieut. and Mrs. Thompson, George Reibey, Mr. McLeod, Master Howe, Mr. Henry Moore, Mr. Henry Davis, Dr. H.C. Church. Mr. Henry Hawse, Mr Henry Owen, Mrs. Stroud, Master William Apsey, Mr. Alexander Tompsey, Mr. Cornelius Dempsey
Land Grant
He brought with him recommendations from Lord Bathurst dated September 1820 to become a free settler and a directive to provide him with a land grant proportionate to his means of bringing the land to cultivation.Land Selection
At this time Newcastle was still a penal settlement and all who sailed from Sydney were required to request permission from the authorities to land. His request was granted and he embarked on the Elizabeth Henrietta in March 1822 with his two assigned servants Patrick Good and James Landers [1] At Newcastle he would have ventured further up the river on a smaller vessel. It was probably on this excursion that he selected his land.The location can be seen centre as 'Dunn' on the map below. He was afterwards assigned four convicts and provided with supplies from the Stores at Newcastle for the convicts and his family.
Map of the River Hunter, and its branches : shewing the Lands reserved thereon for Church purposes, the Locations made to Settlers, and the Settlement
Convicts Assigned
Patrick Good who arrived on the Prince Regent 1821 was assigned in March 1822 James and Michael Landers who arrived on the Hadlow in 1820 were assigned in March 1822. John Smith who arrived on the Eliza was assigned in 1823.Select here to find out more about William Dun and convicts who were assigned to him at Duninald
Colonial Life
Unlike some other Hunter Valley land owners, William Dun remained on his estate and became involved in the community in various ways.He performed church services near 'Duninald' at the request of the Commandant at Newcastle and received a further land grant for this duty.
In 1822 he was appointed correspondent member at Newcastle of the Committee of the Agricultural Society of New South Wales, and in 1825 his appointment as Coroner was announced.
Duninald
On the Duninald estate, William Dun constructed his residence of sand stock bricks with two chimneys at either end of the shingled roof. A verandah in the front and three rooms faced east with three more facing the west.
Image: Old Duninald
One of William Dun's daughters, Maria married George Faircloth in 1847 and another, Frances, married Charles Reynolds of Tocal who later owned Duninald.
William Dun died at Denmark Hill, Ipswich Qld on 23 June 1876. His wife Maria Dun died at Denmark Hill, Ipswich Qld in June 1878.
Notes and Links
1). William Dun's brother was General Charles Denis Dun of the Madras Army who died in 1864References
[1] Ancestry. Series: NRS 937; Reel or Fiche Numbers: Reels 6004-6016 Description Title: Copies of Letters Sent Within The Colony, 1814-1827↑