Peter Francis Dunne (1881 - 1945)

Born 8 Oct 1881 in Deniliquin, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Euphemia (Eddy) Dunne — married 19 Jul 1904 in Numurkah, Victoria, Australia

Descendants

Died 14 Oct 1945 at age 64 in Finley, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Peter Francis Dunne was born 8 October 1881 at Deniliquin, New South Wales.^[1] He was the son of Peter Augustus Dunne and Adelaide Mary Price. At the time of his birth, it is thought that Deniliquin had a population of approximately 2500 people and was one of the larger towns in the Riverina district.

The family moved to Tocumwal, New South Wales, when he was only a few weeks old and Tocumwal was his home for the rest of his life. Peter Francis Dunne had worked as a drover as a young man, droving cattle through inland New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory, generally taking stock towards Melbourne where top prices were available. This work took him away from home for long periods. With family responsibility, he settled down and worked as a stock agent in Tocumwal. Railway lines from New South Wales and Victoria, which were different gauges, met in Tocumwal and cattle had to be unloaded from one train and re-loaded on another, often needing watering and feeding and possibly a few days in a paddock between train journeys. There were also cattle sales in the town and a stock agent was able to make a reasonable living.

Peter Francis Dunne, described as a labourer, married Euphemia (Effie) Eddy, described as a "Lady help", in a ceremony according to the rites of the Church of England in the residence of W.Eddy of Meiklejohn St., Numurkah in 1904.^[2] Peter was a Catholic and partly of Irish descent; his pregnant girl friend was Methodist and of English descent; an urgent wedding was a social necessity but it appears they could not agree on the church in which they would be married. So they were married in a private residence rather than a church and the officiating clergyman was "neutral", that is, from the church of neither. The date of the marriage has been variously mis-reported at different times (for example see the obituary below), apparently to obscure the urgency of the event. Despite the trauma of the wedding arrangements, it seems Peter and Effie were truly in love and they lived happily for many years at 62 Kelly Street, Tocumwal. (Housenumbers in the street have changed and the former Dunne home was located at approximately 29 Kelly Street in the current address system.)

Although his main employment was as a stock and station agent, he diversified to improve his income. The following advertisement appeared in a local newspaper in 1910:

FARMERS

Mr P. F. Dunne begs to advise farmers that he will call on them every fortnight to buy

HIDES, SKINS, WOOL & TALLOW.

Highest Cash Market Rates^[3]

Peter Francis Dunne suffered a heart attack while watching a football match at Finley, NSW, and died 14 October 1945.^[4] He was buried in Tocumwal cemetery. The death of his son (missing in action in war) obviously affected Peter, whose own death came one year, to the day, from the date believed by the family to have been the date of death of his son (see below).

Obituary published in newspaper (probably local Tocumwal area newspaper, details unknown)

MR PETER F. DUNNE

The death occurred on Sunday October 14, at Finley Hospital, of Mr Peter Francis Dunne, a pioneer resident of Tocumwal and well known commission agent. He had not been in good health for some years, but was able to get about, and on Sunday went to the grand final football match at Finley between Tocumwal and Berrigan. After the first quarter he was entering the playing area, when he collapsed. Mr Kevin Kelly was near Mr Dunne and went to his assistance. Shortly afterwards he took him to Finley Hospital, where Mr Dunne passed away soon after admission, from a heart attack. The news of his death soon spread around the large crowd, and expressions of regret were made on all sides. At the half-time interval, the players stood in silence for two minutes as a mark of their sympathy.

The late Mr Dunne was well-known and esteemed throughout Tocumwal and surrounding districts, having been in business as a commission and stock agent for many years. He was a son of the late Mr and Mrs P.A. Dunne, Tocumwal's first post-master, who arrived in 1881 with his family. Mr P.F. Dunne was then a few weeks old, having been born at Deniliquin. He remained at Tocumwal when his father was transferred to Sydney, and resided here the remainder of his life, being 64 years of age. He was married in 1899 to Miss Effie Eddy, a daughter of the late Mr and Mrs Richard Eddy, and is survived by the following sons and daughters: Addie (Mrs J. Endacott, Sydney), Winnie (Mrs G. Beckwith, Hay), Peter (Tocumwal), Ellis (A.I.F.), Kathleen (Mrs J. Newport, Sale), May (Mrs M. Kelly, Hay), and Langton (A.I.F.). Adrian (Cobber) served in the war against Japan, was reported missing in New Guinea in 1944, and later it was officially stated that he was presumed to be dead. A daughter, Effie, died when aged 7 years, about 28 years ago.

Surviving sisters and brothers are Mrs McHarg (Walwa), Mrs A. Beck (Sydney), Mrs B. King (Sydney), Sisters Flavia (Melbourne), Aloysius (Albury), Ignatius and Anthony, Brothers Isadore (Q), and Ebbie (Sydney). There are 21 grandchildren.

The funeral took place on Monday afternoon from St Peter's Church to Tocumwal Cemetery, and was attended by relatives and a very large number of friends. The Convent School children and members of the Hibernian Lodge formed a guard of honour at the Church and the lodge members at the Cemetery, and many beautiful wreaths were placed on the coffin. Rev. Father Lane conducted the service at the graveside.

All Mr Dunne's daughters came to Tocumwal as soon as possible after receiving word of his death. His sons Ellis and Langton were unable to be present. Two of his sisters visited him recently, and other relatives arrived to attend the funeral. Mrs Dunne and family have received many messages of sympathy from friends in their sad bereavement.

Another report was published in The Riverine Grazier^[5]

Thanks to Caroline Dunne, we have the recollections of Adelaide Endacott, Peter's eldest daughter :

My Dad was not one of the best, he was the best. I suppose he had some failings but to me he was wonderful. My first memory is sitting in front of him on a saddle, riding a big grey horse, another is when he decided we would say a family "Rosary", not every night of the week of course, but often, and we were always happy when "Amen" came because he would say a "Hail Mary" for poor old Tom Kelly (who outlived him anyway), or poor old Mrs Somebody, or poor old anyone he knew, oh dear the "Hail Marys" we had to say, and always a special "Hail Mary" for an unknown stockman who stopped his horse and raised his hat while Grandma (Adelaide) Dunne's funeral passed by, God love him.

I guess Dad was only a labourer at first, then he spent years as a drover. He later opened his own office in Toc (Tocumwal) as a Stock and Station Agent for Macnamaras firm in Melbourne, he did well at that but a bad knee slowed him down a lot, then of course his heart trouble started.

He was a great story teller and had a wonderful streak of imagination and could always put it all into words.

He always liked the farm "Grange Muir", when it belonged to "old" always "old Murtie Looney" and PR (Peter Richard Dunne) said he knew our Dad would be happy when he bought it.

He could strum a tune on the piano and loved music, wouldn't miss a children's concert and loved to show off and try to step dance and when Winnie played the violin and I was at the piano (not in front of others), one day he started to sing "Everybody ought to know how to do the Tickle Toc" dance and he started to show us how but he kicked the table and broke his little toe so the "Tickle Toc" was ended forever.

Dad was a keen horse lover and a very good rider, he was nearly always whistling a happy tune, if his hat was pulled down over his forehead and he was not whistling, we would be very well mannered and polite, but if his hat was pushed back on his head, we could do and say anything. I do not remember once hearing him swear, light a cigarette or have a beer, maybe he did but never at home.

If I remember rightly, the old politician Jack Lang (I think) was a hero and a saint, and Dr Valera (prominent Irish hero) was another.

Dad was a great Catholic but never bigoted; he really believed in the power of prayer, he was a Hibernian and was in the "Holy Name" Society. He always bent his knee as well as his head when at Mass and when the word "Jesus" was said.

Of course he had a bit of a temper at times, one day the car wouldn't start so he kicked the car and the dog, the dog raced away, Dad did a step dance and the car still didn't go.

One day I had a fight with the doctor's daughter, it was a real fight, pulled hair, kicked and hit, all the dirty tricks we could think up, and of course some busy body had to tell Dad, I thought he would half kill me, he was very fussy about our behaviour but when he asked why we fought and I told him it was because Nina Hill said her mother was prettier than mine, well dear old Dad he just looked at me, put his hand on my shoulder and said "Good on you girl", I will always remember that.

Poor old Dad, it took a long time to pay the Government back for what is probably still called "Dunnes paddock" along the Finley Road, probably Freda (widow of Peter's son Edmund Ellis "Mick") still owns them, well almost to the day of the final payment, the army came along and took a lot of it and built a road, it was bad because he used it to rest stock between Vic (Victoria) and NSW (New South Wales). PR (his son, Peter Richard) would help him at the yards as they called the railway but he was called up to work at the aerodrome then the other three boys were in New Guinea (during World War II).

My dear old Dad died of a broken heart really, when Cobber was killed in New Guinea, part of Dad died too, another victim of war.

During World War One, I remember going, probably without permission, to see and listen to an army officer wanting young men to sign up, begging them really and offering all kinds of opportunities etc. and it got too much for Dad who hopped up on the back of a truck and argued saying "well if the army is so great and you are so patriotic why aren't you away fighting instead of getting these young lads to do your dirty work". Well you can imagine the end, the army man would have liked to have Dad shot right there and then, or at least put him into an institution, but Dad won the day and the officers moved to another town, they were jeered and Dad was cheered by most. On that day, I thought my Dad was next to God.

Peter Dunne's last will and testament:^[6]

THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of me PETER FRANCIS DUNNE of Tocumwal in the State of New South Wales agent I REVOKE all prior wills and testamentary writings made by me and declare this to be my last will I APPOINT my wife EUPHEMIA DUNNE, my son PETER RICHARD DUNNE and my son-in-law JOHN VIDAN ENDACOTT executrix, executors and trustees of this my will and I direct that the expression "my said trustees" where herein used shall signify and include the said Euphemia Dunne, Peter Richard Dunne and John Vidan Endacott or the survivors or survivor of them or other the trustees or trustee for the time being of this my will I GIVE DEVISE AND BEQUEATH my estate right title and interest in my Forest Lease property known as "Thistle Bend" situated on Deniliquin Road near Tocumwal to my said son Peter Richard Dunne and I GIVE DEVISE AND BEQUEATH my freehold property situated on Finley Road near Tocumwal and known as "Hill's Paddock" to the said Peter Richard Dunne subject however to the following charges on the last mentioned property, namely to payment by the said Peter Richard Dunne to my said wife, Euphemia Dunne of an annuity of the sum of thirty nine pounds during her life; to payment of the sum of ONE HUNDRED POUNDS to my son EDMUND ELLIS DUNNE within six months of date of death of my said wife and to payment of the sum of ONE HUNDRED POUNDS to my son FRANCIS LANGTON DUNNE within six months of date of death of my said wife and I hereby charge the said amounts against the said freehold property but if my said son Peter Richard Dunne should pre-decease me then I GIVE DEVISE AND BEQUEATH both the aforementioned properties, subject as aforesaid in respect of the latter property, to his two sons PETER LLEWELLYN DUNNE and LEO RICHARD DUNNE in equal shares or to the survivor of them alone if one of them should pre-decease me I GIVE DEVISE AND BEQUEATH the whole of my personal estate and the residue of my real estate, after payment out of the same of my just debts, funeral and testamentary expenses, to my wife the said Euphemia Dunne absolutely and I direct that probate and estate duties on my estate shall be charged against the beneficiaries under this my will in proportion to the values of thier respective shares and interests. If my said son Edmund Ellis Dunne should pre-decease my said wife then I direct my said son Peter Richard Dunne to pay the aforementioned sum of One hundred pounds to Janice Noelle Dunne and Barry Michael Dunne (children of the aforesaid Edmund Ellis Dunne) in equal shares or if one of these should pre-decease my said wife then to the survivor alone and if my said son Francis Langton Dunne should pre-decease my said wife then I direct my said son Peter Richard Dunne to pay the afore-mentioned sum of One hundred pounds to Francis Langton Dunne (child of the said Francis Langton Dunne) I give to my said trustees power in their absolute discretion to appropriate and apply, during infancy, such parts (both capital and income) of the share or payment to which any infant may become entitled under this my will in or towards the maintenance education or advancement in life of such infant.

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Sources

1. ↑ NSW registration 1881 No. 21857
2. ↑ Peter Francis Dunne and Euphemia Eddy - Marriage Registration
3. ↑ Tocumwal Guardian and Finley Free Press, Fri 8 Jul 1910, Page 4, Advertising obtained at Trove, National Library of Australia
4. ↑ NSW death registration 28587/1945
5. ↑ The Riverine Grazier, Friday 26 October 1945 p 4 sighted at Trove, National Library of Australia.
6. ↑ Peter Francis Dunne, Last Will and Testament, unsigned copy provided by his youngest son, Francis Langton Dunne