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John Thomas Duncan Sr (abt. 1700 - bef. 1760)

John Thomas (Thomas) Duncan Sr aka Dunkin, Dunken, Dunkan
Born about in Argyleshire, Scotlandmap
Son of [father unknown] and
Husband of — married 1733 in Irelandmap
Descendants descendants
Died before before about age 60 in , Lancaster County, Pennsylvaniamap
Profile last modified | Created 8 May 2015
This page has been accessed 2,835 times.
The All Date is a rough estimate. See the text for details.

Contents

Biography

John Thomas Duncan was born in 1700 in Argyleshire, Scotland, the second or third of eight known children and the oldest of three sons of Elizabeth Duncan.
Alternate year of birth: 1692.
He migrated to Ireland and there in 1733[1]when he was in his earlier thirties, he married Elizabeth Alexander. She bore him six known children, one son and five daughters:
  1. Margaret Duncan
  2. Martha Duncan
  3. Elizabeth Duncan
  4. Anne Duncan
  5. Mary Duncan
  6. John Duncan
In 1760, when he was about sixty, John Thomas died in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.[2]
Alternate place of death: what was to become Russell County, Virginia. He is said to have been buried in Spring Creek, Virginia, but that community is located in Augusta County, Virginia. His widow is buried in Green Spring Cemetery, Washington County, Virginia.

Birth

Birth: Date: 3 JAN 1692 Place: Argyle Co., Scotland
Birth: Date: ABT 1710 Place: Argyll, Scotland Note: 1707?[3]

Birth Estimate about 1700-1725 in Scotland (vs 03-January-1691/92 in Argyl Co., Scotland) Marriage Estimate Before 1740 in Ireland.[4] Death Estimate 1760-1763 Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania (Intestate)

John immigrated from Scotland to Ireland; married in Ireland and then about 1740 relocated settling in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where he died in 1760, leaving a wife, one son, and four daughters.[5]

Discrepancy

-- Name Variations - Dunkin, Dunken, Dunkan, Duncan "Thomas" seems to be preferred name (Court Records) versus John. Son's name is Widely published as "John Thomas" Jr.

-- Presumed Parents James Duncan and Elizabeth Unknown

  • Note (reportedly grandson of John Duncan & Magdaline Ferguson (son James Duncan b. 17 Jul 1640 Dundee, Perthshire, Scotland Reportedly died in Lancaster before 1740). Timing and location do not match up to Diary information.

Lancaster CO. PA; Formed 1729 from Chester; York formed 1749 from Lancaster; Cumberland formed 1750 from Lancaster; Berks formed 1752 from Bucks, Chester, Lancaster, Philadelphia Northumberland formed 1772 from Lancaster, Bedford, Berks, Northampton Dauphin formed 1785 from Lancaster Lebanon formed 1813 from Dauphin, Lancaster

Marriage

He married Elizabeth Alexander 1732-1733 in Ireland. Elizabeth, born about 1710 in Scotland / Ireland; died 1814 in Spring Creek, (Russell) Washington Co., Virginia.[6]

  • Elizabeth was taken by the British and held captive in Canada with her family, including son John Duncan and his family; daughters Martha Litton, Jane Laughlin, Elizabeth Porter and their families. (John escaped in 1781 and joined Washington). Elizabeth later returned to VA where she died. [7]

Lancaster Co. PA Deed Index 1729-1894 and Deeds (grantor index on FHL film 21,440; grantee index on FHL film 21,444) D-201: 9 Nov. 1751, Thomas Dunkan, Yeoman, and wife Elizabeth, of Lancaster Co. PA,
. . . .a certain tract of land in Sudsbury Twp in Chester Co. but since divided and called Lancaster, corner ... crossing Octorara near the fork, adj. land of William Clayton and Thomas Hayward ... 800 acres; Philip Howell owed Henery Brown 10 lbs and Daniel Colet 5 lbs; ... Calvin Cooper and wife Fabey 10 Sept. 1748 granted to Thomas Dunkan; ... adj. Robert Cloud, Evan Evans, Thomas Moore; wit. Thomas Stockton, Hugh Jenkins; recorded 29 Jan. 1755. (FHL film 21,383)

Children

Elizabeth Dunkin married Bet. 1772 - 1773 in VA or KY Samuel Porter b: 1735 in Ireland d: Bef. 08 Mar 1820 in Castlewood, Russell Co., VA [8]

Capt. John Thomas Duncan (m. Eleanore Sharp)[9]

Martha Duncan m. Solomon Litton[10]

Mary Jane married James McLaughlin

younger sister (name unknown) married a Mr. Robinson in Russell County, Virginia. This appears to be Ann Duncan (Orphan's Court - actually older sister)

[11]

Estate

Lancaster Records
Lancaster Co. PA Orphans Court Records; 1760-1763 (FHL film 21,370; typed); Pg.200: Orphans Court 1 Feb. 1763, petition of John Dunkin, eldest son & heir at law of Thomas Dunkin late of Sadsbury Twp in Lancaster Co., Yeoman, decd, that Thomas Duncan died intestate owning 127a in Sadsbury Twp and left several children, some of whom are yet minors, that petitioner is willing to pay the shares of the other children for the land; petition to appraise the land and determine if it could be divided among all the children without spoiling the whole. On March 1, 1763, the court declared: Ann Duncan, infant over 14, dau. of Thomas Duncan late of Sadsbury Twp, chose John Duncan her brother to be guardian; court appoints Andrew Moor of Sadsbury Twp to be guardian of Elizabeth Duncan and Martha Duncan, minor children under 14 of Thomas Duncan late of Sadsbury decd. Appraisal of land returned; it cannot be divided. [Mary Ann Dobson file-- Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Orphans Court Record].

Death

Death: Date: 1756/1762 Place: Spring Creek, Abingdon, Virginia
Death: Date: 1760 Place: Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania[12]

Burial

Burial: Date: 1760 Place: Spring Creek, Virginia

YDNA

This family is in the ClanDonnachaidh Y-DNA Project in Duncan Subgroup B, halogroup R-M269 (no Big Y-DNA test done yet).[13] Family confirmed in the same halogroup:

THOMAS DUNCAN was one of the Clan Robertson which had territory around Pitiochry, Scotland. Claimed to be of the Clan claiming name and descent as they yet do in Scotland from Good King Duncan--the true spelling of the patiozimic name, as John and Thomas Dunkin contended being Dunkin. THOMAS emigrated early in life from Scotland to Ireland and on to Pennsylvania.
On March 1, 1763, the Orphans Court of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania declared: Ann Duncan, infant over 14, daughter of THOMAS DUNCAN, late of Sadsbury Twp., chose JOHN DUNCAN, her brother to be guardian; court appoints Andrew Moor of Sadsbury Twp to be guardina of Elizabeth Duncan and Martha Duncah, minor children under 14 of THOMAS DUNCAN late of Sadsbury dec'd. Appraisal of land returned; it could not be divided.
Excerpts from Samuel Laughlin's diary:
The true spelling of my grandfather's name (John) I am satisfied is Dunkin, not Duncan. He was born in Lancaster (not Chester) County, Pennsylvania, in 1743- -of Scottish parents, his father claiming to be of the clan claiming name and descent (as they yet do in Scotland) from good King Dunkin---the true spelling of the patronymic name, as my grandfather and great grandfater contended being Dunkin. My Great grandfather's name was Thomas. He had early in life emigrated to Ireland from Scotland, and from thence to Pennsylvania, having married in Ireland a lady of respectable family, named Elizabeth Alexander--she being of Scottish descent.
He (my great grandfather) died in Lancaster, Penn. In 1760--leaving one son, my grandfather, four daughters and his widow.
Record ID Number: MH:N428
PRIN MH:I206
Note From: Historical Sketches, Volume 10, 1976, pages 22-28, published by The Historical Society of Southwest Virginia.:
CAPTAIN JOHN DUNKIN OF ELK GARDEN by Emory L. Hamilton
Several years ago the writer was most fortunate in procuring a copy of the diary of Samuel Harvey Laughlin, born in 1799, and a grandson of Captain John Dunkin. The diary was written in 1845 by Laughlin, a well-educated man, from details related by his mother and grandparents who were prisoners of the British in Canada during the Revolutionary war. The contents of this paper are the unedited wordsof James H. Laughlin, and a copy of the diary is filed in the Southwest Virginia Historical Society Archives at Clinch Valley College, Wise, VA.
Captain John Dunkin (1743-1818), who settled in Elk Garden about 1769, was an only son of Thomas Dunkin. Earlier in life, this Thomas Dunkin had immigrated from Scotland to Ireland, where he later married Elizabeth Alexander (born about 1710), also of Scottish descent. About 1740 he emigrated to Pennsylvania, eventually settling in Lancaster County where he died in 1760, leaving a wife, one son, and four daughters.
&nbsp
ID: I3490 (Augusta/Washington Co. Berrys)
Name: Thomas DUNKIN OR DUNCAN
Sex: M
Birth: 3 JAN 1692 in Argyle Co., Scotland
Birth: ABT 1710 in Argyll, Scotland
Note: 1707?
Death: 1756/1762 in Spring Creek, Abingdon, VA
Death: 1760 in Lancaster Co., PA
Burial: 1760 Spring Creek, Virginia
Note:
Thomas Dunkin was of the Clan Robertson which had territory around Pitlochry, Scotland [Betty Sanford information].
Claimed to be of the Clan claiming name and descent as they yet do in Scotland from good King Duncan--the true spelling of the patiozimic name, as John and Thomas Dunkin contended being Dunkin.
Thomas early in life emigrated to Ireland from Scotland, and thence to Pennsylvania. Family legend says that the Duncans, Sharps, Laughlins, Porterfields, and others all came together to America from Belfast, Ireland. If so, they probably came at the urging of Thomas Sharp's brother-in-law, Thomas King, who came much earlier. This was the pattern for later generations. One or two families would gofirst, followed by the rest of the clan over later generations. The Duncans arrived between 1720 and 1740.
Record ID Number: MH:N66
PRIN MH:I206
Notes
Thomas Dunkin/Duncan was of the Clan Robertson which had territory
around Pitlochry,Scotland.(Betty Sanford information) Claimed to be of the Clan claiming name and
decent as they yet do in Scotland from good King Duncan-the true
spelling of the patiozimic name,as John and Thomas Dunkin contended
being Dunkin.
Thomas early in life emigrated to Ireland from Scotland, and thence
to Pennsylvania. Family legend says that the Duncans,Sharps,Laughlins,
Porterfields, and others came together to America from Belfast,
Ireland. If so, they probley came at the urging of Thomas Sharp's
brother-in-law, Thomas King, who came much earlier. This was the pattern for later generations. The Duncans arrived between 1720 and 1740.
On March 1,1763, the Orphans Court of Lancaster Co.,Pennsylvania
declared: Ann Duncan, infant over 14, daughter of Thomas Duncan
late of Sadsbury Twp, chose John Duncan her brother to be guardian;
court appoints Andrew Moor of Sadsbury Twp, to be guardian of
Elizabeth Duncan and Martha Duncan, minor children under 14 of
Thomas Duncan late of Sadsbury decd. A[[raisal of land returned:
it cannot be divided. (Mary Ann Dobson file-Lancaster Co. Pa.
Orphans Court Record)
Taken from:http://awt.ancestry.com/cgi- bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:1827762&id=I86448480&ti=5519
Record ID Number: MH:N67
PRIN MH:I206

Sources

  1. LLaughlin, Samuel Hervey, A Diary of Public Events and Notices of My Life and Family and Of My Private Transactions including Studies, Travels, Readings Correspondence, Business Anecdotes, Miscellaneous Memoranda of Men, Literature, Etc From January 1st, 1845 to August, 1845 and Sketch of my Life from Infancy. URL: http://www.frontierfolk.net/ramsha_research/laughlin.html Accessed 26 May 2019.
  2. Laughlin, Samuel Hervey, A Diary of Public Events and Notices of My Life and Family and Of My Private Transactions including Studies, Travels, Readings Correspondence, Business Anecdotes, Miscellaneous Memoranda of Men, Literature, Etc From January 1st, 1845 to August, 1845 and Sketch of my Life from Infancy. URL: http://www.frontierfolk.net/ramsha_research/laughlin.html Accessed 26 May 2019.
  3. Found multiple copies of BIRTH DATE. Using 3 JAN 1692
  4. Laughlin, Samuel Hervey, A Diary of Public Events and Notices of My Life and Family and Of My Private Transactions including Studies, Travels, Readings Correspondence, Business Anecdotes, Miscellaneous Memoranda of Men, Literature, Etc From January 1st, 1845 to August, 1845 and Sketch of my Life from Infancy. URL: http://www.frontierfolk.net/ramsha_research/laughlin.html Accessed 26 May 2019.
  5. Laughlin, Samuel Hervey, A Diary of Public Events and Notices of My Life and Family and Of My Private Transactions including Studies, Travels, Readings Correspondence, Business Anecdotes, Miscellaneous Memoranda of Men, Literature, Etc From January 1st, 1845 to August, 1845 and Sketch of my Life from Infancy. URL: http://www.frontierfolk.net/ramsha_research/laughlin.html Accessed 26 May 2019.
  6. Elizabeth Alexander Find A Grave, database and images (accessed 10 September 2019), memorial page for Elizabeth Alexander Dunkin (1710–1814), Find A Grave: Memorial #36528834, citing Green Spring Cemetery, Green Spring, Washington County, Virginia, USA ; Maintained by Virginia Brown (contributor 47053782) .
  7. Summers, Annals of South West Virginia.
  8. Samuel Porter
  9. 1896 "Early Lutheran Baptisms and Marriages in Southeastern Pennsylvania : the records of Rev. John Casper Stoever from 1730 to 1779" (FHL book 974.8 K2se) 1761, Aug. 27, John Dunkin & Elenore Sharp, Salisbury & Hanover (p.69) (John Dunkin of Salisbury, Lancaster Co., mar. Elenore Sharp of Hanover, Dauphin Co.; to Washington Co. VA)
  10. Litton Bible
  11. (Diary) The sisters of Captain John Dunkin were Elizabeth, who married Samuel Porter and lived at Castlewood, in Russell County, Virginia. Martha married Solomon Litton and lived at Elk Garden, Russell County. Mary Jane married James Laughlin (aka McLaughlin), son of John and Mary Price Laughlin, and lived in Washington County, Virginia. There was a younger sister (name unknown) who married a Mr. Robinson in Russell County, Virginia, and later returned to Pennsylvania.
  12. Laughlin, Samuel Hervey, A Diary of Public Events and Notices of My Life and Family and Of My Private Transactions including Studies, Travels, Readings Correspondence, Business Anecdotes, Miscellaneous Memoranda of Men, Literature, Etc From January 1st, 1845 to August, 1845 and Sketch of my Life from Infancy. URL: http://www.frontierfolk.net/ramsha_research/laughlin.html Accessed 26 May 2019.
  13. https://www.familytreedna.com/public/ClanDonnachaidh?iframe=ycolorized

Acknowledgments

  • Thank you to Terry Duncan for creating WikiTree profile Dunkin-364 through the import of J Duncan.ged on Jul 13, 2013.
  • Thank you to Jim Berry for creating WikiTree profile Dunkin Or Duncan-1 through the import of Thos_Berry_1776_anc.ged on Dec 19, 2013.




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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Thomas by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Thomas:

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Comments: 4

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Thanks, everyone for the excellent editing work! Jane
posted by Jane (Snell) Copes
Dunkin-364 and Duncan-5908 appear to represent the same person because: Both profiles describe the same events and same children 1 son and 4 daughters, same birthplace and death date and place. Duncan-5908 uses an estimate on birthdate and should be disregarded. It is clear that both of these profiles describe the same person.
posted by Carrol (Duncan) Fish
Dunkin-364 and Duncan-5908 appear to be the same person. One says John Thomas and the other Thomas. Biography are pretty much the same and describe the same events and both show the same spouse.
posted by Carrol (Duncan) Fish
Dunkin-523 and Duncan-5908 appear to represent the same person because: appear to be same person (with surname variation) also same wife,