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William Richardson Gundry 1814 - 1856

William Richardson Gundry was born on July 1, 1814 in Devizes, Wiltshire County, England United Kingdom to Peter Gundry and Mary (Hickley) Gundry. He was in a relationship with Makareta (Rautang) Gundry, and had a child Olivier Margaret (Gundry) Grosse. William Gundry died at age 42 years old in 1856 in Auckland New Zealand, and was buried at Symonds St Cemetery in Auckland.

William Richardson Gundry

July 1, 1814

Devizes, Wiltshire County, England, SN10, United Kingdom

1856

Auckland, New Zealand

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William Richardson Gundry William Gundry (1814 - 1856)

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William Richardson Gundry's History: 1814 - 1856

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Introduction

William Richardson GUNDRY was the fourth of the six sons of Peter GUNDRY and his wife Mary HICKLEY. He was born on the 1st July 1814, baptised on the 24th July at St James Church, Devizes, and, on the 25th Oct 1838, he married at Upavon, Wilts, Helen WATERS of the same place. His occupation at that time was ‘Insurance agent’. They had no family as she died at Upavon on the 17th May 1839 aged 23 and was buried in the churchyard at Upavon, Wilts. He seems to have taken her death very hard for in July 1839 he told his family he was off to Australia. Instead he ended up in New Zealand later that year where he lived in the Hokianga area where he bought 500 acres of land and gave his name to Gundry St in Rawene. Here he took up with Makareta RAUTANGI of Ngaitapoto, daughter of Te Reti Whatiia, principal chief of the Ngaitapoto hapu of the Ngapuhi tribe. He signed the Treaty of Waitangi at Mangungu on the 12th Feb They had four children before their marriage in Onehunga on the 13th May 1851, and their youngest son, Henry, was born after William’s death. Like his father, William was a grocer, but in his will he describes himself as a chemist and druggist. Once Gov Hobson had decided to found Auckland to become the new capital city, William moved there and in 1845, ‘Gundry and McDonald’ were grocers in Lower Queen St, Auckland. He was also a speculator in land and his name appears buying land in the early auctions in areas as far apart as Takapuna, Dominion Rd and Onehunga. Gundry St in Newton is named after him. He was well acquainted with many of the notables of the time. William obviously considered that there was a great future in New Zealand and managed to persuade two of his brothers, Samuel and Dr John Seager Gundry to come out also. However they did not join him in Auckland but sailed to Lyttleton on the STEADFAST in 1851. He died on the 20th Dec 1855 and was buried the following day in the Symonds St Cemetery. His grave was one of those disinterred to make way for the motorway so today his remains are in a common grave and his name listed in the memorial wall there. The Rev Arthur Guyon Purchas was an executor of his will and made guardian of his children during their minorities. He officiated at the marriage of Helen Mary Anne Gundry (aged 17yrs) to Francis Young on the 12th Oct 1864. Several mentions of the family appear in the diaries of the Rev Vicesimus LUSH who refers to several of the children in succession living with the family of the Rev Arthur Purchas to get an education. In his will dated 20 Nov 1852 and probated 31 Jan 1856, he said that his wife _ Margaret Rautangi – be permitted to “use, occupy and enjoy my land and hereditaments at Te Kohu Kohu (Hokianga)……” The inventory taken of his estate, valued it at £2501.15.08 but there was only £199.3.3 in the Union Bank and £19.0.9 in cash. Not much to support a family of six children with one more on the way, although £284.10.2 is listed as “Maintenance and education of family” – whatever that meant.. Makareta remarried some years later to Matiu Nau at St Pauls, Auckland, on the 17th Feb 1863 but her date of death is unknown.
07/1

1814

Birthday

July 1, 1814

Birthdate

Devizes, Wiltshire County, England SN10, United Kingdom

Birthplace

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1856

Death

1856

Death date

paralysis

Cause of death

Auckland New Zealand
Death location

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Gravesite & Burial

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Funeral date
Symonds St Cemetery in Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Burial location
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Memories

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