William Duncan (bef. 1822 - 1903)

Born before 4 Apr 1822 in Latheron, Caithness, Scotland, United Kingdom

Died 21 Jan 1903 after age 80 in Masterton, Wellington, New Zealand

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Margaret Allison [send private message]

Biography

William Duncan was born in Scotland.

William was born in 1822 at Berriedale, Latheron, Caithness, Scotland, and baptised on 4 April that year at Latheron^[1]. He was the first son of George Duncan and Christy Grant.

In 1841 he was living with his mother Christian Duncan (a tenant crofter aged about 50) and three siblings - Betty (about 20), George (16) and Anne (12) - at Achnacraig, Latheron, Caithness^[2]. He was an agricultural labourer aged 18. In 1851 he was living with his mother Christian Grant (a retired fisherman's wife aged 60) and his sister Elizabeth (a net maker aged 31) at Parkside, Latheron, Caithness^[3]. He was an agricultural labourer aged 29.

William Duncan migrated from Scotland to New Zealand.

At some stage William migrated to New Zealand, but he is not recorded on the passenger list for the Ashburton with his mother and two sisters, Jane and Ann^[4]. However, he must have come about the same time as his obituary said that he had been in New Zealand for 46 years when he died in 1903^[5].

He initially was involved with fishing at Lyall Bay, Wellington^[5]. Later he became a shepherd at Hautotara, Flat Point and Glendonald stations.

It appears that William did not marry and had no known children. He spent his last years with his nephew and niece at Dreyerton^[5].

William died on 21 January 1903 aged 79 years^[6]. He was buried in Archer Street Cemetery, Masterton^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms"' National Records of Scotland, Parish Number: 038; Ref: 20/14. ScotlandsPeople (digital database) Accessed 27 Apr 2024
   William Duncan born or baptised on 4 Apr 1822, son of George Duncan, in Latheron, Caithness, Scotland.
2. ↑ "Scottish General Register Office: 1841 Census Returns database, FreeCEN (https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/590287e8e9379091b15285e4 : viewed 5 May 2024), William DUNCAN in household of Christian DUNCAN, Achnacraig, Latheron, Caithness, Scotland; from 1841 "England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images; citing The National Archives HO 107/38, Folio 0, Page 2, Schedule , The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
3. ↑ "Scottish General Register Office: 1851 Census Returns database, FreeCEN (https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/59028883e9379091b154eed6 : viewed 5 May 2024), William DUNCAN in household of Christian GRANT, Parkside, Latheron, Caithness, Scotland; from 1851 "England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images; citing The National Archives /38, Folio 0, Page 7, Schedule 24, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
4. ↑ Rootsweb Free Pages: Ashburton Accessed 27 Apr 2024
   Sailed London August 7th 1857 - arrived Wellington November 26th 1857
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Papers Past Article Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa Accessed 5 May 2024
   LOCAL AND GENERAL. Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7369, 24 January 1903, Page 2
6. ↑ New Zealand Births, Deaths & Marriages Online (Digital Database), Department of Internal Affairs Te Tari Taiwhenua Death Registration. Accessed 29 Apr 2024
   1903/3057 Duncan, William Age=79Y DOD=21/01/1903
7. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/232197614/william-duncan: accessed May 5, 2024), memorial page for William Duncan (Mar 1824–21 Jan 1903), Find A Grave: Memorial #232197614, citing Archer Street Cemetery, Masterton, Masterton District, Wellington, New Zealand; Maintained by pkg (contributor 46968786).

Acknowledgements

• Biography written by Margaret Bailey Allison