Robert B. Duncan (1828 - 1901)

Born 16 Aug 1828 in Belblyth, Strachan Parish, Kincardine, Scotland

Ancestors

Son of Robert Duncan and Jean Brebner

Husband of Anne Stewart Fleeming — married 16 Jul 1860 in Dundee, Angus

Descendants

Died Sep 1901 at age 73 in Junction City, Geary County, Kansas

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Biography

The middle initial B may stand for Bremner, for maternal Grandfather Robert Bremner (a.k.a. Brebner).

We have no explicit public record of Robert's parents, but his first child was named Robert and his second was named Mary Jane Brebner, so when we found a Robert Duncan married Jean Brebner, both of the right age, and having a son Robert, it is close to certain we have the right parents.

Robert's birth to these parents of this date is of record^[1].

Robert was no longer living with his family at their farm at Tilliefumery near Strachan at the time of the 1851 census^[2].

His occupation, as shown on his 1860 Marriage Certificate, was Commission Agent^[3]. He may have arrived in Dundee after coming of age around 1849, and could have met Anne's father Charles Fleming before his death. Charles was also a shipping agent.

Robert and Anne emigrated with their first four children to Junction City, Kansas, in 1871/2^[4]. Abilene/Junction City KS was one of the first stockyard/rail head towns west of Chicago. Cattle have been a major business interest ever since. The Duncan family arrived likely during Wild Bill Hickock's short term as town Marshall, exciting times in the still wild West. It was likely a huge contrast to the Dundee they had left.

By 1880, Robert is shown farming in Fragrant Hill Twp., Dickinson, KS, where family resided for the next several decades^[5].

Robert died in Junction City in 1901. In 1920, widow Anne was living with her son David and his wife Helen and son Clifford in Fragrant Hill Twp^[6]. Anne died at age 88 in 1923.

As of 1960, Internet information reveals two probable descendants of Robert still owning land in Fragrant Hill Twp.

Sources

1. ↑ Scottish Births and Baptisms, 1564-11960, accessed via FamilySearch index
2. ↑ 1851 Census, Dundee, Angus, SCT, accessed via FamilySearch index
3. ↑ FamilySearch marriage index derived from Old Parish Records
4. ↑ Son Alfred Pierce Duncan was his first child born in America, 13 April 1872; Dora was last child born in Scotland, 22 Feb 1871.
5. ↑ 1880 Federal Census, Dickinson County, KS, accessed via FamilySearch index
6. ↑ 1920 Federal Census, Dickinson County, KS, accessed via FamilySearch index

• Letter from Alfred P. Duncan, Robert's son, sent to Marion Alexander Duncan in 1936.

• Maternal relationship is confirmed by a triangulated group on MyHeritage consisting of David Duncan, H. D., E.W., and J.W.,, who share a 16.6 cM triangulated segment on chromosome 13. The most-recent common ancestors shared by all four are Robert Brebner and Elizabeth Bell. E.W. descends through their son James Brebner and is their 4th-great-grandchild; J.W. descends through their son David Brebner and is their 4th-great-grandchild; David Duncan and H.D. descend through their daughter Jean (Brebner) Duncan and her son Robert Duncan — H.D. is their 5th-great-grandchild and David is their 4th-great-grandson.