Rev Robert Dunham
Title:
Rev
First Name:
Robert
Middle Names:
Southey (Fitzwilliam)
Preferred Name:
Surname:
Dunham
Order:
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Country of Birth:
England
Date of Ordination:
Place of Ordination:
Country of Ordination:
Ordination Diocese:
Seminary:
Appointments Table
Diocese | Place | Role | Start Day | Start Month | Start Year | End Day | End Month | End Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane | Rockhampton | 1871 | Fr Denis Long, Pioneer and Early Priests | ||||||
| Brisbane | Clermont/Copperfield | Jun | 1873 | 1878 | Fr Denis Long, Pioneer and Early Priests | ||||
| Armidale | Bundarra | 1889 | Fr Denis Long, Pioneer and Early Priests | ||||||
| Armidale | Bingara | 1890 | Fr Denis Long, Pioneer and Early Priests | ||||||
| Armidale | Wee Waa | Dec | 1890 | Jun | 1893 | Campbell; Fr Denis Long, Pioneer and Early Priests | |||
| Armidale | Narrabri | 1893 | Fr Denis Long, Pioneer and Early Priests | ||||||
| Wellington | Wellington | 1893 | 1897 | Fr Denis Long, Pioneer and Early Priests | |||||
| Christchurch | Akaroa | 1897 | 1906 | Fr Denis Long, Pioneer and Early Priests | |||||
| Armidale | Emmaville | Nov | 1887 | Aug | 1888 | Campbell |
Biographical Notes
T.W. Campbell, The Priests of the Diocese of Armidale: A Necrology, Braddon ACT, 2005:
Dunham, Robert S
Date and place of birth unknown [England]. Details of education unknown. Place of study unknown. Date and place of ordination unknown. Date of arrival in the diocese unknown. He was at Emmaville at least between November 1887 and August 1888. He was appointed to Wee Waa to form the first mission in the area, and was there until June 1893. He possibly also spent time within that period at Moree and Narrabri. He seems to have returned to England in 1893. His movements after that period are unknown. Date and place of death unknown [1902). Place of burial unknown.
(Sources: Doody, Foley MDHC A-Z D107)
(Reproduced by permission of Tom Campbell.)
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Prayer Calendar: Deceased Priests who have ministered the Catholic Faith throughout Toowoomba and districts, 1864–2025, Compiled by Annie Carrett, Diocesan Archivist, 2001, Updated by Gabrielle Saide, Diocesan Archivist, 2023:
Rev Robert Southey Dunham, died 1902
Possibly related to Francis A. Dunham who was also from England. Robert Southey was born in England and served in the Brisbane and Armidale Dioceses. He is in the Surat registers from 1877-78. He died in Christchurch, N.Z.
Reproduced by permission of Bishop Ken Howell.
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Denis M. Long, Pioneer and Early Priests, Archdiocese of Brisbane, Deceased or retired by 1929, 2021, p 81:
Fr Robert Southey (Fitzwilliam) Dunham
Robert the son of Samuel Astley Dunham and Maria Isabella (nee Charnley) was born 11 May 1835. He was baptised Robert Timothy in the parish church of Esh Laude in Durham the following day. His father, Samuel, a distinguished historian and intimate friend of the Laureate Robert Southey and Dr John Lingard, died in 1858 when Robert was 23 years of age.(1) Where he was educated for the priesthood and ordained is not known. In 1871 he was a priest at St Michael's Catholic Church at Shepton Mallet in Somerset. Living in the house was his sister Winfred. Catherine Wilkins, aged 36, was his housekeeper.(2)
He was 35 years of age when he arrived in Moreton Bay:
September 18, 1871: Polmaise, barque, 812 tons, Captain W H Seward, from London (on June 10). Passengers: Mrs Phythian and 2 children, Miss H Dunham, Revs Eugene Ricci (54) , Joseph Pompeo (27), Augustine Francis Dunham, Robert Southey Dunham, Michael Antonini (27), Oresto Ferdozzi (27) and Michael Sullivan (27); … . (3)
His first appointment was Rockhampton where he was registered to officiate at marriages:
Rev Nazareno Clementoni and Rev Robert Fitzwilliam Dunham, Roman Catholic Ministers at Bowen and Rockhampton respectively, are authorised to celebrate marriages. (4)
In 1873 he was appointed to Clermont/Copperfield:
Three Sisters of Mercy, per Storm King, arrived last week; they proceed to Clermont next week, where I understand they will open a school. The Rev Robert Dunham, lately stationed here, has been appointed pastor of Clermont, Copperfield, and the whole of that immense district reaching to the Barcoo. He left last week for his new sphere of duty. Whilst in Rockhampton, he endeared himself to the flock by his unassuming piety, gentleness and affability. (5)
Fr Robert was in Clermont until 1878. By 1881 he was back in Wales registered as a Catholic priest, aged 45, living at 4 Church Terrace in Denio Caernarvonshire Wales, in the diocese of Menevia, with Catherine Wilkins as his housekeeper.(6)
He was serving in Bundarra parish in the Armidale parish before 1889.(7) He was in the historic gold-mining town of Bingara in 1890. Late in 1891: Fr R Dunham, who has been here for a considerable time, was transferred to Moree last week.(8) NSW electoral rolls enlist him at Narrabri in 1893.(9)
Fr Robert was registered as an officiating minister at Wellington New Zealand from 15 May 1893 until 1897. He was resident at Akaroa Ellesmere 20 miles from Canterbury from 1896 until 1906.(10) This is his last listing in New Zealand.
In the 1911 English census Fr Robert Dunham is recorded as a Catholic priest and chaplain residing at 11 Fair View Road, New Sarum, Salisbury, with Catherine Wilkins as housekeeper. His death, at the age of 83, was registered at Brentford Middlesex in March 1918.(11)
Footnotes
1. Age, Brisbane 2 Jun 1904, p. 6.
2. Ancestry.com, Dunham Family Tree
3. Queensland Times, 30 Sep 1871, p. 3.
4. Maryborough Chronicle, Burnett and Wide Bay Advertiser, 12 Feb 1872.
5. Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 21 Jun 1873 p. 7.
6. English 1881 census
7. Armidale Express and New England Advertiser, 29 Sep 1952, p. 3.
8. Sydney Mail, Bingara news, 6 Dec 1890, p. 1248.
9. NSW electoral rolls and registration of marriage celebrants, on Ancestry.com.au
10. Ancestry.com.au.
11. Middlesex, death registration, Vol. 3a, p.181
Reproduced by permission of Fr Denis Long.