John Duncan (1720 - bef. 1805)

Born 1720 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Descendants

Died before 1805 before age 85 in Newberry District, District 96, South Carolina, United States [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile managers: David England [send private message] and Brent Schaeffer [send private message]

Discrepancy

Histories and Family Books may be co-mingled information vs Court Records No Middle names for this timeframe - merge into LNAB Duncan-166 (Jane Gray descendants)

Biography

Duncan Tartan 2021 Update

John Duncan (1720) of Aberdeen

John Duncan (The Elder) - Immigrant and 1st Arrival about 1740 (p29 Annals of Newberry) (parents Unknown)

Birth Estimate 1720-1730 Reportedly Aberdeen Scotland

Marriage Estimate Unknown 1740; Scotland or SC (possibly Elizabeth before 1787)

Death Estimate 1803-1805 Newberry; presumably Duncan's Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery (AKA: Old Rock Church Cemetery Laurens County, South Carolina )

1809 Estate Record not located; it appears that land sold in 1805 by John/Jean and James/Anna was original land of John Sr.; John/Jean relocated about 1805 to BUNCOMBE CO. NC and court cases indicate John died in 1809; therefore it is likely that John Sr died 1803-1805 timeframe; most likely South Carolina^[1]

Location Estimate Newbury District South Carolina; Craven Co. South Carolina; Old 96 and Old Berkley

Children

John had at least 2 sons - John and James, with land acquisitions on/near Duncan's Creek; there may have been others.^[2]

16-96: 8 March 1768, to John Duncan, 100 acres on Waters of Long Cane Creek in Granville Co

16-379: 29 April 1768, to James Duncan, 100 acres in Berkley Co.

• John (b. ca.1744) (presumed m Jane March (Gray or Janes)]]^[2]. (son) John moved from South Carolina to Buncombe Co. North Carolina prior to the 1800 Census. ^[3] Probate Records confirm death of (son) John 1809 and Jean in 1826/27

• James (b. ca.1746) m Anna Unknown^[2]

James' Will prepared 20 May 1820; and probated on 5 Sep 1828; Probate located - James died in South Carolina.

Estate / Probate

The original Will/Probate for (John Sr) for the period of 1803-1805 SC was not located; however several transactions support the mention his will and confirm that death occurred about 1803-1805 vs originally shown as 1809 NC. Names of sons' wives are also supported.

The (original) 1809 probate was actually for (his son) John and Jane vs John Sr. and transcription located in Bunscomb Co NC.

Additionally, one [https://sites.rootsweb.com/~dobson/sc/scnewbe3.htm

(Contemporary John (1745 - 1805 Will was located of John Dunkin of Edgefield Dist. SC, ... 5 Nov. 1805; to my wife Rachel Huffman Dunkin (does not name either James or John nor Newberry land - [1] (sons Jeremiah, Abel (Exec) William, James, Sampson, dau Rachael] ).

"Reports of cases at law argued and determined in the Supreme Court of North Carolina, from December term, 1853, to August term, 1853, both inclusive" by Perrin Busbee (spine title "No. Carolina Reports [Vol.] 44 - Busbee's Law); Vol.44, pgs.467 to 469 DEN ex dem. (on demise) GEO. BLACK, et al. vs. ELIZABETH LINDSAY; Supreme Court of North Carolina, Morganton; 44 N.C. 467; August, 1853, Decided. This was an action of Ejectment, tried before his Honor Judge DICK, at the Special Term of Buncombe Superior Court of Law, in June 1853. . . . was in the year 1800 in the possession of one Thomas, who continued his possession until the year 1805, when one John Duncan entered, and continued in possession thereof, claiming the premises as his own until his death in 1809, and leaving a will in which he devised the same in fee to Jane Duncan, his wife, who continued to occupy and live upon the land, claiming it as her own, from the death of her said husband until her death in 1826 or 1827.

Newberry Co. SC Deeds H-120: 19 Aug. 1805, John (I) Duncan of (sic) Bunkham Co. NC and James Duncan of Newberry Dist. and state aforesaid (sic), to James Law of Newberry Dist., $412, 102 acres on south side of Duncans Creek, part of two grants which were chiefly originally granted to John Duncan 7 Oct. 1755, (adjoining) John Whitten and the heirs of Rignal Odell, the said Duncans Creek. Wit. William Law, March (X) Duncan. Certification by Jas. Elmore, "Lawrence" Dist., that Anna Duncan, wife of James, released her dower. (FHL film 24,235) O-326: 26 Aug. 1818, Jane (X her mark) Duncan of Buncomb Co. NC to John Watson of Newberry Dist., $270, 384 acres in Newberry Dist. SC between Duncan's Creek, Enoree River, bounded by Widow Duckett, John Odell, Joseph Duncan & Te... Ray?. Wit. Jacob Duckett. (FHL film 24,237)

Timeline

John Duncan (The Elder) Reportedly an immigrant from Aberdeen Scotland to Pennsylvania (about 1740), then to South Carolina about 1752-1754. (he was one of the 1st Pioneers - settled at Duncan's Creek in SC and was a large landholder ^[4]

John (the Elder) Received (SC Royal Land Grants) two Bounty Land Grants about 1754 in Newbury (known as Duncan's Creek) Craven Co. South Carolina

Duncan, John, Duncan's Cr., 50a, Bundle, 3 May 1754

Duncan, John, Duncan's Cr., 200a, Bundle, 4 May 1754

Duncan, John, Broad R., 200a, 7-322, 18 Nov. 1762

(Old) BERKELEY DIST. SC; Formed 1683; Discontinued 1769/1785)

• X5-19: Lease, 26 June 1765, John Duncan of Duncan's Creek of Craven Co. SC, planter, to William Hendricks of same, millwright, John Duncan Senr. lease 200 acres on S.fork Tyger "Creek" in Berkly Co., all sides vacant land, incl. houses etc.; wit. John Odel, Thomas "Hill"; reg. 28 March 1787. (FHL film 23,562)
• X5-22: Release, 27 June 1765, John Duncan Senr. of Duncan's Creek in Craven Co. SC, planter, to William Hendricks of same, millwright, 200 acres in Berkeley Co. in the fork between Broad and Saludy Rivers on S.fork Tyger Creek, all sides vacant, according to plat with the grant recorded in Book X, pg. 47; John Duncan and Elizabeth (x) his wife release for £200 ...; wit. John Odell, Thomas "Will"; rec. 28 March 1787. (FHL film 23,562)

• Newberry Co. SC Deeds

A-550: Lease, 4 Aug. 1787, John Duncan to George Watson, 10 shillings, 33 acres in 96 Dist. on N.side Saluda River on waters of Bush River, granted to John Duncan 4 Dec. 1786. /s/ John Duncan (X), Elisabeth Duncan (X). Wit. George Bridges, Molen Duncan (X her mark). (FHL film 24,233) (MAD: not Moses Duncan but could be Moler Duncan) A-551: Release, 4 Aug. 1787, John W. Duncan and wife Elizabeth of Newberry Co. SC, farmer, to George Watson, shoemaker, for £17 sterling, by virtue of bargain and sale to him thereby made for one whole year by indenture of leasing bearing date 4 Aug. 1787, 33 acres in Dist. of 96 on N side of Saluda River below the antient boundary on waters of Bush River, having such shape form and marks as represented by a platt thereof to the grant annexed, granted to said John Duncan 4 Dec. 1786. /s/ John Duncan (X), Elisabeth Duncan (X). Wit. George Bridges, Molen Duncan (X her mark). (FHL film 24,233; name in body of deed "John W. Duncan" plain)

Sources

1. ↑ H-120: 19 Aug. 1805,'
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} No Estate Record located; although H-120: 19 Aug. 1805,' verified sons, others unknown (Land Transactions support death of 1803-1805 for John the Immigrant; (Sons - James m Anna; John m Jean) Date discrepancies and co-mingled information from book references shown
3. ↑ Oct 1809; Buncombe Co. NC Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions, October 1809 term (pg.460): "The last will and testament of John Duncan was proven in open court by Thomas Forster and John Biffle, the subscribing witnesses thereto: And Jane Duncan and Thomas Plemmons, the executors mentioned in said will came in and were qualified according to law."
4. ↑ 1892 "Annals of Newberry (SC) in Two Parts" (one volume); part 1 by John Belton O'Neall 1859, part 2 by John A. Chapman; pub. by Aull & Houseal (FHL film 1,000,582 item 1 and fiche 6,088,251)

   Pg.51: In 'Mills Statistics', that John Duncan, a native of Aberdeen, Scotland, but an emigrant from Pennsylvania to SC, settled on Duncan's Creek in 1752, and that Jacob Pennington, living on Enoree, 10 miles below, was his nearest neighbor ....

• Newberry County, South Carolina: Historical and Genealogical Annals; George Leland Summer; Genealogical Publishing Com, 1980 - History - 483 pages (p.334) Digital Copy

ANNALS OF NEWBERRY. p29 Sarah Duncan, Samuel Duncan, and John Duncan, were residents of the same tract of country before or during the revolution, and were Friends or were ranked as such by descent.

p.398 J. M. Duncan, died December 20th, 1862; Mord. Duncan, dead;

p.448 in the roll should be G. Luther Bobb. The name of David Duncan should be added to this roll.

• 1826 "Statistics of South Carolina, including a view of its natural, civil, and military history, general and particular" by Robert Mills, pub. Charleston, S.C., Hurlbut and Lloyd (Sutro Library book F269.M65, 3/24/2010; from info from Dan W. Olds 9/10/2009)

Pg.639: "Newberry District was settled chiefly by emigrants from Pennsylvania, and tradition has preserved the names of many of the early settlers. In the year 1752, 3 years previous to BRADDOCK's defeat, a native of Aberdeen, Scotland, named JOHN DUNCAN, removed from Pennsylvania to this section of the country and settled on a creek, which still bears his name. At that time, he was the highest settler, by 10 miles, on the Fork between the Broad and Saluda Rivers -- his nearest neighbor was Jacob Pennington, on the Enoree River below -- who is said to have been the only man, in the District, at that time, with negro, waggon, or still."

Pg.652-653: "'James DUNCAN,' says MILLS, in a note, 'the son of the first settler, is the gentleman, who communicated many of the interesting particulars connected with the first settlement of this district. He was a young man when he came to the province, was through the whole of Col. Grant's war with the Indians, the war with them in 1776 and 1777, and in the revolutionary war. In the early settlement of the country, he followed hunting for seven years. His grounds embraced the whole country, the Catawba and Saluda Rivers, up to and among the mountains. This venerable and interesting character is still living.' (1826).

See Also

Mary Ann Duncan Dobson "Duncan Research Files" (Consolidated, sourced and acknowledged); and the many Duncan Researchers that have provided information.
The Genealogy Bug

• [https://sites.rootsweb.com/~dobson/sc/scnewber.htm Newberry Co. SC Deed (FHL film 24,233)
• SC Land Plats 1688-1787 (Index on FHL film 22,598);
• Berkeley Co South Carolina
• Wayback DSA Index to Names = https://web.archive.org/web/20120831151707/http://www.dsa.duncanroots.com/past%20articles/past%20articles.htm Newsletters (Way back) (Descendant Moses Duncan, wife Sarah Whitmore, of Newberry Co. SC, d. 1845 Jasper Co.  Vol 3,  Number 2 April  1995

Family History Catalogue

John Duncan of Aberdeen and Duncan Creek, South Carolina https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/989374?availability=Family%20History%20Library

John Duncan was born about 1720 in Aberdeen, Scotland. He emigrated in about 1740 and settled in Pennsylvania. He had two known sons, John (b. ca.1744) and James (b. ca.1746). They moved to Duncan Creek, South Carolina in 1752. Descendants and relatives lived mainly in South Carolina, Mississippi, Indiana and Kansas. (Includes Addington, Bivins, Duckett, Jeanes, Odell, Prather, Satterfield, Thrasher, Wesson and related families)

The Duncan family tree : the descendants of David Duncan of Aberdeen https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/635032?availability=Family%20History%20Library

John Duncan (b.ca 1757) was the son of David Duncan of Aberdeen, Scotland. He married Elizabeth Morrison in 1790 at Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada. They were the parents of six children: Helen, William, Robert, David, John and James. Several generations of descendants are given

Acknowledgement

Duncan-6033 was created by Brent Schaeffer through the import of Duncan branch.ged on Jun 1, 2015.

This person was created on 14 September 2010 through the import of 124-DeCoursey.ged.