Dunn Family 1710 - 1886
Three miles to the east of Wells next the Sea is the small Norfolk coastal village of Stiffkey that was home to the Dunn family. The connection with the Mussett family is that Mary Dunn (my 4ggm) married Henry Mussett - given the Dunn's background which was initially 'financially challenging' and criminal it was almost certainly considered a favourable marriage but perhaps less so for the Mussetts.
Although most of their recorded lives were spent in Stiffkey, the Dunn family originated from Edgefield which, using old country roads, is approximately 11 miles inland to the southeast.
Although most of their recorded lives were spent in Stiffkey, the Dunn family originated from Edgefield which, using old country roads, is approximately 11 miles inland to the southeast.
John Dunn 1710 (my 7ggf)
The earliest recorded family members are John Dunn (my 7ggf) who married Mary Tight, both of whom were born in Edgefield in about 1710. They are recorded with at least one child, also named John (my 6ggf), born in Edgefield about 1735.
John Dunn 1735 (my 6ggf)
St Peter & St Paul, Edgefield (old church)
John married Susannah Dyball in St Peter and St Paul, Edgefield. Susannah was born in 1735 and after their marriage in 1755 went on to have eight children between 1757 and 1781. Their second child, born in Edgefield in 1761, was Jeremiah (my 5ggf).
Jeremiah Dunn 1760 (my 5ggf)
Jeremiah married Mary Anne Dunt who was born in 1760, possibly in Coltishall, 16 miles to the southeast of Edgefield. Various parish records indicate that Jeremiah went by a number of names including Jeremy, Jerey and Jary.
While in Edgefield, christenings, marriages and funerals would have taken place in the old church of St Peter & St Paul (right) as it was not until 1885 that the new church was built, by which time the family had left for Stiffkey.
At the time of their marriage in 1783 at the Coltishall church of St John the Baptist, Jeremiah (22) had been living in nearby Bale while Mary Anne Dunt (23) was "of the parish".
Their first two children, Catherine and Susannah were born in Coltishall in 1783 and 1785. Shortly after Susannah’s birth the family moved to Stiffkey where their third daughter Mary (my 4ggm) was born in 1786.
Jeremiah Dunn 1760 (my 5ggf)
Jeremiah married Mary Anne Dunt who was born in 1760, possibly in Coltishall, 16 miles to the southeast of Edgefield. Various parish records indicate that Jeremiah went by a number of names including Jeremy, Jerey and Jary.
While in Edgefield, christenings, marriages and funerals would have taken place in the old church of St Peter & St Paul (right) as it was not until 1885 that the new church was built, by which time the family had left for Stiffkey.
At the time of their marriage in 1783 at the Coltishall church of St John the Baptist, Jeremiah (22) had been living in nearby Bale while Mary Anne Dunt (23) was "of the parish".
Their first two children, Catherine and Susannah were born in Coltishall in 1783 and 1785. Shortly after Susannah’s birth the family moved to Stiffkey where their third daughter Mary (my 4ggm) was born in 1786.
Parish records provide some insight into the family’s circumstances between 1786 and 1793. On 13 December 1789, when three year old Mary was christened the Stiffkey parish register records Jeremiah and Mary as being paupers. From then on, according to the Stiffkey Poor Law Records of 1748 – 1834, they were supported by the parish. In return for money or rent, Jeremiah had to undertake tasks on behalf of the parish: maintaining roads during the summer and even catching sparrows for which he was paid a shilling. Jeremiah Dunn was never listed as a ‘Rate Payer’ most likely because he was unable to make a sufficient living to contribute back to the parish.
Despite these poor beginnings, Jeremiah and Mary Anne had a further six children: John in 1789, Christiana in 1798, Samuel in 1800, James in 1802, Elizabeth in 1805 and lastly Henry in 1807. It is quite possible that Henry took his name from Henry Mussett who had married into the family in the previous year and would have been considered to be a good catch as the Mussett family included master mariners, were literate and undoubtedly more prosperous.
Jeremiah died in 1823, aged 66, and Mary in 1845 aged 86; both are buried in Stiffkey churchyard, in unmarked graves.
Despite these poor beginnings, Jeremiah and Mary Anne had a further six children: John in 1789, Christiana in 1798, Samuel in 1800, James in 1802, Elizabeth in 1805 and lastly Henry in 1807. It is quite possible that Henry took his name from Henry Mussett who had married into the family in the previous year and would have been considered to be a good catch as the Mussett family included master mariners, were literate and undoubtedly more prosperous.
Jeremiah died in 1823, aged 66, and Mary in 1845 aged 86; both are buried in Stiffkey churchyard, in unmarked graves.
Mary Dunn 1786 - (my 4ggm)
Mary was married in 1806 at the age of twenty to Henry Mussett of Wells (my 4ggf) in the church of St. John the Baptist on Church Street, Stiffkey, having earlier in the year been read their Banns. By the time of the first English census in 1841 they had moved to East End in Wells (see Mussett for continuation of Mary's life and family).
Mary's two younger brother's were John and Samuel - a great deal is known about both these characters as their exploits were publicised in a two volume biography by Major Charles Loftus in 1877 entitled, "My Life: From 1815 - 1849" and in local newspapers of the time - click here for John and here for Samuel.
Mary's two younger brother's were John and Samuel - a great deal is known about both these characters as their exploits were publicised in a two volume biography by Major Charles Loftus in 1877 entitled, "My Life: From 1815 - 1849" and in local newspapers of the time - click here for John and here for Samuel.