Christian (Grant) Duncan (bef. 1789 - 1866)

Born before 27 Dec 1789 in Berriedale, Caithness, Scotland

Wife of George Duncan — married 10 Apr 1817 in Latheron, Caithness, Scotland, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 27 Feb 1866 after age 76 in Masterton, Wellington, New Zealand

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

Biography

Christy (Grant) Duncan was born in Scotland.

Christian (known as Chirstian, Christy or Christina - see research notes) was born about 1789 at Achahorn, Berriedale, Caithness, Scotland^[1], and baptised on 27 December that year at Latheron, Caithness^[2]. She was the daughter of George Grant.

She married George Duncan on 10 April 1817 at Latheron, Caithness^[3], both residing at Achnacriag^[4]. George and Christy had five children.

1. Jean/Jane (1817^[5] - 1886^[6])
2. Elspet/Elizabeth (1820^[7] - 1897^[8])
3. William (1822^[9] - 1903^[10])
4. George (1824^[11] - )
5. Anne (1827^[12] - 1867^[13])

In 1841 she was a tenant crofter aged about 50 living at Achnacraig, Latheron, Caithness with her four children - Betty (20), William (an agricultural labourer aged 18), George (16) and Anne (12)^[14]. In 1851 she (listed under her maiden name of Grant) was a retired fisherman's wife aged 60 living at Parkside, Latheron, Caithness with her two children - Elizabeth (a net maker aged 31) and William (an agricultural labourer aged 29)^[15].

Her husband George died probably before 1855.

Christy (Grant) Duncan migrated from Scotland to New Zealand.

She emigrated to New Zealand with her daughters Jane and Ann and Ann's husband James Harvey and children in 1857 sailing from London on the Ashburton on 7 August and arriving in Wellington on 26 November 1857^[16]. The family settled in the Wairarapa. At some stage her daughter Elizabeth and sons William and George also came to New Zealand. She presumably lived with one of her daughters, maybe with Ann.

Christina died on 27 February 1866 aged 73 years^[17]) at the residence of her son-in-law James Harvey at Berriedale farm, Wairarapa^[18]. The death was reported in the Wellington Independent:

Duncan.— On the 27th February, at the residence of Mr. James Harvey, Wairarapa, Christina Duncan, aged 73 years, greatly lamented by all who know her. Home papers please copy.

She was buried on the Berriedale farm property at Kōpuaranga. In December 1886 (more than 20 years later), James sold Berridale. The following March he applied for permission to transfer the remains of his wife and mother-in-law to the Masterton Public Cemetery^[19]. The warrant was prepared and James obtained it on 2 April 1887. There is no record of that transfer happening in council records^[20], so Christina may still be on the property. There is no gravestone erected for her at the Archer Street Cemetery, Masterton^[21], only a memorial listing.

Research Notes

Variations of the name Christian popular in Scotland from the 17th Century are found on the What's in a Name Forenames website^[22]. Christian could easily be written as Chirstian^[23]. Or what would now would be Kirsten was Chirstain. That swap of the "r" and the previous letter is apparently called metathesis. (Dickson-4413 02:29, 29 April 2024 (UTC))

Sources

1. ↑ "Scotland, Parish Births & Baptisms 1564-1929". Reference: OPR 38/1; Page: 252. FindMyPast Transcription Accessed 27 Apr 2024
   Christian Grant baptism on 27 Dec 1789, child of George Grant, in Latheron, Caithness, Scotland.
2. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms". National Records of Scotland, Parish Number: 038; Ref: 10/256. ScotlandsPeople (digital database) Accessed 27 Apr 2024
   Chirstian Grant born or baptised on 30 Nov 1789, child of George Grant, in Latheron, Caithness, Scotland.
3. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Banns and Marriages". National Records of Scotland, Parish Number: 038; Ref: 10/567. ScotlandsPeople (digital database) Accessed 27 Apr 2024
   Christy Grant marriage to George Duncan on or after 10 Apr 1817 in Latheron, Caithness, Scotland.
4. ↑ "Scotland, Parish Marriages & Banns 1561-1893". Reference: OPR 38/1; Page: -. FindMyPast Transcription Accessed 27 Apr 2024
   Christy Grant marriage to George Duncan on 10 Apr 1817 in Latheron, Caithness, Scotland.
5. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms". National Records of Scotland, Parish Number: 038; Ref: 10/445. ScotlandsPeople (digital database) Accessed 27 Apr 2024
   Jean Duncan born or baptised on 11 Dec 1817, daughter of George Duncan, in Latheron, Caithness, Scotland.
6. ↑ New Zealand Births, Deaths & Marriages Online (Digital Database), Department of Internal Affairs Te Tari Taiwhenua Death Registration. Accessed 29 Apr 2024
   1886/3811 Bruce, Jane Age=67Y [69 on gravestone] DOD=04/07/1886
7. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms"' National Records of Scotland, Parish Number: 038; Ref: 20/3. ScotlandsPeople (digital database) Accessed 27 Apr 2024
   Elspet Duncan born or baptised on 21 Jan 1820, daughter of George Duncan, in Latheron, Caithness, Scotland.
8. ↑ New Zealand Births, Deaths & Marriages Online (Digital Database), Department of Internal Affairs Te Tari Taiwhenua Death Registration. Accessed 29 Apr 2024
   1897/852 Jennings, Elizabeth Age=76Y DOD=19/02/1897
9. ↑ "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.
10. ↑ 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
11. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms"' National Records of Scotland, Parish Number: 038; Ref: 20/26. ScotlandsPeople (digital database) Accessed 27 Apr 2024
    George Duncan born or baptised on 26 May 1824, son of George Duncan, in Latheron, Caithness, Scotland.
12. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms". National Records of Scotland, Parish Number: 038; Ref: 20/41. ScotlandsPeople (digital database) Accessed 27 Apr 2024
    Anne Duncan born or baptised on 6 Sep 1827, daughter of George Duncan, in Latheron, Caithness, Scotland.
13. ↑ New Zealand Births, Deaths & Marriages Online (Digital Database), Department of Internal Affairs Death Registration. Accessed 3 Jun 2020
    1867/3122 Harvey, Ann Age=39Y DOD=10/03/1867
14. ↑ "Scottish General Register Office: 1841 Census Returns database, FreeCEN (https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/590287e8e9379091b15285e0 : viewed 27 Apr 2024), Christian 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.
15. ↑ "Scottish General Register Office: 1851 Census Returns database, FreeCEN (https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/59028883e9379091b154eed2 : viewed 27 Apr 2024), 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.
16. ↑ Rootsweb Free Pages: Ashburton Accessed 27 Apr 2024
    Sailed London August 7th 1857 - arrived Wellington November 26th 1857
17. ↑ New Zealand Births, Deaths & Marriages Online (Digital Database), Department of Internal Affairs Te Tari Taiwhenua Death Registration. Accessed 27 Apr 2024
    1866/2847 Duncan, Christina Age=73Y DOD=27/02/1866
18. ↑ Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa Accessed 27 Apr 2024
    DEATH. Wellington Independent, Volume XXI, Issue 2333, 10 March 1866, Page
19. ↑ Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga Collections Search Ref R24492666. Accessed 3 May 2024
    From: J Harvey, Masterton Date (Received): 25 March 1887 Subject: For permit to remove body of his deceased wife Anne Harvey and the body of deceased mother in law from section 62 Kopuaranga block near Dreyertown to Public Cemetery Masterton [File cover only]
20. ↑ Email from Liz Conway, Archive, Assistant Manager, Te Pūranga Kōrero o Wairarapa Wairarapa Archive to Rod Newland, 7 May 2024, about the burial of Ann Harvey and Christina Duncan
21. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/182708739/christina-duncan: accessed April 27, 2024), memorial page for Christina Duncan (1793–27 Feb 1866), Find A Grave: Memorial #182708739; Burial Details Unknown; Maintained by JjH (contributor 48491654).
22. ↑ What's in a Name Forenames website: Christian (F) Accessed 29 Apr 2024
23. ↑ Personal communication from Catriona Watson on 28 Apr 2024

Acknowledgements

• Biography written by her daughter's 2xgreat step-grand-daughter Margaret Bailey Allison
• Thanks for additional information to Rod Newland.