Martha Jane (Bryant) Duckham (abt. 1793)

Born about 1793 in Stafford, Staffordshire, England

Wife of Thomas Duckham — married 10 Feb 1819 in Franklin, Kentucky, United States

Died [date unknown] in Kentucky, United States

Biography

Martha was born about 1793. She is the daughter of Samuel Bryant and Martha Fischer. Martha was baptized 26 My, 1793, at the Anglican Church in Cheadle, St Giles, Staffordshire, England. She was likely an infant at the time.

In about 1810, when she was about seventeen years old, her parents brought the family to the United States. In England, Martha's father was a travelling actor, and he continued his theatrical career in the United States, first acting on stage in Boston, Massachusetts, and then managing a theater in Albany, New York,

In 1814, when Martha was about twenty-one years old, her mother died, leaving Martha as the primary caretaker for her younger siblings. The following year, her father decided to move the family to the relatively unsettled state of Kentucky, where he had an opportunity to further develop his theatrical career.

On 10 Feb 1819, Martha married Thomas Duckham, at Franklin, Kentucky. Thomas was a farmer who had immigrated to Kentucky from England by way of Cincinnati. In time he amassed a tract of Kentucky land in the range of 30,000 acres.

It is unclear what became of Martha after her marriage to Thomas. However, Thomas is said to have died without heir, suggesting Martha may have died young without having born him any children.

Sources

• Staffordshire, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812, Cheadle, St Giles, Martha Jane Drake, 26 May 1793. Abstract available at Ancesrty.com $$

• Kentucky Compiled Marriages, 1802-1850, Franklin County, Thomas Duckham to Martha Bryant, 10 Feb 1819. Abstract available online at Ancestry.com $$].