Mary Barnard (1647 - 1685)

Born 1647 in Stepney, Middlesex, England

Wife of Thomas Duckett — married 1680 in Isle, Virginia

Died 11 Sep 1685 at about age 38 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Note: Researchers have given the marriage date for Thomas Duckett to Mary Barnard on May 13, 1680 at the Wiltshire Monthly Meeting in Wiltshire, England. However, that date would be too soon to allow for the births of his children that were marrying by 1690.

Biography

In his book, Welsh Settlement of Pennsylvania, Charles H. Browning records the Settlement of Welsh Tract lands granted by William Penn, 1681 and mentions many celebrated early immigrants and the ships they took. In the chapter entitled, Merion, Haverford, Radnor, he records a list of people from the Welsh Tract settlers who presented certificates of membership from Meetings in Wales and England to the Haverford (Radnor) Monthly Meetings. Among the names on the list are Thomas Duckett and his wife and his sister, Mary.^[1]

Thomas Duckett and Barnaby Wilcox were the only settlers recorded in the "city liberties" of Philadelphia in 1682.^[2]

Mary's husband, Thomas, was instructed by the Philadelphia MM, along with Barnaby Wilcox, to select a burying place. In the minutes of their quarterly meeting dated 2, 1mo. 1684-5, it was recorded that Thomas and Barnaby Wilcox were to apply to the Governor's commissioners for a grant of two acres of Land for a burying place on the other side of "Skuylkill." This land was granted and became the graveyard near Thomas' house, and along the south side of the "settled road" about where Market and 32nd streets now intersent and is part of the Pennsylvania Railroad property. It was used as a general burying place for Friends after the Duckett meeting was abandoned, or about 1688-9 and was known as the "Lower Burying Ground" and "Haverford Friends' Ground." The Pennsylvania Railroad eventually moved the bodies in 1850 for tracks.^[3] Of those burials recorded, there was a Jane Duckett, widow, buried 1683, 7mo, 8; Mary Duckett, daughter of Thomas and Mary Duckett, buried 1684, 7 mo. 10 and Mary Duckett, wife of Thomas, buried 1685, 6 mo. 11 (old style).^[4][5]

Sources

1. ↑ Browning, Charles H.; Welsh Settlement of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: William J. Campbell, 1912. 631p. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1967; pg. 498.
2. ↑ Browning, Charles H.; Welsh Settlement of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: William J. Campbell, 1912. 631p. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1967; pg. 499.
3. ↑ Browning, Charles H.; Welsh Settlement of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: William J. Campbell, 1912. 631p. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1967; pg. 507.
4. ↑ Swarthmore College; Swarthmore, Pennsylvania; Minutes, 1606-1869; Collection: Quaker Meeting Records; Call Number: MR Ph:537; Radnor Monthly Meeting; Minutes, 1606-1869.
5. ↑ Browning, Charles H.; Welsh Settlement of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: William J. Campbell, 1912. 631p. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1967; pg. 508.