John Duke (abt. 1743 - 1798)

Born about 1743 in Hanover, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth Duke — married about 1760 in Hanover, Virginia

Husband of Sarah (Unknown) Duke — married about 1770 in Hanover, Virginia

Descendants

Died 1798 at about age 55 in Hanover, Virginia, United States

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MYTH BUSTED

Evelyn Duke Brandenberger in her books The Duke Family Vol. 1, 1979 and an updated The Duke Family Vol. 2 1995 ^[1] merged the John Duke in this profile with John Duke (son of Marrey) referenced in Clevears Duke 1784 will. However the tax records for Hanover & Louisa Counties, VA. ^[2] show this John Duke died in 1798, while the John Duke of Louisa Co., VA wrote his will in 1807 Louisa Co., VA (probated in 1819) wherein the Louisa Co., VA. John Duke left a bequest to his sister Elizabeth (Duke) Lumsden (wife of George Lumsden, one of the executors of Clevears Dukes 1784 will) show that they were two separate and distinct John Dukes. See: Three grandsons of Marston Duke named John Duke

Biography

John was born about 1743. (Oldest son born 1765 minus 21 years of age equals abt. 1743) He was the son of Henry Duke. He passed away in / before 1798.

John Duke lived all his life in Hanover County. He was approximately the same age as the children of his uncle Clevears Duke .

An 1837 Goochland Co., VA Chancery court case ^[3] involving the estate of Sarah (Vest) Duke proves that John Duke 1743-1798 was twice married. Sarah (Vest) Duke was the 2nd wife. It names John Dukes children by his first wife were: Mastin Duke, Harry Duke, James Duke, John Duke, Lucinda Duke, Nancy Duke who intermarried with a Mr. Mallory. And children by Sarah (Vest) Duke, his 2nd wife, were: Sarry Duke who intermarried with Robert Mallory, Mary Duke later Polly Stone, Patsy Duke that intermarried with Philip P. Winns, Elizabeth Duke, Unity Duke after Unity Dickerson wife of William M. Dickerson, Edmond Duke, Thos Duke, Cosby Duke, George Duke, Fontaine Duke.

John Duke was listed in the muster of Capt. John Thomson's and Thomas Price's companies of militia, list of John Lawrence, Gent.^[4] A Thomas Duke was also listed there.

John Duke owned 410 acres of land plus one acre in St. Martin's Parish, Hanover County. Land tax records of Hanover County, at least part of them, are still extant, showing that John Duke of Hanover County was taxed on that amount of land from 1782 until his death in 1797 or 1798. In 1798 and 1799 the John Duke Estate was taxed for 411 acres , which included both the 410 acres plus the extra acre. In 1800 the 411 acres were charged to Nathaniel Lester with the notation the land had been conveyed to Nathaniel Lester by the John Duke Estate. The extra acre of land, and a grist mill, had been purchased by John Duke from John Lawrence as shown in the few remaining records of Hanover County.

After the death of John Lawrence, William Lawrence and James Lawrence, Executors of John Lawrence, Dec'd, gave John Duke title to a grist mill on the Southanna River. It was witnessed by William 0. Winston, Ambrose Lipscomb, Thomas Trevilian, and Isaac Winston and ordered recorded 7 December 1790.The deed was probably made to replace one made by John Lawrence before his death. It is recorded in the Larger Book, 1780- 1790, one of two remaining books of records covering early Hanover County. These two books of records, the other is called Small Book, 1734-1735, were copied by S. 0. Southall in 1810 and were published in the William and Mary Quarterly (Vol. 22, p. 123).

John Duke was on the Personal Property Tax List of Hanover County from 1782 through 1797. In 1782 through 1783 his son Marston Duke was on the Hanover Co. VA personal property tax list. In 1784 his son John Duke, Jr. between 16 and 21, was listed with him. In 1785 and 1786 James Duke, between 16 and 21, was listed with John Duke (Sr.). In 1788 John Duke was listed with two males over 21. In 1791, just below John Duke (Sr.) with two males over 21, was listed John Duke (son of John). From 1792 through 1797 John Duke was listed with two males over 16. John Duke died before the 1798 Tax List was returned and in his place was listed Salley Duke with one male over 16. In 1799, 1800, and 1801, Sarah Duke was on the Personal Property Tax List of Hanover County in the place of John Duke.

As noted above, page 6 of the 1837 Goochland Co. VA Chancery court case named Marston, John & James Duke as children of John Duke 1743-1798 and his first wife Elizabeth (LNU).

Sarah Duke, widow of John Duke, was on the Personal Property Tax List of Hanover County in 1802 and in 1804. Her last appearance was in 1805, with one male over 16. This overlaps her first appearance, 1804, on the Goochland County, Virginia, Personal Property Tax List, Upper District. This district was just below the Southanna River where Sarah Duke,apparently, moved a few years after the death of her husband. Neither Marston, John or James Duke are mentioned in the records of Goochland County, where Sarah Duke and the younger children are noted in the records after 1804.

In 1805 the property tax list of Goochland included Sarah, George, Edmund, and Cosby Duke, apparently representing John's widow and three of his sons.

The will of Sarah Duke was dated 27th of April, 1829, and proved on April 15, 1833. Cosby Duke to whom she left her entire estate qualified as executor (Goochland Co., Va., Will Bk. 29, p. 578).

Evelyn Duke Brandenberger attributes a long list of children to the John Duke who married Sarah, but these are the ones identified in the 1837 Goochland VA. Chancery court case: Edmund Duke who married L. Mary Dickenson, George Duke who married Nancy Crenshaw, Cosby Duke, Fontaine Duke who married Judith Nevils Pryor, and Unity Duke who married Willam M. Dickenson.

Thomas Duke, Elizabeth Duke who appointed her brother Thomas administrator of her estate are uncertain.

Sources

1. ↑ [The Duke Family Vol. 1, 1979 by Evelyn Duke Brandenberger pages 33-36]
2. ↑ Hanover & Louisa Virginia tax & census records
3. ↑ 1837 Goochland Co., VA Chancery court case 1837-009 page 6 - Wm M. Dickerson vs. Cosby Duke (Library of Virginia Chancery court case 1837-009)
4. ↑ John Thompson's and Thomas Price's Companies of Militia, Tax list of John Lawrence. 1782. http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/hanover/census/1782/1782tax02.txt

• 1909 book 'A Genealogy of the Duke-Shppard-Van Metre Family: From Civil, Military... by Samuel Gordon Smyth, page 267.
• Biographical Sketch on John Duke 1743-1798