Historical Atlas of the County of Perth (H.Belden & Co.) Toronto 1879 pg xxv
WILLIAM DUNN, of Downie is a native of England being born in the County of Northhumberland in 1806. He married a daughter of Hohn Gibb of the same place (Downie) and emigrated to Canada in 1835 settles on Lot 5, Concession 2, where he spent a long life of usefulness, and raised a family of six sons and two daughters, among whom sons of our most influential and respected citizens of today. Mr. Dunn volunteered during the reabellion of 1837-38 and served, during the agitation contemtorary with that great political as well as military epoch in the country's history, in the command of Colonel Daly. In. political and municipal affairs, however he has never sought for distinction but devoted his whole time to the pursuit of his provate affairs, in which he has been very successful, and what is still better, he has succeeded in earning the esteem and confidence of the people of Downie by a course of life which merits, as it has received, the approbation of all who know him, and offers an example for the rising generations to follow. (Carol's Note: According to the 1881 Canada census William Dun was born in 1808, and his wife Alice was born in 1806.) =============== In 1935 Charlottte Donaldson Dunn told St. C. Dunn the William Dunn + Alice Gibbs family tree, no dates but most of the marriages and children.
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Order of the children listed as William, John, Robert, Mary, George, Thomas, James
Source Dr. Hillyard and Betty Shanan family tree, date unknown, author unknown
==================================== 1871 Canada Census
Sex: Male Age: 64 Birthplace: ENGLAND Religion: Church of England, Anglican Origin: ENGLISH Occupation: FARMER District: PERTH SOUTH ( 29 ) Sub-district: Downie ( F ) Division: 1 Page: 17 Microfilm reel: C-9939 Reference: RG31 — Statistics Canada
(The rest of the household)
Dunn, William, M, 64, England, Church of England, English, Farmer, married Dunn, Alice, F, 66, England, Church of England, English, , married Dunn, George, m, 26, England, Church of England, English, Pedler, married Dunn, Mary, F, 23, England, Church of England, English, , , Dunn, James, M, 20, England, Church of England, English, , , Dunn, William, m, 3, England, Church of England, English,,
(William Dunn, age 3, might be William Dunn III, grand-son of William Dunn, by his eldest son, William Jr. Dunn)
========== 1881 Canada census http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/Census/household_record.asp?HOUSEHOLD_CODE=1881CN_825380&HOUSEHOLD_SUB=1&frompage=99
Household: Name Marital Status Gender Ethnic Origin Age Birthplace Occupation Religion William DUNN M Male English 72 England Presbyterian Alice DUNN M Female English 75 England Presbyterian -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Source Information: Census Place Stratford, Perth North, Ontario Family History Library Film 1375907 NA Film Number C-13271 District 172 Sub-district C Division 3 Page Number 60 Household Number 295
Letters Collected by the Canada Company to Encourage Emigration, 1842 In 1842 the Canada Company sent out an agent to collect statements from various settlers in the Huron Tract to use as encouragement to other emigrants. Owning a great deal of land, the Company was interested in selling it to new settlers. These letters and statements, however, do give us some insight into the lives of these new emigrants.
Stratford, 23d September, 1842
Statement by William Dunn Township of Downie, Huron District, 22nd Sept. 1842.
I emigrated to Canada in 1835, having come from the County of Northumberland, in England. I lived near Rothbury in that county, but latterly I was in the employ of Mr. Joseph Hopper, merchant and miller, Squirrel Mills, Newcastle-on-Tyne; I was in this gentleman's employment when I left. My family only consisted of my wife, but I have four children since I came here. My father-in-law, John Gibb, (who also lived near Rothbury) with his son George, emigrated to Canada in 1834, and settled in this township, and they wrote home to me and his son-in-law George Wood, giving a description of the country, and particularly of this place, and we resolved to follow them.
When I arrived at the village of Stratford (which is about two miles from my farm) I had not a cent, but I was owing George Wood seventy-five dollars for advances made to me, but this sum I have long since paid. Being a farm servant and labourer at home, and understanding a little of the milling business, I soon found profitable employment here (for I did not locate myself on land when I came) and at the grist and saw mill at Stratford. In the fall of 1837, I bought out the interest of a settler in lot No. 5 in the second concession of this township, consisting of 100 acres, but there was not a tree chopped on it. I paid 110 dollars for the right to the lot, having the original price to the Canada Company to pay besides, at the rate of 1½ dollar per acre, besides interest. I paid sixty dollars in one payment to the Company, and some money since. I did not remove to live on the lot till the spring of 1838, but in the fall and winter of 1837-38, I chopped on it, and that spring I put up a "shanty" (a small log house) and cleared land for spring crops. The first crops I had were in the harvest of 1838. I have now a good log house with a log barn and other additions, and about thirty-five acres of cleared land, and well fenced. This land I have cleared all myself except one acre, which I paid for.
My land is exceedingly well watered, for the river Avon passes through my lot. This is the stream which goes through the above village, and on which the Stratford mills are built. This village is situated at the corner of this township, and the adjoining three townships. My crops this year are of fall and spring wheat, oats, barley, peas, and potatoes. My stock of cattle consists of one yoke of working oxen, one yoke of two year old steers, and two steers one year old, four cows, two heifers in calf, three calves, seventeen sheep, and twenty hogs. I sold a yoke of working cattle lately. The waggon which I have cost me seventy-five dollars, and I have other necessary articles for a farm, as a fanning mill, plough, &c.
I am not inclined to over-estimate my property, but I would not accept of 1500 dollars for my farm and stock; but I feel so comfortably placed, that this sum would not tempt me to sell. We have been blessed with good health, and considering that (saving our luggage, which held our clothing) when we arrived as before observed at this place, our means were small and I was in debt, my success as a settler has been progressively advancing. Many emigrants in this township can verify my statement in their own experience, for my prosperity is not singular. An emigrant needs to be watchful and industrious, and with sober habits there is the same (and perhaps a better) prospect than mine before him.
In addition his brother-in-law (husband of wife's sister) had this letter Statement by George Wood. Township of Downie, Huron District (Canada), 22d September, 1842.
I emigrated to this country in 1835, in the month of July, with my wife and five children. The eldest, a boy, then ten years old. I have now eight children. I came from the parish of Rothbury, in Northumberland (England). I was steward or overseer to William Redhead, Esq. of Ryehill, near Rothbury.
My father-in-law, John Gibb, who was a shepherd at Ryehill, and his son George, came to this country, and this township, the year before, in 1834, and they wrote home to me about the state of the country, and a brother-in-law, William Dunn, (who is also married to a daughter of J. Gibb,) and myself emigrated.
I located myself and family on Lot No. 12, in the fourth concession of this Township of Downie, containing 100 acres. I built a log-house and afterwards a log-barn upon this lot, and have cleared thirty acres of land on it. I afterwards, in 1840, when my means increased, bought the right and interest of a neighbour in Lot 12 on the fifth concession, being opposite the lot I then lived on. There were ten acres of cleared land on it and fenced, with a log house and barn, for all which I paid 260 dollars, having, besides this, to pay the Canada Company for the original price, at the rate of two dollars per acre, less a small sum paid on it by the original holder.
Part of the summer I came here I wrought out at the harvest, and also the second, which enabled me to save some money, my wife and family remaining at home. I was enabled also to save my own crops of 1836.
After I bought the interest in the above lot in the fifth concession, I removed to it, and have now rather above thirty acres of cleared land on it, having above sixty acres cleared on both the lots. My stock of cattle consists of one yoke of working oxen, three yokes of steers from two years to four years old (in pairs), three steers, six cows, four heifers in calf, five spring calves (calves of this year), one fat ox, two fat cows, thirty-five sheep, young and old, and thirteen large hogs (that is, swine), and some small ones. My crops this year consist of eight acres of fall wheat, seven acres of spring wheat, four acres of oats, two acres of peas, and three acres of potatoes. I have about twelve tons of hay, and also a field of seven acres in pasture. The hay crop this year was not so heavy as has been in other years. We had forty yards of woollen and drugget cloth made last year from our own wool, and this year I think there ill be eighty yards. The wool this year is about eighty lbs.
I have all the farming implements required for a farmer, such as a plough, drag (or harrow), fanning-mill, &c., and a waggon. Besides clearing land on my own lots, I have assisted in jobs, taken by my father-in-law and me, to clear twenty-seven acres of land for two settlers, and I have chopped and cleared also by myself and family ten acres for a neighbour. The first year or two I was here my family could not give me much help, but now I have three of them well able to assist me; and, besides, we all have enjoyed good health, for the climate of this part of Canada is remarkably healthy.
I consider that the change by emigrating here is to my advantage, and that of my family. I am quite in a different situation now in this country as regards acquired property from what I would have been in had I remained in the old country; and, though I cannot say but that I was at home, as others were, comfortable in one respect, and also as having a good master in Mr. Redhead; still by adopting this country as the future home of myself and family, I am now a master, where I could never well expect otherwise than to see myself and my family as servants. The facility of acquiring property here is great, and any man, single or married, of sober, economical, industrious, and persevering habits is sure to do well. That this is a general remark I am well aware; but I consider my own case, as above detailed, a favourable and further proof of the correctness of the observation.
A stronger proof is yet to be stated, and that is in the comparison of my means when I arrived and what they are now. When I arrived at the village of Stratford (which is very prettily placed at the corner of these four Townships of Downie, Ellice, North and South Easthope), I had sixteen sovereigns, which, at five dollars each, [Money is often reckoned in this country in dollars. A sovereign by law is worth 24s. 4d. currency, but they pass for 25s. in general business. The dollar is equal here to 5s. currency or about 4s. British.] is eighty dollars, and I had assisted my brother-in-law, William Dunn, on the way here to the extent of seventy-five dollars, both sums equal to 155 dollars. This was the amount of all my means. My present stock of cattle, &c. I value at 600 dollars, and my land with the improvements is well worth 2,800 dollars, which sum, in money, I would not take for it. Besides, I have not valued in the above my farming implements and house furnishing, or my crops of this year. I have also more than 100 dollars owing to me by several persons and I have paid on account of my land to the Canada Company, and in buying the interest of the former holder of the lot on the fifth concession, 450 dollars. I am owing, it is true, the Canada Company a balance on both the lots; but, if spared in health as hitherto I have been, and the same measure of success as a farmer I have enjoyed, meted out to me, I expect to be able next year to pay my land. It is certainly in my opinion an advantage to be on the Company's land; and they hold the lands of this Tract, now a District; for a settler may have five years to pay the land by yearly instalments, or by lease for twelve years, paying a yearly rent; and when the instalments in the one case, or yearly rents in the other, are paid, a free deed is granted. The Company, indeed, have given longer time than the period specified to pay instalments, they charging only 6 per cent. interest; and there is no instance here which I recollect of where they have acted harshly, or otherwise than shewing much favour to the settlers in the paying of their lands.
To conclude, I may add that my relations, John Gibb and his son George, and my brother-in-law, William Dunn, are all doing well; and they can also bear evidence, in their own success, to my statement; shewing that there is, generally speaking, a decided advantage in emigrating to this country.
(Signed) George Wood
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Declaration of William Dunn in the Municipality of Downie, districto of Ferret, day 22 of September of 1842: I emigrated to Canada in 1835, from the county of Northumberland, in England. There it lived near Rothbury, and lately I was used with Mr. Joseph Hopper, retailer and miller of Squirrel Mills, Newcastle-on-Tyne. My family only composed my wife, but now I have four children born since when I arrived here. My father-in-law, John Gibb, (who also lived near Rothbury), with his son and my brother George Dunn, also emigrated to Canada, and that resided in this municipality, went the one that George Wood wrote to my house and its son-in-law, giving us a description of the country, and particularly of this place, and we solved to follow to him. When I arrived at the village of Stratford (that is close, to only two miles of my farm) I did not have nor a cent and she had to George Wood seventy and five dollars for the previous or made expenses. This this sum of money I have been having it paid for a long time. Being bred and worker of the farm, and understanding something the business that took previously of miller, soon I found a beneficial use (one did not appear to me when I came) in a mill of grain to grind and mountain range, in Stratford. At the end of 1837, I bought to colono, the land parcel nº. 5, in the second concession of this municipality, that consisted of a land of 100 acres, but was nor no only a tree destroyed in him. I paid to 110 dollars by the parcel, having the original price besides to pay to the company of Canada, a dollar and means by acre, in addition to the interest. I paid sixty dollars in a single payment to this company, and a little more than money since then. I did not go to live to the parcel until year 1838, when the finishing the winter of 1837-38, I occupied a part of that and I destroyed some you hoist to construct a "shack" (a small wood house) and I cleared the Earth for the harvests. The first harvests that it had were in 1838. Now I have a good house with a barn and annexed, and near thirty and five cleared other earth acres, and surrounded well. This earth I have cleared it all she i myself, except an acre, which I paid. My earth is good for being watered very well, since the Avon river you happen through my land. This one current that also happens through the village, and in which the mills of Stratford were constructed. This village is located in a corner of this municipality, and the three adjacent municipalities. My harvests this year are of wheat, oats, barley, peas, and potatoes. My work with the cattle consists of a yoke of work oxen, a yoke of two old oxen and two oxen of a year, four cows, two heifers and a yearling calf, (three stop), seventeen ewes and twenty pigs. I lately sold a yoke of work cattle. The car I have cost seventy and five dollars, and I have in addition other necessary articles for a farm, like a mill that throw, plows, etc. I am not given to the sobreestimation of my person and my qualities, but he would not accept 1500 dollars by my farm and its complements; I am located so comfortably, that that this sum would not touch me to sell. We have been blessed with good health, and considering that (saving single with our suitcases that single had our clothes) when we arrived at Canada, before seeing this place, our means were and I very little had debts, my success since colono has been advancing progressively. Many emigrants in this municipality can verify my declaration by their own experience, because my prosperity is not singular. An emigrant must be "worker without watching the time", and with sober habits there is same (and perhaps better) the perspective one than mine. Signed Williams Dunn
from http://www.humano.ya.com/manelpel/Idle_Principal.htm#ENGLISH and with the google translation to english from spanish.
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More About William Dunn: Date born 2: Morpith, Northumberland, England.1885, 1886, 1887, 1888 Date born 3: 1806, Morpith, Northumberland, England.1888 Date born 4: Abt. 1807, England.1888 Date born 5: 18081889, 1890 Date born 6: 25 July 18081891, 1892 Date born 7: Abt. 1809, England.1893, 1894 Burial: Unknown, Avondale Cemetary, Stratford, Ontario, Canada.1895, 1896 Census: 1881, http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/Census/household_record.asp?HOUSEHOLD_CODE=1881CN_825380&HOUSEHOLD_SUB=1&frompage=99.1896 Died 2: Stratford, Ontario, Canada.1897, 1898, 1899, 1900 Died 3: Aft. 1881, 1881 canada Census.1900 Emigration: 18351901, 1902 Picture 1: William Dunn.1903, 1904 Picture 2: William Dunn & Alice Dunn/Gibb.1904 Picture 3: William Dunn & Family.1904 Picture 4: William Dunn/Tomestone.1904 Religion: 1881, Presbyterian .1905, 1906 Researched: 12 January 2004, FamilySearch(1).1907, 1908 Residence 1: Bef. 1835, Near Rothbury, County of Northumberland, England.1909, 1910 Residence 2: 22 September 1842, Lot No. 5, in the 2nd concession, Township of Downie, Huron District (today in Perth County,) Ontario, Canada.1911, 1912 Residence 3: 1881, Stratford, Perth North, Ontario, Canada.1913, 1914 Websites: 16 September 2004, http://digital.library.mcgill.ca/countyatlas/images/Portraits/per-wdunn.jpg.1914
More About William Dunn and Alice (Elison) Gibb: Marriage 1: Morpith, Northumberland, England.1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919 Marriage 2: WFT Est. 1834-18671920, 1921
Children of William Dunn and Alice (Elison) Gibb are:
+Robert Dunn, b. 12 August 1842, Downie, Perth, Ontario, Canada 1922, 1923, d. 14 July 1922, Point grey, B.C., Canada1924, 1925.
William Dunn (b. 25 July 1808, d. 11 April 1893)
Notes for William Dunn: