By DOLORES MORGAN

“Back to their Irish roots” was the order of the day, including a bagpipe rendition of “Amazing Grace” by John Tyson, Pipe Major of Pamlico Pipes & Drums in Washington. About 40 members of the Dunn clan met June 27 at Mt. Olive Church of Christ at Ponzer to honor John Edward Dunn (1827-1912), who was born in Dundalk, Ireland, and later resided in Hyde County. He had been buried nearby at Shallop Creek but his wooden mark had disappeared over the years, so the family placed a marker in the Mt. Olive cemetery.

Dunn ran away to sea when he was about 12 or 13 and traveled much of the world, coming to the states prior to the Civil War. He joined the Union Army during the Civil War, was seriously wounded and sent to a northern hospital where he was told he could never fight again. He proved them wrong by joining the Union Navy. Shipwrecked off the Morehead City coast, he swam ashore to find the war was over.  He and Henry Rhem, a shipmate and lifelong companion, explored the North Carolina coast, favored it and permanently settled in Hyde County. Finding virgin timber and cheap farmland, he invested all that he could. Most of his money came from the sale of hand-made shingles, making a reputation for himself as a strong little man who could do most anything, plus raising bees. He married twice and had four children by his first wife who died after the fourth child’s birth and 14 children by his second wife. Fifteen reached full maturity. As his children grew, his home became a gathering place for the community youth who came to court his girls and to listen to his tales of many travels and adventures from other countries including his knowledge of several languages. They would gather in front of the fireplace and listen to his stories for hours. He died at the age of 83.

After a brief graveside summary of Dunn’s life, the attendants took green carnations and placed them on his marker located with his second wife and two of his sons in the church cemetery. Bagpiper John Tyson played previous to the dedication. After the ceremony, the group gathered at the Fishhook Café in Belhaven for a buffet dinner. The families attending this reunion came mainly from Virginia and North Carolina, plus South Carolina and Maryland. Some of the cousins recently traveled to Ireland and met living Dunn relatives affirmed by DNA testing.