Genealogy

From the Cooma Express Jan 3 1896

It is with extreme feelings of sorrow that we have to chronicle the sad death of Mr. W.P. Gunn, one of the oldest and most highly respected and esteemed residents of Monaro, whose demise took place after a long and painful illness at his residence, Commissioner Street, at 5 p.m. on Tuesday last, the 31st instant, the cause of death being what is termed SARCUMI or a fleshy cancerous growth. Mr Gunn was hale and hearty man, and first felt the growth which caused his death coming on some nine months ago or thereabouts, but he did not at first take much notice of it, but the pain increasing, Dr Clifford was called in and attended him. A little later the services of Mears Harvison and Hogg were called in, and Dr Havison from the first time he saw the patient; though he did all he could to relieve the sufferer, entertained but poor hopes.

During his illness Mr Gunn consulted the most eminent doctors and physicians in Sydney, on two or three occasions, but none of whom could do him any good. He again came home and took to his bed, and was again attended by Dr Harvison, who attended and did all he could for the sufferer to the last. Night after night Mrs Gunn sat by her husbands bedside and did all in her power in carrying out the doctors instructions and nursing the patient. Everything that could be done to relieve the patient was done, but all was to no avail.

At the time of his death, Mr Gunn was just in the prime of life - being only 54 years of age. He was a native of Derrylin, County Fermanagh, Ireland, and at the age of 18 years he joined the Irish Constabulary, in which he served about 3 1/2 years, after which time he resigned and left the old country for Australia, sailing for this country with his brother, Mr John C Gunn, now of Bombala, arriving in the year 1862. A few years after their arrival in Australia Mr W P Gunn joined the mounted police force in this colony, in which he served on Monaro for some 6 or 7 years, a portion of which time he served at Kiandra in its palmy days when the diggings were going ahead there, subsequently in Adaminaby and Cooma. After resigning the police force Mr Gunn set up business in Cooma as a tailor and outfitter which he carried on up to the last, being some 24 years in business. Deceased was the youngest member of his family an leaves two brothers now living in the old country and Mr J C Gunn, of Bombala, besides a loving wife and family of 12 children - 4 boys and 8 girls, also a large circle of relatives and friends to mourn their loss. The funeral took place on Thursday afternoon last at 3 o'clock, moving from the church where the body had been removed the previous evening. The cortege was a very large on indeed - being attended by the Oddfelllows, of which the deceased was a member, and between two and three hundred townspeople. The remains were interred in the R.C. Cemetery, Mittagang, the Rev. Father Byrne in a very impressive manner delivering the last rites of the church. Much sympathy is expressed for Mrs Gunn and other members of the family in their sad bereavement.

Research

Peter William GUNN b.c 1840 aka William Peter
WP GUNN and Co Tailors, sold to Mr JC Russell in 1896. 
(Occupation - Mounted Police & Tailor in Coma)
md Mary Flanagan 1868 Cooma
children:
1. Thomas b. 1869 Cooma (Occupation Tailor) md. Florence E EDWARDS 1899 Hillston
2. William C b. 1870 Cooma (Seymour) (Occupation - Tailor-Cooma & West Wyalong) md. Frances ARMSTONG 1902 West Wyalong d. 1950 West Wyalong
3. Catherine b. 1872 Queanbeyan
4. John James b. 1875 Cooma d. 1875 Cooma
5. Emily Corlette b. 1877 Cooma d. 1896 Cooma
6. Ellen Emilia b. 1878 Cooma
7. Madelin b. 1881 Cooma

The above info from NSW BDM, but according to his obituary they had 12 children, 8 girls, 4 boys.
I did find another Peter GUNN that married Ellen McAULIFFE, Cooma in 1883, their children as follows;
Amy b. 1884 Cooma
Balbina b. 1886 Cooma
Hugh P b 1888 Cooma d. 1940 Goulburn
Gertrude A M b. 1890 Cooma
Clara L b 1892 Cooma
Mary L b 1893 Cooma
Henry P b 1895 Cooma

All these children registerd to William Peter GUNN & Ellen GUNN. Seems like too much of a coincidence, so I was thinking that maybe these two are one in the same person.
If you discount the children that died before him, you are left with 8 girls and four boys. His wife was always referred to as MRS GUNN, no first name. What do you think?
Any information on Peter William and family would most appreciated.

Tanya Simmer <tsimmer-at-tpg-com-au>

Descendants of William Peter (Peter) Gunn

  30.07.06
Recompiled from the new Monaro Pioneers database:  27.06.08
with some additional information supplied by:
Greg Hargreaves <Greg_Hargreave-at-baiada.com.au> 23.03.10

Descendants Report