Esther Benson (Duke) Dyches (1790 - 1870)

Born 1790 in Camden, Kershaw, South Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Daughter of Moses Duke and [mother unknown]

Descendants

Biography

http://person.ancestry.com/tree/10979440/person/984636596/facts

Esther's maiden surname is uncertain due to illegitimate birth. Many researchers believe her mother was Elizabeth Benson who witnessed the 1789 will of William Perry, along with Esther Duke the wife of John Duke, Moses Duke's brother.

Esther Benson Dyches left a Bible Record in which she stated she had a sister named Harriet Duke. Other siblings were Claresee, Moses Kirklin, Elizabeth and Sarah Duke.

Seth Dykes is also mention in the will of Moses Duke, recorded 15 Aug 1821, "And upon the death or marriage of my said wife, I give, devise and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Esther Dyches wife of Seth Dyches all the rest and residue of my estate..." According to court records, witnesses to the will stated that Moses wanted to provide for Esther Dyches but believed her to be a "...weakly woman and bed fast..." Moses had deeded her some property earlier and worried that to do more would be challenged because she was illegitimate. This is from secondary transcriptions of the records but believed to be accurate.

Per an online secondary resource, While separated from her husband in 1855 Esther Dikes filed a petition to settle trust property, Ester Dyches vs. Seth Dyches et.al, regarding 74 acres in Barnwell District, SC which provided names for her children: William Arrington and wife Ceeny, J.G.W. Berry and Leaty his wife, John Croley and his wife Mary, William Croley and Martha his wife, and William and Wilson Dyches all reside in the State of Alabama and notes that four children still live in SC. At the time Mrs. Dyches is blind, about 60 years old. Esther Benson Dyches leaves a Bible record in which she states that she has a sister named Harriet Duke. Other siblings were Claresee, Moses Kirklin, Elizabeth and Sarah Duke. ^[1]

It appears that Moses Duke tried to prevent his property from being inherited by Seth Dyches and was concerned about Esther Dyches health. Considering that many years later Esther was separated from her husband, it appears these relationship were strained.

^[2]

DNA

• Paternal relationship is confirmed by a triangulated group on chromosome 5 for a length of 9.8 cM consisting of:
  Robin Berry GEDmatch Kit# A846205;
  Thomas Bamberg GEDmatch Kit# A681226;
  Arthur Sims GEDmatch Kit# M693205;
  Nancy Saxon GEDmatch Kit# A256561.
  All four people in this triangulation group (TG) share a 9.8 cM segment on chromosome 5.
  Robin Berry and Nancy Saxon are 8th cousins once removed;
  Nancy Saxon is 9th cousin to, Thomas Bamberg and Arthur Sims;
  Robin Berry is 8th cousin once removed to, Thomas Bamberg and Arthur Sims.
  The MRCA of Robin, Thomas, Arthur and Nancy is Unknown Dukes , the 7th great grandparents of Robin Berry and the 8th great grandparents of Nancy Saxon , Thomas Bamberg and Arthur Sims.

• Paternal relationship is confirmed by a triangulated group on GEDmatch consisting of Avery Sisco, Mona Carter, and Lisa Supple who all share the exact same 7.3 cM segment on chromosome 6. Avery and Mona are 6th cousins twice removed; Lisa and Mona are 7th cousins once removed; Lisa and Avery are 3rd cousins once removed. The MRCAs for all three are Benjamin Duke and Mary the 5th great grandparents of Avery, the 6th great grandparents of Lisa, and the 7th great grandparents of Mona.

• Paternal relationship is confirmed by a triangulated group on Gedmatch consisting of Jim Jackson, Berge Cox and Clint Franks who share the exact same 8.3 cM segment on chromosome 18. Jim and Berge are 6th cousins once removed; Jim and Clint are 6th cousins two times removed; and Berge and Clint are 6th cousins three times removed. The MRCAs shared by all three is Benjamin Duke and Mary 6th great grandparents of Jim, 4th great grandparents of Berge, and the 8th great grandparents of Clint.

Sources

1. ↑ https://ogsgs.org/exodus/1dyche2.htm
2. ↑ http://genealogy.ztlcox.com/~xcc2all/mosesdukebarnwelllwt.htm

• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8Q8-BNH : 4 April 2020), Esther Dyches in household of Seth Dyches, Barnwell county, Barnwell, South Carolina, United States; citing family 259, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• Geni.com.