DUCKWORTH family:
Robert Francis Duckworth married Margaret Humphrey in Edinburgh, Scotland on 22nd October 1835. Robert was a Carpenter by trade. Before marrying Robert lived at No. 35 India Place, Edinburgh and Margaret at No. 35 St Bernards Cres, Stockbridge. Several years later they are known to be living at No. 2 St Bernards Cres, Stockbridge where Robert was listed as a Gentleman's Servant. By 1841 the family were living at St James Place. They had 5 children in Edinburgh between 1837 and 1847, one of which died at the age of 4 years. In 1849 along with their 4 children - Elizabeth, Agnes, James Hunter  and Margaret Alison, they set sail on the ship Mary from Glasgow, Scotland to Dunedin, New Zealand to begin a new Life.   On arrival in Dunedin they lived in Walker Street, in the city, where Robert (more commonly known as Bobby) ran his carpentry business. He also had a 5-acre plot of land in Anderson's Bay where he ran a market garden. He also set up another business on the side, as a barber. On the 5th of November 1852, Bobby Duckworth experienced the most important event in his life when, armed with a bell, he made a circuit of Dunedin reading out the proclamation that the British Government had passed an act granting the constitution of New Zealand. In 1855 the family, now with 2 New Zealand born children as well - Mary Ann Steel and Henry, in 1849 and 1853 - Mary being born in the Immigration Barracks in Dunedin , moved out to Anderson's Bay. They sold the ¼ Acre Section in Walker Street and purchased a further 5 Acres adjoining the other plot of land. This section partially cleared allowed them to keep a cow or 2. They had 2 more children in 1856 and 1858 - Andrew and Dorothea. A later occupation of Robert's was as a keeper at the Dunedin Lunatic Asylum (Sometime after 1861). In the early 1860s when the Gold Rush was on in Central Otago, Robert and some friends had a gold claim at Waitahuna - near Lawrence. After being rather unsuccessful at prospecting they sold the claim to some other men who worked it a bit deeper and found a lot of gold. Robert Died of Heart Disease on the 25th of April 1886 aged 71 years and is buried in the large family plot at the Anderson's Bay Cemetery along with Margaret who died on the 14th of March 1888 after a 6 year struggle with Cancer. Elizabeth Duckworth married John Kelly in 1856 and had 12 children. Agnes Duckworth married Francis Ovenden in 1868 and had 12 children, they lived at Otepopo (Herbert) and later at New Plymouth. Robert Duckworth was the child that died in Edinburgh in 1845 aged 4 years James Hunter Duckworth married Isabelle Grainger in 1873 and raised a family of 11 on his farm at Highcliff. Margaret Alison Duckworth died of Bronchitis in 1873 aged 26 - never married Mary Ann Steel Duckworth married Julian Beetson 1872 , Mary died in childbirth in 1875, soon to be followed by her two children. Henry Duckworth married Grace Brown in 1880, Henry was a Commission Agent - they raised 7 children in their home in Anderson's Bay. Andrew Duckworth married Jamesina Sutherland in 1880, they had 5 children. Dorothea Duckworth married Andrew Summers in 1881, they had 4 children and lived in Auckland, Wellington and Wanaganui. If you have a connection with this family or would like to learn more please contact Darryl Taylor.