Australian and New Zealand Civil War Veterans

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.