Ann Dunkason (Payne, Rann)

Ann Payne was born on 23rd January 1816 to James and Mary (nee Segur) who lived in Furzey Lodge, at the site of the property now called Mares Tails. Ann was the youngest of their three daughters.

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Her father James died in 1815 aged 25, just a few weeks before Ann’s birth, as a result of a head injury when, intoxicated, he fell from his cart as he was crossing a stream. Her mother Mary was received as a member of the Beaulieu Rails chapel’s congregation on 23rd November 1826 after being baptised in Lymington Baptist Church.

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Ann, aged 18, married Peter Rann, aged 29, on 9th September 1834 at Boldre church by the Rev Charles Shrubb. They lived near Penerley and had three children, George, Jane and Hannah before Peter died in 1841, aged just 36.

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On 30th March 1845 at Boldre church, Ann married John, the 24-year-old son of farmer William Dunkason and his wife Ruth. They lived close to his parents in Furzey Lodge with Jane’s daughters and together had two more children, twins Mary and William.

In 1871, John is working as a labourer and living with Ann, step-daughter Jane and son William.

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The 1881 census shows Ann listed as a farmer of 10 acres with assistance from son William who is living with her in Furzey Lodge. John must have died, although no records could be found,  as is not included in their household and Ann is listed as a widow.

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In 1891, Ann, now 76, was living in Furzey Lodge and working as a ‘farmeress’ with 45-year-old son William as assistant farmer.

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Ann died on 26th January 1895, aged 79 which post-dates the surviving burial register

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William Dunkason

William Dunkason was born in 1846 in Furzey Lodge, Hampshire, England, to Ann Payne, age 30, and John Dunkason, age 29.

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Marriage records show William, aged 44, married Eliza House in 1891. However, probate records show his widow as Emily Dunkason (possibly nee Harvey). His ‘wife’ expresses her deep sympathy on his headstone, more is the pity that she did not include her name to help resolve this minor mystery. The 1901 census sheds no light on this either; it shows William is a farmer, aged living with two servants, Emily Gregory and her son Stephen with no wife in evidence.

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William and Ann’s deaths post-date the extant burial record (1837 – 1894) so we have no information about who conducted their burials and the exact dates.