Marine Private William Tunks (1754.....1821)

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Some information was supplied by Marian E Perrem marianperrem@bigpond.com

Descendants

Area Settled :

PARRAMATTA, New South Wales.

Children :

1 . Ann Tunks (b 5th August 1792  d 7th December 1834)

2 . John Tunks  (b 4th March 1795  d 1st May 1848)

3.  Charles Tunks  (b 1802 circa)

History & Achievements :

Note: Gimlet: a small tool with a screw point for boring holes.

Marine Private William Tunks enlisted in the Royal Marines on the 24th of February 1887. He enlisted as

part of the Portsmouth Company. Prior to his enlistment he served on the ship "Ganges" as a sailor, 26th being discharged to the Haslar Hospital on the 20th of September 1786. William discharged from the "Sirius" , the ship in which he arrived , to the Port Jackson company on the 5th of June 1789. He remained with this company as a Gimlet Maker until February of 1790.

On the 26th of October 1791 he set sail for Norfolk Island on board the ship " Atlantic" , where he recieved

a grant of 60 acre's on Cascade Road Phillipsburg. He grew grain for the colony and on many occasions sold it direct to the settlement.

During March of 1793 he left Norfolk Island aboard the ship "Kitty", surrendering his land back to the colony. Following his arrival he enlisted in the Royal New South Wales Regiment and served with this Regiment until his discharge on the 24th of April 1803. On July the 22nd 1795 whilst still a serving member of the Regiment he recieved a grant of land at Mulgrave Place (25 acres).

Following his discharge in 1803 he recieved a further grant of land ( 140 acres at Evan ). This grant he

leased to a John Palmer who eventually purchased the land by 1812.

During 1809 William Tunks fell victim to an attack by Aborigines but as luck would have it he was rescued

by friends had arrived. Williams burial in 1821 was registered at St Phillips Church in Sydney on the 8th of August 1821 he was aged who 67 years . Sarah Lyons with whom he had lived with was buried on the 27th of July 1837 at St John's Church Cemetery. her age was recorded as being 74 years.

The Tunks Family have many of William's descendents buried at St James Church Parramatta. Below are the Headstones / Monuments & Plaques all found at St James Cemetery. They read as follows.

Section 1 Row B / 1A Tablet.1

In Loving Memory of

EDWARD WILLIAM TUNKS

died 31st July 1926

Aged 49 Years

Thy Will Be Done

Section 1 Row B / 1ATablet.2

TUNKS

GEORGE HENRY

Dear Husband of

TERESA TUNKS

Died 23-5-1933

Section 1 Row B / 1B

In Loving Rememberance of

EAST FACE

CHARLES TUNKS

Who died . Feb 9th 1902

aged 71 Years

To the Memory of

JOHN TUNKS

Who departed this life

May 1st 1848

aged 53 Years

In the midst of life we are in death

Also of

ALFRED FREDRICK THOMAS

TUNKS

Grandson of the above

died January 13th 1856

aged 1 year and 4 months

Also

EDWIN WALTER BARNETT

TUNKS

died September 26 1867

aged 7 months and 18 days

Also

HAROLD EDWIN TUNKS

Grandson of the above

who departed this life

January 27 1878

Aged 3 years

Also

HENRY TUNKS

Who departed this life November 15th 1899

aged 84 years

To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die

A metal plaque affixed to the East Face reads:

In Memory of

WILLIAM TUNKS

(1754-1821)

Marine HMS Sirius- First Fleet 1788

Many of his descendents rest in this cemetery

It is unfortunate that the exact spot where William Tunks and Sarah Lyons are buried is not marked, although they are registered as being interned in this Cemetery

 

 

 

References

Military records  ,Pay rolls, Pay Musters, Cemetery Records, Church Records & General Muster Records, Mitchell Library ,Sydney Australia

The information is intended for short Historical value only,

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