Alfred Pinn

Village Inn Westward Ho, Devon , Photograph Dorothy Wickham 2016

Albert Herman Pinn was born in Devon, England. He died in 1923.

Obituary

Mr. Alfred Herman Pinn, a colonist of 70 years, died suddenly on Sunday, May 27, at the age of 94 years, at his country residence, Quinvale, Drummond North, Malmsbury (Vic). A native of Devon, England. Mr. Pinn was a member of a family noted for longevity, whose pedigree dates back to the French Comte de Pyn. He retained, his faculties to a remarkable degree, and often recounted his early expériences in the 'fifties, when the lure of gold led him first to Victoria and afterwards to New Zealand. He was present at the [Eureka Stockade], and held one of the first, if not the first, miner's rights that was issued in Victoria. This he carried about for years in a pocketbook, but unfortunately lost it in the Mackarora River in New Zealand when he was rescuing a merchant, Henry Marshall, who was fording the river with a bag of gold strapped on his back and got beyond his depth. Mr. Pinn served bis apprenticeship at Plymouth Dockyards in shipbuilding. He claimed, to have discovered the Criffel gold diggings in New Zealand, and several schooners built by him at Pigeon Is-land-the Nun, the Eureka, and the Isabella-were, for years trading on Lake Wanaka. Mr Pinn travelled to New Zealand on the French barque St Jane in 1862. During the voyage the master and most of the crew were stricken with scurvy, and fever, and Mr. Pinn took charge of the navigation of the boat and brought it safely to port. Mr. Pinn, who spent several years in Western Australia, leaves a wife, two sons, two daughters, and two grandsons. One daughter married the late Mr F. W. Quinlan in Perth.

EUREKA VETERAN DIES

Discovered Diggings

DAYRESFOIID, “Wednesday. — The late Mr: A. H. Pinn, who lived at North Drummond, aged 94, had been 70 years in Victoria, and claimed to be one of the first to be issued -with a miners’ right. He lost the document many years later while rescuing a man from drowning in the Mackaroa River N.Z.

Mr. Finn was a veteran of the Eureka Stockade. He also claimed to have discovered the Criffet gold diggings in N.Z., and built several schooners which traded for years on Lake Wanaka.

On his trip from Now Zealand in 18G2 in the French barque St. Jeanne, the master and most of the crew were struck down by fever and scurvy, and Mr. Pinn took charge and brought the ship to port.