Michael Duffin
Michael Duffin is believed to have been born in 1836, location unknown. Little
else is known about Michael Duffin until at twenty-five years of age while living in
New York State enlisted on December 10, 1861 at Buffalo, New York as a Private
in Company “D”, 12th New York Infantry; during the American Civil War.
Afterwards he was transferred into Company “116”, 2nd Battalion, New York
Veteran Reserve Corps on December 10, 1863, and served yet again in Company
“E”, 18th New York Veteran Reserve Corps. Duffin was discharged at an
unspecified date after which he applied for a military pension on November 29,
1907. He was classified an ‘Invalid’ on November 1, 1889 and collected a United
States government pension for chronic diarrhoea, resulting in a disease of his
rectum; as a result of his military service.
At a later date Michael moved to New Zealand, where he lived with his wife Ellen
at Auckland, and at one time worked as a Tramcar conductor. They had three
children; a son Hugh, a son John and a daughter Jean. Hugh was a member of
the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society (H.A.C.B.), and John lived on
Molesworth Street in New Plymouth, became a Constable in the Police
Department, later a Sergeant and was an Inspector of Weights and Measures on
a weighbridge erected by the Borough Council. Hugh also had a son, John H.
Duffin, but unfortunately he died of a protracted and severe illness at nineteen
years of age; on November 6, 1901 in Auckland. Jean ended up marrying a Dr
James Reid at Mangonui, North Auckland.
Michael Duffin died at 76 years of age on October 31, 1912 at Auckland, New
Zealand. He was subsequently buried in the Waikaraka Cemetery on the shore of
Onehunga Bay; located at 1 Alfred Street in Onehunga, Auckland, New Zealand. He
is buried in Area 1, Block H, Lot No. 55. After Michael’s death Ellen applied for a
Widows Pension on February 25, 1913.
Buried with Michael in the Waikaraka Cemetery is his wife Ellen who died on
November 23, 1926; his son Hugh who died at 33 years of age on June 18, 1909;
a daughter Annie Duffin who died on March 24, 1927, and his daughter Jean
Duffin Reid who died November 25, 1909. All are marked with headstones.
Sources:
Auckland City Council
E.W., Researcher, New Zealand
Michael Duffin Pension Records
National Archives, Wash. D.C., M636, Roll 11/12 Microfilm
National Archives, Wash. D.C., M551 Roll 40 Microfilm
Report of the New York Adjutant General
Star, April 4, 1888
The New Zealand Tabler, Nov. 21, 1901
The New Zealand Tabler, June 26, 1902
Taranaki Herald, August 18, 1875
Taranaki Herald, December 13, 1878
Waikaraka Cemetery Family History Files
Waikaraka Cemetery Headstone Transcriptions
Waikaraka Cemetery Records
2nd Battalion New York Reserve Corps Regimental Roster
12th New York Infantry Regimental Records
18th New York Reserve Infantry Corps Regimental Records