Item 34-37 - Letters : William Gunn to James Gordon

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

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