William Lafayette Duckett (1849 - 1927)

Born 8 Apr 1849 in Newberry County, South Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Laura Angeline (Ray) Duckett — married 17 Feb 1876 in Union County, South Carolina

Descendants

Died 12 Feb 1927 at age 77 in Whitmire, Newberry County, South Carolina, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Karen Raichle [send private message]

Biography

William Lafayette Duckett was born 8 April 1849 in Newberry County, South Carolina to Joseph Duckett and Nancy Duckett. ^{[1] [2]} Billy lived with his family on their cotton farm in the Mollohon section of Newberry County, South Carolina.

When he was 15 and a student at Furman University, he enlisted in the South Carolina, Arsenal Cadets. Billy enlisted 9 Jan 1865 and was discharged on 10 May 1865.^[3] He saw active service under Captain John D Nance. In 1865, after the surrender at Richmond, he headed for home on foot. He was walking with Robert Ray. The trip took almost two weeks. When they arrived at Robert's home it was just before sundown. Mr. Ray's wife wouldn't let them in the house until they got rid of their "lousy" dirty clothes and took a bath. She gave them each a change of clothes. Billy and Robert damned up a branch just below the spring, took a bath, and changed their clothes. Billy still had 13 miles to go and a river to swim before he could get home. Since it was now dark, Billy was persuaded to spend the night with the family. Robert's eldest daughter, Lena Ann Ray, was 15 at the time. This young girl would later become Billy's wife.^[4]

After the war, Billy's father sent him to New Orleans to get an education to become a doctor. After about 5 or 6 months, Billy came down with malaria or typhoid fever and was unable to continue with his studies. Eventually he decided he was too far behind and went back home to South Carolina. ^[4] When he was 21, Billy hired out to his father Joseph to work the farm for $125 a year with his board and clothes. Joseph gave each of his sons a horse, saddle, and a pocket watch on their 21st birthday. Billy's watch had his initials and his birthdate inscribed on the inside of the back case. As of 2016, Billy's watch is in the possession of a grandson. ^[5]

On 17 February 1876, after a ten year courtship, Billy married Lena Ann Ray ^[6] After their marriage, Billy and Ann stayed on the old home place with Billy's parents. In 1877 their first child Mellison Paulina was born. Their second child, also a daughter, Ida Eudocia was born in 1879. In this same year, Billy's father died and his mother left the old homeplace for a while. She was uncomfortable in the home where her husband had died and moved in with her eldest son John Calhoun and his family.

In 1881, the third child, Robert Maxwell was born. Apparently Nancy and her daughter in law, Mattie could not get along, so Nancy moved back in with Billy and Ann, where she remained until her death in 1894. Billy and Ann's next child, Willie Eloise came along in 1884. Another son, Luther Antine, was born in 1888. In 1894, Myrtle Reed was born. In 1896, Billy and Ann's last child, Helen Ray, was born. Billy and his family continued to work the farm for many years. In 1910, Billy and Ann left the old home place and moved into the town of Whitmire.^[4]

William L Duckett was a member of Amity Lodge No. 87 and later a member of Roseboro lodge No. 195, A.F.M. He was also a member of the John N Nance chapter of Newberry. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Whitmire where he was a deacon for 40 years. He was known around Whitmire as "Uncle Billy" and was much a part of the social and religious scene in the town.^[7]

William Lafayette Duckett died 12 February 1927 in Whitmire, Newberry County, South Carolina.^[8] He was buried in Whitmire Cemetery on 13 Feb 1927.

Sources

1. ↑ Family Records of Luther A Duckett Sr, hand written notes from a book containing his parents and siblings information kept by Luther Duckett, Tavares, Florida , in the files of Karen Raichle
2. ↑ United States Census, 1850, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11829-17839-79?cc=1401638 : accessed 31 May 2016), South Carolina > Newberry > Newberry county > image 138 of 178; citing NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
3. ↑ Duckett, W. L. of Whitmire, Newberry County Application for Pension for Service in Arsenal Cadets, 4/8/1919, http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/onlinearchives/Thumbnails.aspx?recordId=235929
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Interview with Luther A Duckett, Sr, age 103, taken at his home in Tavares, Florida on 7 March 1992, recorded on audio tape. Tape and transcription in the files of Karen Raichle
5. ↑ Follow up Interview with L A Duckett Sr, age 103, taken at his home on Sinclair Avenue, Tavares, Florida, 14 March 1992, audio tape in files of Karen Raichle
6. ↑ Duckett, William Lafayette, Mr. and Mrs. celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on February 17, 1926, Newberry Observer, issue of February, 1926, page 3, Miss Angeline Ray of Cross Keys was given in marriage to Mr William Lafayette Duckett. The Rev .G. Ezell of Woodruff officiating
7. ↑ Obituary of William Lafayette Duckett, The State, Columbia, Issue of Feb 15, 1927, page 14, column 2
8. ↑ South Carolina Deaths, 1915-1965, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12150-34547-66?cc=1417492 : accessed 13 May 2016), 004177629 > image 668 of 1677; Department of Archives and History, State Records Center, Columbia, (Informant, R M Duckett)

See Also:

• United States Census, 1880, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-25158-27729-32?cc=1417683 : accessed 31 May 2016), South Carolina > Newberry > Cromers > ED 112 > image 49 of 54; citing NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• United States Census, 1900, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11809-108133-59?cc=1325221 : accessed 31 May 2016), South Carolina > Newberry > ED 94 Township 4, Cromer Whitmires town > image 4 of 46; citing NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• United States Census, 1910, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-23807-3444-5?cc=1727033 : accessed 31 May 2016), South Carolina > Newberry > Cromer > ED 107 > image 25 of 40; citing NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• United States Census, 1920, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-23040-4582-53?cc=1488411 : accessed 31 May 2016), South Carolina > Newberry > Cromer > ED 114 > image 3 of 54; citing NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• South Carolina, Death Records, 1915-1943, Digital GS number: 4177629, Image number: 668, Volume 5, Certificate 002461, Newberry County
• Duckett, William Mr. and Mrs. went to Anderson for the funeral of Dr. Duckett’s son. The Observer, issue of September 9, 1910, page 8
• Duckett, W. L. of Whitmire attended a dinner in Whitmire given for 16 Confederate Veterans, Observer, issue of June 18, 1915, page 1
• W L Duckett on the pension roll from Newberry Co. SC, The herald and news. (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, June 15, 1920, Page TWO, Image 2, Image provided by University of South Carolina; Columbia, SC, Persistent link: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86063758/1920-06-15/ed-1/seq-2/
• Militia Enrollments of Men Between the Ages of 18 and 30 for Newberry County, S192021: Militia Enrollments of 1869, http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/onlinearchives/Thumbnails.aspx?recordId=309650
• Newberry County SC Probate index, 1927 Duckett, William L, Miss Willie Duckett, administrator, Package 592, Box 228
• Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/16029381/william-lafayette-duckett : accessed 21 May 2021), memorial page for William Lafayette Duckett (8 Apr 1849–12 Feb 1927), Find A Grave: Memorial #16029381, citing Whitmire Cemetery, Whitmire, Newberry County, South Carolina, USA ; Maintained by JoAnn Welch Coon (contributor 46853486) .