William Duncan (1556 - 1608)

Born 1556 in Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Katherine Wedderburn — married 1596 (to 1608) in Angus Scotland

Descendants

Died 18 May 1608 at about age 52 in Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland

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No original source records have been located to confirm birth or marriage records. It appears that some erroneous information may have been published, and perhaps republished/reported, making the “actual facts” obscure .

These dates need further research/clarification before taken as "fact".

Name Variations Duncan - Dunkin - Doncom Duncane, a

Biography

William Duncan is a member of Duncan Clan.

William Duncan was born c1556, the second son of Findlay Duncan and Margaret Kinloch. William Duncan married 1594, Katherine Wedderburn, the youngest daughter of Alexander Wedderburn and Janet Mylne. ^[1]

William is buried in The Howff, in Dundee, Dundee City, Scotland. There is a picture of the headstone attached to the Find A Grave record. ^[2]

The children of William Duncan and Katherine Wedderburn:-
William Duncan (1595)
Helen Duncan
Margaret Duncan
James Duncan

Note- order as given in William Duncan's 1608 will.

William Duncan died 28 May 1608.

Occupation

A Surgeon. Burgess of Dundee 1590-1608.^[3]

Children

(Estimated Births 1595-1608)

• Helen (m. William Ferguson, son of William Ferguson and Eupham Kinloch)
  
• Margaret (m. James Kyd)
  
• James
  
• John
  
• William married (spouse unknown); His son William of Seaside (Seasyde) married Elizabeth Davidson
  • Alexander Duncan (I) of Lundie (son of William and Elizabeth Davidson) married Anne Drummond

Research Notes

William (son of Finlay I) appears to be the progenitor of the DUNCANS of Lundie, (fomerly known as Duncans of Seaside), now EARLS OF CAMPERDOWN.

Note: Research indicates that William was the son of Findlay Duncan, surgeon, but the parish records date from 1645 only; so, all these earlier generations/dates have to be determined from other sources. (It is hoped that this 1609 Will (if someone able to better translate Middle English/Latin) may help fill in/confirm the gaps.) Actually uses Scottish words and abbreviations

(3) Alexander Duncane, goldsmythe, son of the late Finlay Duncane and brother of Bailie William Duncane, surgeon,

One Alexander Duncane (appears to be "older") was admitted burgess on March 19 1611^[4]

Discrepancy

William and Catherine (Katherine) had three sons and two daughters John, James, William, Margaret and Helen.^[3][5]

William Duncan's will mentions only four children William, Helen, Margaret, and James - see below.

Sources

Notes from The Wedderburn Book: A History of the Wedderburns in the Counties of Berwick, p 120-122

Katharine Wedderburn, youngest daughter of Alexander Wedderburn and Janet Mylne, was born about 1575-76. [...] [she was married] in 1594 to William Duncan, surgeon, burgess of Dundee, son and heir of the late Findlay Duncan, also surgeon there (by his wife, Margaret Kinloch). The marriage contract, dated 11 April 1594, is referred to in an entry registered 11 May in that year, and written by Alexander Wedderburn the clerk, recording the return of William Duncan as heir to his late father in a South Argylegait tenement, which he thereupon settles of Katherine Wedderburn, "my sister german," his future spouse [...] William Duncan died in May 1608 aet. 52, and was buried in the Howff of Dundee [...], having had issue by Katharine Wedderburn two sons, William and James Duncan, and two daughters, Helen who married William Ferguson, son (by his first wife, Eupham Kinloch), to her mother’s second husband [...], and Margaret who married, about Nov.-Dec. 1619, James Kyd

Notes from William Duncan's 1608 Will

Transcription and modern rendition by 'My Ain Folk' presented in "William Duncan, Chirurgeon His Ancestors and His Descendants Including Duncans of Seasyde, Lundie, & Camperdown (in prep)"

The testament testa[menta]r and Inue[n]tar of the guidis geir sowmes of mo[ne]y and dettis p[er]tein[in]g to vmq[uhi]le Wi[lliame] Duncane chirurgeane burges of dundie the tyme of his deceis quha deceissit vpoun the xviij day of Maij the zeir of god Jaj vjc aucht zeiris (The testament testamentar and inventory of the goods, gear, sums of money and debts pertaining to umquhile Williame Duncane, chirurgeon burgess of Dundie, the time of his decease, who deceased upon the 18th day of May the year of God 1608.)

To w[illia]m / helene / m[ar]garet & James Duncanes his bairnes

Index to the Burgesses of Dundee

1595 Sep 9, Duncane, William (c1556-1608), son late Finlay Duncane

^{[3] [5]}

^{[6] [7] [8] [4]}

1. ↑ Wedderburn, Alexander. (1898). The Wedderburn Book, A History of the Wedderburns in the Counties of Berwick and Forfar, Designed of Wedderburn, Kingennie, Easter Powrie, Blackness, Balindean, and Gosford; and their younger branches; together with some account of othe falilies of the name. 1296-1896. Vol. I.- The History. Printed for Private Circulation
2. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 26 June 2019), memorial page for Dr William Duncan (1556–May 1608), Find A Grave Memorial no. 152493557, citing The Howff, Dundee, Dundee City, Scotland ; Maintained by Pixturmn (contributor 47729036) .
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} William Duncan Bio
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} The Compt Buik of David Wedderburne p.111 - Shipping Lists of Dundee Publications, Volume 28 By Scottish History Society
   (Many Duncane's in this document. Unknown if any relationships to Finlay I. One Alexander, (perhaps an elder), appears to have had part ownership in at least one ship)
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Publications of the Scottish History Society Vol. 9. Clan Duncan Society. Eminent Burgesses of Dundee 1513-1885. References copy paste
6. ↑ The (Wedderburn) Peerage Mosley, Charles, editor. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes. Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003.
7. ↑ The Wedderburn Book Vol 2: A History of the Wedderburns in the Counties ..., Volume 2 By Alexander Dundas Ogilvy Wedderburn
8. ↑ Wedderburn Book Vol 1p. 121: A History of the Wedderburns in the Counties of Berwick, and Forfar, Designed of Wedderburn, Kingennie, Ester Powrie, Blackness, Balindean, and Gosford; and Their Younger Branches; Together with Some Account of Other Families of the Name, 1296-1896, Volume 1 by Alexander Dundas Ogilvy Wedderburn 1898 - Scotland]