Lewis Grant Duncan was born on 12 November
1831 and was baptised on 18 November in Campbeltown, the eldest child of Dunlop and Elizabeth Duncan (nee Grant)[1]
In 1841[2], aged 9, Lewis resided with his father, mother, siblings and half-siblings at Back Street, Campbeltown and continued to reside with his parents for at least another 10 years as he appears on the 1851 census at the same address. He followed his father’s trade becoming a painter.[3]
Lewis is believed to have emigrated to Victoria, Australia, aboard the Constance, departing Liverpool in August 1854, as one of 310 adults passengers. A Lewis G Duncan is listed on the passenger list as being a Taylor, aged 21 years. This would put birth around 1833, but family knowledge and his death certificate record he arrived in 1854, (therefore probably aboard the Constance).
In 1856, Lewis moved to Lake Boloke as cook for hotelier James Brown.
Lewis Duncan married Elizabeth Ann Hellyer on 9 January 1865 in the Mail Tent at Pollockdale, Victoria. Lewis was 30 and a painter residing in Lake Boloke (now Lake Bolac).
Elizabeth Ann Hellyar, the first child of George and Ann Hellyer (nee Pearce) was born in the Truro District, Cornwall, England, in either the 3rd qtr of 1841 [4]; 1842 [5]; or 1843 [6].
The 1851 census shows Elizabeth, as a 9 year old, living with her parents (George and Ann, both 35) and brothers Richard (aged 7) and George H (4 mths) at Carclew Tce, Truro, Cornwall. All born in the County.
Elizabeth’s mother Ann died in the 4 qtr of 1851 in Truro.
Elizabeth’s father George married Catherine Gray (nee Davey) in the 3rd qtr of 1852 in Truro.
Elizabeth emigrated with her father, step mother Catherine, brothers and half sisters Mary Ann and Emily Jane from Plymouth on 3 August as one of 275 Assisted passengers aboard the Panama ( 733 tons, under Master McDonald) arriving in Port Phillip, Victoria, on 24 October 1854.
The family upon arrival in Victoria changed the spelling of their name from Hellyar to Hellyer.
Lewis and Elizabeth’s first child, George Hellyar Duncan was born, the family had moved to Lake Bolac, Victoria, (approx 200km west of Melbourne).
A few years after arriving in Lake Bolac, Lewis established the Presbyterian Sunday School and continued to conduct it until two years prior to his death when old age compelled him to relinquish the position. [7]
In September 1883, Lewis was awarded a £75 contract to repair and make additions to the Streatham Post Office [8]
Elizabeth Duncan, Lewis’ wife, died at Lake Bolac on 27 February 1904, aged 59 years, having lived in Victoria for 47 years. [9]
Lewis died at Lake Bolac on 16 November 1917, three days after his 86th birthday. [10]
He was survived by two sons (George Hellyer (1866-1923) and Dunlop (1868-1924)) and four daughters (Emily Jane (1871-1950), Elizabeth (1873-1964), Janet Adelaide (1877-1924) and Sarah Ann (1879-1923)). Lewis and Elizabeth’s fifth child, Lewis Grant, died in 1877, aged 2 years
In 1841[2], aged 9, Lewis resided with his father, mother, siblings and half-siblings at Back Street, Campbeltown and continued to reside with his parents for at least another 10 years as he appears on the 1851 census at the same address. He followed his father’s trade becoming a painter.[3]
Lewis is believed to have emigrated to Victoria, Australia, aboard the Constance, departing Liverpool in August 1854, as one of 310 adults passengers. A Lewis G Duncan is listed on the passenger list as being a Taylor, aged 21 years. This would put birth around 1833, but family knowledge and his death certificate record he arrived in 1854, (therefore probably aboard the Constance).
In 1856, Lewis moved to Lake Boloke as cook for hotelier James Brown.
Lewis Duncan married Elizabeth Ann Hellyer on 9 January 1865 in the Mail Tent at Pollockdale, Victoria. Lewis was 30 and a painter residing in Lake Boloke (now Lake Bolac).
Elizabeth Ann Hellyar, the first child of George and Ann Hellyer (nee Pearce) was born in the Truro District, Cornwall, England, in either the 3rd qtr of 1841 [4]; 1842 [5]; or 1843 [6].
The 1851 census shows Elizabeth, as a 9 year old, living with her parents (George and Ann, both 35) and brothers Richard (aged 7) and George H (4 mths) at Carclew Tce, Truro, Cornwall. All born in the County.
Elizabeth’s mother Ann died in the 4 qtr of 1851 in Truro.
Elizabeth’s father George married Catherine Gray (nee Davey) in the 3rd qtr of 1852 in Truro.
Elizabeth emigrated with her father, step mother Catherine, brothers and half sisters Mary Ann and Emily Jane from Plymouth on 3 August as one of 275 Assisted passengers aboard the Panama ( 733 tons, under Master McDonald) arriving in Port Phillip, Victoria, on 24 October 1854.
The family upon arrival in Victoria changed the spelling of their name from Hellyar to Hellyer.
Lewis and Elizabeth’s first child, George Hellyar Duncan was born, the family had moved to Lake Bolac, Victoria, (approx 200km west of Melbourne).
A few years after arriving in Lake Bolac, Lewis established the Presbyterian Sunday School and continued to conduct it until two years prior to his death when old age compelled him to relinquish the position. [7]
In September 1883, Lewis was awarded a £75 contract to repair and make additions to the Streatham Post Office [8]
Elizabeth Duncan, Lewis’ wife, died at Lake Bolac on 27 February 1904, aged 59 years, having lived in Victoria for 47 years. [9]
Lewis died at Lake Bolac on 16 November 1917, three days after his 86th birthday. [10]
He was survived by two sons (George Hellyer (1866-1923) and Dunlop (1868-1924)) and four daughters (Emily Jane (1871-1950), Elizabeth (1873-1964), Janet Adelaide (1877-1924) and Sarah Ann (1879-1923)). Lewis and Elizabeth’s fifth child, Lewis Grant, died in 1877, aged 2 years
[1] Old
Parish Record 507/0060 0230
[2] Census
Registration, District 507, Enumeration District 7 pg 9,
[3] 1851
Census records 507/00 007/00 003
[4] England & Wales FreeBDM index
[5] 1851 Census
[6] Elizabeth's death Certificate
[4] England & Wales FreeBDM index
[5] 1851 Census
[6] Elizabeth's death Certificate
[7] Old
Parish Record 507/0060 0230
[8] Old
Parish Record 507/0060 0230
[9] Old
Parish Record 507/0060 0230
[10] Old
Parish Record 507/0060 0230
