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- 1830-1831 (Creation)
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29 documents
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Name of creator
Biographical history
William Gunn (1800-1868), police magistrate and Superintendent of Prisoners' Barracks, was born in Newry, Ireland, son of Lieut. William Gunn and Margaret (Wilson). After service in the British army, he came to Tasmania in 1822 and received a grant of 400 acres of land in the Sorell district, called by Gunn "Bourbon" after his regiment. He was given occasional command of soldiers searching for bushrangers and in 1825 was wounded by a shot from one of Brady's gang and had to have his right arm amputated. In 1824 he was appointed superintendent of convicts at Birch's Bay (Channel).He served as Superintendent of Prisoners' Barracks in Hobart from 1826 1850 and Launceston 1850 - 1859 and remained Police Magistrate in Launceston until his death in 1868. On moving to Launceston he acquired Glen Dhu as his main residence. In 1829 William Gunn married at Sorell, Frances Hannah (Fanny) Arndell. They had three sons, William, Ronald Thomas and James Arndell, and 6 daughters, including Margaret who married Frank Allison in 1852 (see A2) and Frances (Fanny jr.) and Isabel (Issie). Gunn was an elder of St Andrews Church, Hobart, and later of Chalmers Church, Launceston. For more informationsee : http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/gunn-william-2135
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Biographical history
James Gordon (1779-1842), magistrate, was born at Forcett, Yorkshire, England, the son of John Gordon, steward of the Stanwick estates of the Duke of Northumberland, a noted exporter of stud Teeswater sheep to New South Wales. In 1806 he emigrated to Sydney and soon entered mercantile life there, trading with China, New Zealand and Macquarie Island. In the rebellion against William Bligh he remained loyal and signed an address of sympathy to the deposed governor. In January 1814 he married Elizabeth Emily, daughter of Dr Thomas Arndell. For more information see: http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/gordon-james-2106
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Deposited by J. Murphy 1967
Content and structure area
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Trustees of Lakeland - Mrs Lakeland's remarriage November 1830 - June 1831. Mrs Mary Lakeland, widow of John Lakeland, and her marriage to Thomas H. White (employed as manager of their Forcett farm 1830-31): papers of James Gordon and William Gunn, executors and trustees under the will of John Lakeland (d. 17 March 1829), relating to the proposed marriage which was opposed by Gordon and by Mrs Lakeland's sister, Elizabeth Gordon, because of doubts as to White's intentions and unsavory rumors about his morals. Papers include: correspondence between Mary Lakeland, James Gordon, William Gunn and Thomas White; copy of statement by William Gunn and M. Lakeland that Mrs Lakeland and Mr White had formed a mutual attachment but before she proceeded further it was her intention that inquiry would be made into Mr White character and the property devised by her late husband would be settled so that Mr White could have no control over it (7 January 1831, transcript only, original document too fragile too handle); counsel's opinion on Lakeland's will (19 February 1831); draft letter complaining that White had left the farm in working hours and ridden a young horse too far (30 Jan.1831); Thomas White's resignation from James Gordon's service on the Lakeland's Pittwater farm, Studley Park (14 Feb. 1831); information laid before a J.P. that White had absented himself from his employment for 4 days (8 Feb. 1831, transcript only, original too decayed to handle); summons for Thomas White for absconding from J.G.'s service (17 Feb. 1831); letter from W. Gunn to Gordon: Mrs Lakeland had wanted some papers from her box but he refused them, Fanny had told him that "the ring is purchased, an 8lb wedding cake ordered and the ceremony is to be performed on Thursday the 25th instant" (15 Feb. 1831, transcript only, original too decayed to handle); letters from Joseph Steele (5 Jan. 1831), anonymous writer suggesting that Thomas White had a wife living in Scotland (ND), J. Laing (26 Jan. 1831); list of household furniture at Studley Park, Pittwater, left by Mrs White on 4 Feb. signed T. White (6 June 1831); letter from Thomas White to James Gordon on the health of child Louisa Lakeland - recovered from fever (13 June 1831).
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This material is made available for personal research and study purposes under the University of Tasmania Standard Copyright Licence. For any further use permission should be obtained from the copyright owners. For assistance please contact Special.Collections@utas.edu.au
When reusing this material, please cite the reference number and provide the following acknowledgement:
“Courtesy of the UTAS Library Special & Rare Collections”
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Original inventory and descriptive notes can be found at https://eprints.utas.edu.au/10934/
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LG 16/8/2018