Duncan Family

George Robert Duncan died at Henderson 13 May 1898, aged 70; also George Robert Duncan, who was accidentally killed at Henderson on 19 October 1882, aged 18, also Sarah Ellen Duncan, died at Henderson 17 March 1910, aged 75.

Historical information

George Robert Duncan (most likely senior), farmer, was a trustee for the Henderson Mill Library application filed 17 September 1880, signed on 10 September, and with Archibald Hepburn, John Malam and John Heneston served as a Committee member. (Auckland Public Libraries registered under the Public Libraries Powers Act 1875.) He was chairman of the Henderson's Mill School Committee in 1881 (Auckland Star 31 January 1881, p.3) He was re-elected in 1883. (NZ Herald, 25 January 1883 p.3)

FATAL ACCIDENT AT HENDERSON'S HILL.

Yesterday, at about noon, two men, named George Duncan (son of Mr G R Duncan, brickmaker, Henderson's Mill) and William Leighton, his cousin, were working at the face of a clay bank, 14 feet high, getting out clay for brick-making at a brickfield near Henderson's Mill, when the top of the bank, loosened by the late rains, fell suddenly on the men and buried them. A young man named Watson Duncan, brother of one of the men, noticed in passing that way shortly afterwards that the top of the bank had gone, and went over and called out, when Leighton answered through the superincumbent earth. The young man got a spade and set to work digging in the direction of where he heard the voice of Leighton, and soon succeeded in getting him out. He was greatly shaken but not otherwise injured. Leighton pointed out where George Duncan was buried up by the earth, and the brother again set to work, and shortly afterwards found the body, but life was extinct. He had been working a few feet above Leighton, and when the earth fell he was jammed back against the heap of earth he had been throwing behind him. His nose was flattened and he had evidently been suffocated. Leighton, when the accident occurred, was in a stooping position, and the earth fell over him, forming a cavity in which he was able to breathe a little. Leighton was carried to the house of Mr G H Duncan, where his injuries are being attended to. Mr Watson Duncan came down by last night's train, and reported the accident to the police authorities. Information was sent to Dr Philson Coroner, who has again resumed his duties in that respect. In all probability an inquest will be held to-day by Mr A Beetham, JP, Henderson's Mill, who has before acted as coroner in that district.

(NZ Herald, 20 October 1882, p. 5)

THE ACCIDENT AT HENDERSON'S MILL.

CORONER'S INQUEST.

An inquest into the cause of death of George Robert Duncan, who was killed by a fall of earth in a cutting near Henderson's Mill, was held yesterday, before Mr Albert Beetham, acting coroner. Mr Robert Laurie was foreman of the jury.—William Leighton deposed that he was working with deceased in a clay-hole, digging clay for bricks. Witness was kneeling, and deceased was standing on a clay bench above him with his back to the clay wall. The clay bank fell, and buried witness. Deceased cried out several times, and asked witness if he could breathe. Witness answered, but deceased did not speak again, and he heard sounds as though he was choking. Witness was sensible, but could only move one hand. He heard Watson Duncan calling out, and answered him. Duncan helped him out, and he was brought to the house and put to bed.—The evidence of this witness was taken while he was in bed unable to move, and suffering from the injuries he had sustained.

Watson Duncan deposed that when coming home to dinner he saw that the clay bank had fallen. He ran over to it, and called to his sister to go for assistance. His father was in Auckland. Witness jumped down in the hole, and called to his brother, and Leighton answered him from underneath the clay. He dug his head out, and then dug to find deceased, whom he found quite dead. Mr Malcolm came to his assistance, and they dug out Leighton and sent him to the house. Deceased's nose seemed to be broken, and he seemed to be suffocated, as his nostrils were filled with clay. There were no other injuries on the body.

The jury returned a verdict that the deceased, George Robert Duncan, was accidentally killed on the 9th of October, at Mr George Robert Duncan's brickyard, on Henderson's Creek, by a fall of clay suffocating him.

(NZ Herald, 21 October 1882, p. 5)

George Robert Duncan senior died 13 May 1898, “after a long and painful illness”, aged 70. (Death notice, Auckland Star, 14 May 1898, p. 8)

Row D, plot 4