Duff, John Finlay

Descendants of :

John Finlay DUFF

for sources and more details, click here

Generation 1

1. John Finlay DUFF was born 01 Apr 1799 in Dundee, Scotland and died 18 May 1868 in New Glenelg, SA. He married Anne Eliza TURNER 30 Jun 1836 in St Botolph-without-Aldgate, England. She died 22 Nov 1854 in Lansdowne Tce, Exeter, UK. He married Mary SCHRODER 24 Apr 1862 in St John`s Church, Adelaide, SA. She was born ABT 1834 and died 18 Mar 1919 in Glenelg, SA, daughter of George SCHRODER.

Other events in the life of John Finlay DUFF
Burial: West Terrace Cemetery, SA
Immigration: 04 Nov 1836, Africaine

Children of John Finlay DUFF and Anne Eliza TURNER:
i. 2. Jessie Light DUFF was born 29 Nov 1838 in 3 America Square, Aldgate, England and died 11 Feb 1906 in Adelaide, SA
ii. Charles Reginald DUFF was born ABT 1840 and died 26 Jan 1841
iii. 3. John Finlay DUFF was born 04 Dec 1843 in Adelaide, SA
iv. 4. Eliza Dixon DUFF was born ABT 1848
v. Unknown Female DUFF was born 04 Aug 1849 in Woodforde, SA

Children of John Finlay DUFF and Mary SCHRODER:
vi. 5. Joseph Stilling DUFF was born 01 Jan 1863 in Glenelg, SA and died 21 Jan 1920 in Wellington, NZ
vii. Edward DUFF was born 01 Jan 1863 in Glenelg, SA and died 01 Jan 1863 in Glenelg, SA
viii. Charles George DUFF was born 20 Oct 1864 in Glenelg, SA and died 22 Oct 1864 in Glenelg, SA
ix. 6. Stuart Duncan DUFF was born 09 Feb 1866 in New Glenelg, SA and died 17 Jun 1941 in Glenelg, SA

Generation 2

2. Jessie Light DUFF was born 29 Nov 1838 in 3 America Square, Aldgate, England and died 11 Feb 1906 in Adelaide, SA. She married William Smith MILLER 04 Sep 1861 in Adelaide, SA. He was born ABT 1837 and died 17 Jun 1877 in Norwood, SA. She married John Charles HALLETT 02 Nov 1881 in Adelaide, SA. He was born ABT 1832 and died 31 Oct 1882 in Adelaide, SA, son of John HALLETT and Maria KING.

Children of Jessie Light DUFF and William Smith MILLER:
i. John Bury MILLER was born 21 Aug 1862 in Adelaide, SA and died 18 Aug 1874 in Adelaide, SA
ii. Edward Pelham MILLER was born 30 Aug 1863 in Adelaide, SA and died 27 Sep 1892 in Richmond, SA
iii. 7. Mary Morse MILLER was born 15 Dec 1864 in Adelaide, SA and died 09 Nov 1894 in Adelaide, SA
iv. Helena Newnham MILLER was born 09 Jul 1867 in Adelaide, SA
v. Ida May MILLER was born 06 Jul 1870 in Adelaide, SA and died 16 Nov 1870 in Adelaide, SA
vi. Julia Morse MILLER was born 12 Apr 1872 in Norwood, SA and died 28 Dec 1874 in Norwood, SA
vii. William Smith MILLER was born 22 Nov 1876 in Norwood, SA

3. John Finlay DUFF was born 04 Dec 1843 in Adelaide, SA. He married Auguste Sophie GEBHARDT 26 Dec 1882 in Mackerode, nr Burra, SA. She was born ABT 1861 and died 26 Apr 1913 in Glenelg, SA.

Children of John Finlay DUFF and Auguste Sophie GEBHARDT:
i. John Charles Gustav Fritz Finlay DUFF was born 02 Oct 1883 in Kooringa, SA and died 08 May 1891 in Carlsruhe nr Burra
ii. 8. Minnie Coralie DUFF was born 16 Jun 1885 in Kooringa, SA
iii. 9. Augusta Lyro Estella DUFF was born 21 Dec 1894 in Carlsruhe nr Burra, SA

4. Eliza Dixon DUFF was born ABT 1848. She married John W. STAFFORD 13 May 1871 in Galle, Ceylon.

5. Joseph Stilling DUFF was born 01 Jan 1863 in Glenelg, SA and died 21 Jan 1920 in Wellington, NZ. He married Edith Caroline GREEIG 1904 in New Zealand.

Children of Joseph Stilling DUFF and Edith Caroline GREEIG:
i. John Finlay DUFF was born 1904 in New Zealand

6. Stuart Duncan DUFF was born 09 Feb 1866 in New Glenelg, SA and died 17 Jun 1941 in Glenelg, SA. He married Mabel Annie SHEPHARD 1898. She was born 15 Aug 1872 in Darlington, SA and died 24 Dec 1924 in Brighton, SA, daughter of William Henry SHEPHARD and Alice WRIGHT.

Children of Stuart Duncan DUFF and Mabel Annie SHEPHARD:
i. 10. Constance Mabel DUFF was born 30 Jan 1899 in Sturt, SA and died 24 Nov 1995
ii. 11. Mary Gwendolyn DUFF was born 26 Aug 1901 in Sturt, SA

Generation 3

7. Mary Morse MILLER was born 15 Dec 1864 in Adelaide, SA and died 09 Nov 1894 in Adelaide, SA. She married William Henry PEPPET 27 Mar 1893 in Adelaide, SA.

8. Minnie Coralie DUFF was born 16 Jun 1885 in Kooringa, SA. She married Francis William (Frank) FISHER 02 Apr 1914 in Glenelg, SA. He was born 01 Jul 1885 in College Park, SA and died 18 Nov 1986.

Children of Minnie Coralie DUFF and Francis William (Frank) FISHER:
i. Helen Duff FISHER was born 11 Nov 1916 in Norwood, SA
ii. David Duff FISHER was born 30 Oct 1919 in Unley Park, SA and died 28 Nov 2009

9. Augusta Lyro Estella DUFF was born 21 Dec 1894 in Carlsruhe nr Burra, SA. She married Herbert David ROBINSON 10 Dec 1918 in St Peters, SA. He was born ABT 1878.

10. Constance Mabel DUFF was born 30 Jan 1899 in Sturt, SA and died 24 Nov 1995. She married Keith Leon RAINSFORD 27 Nov 1920 in Adelaide, SA. He was born 09 Feb 1894 in Parkside, SA and died 12 May 1945 in Glenelg, SA, son of Clement Ferdinand Vaux RAINSFORD.

11. Mary Gwendolyn DUFF was born 26 Aug 1901 in Sturt, SA. She married Heaton Fairfax CONIGRAVE 12 Apr 1927 in Adelaide, SA. He was born 06 Nov 1898 in Kent Town, SA and died 20 Oct 1966 in Daw Park, SA.

Last updated : 5 Nov 2012

About DUFF, John Finlay

With Captain J.T. Duff, arriving Nepean Bay (Kangaroo Island on November 4th) and Holdfast Bay on November 14th 1836. AFRICAINE was the first passenger vessel to anchor in Holdfast Bay, and carried the equipment for the first newspaper in the colony.

Captain John Finlay DUFF (1799-1868) became an Adelaide based ship-owner engaging in the trade between Australia and the Mauritius. The master mariner John Finlay Duff commanded the Africaine on its 1836 voyage to South Australia. Duff was born on 1 April 1799 in Dundee, Scotland. His mother's maiden name was Finlay (Duff's second given name) and her father and grandfather were Dundee shipmasters. Robert Gouger, John Brown and Captain Duff signed a memorandum of agreement with a Thomas Finlay to charter the Africaine for the voyage to South Australia. Thomas Finlay was a part-owner of the ship and it is likely that he was Duff's maternal grandfather.

The Africaine departed from London Docks on Tuesday 28 June, without Captain Duff as he had an important engagement the next day - marrying Anne Eliza Turner. On Thursday 30 June, the newlyweds joined the Africaine, which was anchored in The Downs, off the Kentish coastal town of Deal.

On the voyage Duff displayed good seamanship and leadership. Robert Gouger thought very highly of him, noting that "he appears to be a thorough sailor, decisive and skilful; he pays equal attention to all his passengers, has no favourites apparently, & therefore is a general favorite." Four months into the voyage passenger Mary Thomas wrote a long and strong letter to Duff in which she accused the First Mate of treating her and other Intermediate passengers rudely. Captain Duff answered her letter "politely", handled the situation with tact and Thomas noticed an immediate improvement in the First Mate's behaviour. When Thomas alleged that somebody had thrown her cat overboard Captain Duff expressed his displeasure and assured her that he would have dispatched a boat to retrieve the animal if he had been aware of the situation. Indeed, sea captains had to deal with all manner of issues on long sea voyages.

Captain Duff was recognised by his peers as a highly competent sailor who handled the often trying conditions of the Africaine's long voyage to South Australiawith skill, good sense and generally sound judgement.

Captain Duff did not escape criticism. Passenger and 21-year-old printer, Robert Fisher, censured him for two indiscretions. He accused him firstly of not waiting longer in Nepean Bay for news of a party of five passengers who became lost whilst exploring Kangaroo Island. Two men perished never to be seen again. Secondly, Fisher was displeased when Duff allowed sailors to carry passengers to the beach on their shoulders when the Africaine arrived at Holdfast Bay in November. The second seems atrivial fault indeed!

In South Australia Duff purchased land (some with his business partner John Hallett ? the partners also sold imported goods) whichhe used to farm livestock. In 1838 Duff returned to England, but came back to South Australia in 1839. Duff owned ships and went on many voyages including some with his family. His wife Anne Eliza died in 1854, and by 1862 he had married Mary Schroeder. John Finlay Duff died in 1868 and was buried in the West TerraceCemetery.

Source: http://boundforsouthaustralia.net.au/journey-content/captain-john-finlay-duff.html

See also biography from Jane Brummit: JOHN FINLAY DUFF, ANNE ELIZA DUFF and their daughter JESSIE LIGHT DUFF .

http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~barqueasia1839/history/FINLAYDUFF.htm

He was associated with some of the earliest and most memorable incidents in South Australian history. His ship, the ' Africaine,' arrived here June 1, 1837, and sailed in August of the same year for Tasmania. He will be well remembered as a leading merchant and ship owner, and he was for some years Harbor-Master at Glenelg. He was a man of great public spirit, and took active interest in all that concerned the land of his adoption. His death took place at Glenelg, on May 15, 1868, in his 73rd year.

- Notable South Australians (1885) http://archive.org/stream/notablesouthaus01loyagoog/notablesouthaus01loyagoog_djvu.txt

The Africaine was commanded by Captain John Finlay Duff, who owned the ship in partnership with John Hallett & Thomas Finlay (possibly his maternal grandfather). Travelling in one of the two ‘best cabins’ above the deck at the stern of the ship, was Capt Duff’s new wife, Anne Eliza Turner, niece of Thomas Newnham Turner, an officer in the Ordnance Office based at the Tower of London.

Duff, 37yrs, was a qualified master mariner who had already completed one voyage to Australia in 1835. Nearly a year later June 28, 1836, the Africaine left London Docks on its second voyage to Australia. Sailing as far as The Downs, off Kent, the Africaine waited for Captain Duff & his wife Anne to come on board after their marriage at St Botolph's Aldgate, London on 30 June 1836. Witnesses to the wedding included Duff’s friend & business partner, John Hallett & several other Hallet family members. The newlyweds, Hallett, his wife Maria & their 3 sons, joined the ship on 1 July & the Africaine sailed for South Australia.

Diaries & letters of other passengers give us small glimpses of the new Mrs Duff. While Anne was declared “agreeable and a person of education”, she wasn’t a seasoned sailor, being “greatly alarmed” the night of 30 July when a severe squall caused waves to break on the ship. The main royal sail was torn to shreds, but Mrs Harriet Gouger, another passenger, “did not manifest the least fear, but on the contrary succeeded by her composure in calming Mrs Duff.” Dining with the Captain & his wife was also seen as an honour & Mrs Mary Thomas was very pleased to report that she dined with John & Anne Duff every Thursday.

On arrival in Kingscote November 2, Africaine off-loaded the South Australian Company employees & some provisions. Any relief Anne may have felt at finally stepping ashore after over 4 months at sea would have been very short-lived. Africaine heaved anchor November 6th & sailed for the mainland. Encountering Colonel Light’s party at Rapid Bay, they took Colonel Light on-board & sailed for Holdfast Bay (Glenelg) with the remaining passengers & provisions.

Africiane passenger, Robert Gouger, South Australia’s first Colonial Secretary, spoke very highly of Capt Duff, noting that "… he appears to be a thorough sailor, decisive and skilful; he pays equal attention to all his passengers, has no favorites apparently, and therefore is a general favorite” Gouger & fellow passenger, emigration agent John Brown had chartered the ship for this voyage.

Once again though, Anne’s time on land was short, as Captain Duff was immediately commissioned to sail for Hobart for urgently needed supplies. Finally, on their return in early 1837, John & Anne settled in Adelaide, establishing a home on South Terrace. In partnership with John Hallett, Captain Duff opened a store & shipping agency on Grenfell Street, one of the first in the Colony.

Pioneers Association of South Australia

Obituary

Death of Captain Duff.-Another old colonist has closed his career— Captain Duff, recently Harbour-Master at Glenelg. The event, which was preceded by several months of illness, took place at 2 o'clock on the morning of Monday, May 18. The name of Captain John Finlay Duff is associated with some of the earliest and most memorable incidents in South Australian history. His ship, the Africaine. is noticed in the first number of the South Australian Register, published in London on the 18th June, 1836, as about to sail for this colony, the probable number of passengers being 60. The Africaine's name and that of her commander appeared in the second number of the South Australian Register, published in Adelaide on June 3, 1837, namely, in a list of arrivals prior to June 1 in that year. Captain Duff's name next appears in the firm of Hallett and Duff among the subscribers to a fund for the erection of the original Trinity Church. In August, 1837, the Africaine sailed for Launceston, Van Diemen's Land, in command of Captain Duff.

In subsequent years Captain Duff was extensively known as a merchant and shipowner. The barque Guiana brought from Singapore the first cargo landed at the present port and the schooner Waterwitch delivered the first general cargo landed at the Maclaren Wharf. The Waterwitch— owned by Captain Duff, and commanded by D. Talbert traded between Mauritius, Bourbon, and Port Adelaide as also between our port and those of Western Australia, until she was unfortunately lost on her return voyage from Mauritius. On his retirement from active life, in 1860, Captain Duff accepted the appointment of Harbour-Master at Glenelg, which he held for several years.

Those only who remember him in the most active period of his mercantile career will be able to do justice to the public spirit which animated him. He has done the colony good service in his day and generation. On Wednesday afternoon. May 20, his remains were conveyed to West-Terrace Cemetery. The hearse, mourning coach, and several other vehicles left his late residence, New Glenelg, shortly after 2 o'clock. The Rev. Thos. Field, M.A., Incumbent of St. Peter's, Glenelg, read the Church of England burial service, and around the grave we noticed the Rev. E. K. Miller, Hon. C G. Everard, Messrs. J. Brown, W. Everard, M.P., A. Hallett, E. W. Andrews (Mayor of Glenelg), H. W. Parker, Schroeder, J. Hardman, J. D. Woods, W. H. Charnock, J. P. Stow, Samson, S. Berry, Hitchcox, J. W. Dawes, A. G. Burt, and others, many of whom had known the deceased intimately or been in some way or another associated with him when in active life at an early period of colonial history.

OBITUARY. (1868, May 23). South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), p. 6. Retrieved June 18, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39192683

Burial Notes

West Terrace Cemetery, South Australia. Section: Road 1 South Path Number: 28 E/W/-Count: W-4TH Site Number: 37 Also in the grave is his 2 day old son Charles George Duff.

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