Friday 7 June 2024

John Falconer, (14/4/1820- 2/10/1857). "in his bed"


Sudden Death. — A melancholy instance of sudden death occurred at the Upper Wakari on, Friday the 2nd instant. John Falconer, a labourer, and well known as one of the early settlers, had returned from his work on Thursday, and complained of being indisposed. He kept the house during Friday, not being supposed to be seriously ill. In the evening one of his daughters, a girl of about twelve years of age, went out in search of the cows, but not returning as usual, her mother, with the assistance of some neighbours, went in search of her, but were unable to find any trace of her. The mother, in great anxiety, returned from the fruitless search, when she found her husband lying dead in his bed. The younger children were unconscious of the fact, and it is presumed that Falconer must have died of disease of the heart, apparently without a struggle. Much anxiety was felt for the safety of the child, as the night was a very severe one. On the morning the search was resumed without success but fortunately the child had managed to find its way through the bush to the saw mill. Falconer has left six orphan children, almost wholly dependent upon the widow for support.  -Otago Witness, 10/10/1857.


Arthur Street Cemetery, Dunedin.


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