Marston Duke (abt. 1690 - abt. 1730)

Born about 1690 in James City, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 1730 at about age 40 in Hanover County, Colony of Virginia

Problems/Questions Profile managers: US Southern Colonies Project WikiTree [send private message] and Lynn Teague [send private message]

Marston Duke resided in the Southern Colonies in North America before 1776. Join: US Southern Colonies Project Discuss: southern_colonies

Biography

Marston Duke's parents, Thomas and Elizabeth Duke, lived on property adjacent Webb's Run in the part of James City County that became Charles City County. His father Thomas Duke appeared in the 1704 Quit Rent Roll there as a resident.^[1]

Marston's identity as a son of Thomas Duke is established in the will of Elizabeth Marston Duke, widow of Thomas Duke. The will was presented at court in 1729. She provides for her son Marston Duke, her daughter Susanna Sherman, her granddaughter Elizabeth Sherman, daughter Sarah Lide, and daughter Mary Duke. Marston Duke and William Brown of James City County were executors, and the will was witnessed by Robert Hickman, Joseph Hix, and Joseph Day.^[2] Marston was given six enslaved persons, household stuff, stock at Rockcastle, and her gun.

As a young adult, Marston lived in James City County, as had his parents. From the will of Elizabeth Marston Duke, we know that at the time it was written she referred to her son Marston as "Marston Duke of James City County."

However, he acquired land to the north. His grandfather Col. Henry Duke had owned property there. In 1719/20 Marston Duke's land in Hanover County was represented in the processing of land (checking boundary markers) in St. Paul's Vestry Book^[3]

And, on the same day the will of his mother was presented at court, Marston Duke "of Hanover County" sold to Charles Henry Cox 200 acres of land in Charles City County where "my father Mr. Thomas Duke lived and died" bounded by Webb's Run, line of Joseph Hix, David Gwyn, Wickaway Run with all houses.^[4] He did not intend to live on his father's home property.

The area where Marston Duke settled was Louisa County at the time of his death, was Hanover County when he first established residence there, and was originally part of New Kent County. Marston's grandfather Col. Henry Duke, Esq., had owned property in New Kent County, but did not reside there. He was listed as still resident in James City County in the 1704 Rolls.^[5]

This points toward the period between Elizabeth Marston Duke writing her will and filing it as the time when Marston Duke officially changed his primary residence.

Research Notes

• Amy (Duke) Rodes c1725-11 Feb 1825 is possibly a daughter of Marston Duke. (theory only, not proven)

Since his death is usually estimated earlier than this date, which is also more than a decade after the birth of his known children, this would greatly benefit from some supporting data.

Sources

1. ↑ The 1704 Virginia Quit Rent Rolls. The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography , Jul., 1920, Vol. 28, No. 3 (Jul., 1920), pp. 207-218. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4243771
2. ↑ Charles City Co VA Wills and Deeds 1725-1731, p. 271-272.
3. ↑ The Vestry Book of St. Paul's Parish, Hanover County, Virginia, 1706-1786. P. 265. Ancestry.
4. ↑ Charles City Co VA Wills and Deeds 1725-1731, p 277
5. ↑ The 1704 Virginia Quit Rent Rolls. The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography , Jul., 1920, Vol. 28, No. 3 (Jul., 1920), pp. 207-218. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4243771