Duke
Reassessment
Maryland
It is commonly believed that Richard Duke of
Otterton, born 1599 to Richard Duke and Margaret Bassett, was an Ark
and Dove colonist in Maryland,
and the same individual who established the Brooke Manor family there. One
Richard Duke who immigrated to Maryland has been identified in Colonial
Families of the United States, Vol. V, List of the Ark and Dove Passengers,
page 597, as follows:
ÒRichard Duke, 1633
Warrants, Lib. Lib. I, p. 20, 28, and Lib. A. B. H.
p. 66,
Born in England about 1613, Deposition abt., 35
yrs. June 20—1648).
Md. Arch. Vol. 4, p. 392. Married in Eng. Son
Richard Duke, born abt. 1633. Deposition, St. MaryÕs Co. Md. Jan.
19—1665, abt.32 yrs. Of age – Pro. Court Lib. F. F. P. 161.
Returned to Eng., & makes a deposition being abt. 47 yrs. Of age. Aug. 14,
1664 as a scrivener & citizen of London. Pro. Court—Lib. B. B. 393,
395.Ó
The birthdate suggested for this individual by his
deposition does not conform to that of Richard Duke of Otterton.
Early Families of Southern
Maryland, Vol. 5, Duke, Page 6,
states that:
"Richard Duke (1), b. ca. 1613, age 35 in 1648
(MD); d. by 1681; married Mary ______; d. after 1681 Calvert Co.; Richard
witnessed the will of John Speed of St. Mary's Co., which was probated 6 Oct
1639 (MCW I.1). Their known children:
1.
Richard Duke (2)
2.
James Duke
Mary's Dukedom (also called Mary Duke's Doom) or
100 acres surveyed 19 Dec 1681 for Mary Duke on the north side of the Patuxent;
possd. by James Duke; Leonard Creek Hundred (CaCRR & SOM 24/358; 31/24)
[note: this is a Calvert Co rent roll, undated]. . . .
James was among the legatees of William Jennings of
Prince George's Co. written 23 May 1711 . . . "
From Colonial Genealogies #1, 1607-1920, Colonial
Families of the United States, Vol. VI, Duke Family, Pages 197-198.
MyFamily.com, Inc. Dec. 2, 2003, edited by George Norbury Mackenzie, Baltimore:
Genealogical Publishing Company, 1912:
ÒThe Dukes of Maryland are supposed to have
originated in Devonshire, England, and Duke of Lake is presumed to be the head
of the American branch. Richard Duke came to Maryland with Father WhiteÕs party
in 1734, and settled at St. MaryÕs; it is family tradition that he was Father
WhiteÕs private secretary; he was also a close friend and advisor to Governor
Leonard Calvert, who called him Òmy trusted friend;Ó he was on Kent Island in
1641; he was a Member of the Assembly 1637 to 1653 and a leading spirit thereat
and was otherwise a prominent man in the affairs of the colony; his wifeÕs name
is unknown; in 1653 he retured to England with his wife and sons Thomas and
Richard, who d. young, it is believed in London, and never returned to
Maryland.
Issue:
Richard, returned to England, no further record.
Thomas, returned to England, no further record.
Andrew, no record
James I, died after 1672, of whom later.
William, returned to England, no further record.
James Duke, I, of Calvert Co., Maryland, in 1652;
will proved there in 1672; m. Margaret, surname unknown.
Issue
James
II, d. 1693, of whom later.
John,
no record.
Joseph,
no record.
William,
no record.
The age of the older Richard Duke of the Ark and
Dove is too young to be the disinherited individual from Devonshire (born 1599,
before his younger brother Robert in 1600) and besides, his son left the
colony. The Devonshire individual could still have been the Richard Duke of
Brooke Manor Place.
The Dr. Lois Green Carr files at the Maryland
Archives provide documentary evidence:
1213-01Duke,
Richard, b. 1618, arr. 1634, free by 1639; selling Indians
1213-011649
patent for 100 acres, Dukes Place
1213-01proxy
to T. Cornwallis 1642 Assembly
1213-01transported
1634
1213-01witness
to will of John Speed
1213-01servant
to Mr. Pulton, oath concerning bequest
1213-01present
at 1641/42 assembly
1213-01action
of debt
1213-01action
of debt 1642/43
1213-01action
of debt 1647
1213-01action
of debt 1648
1213-01deposition
1648 regarding sale of Indian
1213-01age
30; deposition regarding sale of Indian
1213-01action
of debt 1648
1213-01action
of debt 1650/51
1214-01Duke,
Richard, immigrated 1653 with wife and two children, unnamed
1214-01demands
200 acres land
1214-01demands
200 acres land
1214-01age
32 in 1665/66; witness to sale
1215-01Duke,
Thomas, b. 1651, servant to Wm. Hatton
1215-01No
information on land
1215-01Servant
to Hatton, age judged by court to be 16 years in 1667
Richard Duke of Otterton, disinherited, was
admitted to the Inner Temple (as son and heir of Richard, of Otterton) in 1619
and was buried at Otterton 27 Mar 1653. (See FosterÕs Inns of court Reg. The
disinherited Richard had a son, Richard, who also matriculated at Exeter
College, on 21 May 1669, aged 17; of the Inner Temple 1670, buried at Otterton
1 Oct. 1716. (See FosterÕs Inns of Court Register).
A Richard Duke, Òcitizen and scrivener of LondonÓ,
died in England and his will was probated in 1670 (PRO Reference: Prob/11/332).
His principal heir was a son, Richard Duke, but he listed Òall my childrenÓ as
Richard, Robert, Anne, Sara, Suzanne, and Elizabeth. His estate included stock in the East India Company. He does not appear to be the Maryland
individual.
Another Richard Duke was indentured by his mother
Jane Duke to John Dodman of Westmoreland Co on 1 Aug 1655 (Genealogy.com.
Colonial Abstracts, Volume I, Westmoreland County, 1653-1657, page 669.)
Richard Duke appears in an account from Westmoreland Co. in 1652 (Virginia
Colonial Abstracts, Volume I, Westmoreland County, 1653-1657, Page 663).
Virginia: On the North Side of the James River
Thomas Duke of James City County, VA
Thomas Duke apparently arrived in James City County Virginia
by 1651, or at least received land there by that date. He received at least one
land grant with Thomas Hampton of that county. William ByrdÕs title book
indicates that on 6 Jun 1651 Thomas Duke and Thomas Hampton received 430 acres
lying on Warreny Creek on the east side of the Chickahominy River, bounded
northwest and SSE on a swamp dividing it from Edward Cole, and ENE on SoaneÕs
land. The grant was due for transportation of nine persons into the colony by
William Barret. In 1671 Thomas Hampton sold this land to Daniel ParkeÓ[1]
A patent was issued on 20 Apr 1682 to Mrs. Mary Wade, widow
of Thomas Duke, for lands assigned by Thomas Hampton. She had by then married a
Wade, after the death of Thomas Duke. The patent was for 463 acres on a branch
of Tiaskun Swamp, with boundaries on Tiaskun Swamp, down Warreny Run, PrestonÕs
Spring Branch, and the land of Capt. Henry Duke, formerly patented to Mr.
Thomas Hampton who sold 100 acres to Preston and assigned the remainder to Mary
Wade, by name of Duke, under date of 30 Nov 1670 (VPB 7:174). This is the
strongest evidence that Mary Duke, wife of Thomas Duke, was a daughter of
Thomas Hampton.
The history of Thomas Duke of James City County has been
confused with that of Thomas Dew of Nansemond County VA (for example, see
Evelyn Duke BrandenbergerÕs The Duke Family).
Col. Thomas Dew of Nansemond County was the founder of the Dew family in that
area and a prominent citizen of Virginia in his own right. Thomas Dew was a
Charles City County justice in1755, speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses
in 1652. He had a son, John Dew of Isle of Wight County, whose daughter Sarah
was the third wife of William Bridgers. Her second husband was a Cotton.[2]
Thomas DewÕs son, John Dew, died in Isle of Wight County, where his will was
proved in 1678.[3]
Thomas Dew and other prominent citizens were publicly
converted to the Society of Friends by George Fox in 1672.[4]
This was one year after Thomas Hampton sold James City County land to Daniel
Parke, noting that the Thomas Duke who had received the grant with him was
Òlong deceased.Ó[5] Col. Thomas
Dews was certainly not the same as Thomas Duke who received a grant with
Hampton.
The error was doubtless encouraged by the proximity of
Hampton and Dew lands in Nansemond County: [6]
6 Jan 1642 Mr William Brookes, 300 acs. Up.Co. New Norfolk.
"Upon the W. side of the Southern Br. of Nansamund River, beg. opposite
land of Thomas Dew & adj. Thomas Hampton, Clerke."
However, Hampton family histories say that this Thomas
Hampton was not the same individual who was in James City County with Thomas
Duke. The Thomas Hampton of Nansemond is sometimes said to have been the father
of the Thomas Hampton of James City County, but this has also been rejected by
family researchers. The relationship between these individuals
with the same name is said to be unknown.[7]
These are the relevant documents that are frequently cited
as evidence of Thomas DukeÕs presence in Nansemond County:
25 Jan 1634 Tho. Dew was a witness to a grant (no county mentioned)
concerning four persons transported (I pa 56)
1 Aug 1638 Thomas Dew was granted 400 acs. "in
Nansamund River, Up. Norf. Co. -- lying about one line from the plantation of
Thomas Powell. 200 acs. by assignment of Thomas Powell & 200 acs. due from
Trans. of 4 pers." (I pa 95)
22 Apr 1640 John Geary, 250 acs. Up. Norfolk Co. "Bet.
land late in the possession of Mr. Thomas Dew and by him assigned to Thomas
Davis & land now in possession of Thomas Powell bounded N. W. on the S.
branch of Matravers." (I pa119)
10 Oct 1638 Thomas Dew 300 acs. Up. Norf. Co. "In
Nansamund Riv., beg. at a small Cr. at the old Indian Towne, S.E. into the
woods a small island being opposite against sd. land. Due for Trans. for 6
pers. (Renewed 18 Jan 1643 & 450 acs. added)
8 Jan 1643 Thomas Dew Gent. 750 acs. Up. Norf. Co.
"Upon the Ewd. side of the Swd. br. of Nansamund River, beg. at the mouth
of Craney Cr. opposite to 2 small islands called Craney & New Haven river ,
& adj. Mr. Randel Crew." 300 acs. by former patent & 450 acs. due
for Trans. of 9 pers. His own Per. adv. Georg Speevy -- and others" (1
pa151)
10 Oct 1670 Col. Thomas Dew 750 acs. Up. Norf. Co. "one
the EÕwd side of the SÕn br. pf Nanzemond Riv., SÕwd side of Crany Cr. opposite
Crane & Nehokin Islands ; & adj. Mr. Randall Crew; 10 Oct 1670/ Granted
sd. Dew 8 Jan 1643. (II pa83)
In 1671 Thomas Hampton of JCC wrote in a deed that
Thomas Duke was Òlong since deceased.Ó(Virginia Magazine of History and
Biography, Vol. XXXXX, p. 25.).
In 1672 Thomas Dewe of Nansemond converted to the
Society of Friends.
23 Apr 1681 Col Thomas Dew 450 acs. "in Uper. Par. of
Nazemond, at head of Crany Cr. issuing out of the Southern Br. Beg. in line of
HoodÕs neck pattent, now Francis ParkerÕs; to Georg Spivey, Senr., crossing
Beaver Dam, into the maine Pocoson; and Granted to Randall Crew 12 Nov. 1640,
which, after severall surrenders & descent, is in possession of sd. Col.
Dew. (II pa221)
25
Mar 1700 Daniel Pugh Sr. (will dated 25 March 1700) is listed as a headright
"twice imported" of Nicholas Stallings in a patent of 25 April 1701
(Va Pat. Book 9 , p303). Daniel Pugh Sr patented land in Nansemond Co. in 1695,
1698, 1699 and 1700. By his wife Ann, Daniel Pugh had issue: Ann Pugh who
married John Duke, as well as other children John Pugh, Francis Pugh,
Theophilus Pugh, and Daniel Pugh. Daniel Pugh Jr. died intestate leaving 450
acs of land (part of a patent for 750 acs granted Col. Thomas Dew 10 Oct 1670,
on which today lies the city of Suffolk) inherited from his father Daniel Pugh
, to his son Daniel Pugh III who in turn left the land to his mother and three
sisters. (Daniel Pugh died 1745, was a vestryman in 1743) (Va Gen. Mag. II
p102)
25
Mar 1700 Daniel Pugh willed 250 acs. adj. Cross Swamp to his grandson , John
Duke "being the son & heir of his daughter Ann (Pugh) (Nansemond Co.
Norfleet)
22 November 1739: John Duke of Nansemond Co., sold to Richard Newsum, 250
acress of land adjoining the Cross Swamp on Richard NewsumÕs land. "which
my grandfather, Daniel Pugh , bought of James Peters and gave to me being the
son and heir of his daughter Ann (Pugh) according to his will made 25 March
1700.Ó Signed by John Duke (no witnesses) (From the papers of the Riddick
Family of Nansemond Co Va 1720-1856) (Virginia State Library)
10 Oct 1638 John Wright was granted 200 acs. Up. Co. New
Norfolk. "Beg. at the miles end of land of Thomas Dew , Gent. (I pa116)
7 Nov 1640
Thomas Dew 250 acs. Up. CO. New Norfolk, " Upon his own land, running E.
by S. through a reedy Poquoson etc. 50 acs. for Trans. of 1 per. & 200 acs.
by assignment from John Wright. " (I pa118)
23 Apr 1681 Thomas Duke 430 acs. Up Par. of
Nazemond: "Neare Thomas Harrell: adj. Thomas Parker: the Cross Sw.; &
200 acs. formely belonging to William Wright & 200 acs. granted sa. Wright
18 Mar 1662 who conveyed to sd. Duke; 230 acs. for trans. of 5 pers. Tho. Duke
, Tho. Duke, Fra. Marr, Jno. Deverett, Wm Harring. (II pa221)
10 Nov 1678 176 acs. part therof patented 10 Nov 1678 to
Wm. Speight "at a place called "Barbicue" ..adj. Humphry Griffin
. . . to an island in Cross Swamp, to the land of James Duke. (Virginia
Genealogical Society pq 101, Norfleet Riddick papers ,Nugent II 193-194)
24 Apr 1682 Thomas Duke 350 acs. in
the Up. Par. of Nanzemond, att Cross SW of Barbecue. Trans. of 7 Pers."
(II pa 240)
28 Oct 1702 Thomas Duke Jr. 350 acs. Up. Par. of Nansemond
Co. at place called Saram, beg. at Peter Pheebus, cor. of Richard Barefield; up
Saram Swamp. Trans. of 7 pers. (III pa63)
24 Apr 1703 John Duke 113 acs. Up. Par. of Nansemond Co.;
"on SW side of the Cyprus SW., a br. of Summerton Cr.; adj. Thomas
AllmanÕs land. Trans. of 3 pers." (III pa 68)
14 July 1718 Francis Duke 231 acs (N.L.) Up. Par. of
Nansemond Co.; "on SW side of Barbicue Swamp: adj Joseph Baker; Thomas
Duke; Imp. pf 5 pers." (III pa207)
1704 Land Records for Nansemond Co. Va. From: English
Duplicates of Lost Va. Records. :Jno Duke
113 acs. Tho. Duke Jr 930 acs. Tho. Duke 400 acs.
Except for those grants in which the name is spelled ÒDukeÓ
these are indeed grants to the Dewe family. Part of the land identified here
was known until recently as ÒDewÕs Point.Ó When the Duke family appeared in
Nansemond County they acquired land immediately adajcent that of Col. Thomas
Dewe. Col. Thomas DewÕs estate was handled in York County VA courts in 1691,
identifying debts to a number of individuals including ÒTho. JeffersonÓ [an
ancestor of the more famous individual of that name] and listing his family as
sons Andrew, John, Thomas, and Richard and daughters Elizabeth and Ann. A
careful review of the grant information will show that no land granted to
Thomas Dewe was ever inherited by anyone named Duke. Even the inheritance
involving Daniel Pugh, father-in-law of John Duke, was land bought from Col.
Thomas Dewe.
And so, it would appear that there is no evidence that
Thomas Duke I, who was first documented in James City County in 1651, ever set
foot in Nansemond Co VA. He appeared in James City County records in 1751 and
died sometime before 1771.
John Duke of James City County
On 13 May 1673 there was a grant to John Duke for 486 acres
on the east side of the Chickahominy River abutting northwest on Tyascon Swamp,
to William Dormers land, David NowellÕs land, then south to Robert HubertÕs
land, then north to Tyascum (VPB 6:452). On 15 Dec 1673 there was another for
136 acres beginning at Jos. WadeÕs corner gum and extending north to Edward
Gyllies land, down Miry Branch to a corner hickory by Tyascum Swamp in the
mouth of the small branch Òwhere the said John Duke now livesÓ (VLP Bk 6:504).
These are very close to the early grants to Thomas Duke in James City County.
Diascond Creek at its mouth forms the boundary between New Kent and James City
counties, and it then extends northwest into New Kent County.
It is certain that the James City County grants were to John
Duke, a son of Thomas Duke. Evelyn Duke Brandenberger believed that John Duke
of York Co VA was that individual.[8]
John and Henry Duke of York County VA
Brandenberger equates John Duke of James City County and
John Duke of York Co VA. There is no evidence for or against this. On 19 Jul
1670/71 Bryan and Dorothy Smith assigned to John Duke 107 acres in York County
on the east side of Otter Dam. This was witnessed by Thomas Bushrod and John
Scarsbrook.[9]
John Duke married Jane Scarsbrooke, daughter of Col. John Scarsbrooke and his
wife Mary Martinau, in about 1669. Mary was the daughter of Capt. Nicholas
Martinau and his wife Jane, widow of Edward Berkley. Capt. Martinau died in
1657 leaving three daughters.
Col. John ScarsbrookÕs estate, which included a bequest to
Jane Duke, was proved by Henry Power and Thomas Munford in 1679.[10]
Thomas Muntford married Jane Duke after the death of John Duke. Duke was still
alive on 27 Aug 1678 when he appraised the estate of William Major.
On 24 Jan 1692/93 John Duke II of York County deposed that
at the house of Thomas Mountfort he heard Francis Read say that they had
difficulty persuading Benjamin Read to make his will.[11]
He married Susanna Goodwin, daughter of Major James Goodwin. A Henry Duke
witnessed a 3 Oct 1694 deed in which John Duke sold to Thomas Mountford 107
acres previously owned by his father.[12]
Rachel Porter Goodwin, mother of Susanna Goodwin, left bequests to
grandchildren James and Elizabeth in her 1701 will.[13]
Henry Duke appears on the 1704 York Co Quit Rent Roll with
25 acres next to Hansford lands. Charles Hansford, in his will of 1702, left a
bequest to his daughter Lydia Duke. Henry Duke is mentioned in York Co. records
through at least 1736.
Henry Duke of James City County (Henry Duke, Councillor)
Henry Duke acquired lands adjacent those that had belonged
to Mary Hampton Duke Wade, and other patents in addition. The earliest record
is the reference to a 1670 grant adjacent Mary Wade (VPB 7, p. 174). On 23 Oct
1690 he received 1000 acres on the south side of the Chickahominy River,
touching WebbÕs Run (VPB 7, p. 123.) On 20 Apr 1694 Henry Duke, Gent., received
736 acres on Warreny Creek and dBirchen Swamp adjacent
John Aylor [possibly Aylett], Wm. Elcome, Edward Chilton, and Mr. Burwell (VPB
8, p. 321). (BurwellÕs land was in New Kent County; Diascond Creek at its mouth
forms the boundary between New Kent and James City counties.) On the same date
he received 90 acres in Diaskun Swamp adajcent Wm. Manning, to Warreny Creek
(VPB 8:322). On 20 Oct 1704 he received 1168 acres of land on Licking Hole
Swamp in New Kent County (VPB 8, p. 611). On 8 Apr 1711 he received 80 acres on
the southwest side of the Chickahominy River in James city County adjacent John
Soane (VPB 10, p. 4).
On 25 Jul 1690 Henry Duke was appointed a commissioner for
taking subscriptions toward the establishment of William and Mary College.[14]
He led a militia troup in 1698. By 1694 he was a member of the House of
Burgesses. In 1702 he was appointed to the Royal Council of Virginia.
Henry Duke Jr. of James City County VA
Henry Duke Jr. held 1000 acres of land, apparently acquired
from his father since no patents in his own name have been found, in the 1704
quit rent rolls of James City County VA. Many equate him with Capt. Henry Duke
of Prince George Co VA, of which more later. No further clear references to
this Henry Duke have been found on the north side of the James River.
Much later –
ÒLast Thursday evening,
as mr. Robert Norris, and Mr.
Henry Duke, were crossing James river, on their
return from a sale in Isle of Wight county, by a sudden squall their boat
overset, when they unfortunately perished, with two negro men. Ò(Virginia
Gazette, Publisher Purdie, Page:
4, Column: 3, 1776-04-05).
A notice
asking for any claims against the estate of Mr. Henry Duke of James City County
was published 14 and 18 Jul
1777. The notice was signed by William Jones. (Virginia Gazette, Publisher Purdie,
Page 1, Column 2, 1777-07-18).
Henry DukeÕs personal
estate, including considerable livestock, household and
kitchen furniture, and
field crops, were sold at auction. (Virginia Gazette, Publisher:
Purdie Page: 2, Column: 3, 1776-12-13).
James Duke of James City County VA
James Duke was the son of Col. Henry Duke. William Byrd, in
his diaries, makes it clear that James Duke married ByrdÕs sister Mary Byrd.
They lived in James City County and were frequently visited by Byrd. Mary Byrd
died young, and was last mentioned in ByrdÕs diary on 6 Apr 1721.
Brandenberger provides a reconstruction of the history of
James Duke that appears badly flawed, perhaps in part because she conflates the
son of Col. Henry Duke with James Duke, the son of the older John Duke of York
County VA, or with a son of James and Mary Duke named James. Further,
Brandenberger identified James and Mary Duke as parents of William Duke of
Brunswick Co VA and Warren Co NC. It will be shown that this is very unlikely. There
is actually no evidence supporting her hypothesis, and a great deal of
circumstantial evidence placing William elsewhere in the Duke family.
The Ludwell Manuscripts mention in 1724 Elizabeth, widow of
Henry Duke, and James Duke. Gent., surviving executor.
James Duke of Hanover
On 6 Dec 1769 the Virginia Gazette published a notice regarding
James Duke of Hanover (Virginia Gazette, publisher Purdie and
Dixon, Page 3,
Column 2, 1769-12-07).
Thomas Duke of James City County VA
In 1704 Thomas Duke was listed with 750 acres of land in
James City County adjaajcent his
father with 2986 acres and Henry Duke Jr. with 1000 acres. The 1729 will of his
wife, Elizabeth Marston Duke, provides for her son Marston Duke, her daughter
Susanna Sherman, her granddaughter Elizabeth Sherman, daughter Sarah Lide, and
daughter Mary Duke. Marston Duke and William Brown of James City County were
executors, and the will was witnessedf by
Robert Hickman, Joseph Hix, and Joseph Day.[15]
Edmund Duke of William and Mary College
Edmund Duke gave testimony on 17 Jul1705 as a subscriber to
the grammar school at William and Mary, saying that the barring of the masters
from the school in a raucous incident was not accompanied by violence. Edmund
DukeÕs oath was taken before John Smith and John Lewis, but Henry Duke took
many of the studentsÕ oaths.[16]
Edmund Duke may be a son of Col. Henry Duke. DukeÕs role in establishing the
school only a short time before lends credibility to this interpretation.
Brandenberger asserts that Edmund Duke may have died young. This is possible,
or he might have gone elsewhere in adulthood.
A Henry
Duke advertised in the Gazette regarding a horse obtained from Edmund Duke in
Goochland (Virginia Gazette, Publisher
Purdie, Page: 4,
Column: 3, 1776-04-05).
New Kent Co.
Who was this Richard Duke in New Kent
Co?
GRANTEE Duke,
Richard. grantee.
DATE 23 April 1679.
NOTE Location: New Kent County.
NOTE Description: 400 acres on the branches of
Horocock Swamp on the Kings Road to Pascataway.
NOTE Source: Land Office Patents No. 6,
1666-1679 (pt.1 & 2 p.1-692), p. 674 (Reel 6).
NOTE Part of the index to the recorded copies
of patents for land issued by the Secretary of the Colony serving as the
colonial Land Office. The collection is housed in the Archives at the Library
of Virginia.
OTHER FORMAT Available
on microfilm. Virginia State Land Office. Patents 1-42, reels 1-41.
SUBJECT Land
titles -- Registration and transfer -- Virginia -- New Kent County.
SUBJECT New
Kent County (Va.) -- History -- 17th century.
SUBJECT Land
grants -- Virginia -- New Kent County. aat.
ADDED ENTRY Virginia.
Colonial Land Office. Patents, 1623-1774.
ADDED ENTRY Library
of Virginia. Archives.
We also have:
EDB completely ignored
thisone
early Duke family land grant in Virginia -- to a Richard Duke.
Smyth (Smyth, Samuel Gordon. A Genealogy of the Duke-Shepherd-Van Metre Family.
Lancaster, PA: The New Era Printing Co., 1909, p. 267) lists this
Richard Duke who with his wife and son obtained a grant on the KingÕs Road to
Piscataway in New Kent Co VA in 1679, as follows:
" The
probabilities are that the above mentioned John and Henry Duke were brothers;
and it may be reasonably assumed that Richard and Thomas Duke, who were also
grantees--the former for 400 acres on the King's Road to Piscataway in New Kent
Co., granted in 1679; and the latter for 430 acres in the Upper Parish of
Nansemond, granted in 1681--were also brothers or closely related to John and
Henry. Richard Duke received head rights for himself, his wife, "Ma. Duke"
and his son (prob.) George Duke; while Thomas's grant included head rights for
himself and his son Thomas Duke, Jr. In the description of a subsequent grant
of land in Nansemond made by Governor Spottswood, the relationship is more
clearly defined, as the record reads: "to Thomas Duke, Jr., and his
brother, John Duke," the land-mark standing at "their father Thomas
Duke's line" next to land of Francis Mace (Mace was "imported"
by the elder Thomas Duke and had obtained head rights from him in the previous year).
Francis Duke obtained a grant of land in Nansemond Co. of 231 acres in 1718;
this grant adjoined Thomas Duke's land. The presence of Francis Duke's name in
the colony and the repetition of the hereditary family names, as those above,
indicate the origin of this line among the Dukes of Devonshire, England."
The Duke Family South of the James River
Thomas Duke of Nansemond
On 22 Oct 1667 Thomas Duke in the Parish of
Chucktuck, Nansemond County, gave power of attorney to William Epam [Exum] to
receive cattle belonging to his wife Margaret that were in the care of
Silvester Thacker in Rappahannoch (Old Rappahannock Co VA Deeds Bk 3: 345).
Thatcher or Thacker as first granted land in 1643 on Pagan Point in Isle of
Wight Co VA, with Anthony Fulliam.[17]
However, he soon moved on. In 1650 Thacker was granted a thousand acres on the
Rappananock.[18] In
1656 Thacker acquired 1000 acres on the Rappahanock,[19] and
again in 1660.[20]
Brandenberger speculates that Thacker was holding an inheritance for Margaret
Duke.
The Exums were also from Isle of Wight Co VA.
William Exum was the son of immigrant Thomas Exum. WilliamÕs son, William Exum
Jr., obtained land on the south side of the main Blackwater Swamp at Round Hill
in 1723.[21] His
grandson Joseph Exum married Elizabeth Kinchen, daughter of William Kinchen and
sister of Patience Kinchen who married Ethelred Taylor II. JosephÕs brother
Robert Exum married Patience Williamson, daughter of George Williamson and
Hester Bridger, and was party to a 1737 deed for land north of the Blackwater
Swamp, also signed by various Williamsons and Elizabeth Joyner and witnessed by
John Clayton. Thomas Hardyman (of the Surry Co family that intermarried with
the family of Elizabeth Taylor Duke), and Thomas Morein.[22]
All of these connections indicate that Thomas Duke
of Nansemond County had his closest ties in neighboring Isle of Wight Co VA, in
the same local areas where both Elizabeth Duke Taylor and John Duke of Isle of
Wight lived and with families closely associated with the Duke and Taylor families.
In 1702 Thomas Duke was granted 350 acres at Barham
in Nansemond County adjoning Peter Phalus, a atree in the line fo Richard
Barfield to a branch on the side of Barham Swamp (VPB 19: 479).
Chuckatuck was the site of a substantial Quaker
settlement.[23]
In 1678 the following patent is of interest: Ò10
Nov 1678. 176 acres part therof patented 10 Nov 1678 to Wm. Speight Òat a place
called BarbicueÓ . . . adj. Humphry Griffin . . . to an island in Cross Swamp,
to the land of James Duke.Ó[24]
John Duke, son of Thomas, had 400 acres by patent
in 1703, and on 8 Apr 1711 Thomas Duke, son of Thomas, and John Duke acquired a
grant along the line of Thomas Duke next to Francis Mace (VPB 10:397).
William Duke and Hannah Grendon
William Duke was assigned 600 acres of land on
Chippokes Creek between Surry and Prince George Counties, later identified as
escheated and claimed by his widow Hannah Grendon and her fourth husband,
William Archer. William Duke was referred to asÒof MartinÕs Brandon.Ó MartinÕs
Brandon is immediately east of Flowerdew Hundred in Prince George Co. VA, and
immediately west of Upper Chippokes Creek. This may have been the same
individual for whom Justinian Cooper claimed credit for transport in 1639.[25]
Cooper received land at the head of Lawnes Creek in eastern Surry Co, but this
would not necessarily dictate where William Duke settled, and the distance
between the two locations is not great in any case.
In 1671 William Bird, agent for Sadler and Quiney
in the colony, purchased a grist mill at the head of Chippokes Creek, which
divides Prince George and Surry counties (Surry Co VA Deed Bk 1, p. 387). Bird
was married to Hannah Grendon, widow of Thomas Jennings. By 29 Sep 1672 records
show that his son Thomas Bird had inherited the mill.
(Thomas Bird died by 5 Jan 1688, when his widow
Mary had remarried to George Nicholson. He left three daughters, among them
Elizabeth, wife of John Lanier, who with her sisters inherited BirdÕs land on
the South Branch of Upper Chippokes Creek. The Lanier connection will later be
of interest.)
By 1772 William Duke had married the widow of
William Byrd, Hannah Grendon:[26]
Abstract. William Duke and Hannah his wife, relict
and admrx of William Bird, decÕd., to put in security for sd administration,
exhibit inventory, etc. Also appointed guardian of her daughter Elizabeth one
of the orphans of Thomas Bird decd and ordered to put in security for her part
of the estate. Also that Nevet Wheeler guardian of Thomas Bird one of the
orphans of Thomas Bird put in security.
Duke was further involved in settling the affairs
of ByrdÕs estate:[27]
Ordered -- Robert Wynne and Nicho Wyatt to meet at
Martins Brandon, examinek, witness, and prepare for trial the case of John
Sadlier and Thomas Quiney by Tho Blayton their atty against Wm. Duke & Hannah
his wife, admx of Wm. Bird decd.
And further: [28]
20th Aug. 1672
"Mr. Sherwood: Pray appear and Prosecute an
Action agt (against) Mr. Richd Welback att my Suitt on Marring ye relict of Mr.
Bird, dec'd, at ye Next Court to be held for Surry County & what ye doe
therein shall be allow by"
yr
friend
Wm.
Duke
25th
9br 1672
"At a Court held at Southwark for the County
of Surry 25th 9br 1672 Judgment granted Wm Duke as Maringe ye Relict of Wm Burd
agt: Thos. Busby for paymt: of one hundred and fifty fox skins due by bill
& fifteene shillings sterling with costs. alias Exec: but Liberty granted
ye sd Busby to discount what he can make apeare befoe Capt. Wyat that he hath
satisfied out of ye sd Debt."
And another transaction:[29]
At a Court held June 3, 1673, William Duke and
Hannah his wife Administrix of William Bird decd being an action of debt
against Thomas Meriton on a bill of 454 pounds of tobacco etc.
Boddie described the family of Hannah Grendon.[30] She
was the daughter of Thomas Grendon, Sr., a London merchant who often lived in
Virginia. He married Elizabeth Stegge, widow of Col. Thomas Stegge, Puritan
Commissioner to Virginia. The Stegges were the parents of Grace Stegge who
married John Byrd, goldsmith of London, father of the first Col. William Byrd
of Westover.
Hannah Grendon married first Thomas Jennings of
London, Merchant, by whom she had a son, Thomas, also a London merchant, said
to have become a distiller in Isle of Wight Co VA. She married second William
Bird of MartinÕs Brandon in Charles City, on the south side of the James, now
in Prince George County. This William Bird represented the London merchants
John Sadler and Thomas Quincey in Virginia, and was probably closely related to
John Bird of London.
The will of Thomas Grendon, Jr., of Staffordshire,
proved in the Principal Court of Canterbury on 29 Oct 1680, provides for sister
Rebekah Grendon Symonds, for Hannah (as Hannah Archer) and for HannahÕs child
with her first husband, Thomas Jennings. Thomas Jennings is listed in the records
of the Company of Drapers, London, as living at Isle of Wight Co, VA, from
1616-1620, and a note in the records indicates that he died there. However,
Hannah Grendon also had Thomas Byrd and Elizabeth Byrd, children of her
marriage to William Byrd. GrendonÕs will mentions William Byrd Jr., son of
William Byrd Sr. of Henrico Co VA, but does not mention HannahÕs children with
the other (third) William Byrd, of MartinÕs Brandon, VA.
Elizabeth Byrd is said in Murphy family oral
tradition to have married Richard Murphy. I have no evidence in support of this
or subsequent parts of their family oral tradition. It is interesting, and has
multiple points of intersection with the Byrd and Duke families, but is very
unlikely to be completely accurate.
William Duke served on a jury that found William
Caswell, mariner, guilty of defaming Anthony Wyatt. John Stith was foreman of
the jury (Charles City County Court Order Book 1664-1696, p.610).[31]
Legal resolution of some of William DukeÕs business affairs are also reflected
in the Charles City County Court Order Book 1664-1696, for example pp. 513,
543, 595).[32] Duke
was found to be concealing five titheables, presumably to avoid taxes.[33]
The Virginia Colonial Records Project includes
references to a William Duke, merchant, in a list of exports from the Port of
London. Duke shipped goods in the Recovery, John Wood master, in 1674.[34]
Wm. Duke ind.; 400 ells nar. Ger. llinen, per
Peter Causton, 2 June last; 18 ells linen per
William Jarrett; 3 June last; 2 pos. lockrams per William
Berry, 16 April last; 75 ells Vittry canvas per
David Conyard, 15 April last; late etc. dat. 8 Sept.
The individuals for whom Duke was shipping have not
been specifically identified. However, the Jarrett family owned land near the
Sunken Marsh Path in Lawnes Creek Parish, Surry Co, VA, near William Newsum,
Robert Ruffin, William Harris, William Gray, William Carter, and Matthew Swan.[35]
In 1676 William became involved with Nathaniel
Bacon, Jr., in his uprising against the Virginia governor. (If William was one
of the Suffolk Duke family, then Bacon was his brother-in-law.) William and
others presented a petition of complaint against a colonel in the governor's
militia. [36]
Besides of the unlawful proceedings of the s'd
Hill, about the estate of Thomas Grendon, of which yo' honors are already
partly informed, and besides the s'd Hill's placeing and constituteing the s'd
Grendon's House a Prison, keeping therein (guard and all) about thirty persons
for the space of three weeks, killing of his stock and destroying his
provisions and coverting other of to the use of himselfe and family to the
great wrong and oppression of the s'd Grendon, Hee the s'd Hill unlawfully and
unwarrantably seized the goods, etc. Signed May 10, 1677.
Bern'd
Sykes
James
Minge
Tho.
Blayton
N.
Wyatt
Wm.
Duke
Thos.
Grendon
James
Biss
Hill responded to the charges: [37]
Edward Hill in answer to diverse false scandalous
article draune (drawn) up against him my the (above) hands...as from the hands
of the people of Charles City County humbly answearith: . . . Mr. Duke was one
of Bacons good Justices in hastening forwarding, taking and giving of Bacons
oathe, and because Bacons captain, Newt Wheeler should not want force to fight
& destroy the Governrs soldiers, (Duke) sends two of his own servants that
shed the first Christian blood and also before that sent one to go with Bacon
on the Occaneechee march... As for Mr. Grendon, although he was not in the
country, yet his good wife was & therefore is engaged, but I shall be
silent . . .
Duke died in 1678 and on 28 Nov 1681 HannahÕs
fourth husband, William Archer, was granted 600 acres of land that had been due
his predecessor, William Duke.[38] The
sale of a slave girl to William Duke was also dealt with: [39]
To all People to whom these presents shall come,
Greetings Whereas upon the one & twentieth day of June in ye yeare of our
Lord one thousand six hundred Seaventy & Seven, I Tho. Busby of Surry Co.
did barguaine & Sell unto mr wm. Duke of Martin Brandon, one Indyan Girle
of about Nine yeares of age as a Slave for her life & did covenant to &
with the sd Mr Duke to make full firme & good assurance of the sd girlle
unto ye sd mr Duke, his heirs, Exors (executors), Admrs (administrator), &
etc. And whereas by the hand of Almighty ye sd mr Duke departed this life
before ye same was affected & whereas Wm. Archer has marryed ye relict
& Administratrix of the sd Mr Duke, Know yee That I the said Thos. Busby
haveing reced full and valuable Consideration doe hereby bargauine & Sell
& firmely make over ye abovementioned Indian Girle call Bess, as a Slave
for life unto sd Wm Archer...& doo hereby promise for me my heires Exors
Admrs to asknowledge this bill of sale in County Cort of Charles Citty or Surry
when therto required by ye said Wm. Archer.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand
& Seal this 25th day of Janry 1678 & in ye 30th yeare of his Majties
Reigne whoe God Preserve.
A William Archer served on a jury in Henrico County
in 1736.[40] A
later William Archer, possibly a descendant, was conspicuous in the
Revolutionary War affairs of Amelia County VA, which was made from Prince
George in 1734.[41]
DNA and William Duke
Upon learning that the Duke family has a new DNA
branch, R1b and apparently unrelated to the I haplotype groups, and that this
individual lives 20 miles from Westover and comes from a family tracing their
descent from a William Duke who was said to have immigrated to VA with William
Byrd, my posting to Genforum:
Very interesting! I hadn't noticed before, but in
fact William Byrd I of Westover and William Duke of Martin's Brandon apparently
did go to Virginia in the same year. And they were certainly connected by
marriage.
William Byrd I inherited his Virginia lands from
Thomas Stegge Jr. , whose will was dated 1671. So, it was probably 1672 before
things were settled and WB I would have gone to see his new property. (Also, he
was just 19 when he inherited.) William Duke of Martin's Brandon, third husband
of Hannah Grendon, appears in Virginia records in (lo and behold) 1672.
As to their connection -- all obsessive followers
of the VA Duke families (like me) will doubtless recall that William Byrd I was
the son of John Byrd of London and his wife Grace Stegge Byrd, and therefore
grandson of Thomas Stegge Sr. by his first wife (name unknown). Thomas Stegge
Sr.'s second wife, Elizabeth, married second Thomas Grendon Sr. Thomas Grendon
Sr. and Elizabeth Grendon's daughter Hannah married first Thomas Jennings,
second William Byrd (unspecified relative of the other William Byrds, employed
by the folks who originally owned Martin's Brandon) and she married third
William Duke who appears in VA in 1672.
Although Hannah Grendon and William Byrd's father
John Byrd shared no DNA that we know of, they would have sat around the same
nuclear family dinner table as children of the Thomas Stegge Sr.-Thomas Grendon
Sr. -various wives family. So, when Wm. Duke of Martin's Brandon married
Hannah, a daughter of the same convoluted consortium of parents that produced
Grace Stegge Byrd, wife of John Byrd and mother of William Byrd I, he was more
or less (counting the serial monogramists as one set of parents) married to Wm.
Byrd I's aunt.
And incidentally -- they didn't quit there. Thomas
Stegge Jr. and Thomas Grendon Jr. married the same woman. Sort of a family
tradition I guess.
Capt. Henry Duke and Elizabeth Taylor Duke
Although it is unlikely that Hannah Grendon Duke
was the mother, various authors have considered William Duke the father of a
later member of the Duke family in the same area, Capt. Henry Duke. Others
trace Capt. Henry DukeÕs parentage to Col. Henry Duke.
Henry Duke is not mentioned in any Virginia
settlement of the estate of William Duke. The only reference that appears in
the records is William Archer, third husband of Hannah Grendon, taking
possession of a grant that was in process to William Duke before his death.
There is no mention of orphans of William Duke, so the probability of minor
children at the time of his death seems low. Hannah certainly attended to those
legal niceties when Thomas Bird died. However, Henry could have been an adult
when William died, and could have been elsewhere rather than in Virginia,
making it sensible for Hannah to administer the Virginia estate. Given the
relatively short time that William Duke seems to have been in Virginia, and the
relatively advanced age of Hannah (her third marriage, after all) and
presumably William as well, this makes sense. However, this would make Henry
fairly old to be the father of John, John Taylor, and Henry Duke of Prince
George Co VA.
Capt. Henry Duke of MartinÕs Brandon, died in about
1718. There is ample documentation that this Henry Duke married Elizabeth
Taylor, daughter of Capt. John Taylor of Flowerdew Hundred, son of Richard
Taylor and his wife Sarah Barker, who was in turn daughter of William Barker and
Elizabeth Langhorne. After the death of
Richard Taylor his widow married Robert Lucy.
Captain John Taylor was a member of the House of
Burgesses from Charles City County in 1692-99 and clerk of the county in 1699.
He was captain of the ship MerchantÕs Hope. John
Taylor married Henrietta Maria, commonly believed to have been Henrietta Maria
Lucy. This is supported by the inheritance of land granted to Robert Lucy by
Taylor, and subsequently by his daughter Henrietta Maria.[42]
John and Henrietta Maria Taylor had four daughters.
Frances Taylor married a Mr. Greenhill. Elizabeth Taylor married Capt. Henry
Duke and died after Oct 1732. Henrietta Maria Taylor married John Hardyman, and
Sarah Taylor married Francis Hardyman. The two Hardymans were sons of John
Hardyman Sr. and Mary Eppes, daughter of Francis Eppes and Elizabeth Worsham.
It is the family of William Barker, grandfather of
Elizabeth Taylor Duke, that most closely links William Duke of MartinÕs Brandon
with Capt. Henry Duke. Barker was one of the original persons patenting the
land of Flowerdew Hundred, in company with John Sadler and Richard Quinney or
Quiney, London merchants.[43] It
will be remembered that these were the merchants for whom William Byrd, who
married Hannah Grendon, was agent in Virginia.
Capt. Henry DukeÕs estate was appraised in Prince
George Co VA on 22 Jul 1718 at £ 202/11/5 by John Poythress, John Hatch, and
Gilbert Hay. The inventory was presented to the court by Elizabeth Duke,
administrator. At the same time, she attempted to separate slaves inherited
from her father from her husbandÕs estate.[44]
Elizabeth must have had a good head for business.
On 4 Dec 1722 John Woofe of London, merchant, appointed Elizabeth Duke of Flowerdew
Hundred his attorney in Virginia.[45] She
was also busy with her own affairs and those of her family. On 10 Oct 1721
Elizabeth Duke witnessed a deed for land on PowellÕs Creek for her sister
Henrietta Maria and her husband John Hardyman. This deed includes a later memo
dated 21 Oct 1721 and witnessed by William Jackson, among others.[46] On 7
May 1725 Elizabeth Duke sold land on the north side of Blackwater Swamp,
bounded by William Harris, to Robert Hall.[47] On 9
Jul 1725 Henrietta Maria and John Hardyman sold 300 acres at Flowerdew Hundred
bounded on the west by Elizabeth DukeÕs land to John Poythress.[48] On 8
Apr 1726 Elizabeth Duke sold the remainder of her land on the north side of
Blackwater Swamp to Robert Hall.[49]
It is said that Elizabeth Taylor Duke used the seal
of the Duke family of Otterton, Devon, as her seal on the conveyance of her
portion of her fatherÕs estate at Flowerdew Hundred.[50] The
original has apparently been lost:[51]
On 6 Oct 1732, Elizabeth Duke of the County of
Prince George, widow, sold to Joshua Poythres, merchant, of the same county,
Òthat Messauge Tenement Plantation and Tract of Land commonly known by the name
fflower de hundred Containing by estimation two hundred and fifty Acres.
Situate and being in the Parish of MartinÕs Brandon and County aforesaid . . .
Land of the said Joshua Poythres and the Line of Frances Greenhill . . . to the
James River . . . heretofore in the Possession of one John Taylor Gent late of
said County Deceased and Devised by his last Will and Testament unto the said
Elizabeth Duke and her Heirs, etc. Ò Signed by Elizabeth Duke and signed and
sealed and delivered in the presence of Daniel Eelbank, John Duke, John Taylor
Duke, and Henry Duke (from a copy of the original in the possession of Va.,
Hist. Society Library, Richmond, VA.,).
DW Duke presented the following evidence that Capt.
Henry was the son of Col. Henry Duke in a Genforum listing:
Posted by: D.W.
Duke (ID *****3988) Date:
November 02, 2003 at 15:29:47
Because this issue has been raised, I wanted to briefly
post some notes from a rough draft of a project I am working on for the Duke
family. Note that it is rough and not all sources are cited. However, I believe
it is important enough to share it now since several family members are writing
books on this family and we really don't need any more mistakes.
Captain Henry Duke (Henry Duke Jr.)
There has been much controversy concerning the
first generation descendant of Col. Henry Duke, Henry Duke Jr. and whether he
was one and the same as Capt. Henry Duke. This researcher is of the belief that
there is no question that Henry Duke Jr., son of Col. Henry Duke, and Capt.
Henry Duke were one and the same. The sequence of events is as follows:
1. Col. Henry Duke appears on the scene in James
City County Virginia in 1680 where he is listed as a justice. (A land patent in
1682 refers to an assignment of land in 1670 that may refer to Capt. Henry Duke
at that time. The record is unclear due to the language of the patent.)
2. Henry Duke Jr. appears in the quit rent roles on
1000 acres of land, apparently the one thousand acres of land owned by Col.
Henry Duke.
3. In 1704 Col. Henry Duke and Henry Duke Jr. both
witnessed a will of Col. William Byrd. (This will be discussed more fully
below.)
4. There are no further references to Henry Duke
Jr. in the records.
5. However, land records make numerous references
to a Capt. Henry Duke.
6. There is no other Henry Duke in the vicinity who
could be construed to be Henry Duke Jr.
Based upon the above records alone, there is a
rebuttal presumption that Capt. Henry Duke is one and the same as Henry Duke
Jr. and that they are the son of Col. Henry Duke. However, there exists much
more corroborating evidence that must be considered. That evidence is as
follows:
On January 12, 1704, the will of Col. William Byrd
is witnessed by five persons including: Henry Duke, Fr. Nicholson, Littlebury
Epps, Henry Duke, Jr., Joshua Wynn. The identity of these witnesses is very
important in showing that Henry Duke Jr. and Capt. Henry Duke were one and the
same.
It is important to recognize that each and every
person who witnessed the will of Col. William Byrd, with the exception of
Littlebury Eppes (Epps) had a familial relationship to William Byrd in some
manner. Typically, whenever possible, family members were used to witness a
will because it was very important that the witness know the testator very
well. It was very important when witnessing a will that the witness know the
testator very well for two reasons: 1) He should know the testator very well so
that he can identify that the person who signed the will is indeed the person
he purports to be; and 2) He should be able to assert, if the will is
challenged, that he knows that the language of the will is consistent with the
intent of the testator.
Of the five witnesses to the will of William Byrd,
four of the five had a familial relationship with William Byrd. However,
Littlebury Eppes lacked that familial relationship with William Byrd unless it
can be shown that he has that relationship through one of the other four
witnesses. It is the position of this researcher that Littlebury Eppes did
indeed have that relationship through Henry Duke Jr. because Henry Duke Jr. was
none other than Capt. Henry Duke who was married to the nephew of Littlebury
Eppes, Elizabeth Taylor. Lets briefly look at the relationship of each of the
witnesses to the will of William Byrd:
Col. Henry Duke
The relationship between Col. Henry Duke and the
others is that Henry DukeÕs son, James, married the daughter of William Byrd, Mary
Byrd. Additionally, Col. Henry DukeÕs son Henry Duke Jr. witnessed the will.
Henry Duke Jr.
Thus, Henry Duke Jr. was also related to William
Byrd in that his brother James was married William ByrdÕs daughter Mary Byrd.
As will be seen below, Henry Duke Jr. was also related to Littlebury Epps.
Francis Nicholson:
Hannah Grendon married first Thomas Jennings, a
merchant of London 1685. After Jennings dies, she married William Byrd. They
had a child named Thomas Byrd who married a Mary (unknown). Thomas Byrd died
and left a will. Mary, his widow, married a second husband named George
Nicholson. Thomas was the cousin of William Byrd, whose will was witnessed in
1704 (above). By her marriage to George Nicholson, Mary the widow of Thomas
Byrd, connected the Nicholson and Byrd families. William had no doubt become
fond of his cousinÕs wife, such that her new husband Francis Nicholson, was
welcomed into the family. This created the relationship between the Nicholsons
and the Byrds. Francis Nicholson, who witnessed the will of William Byrd was
governor of Virginia.
As a footnote, it should be noted that Hannah
GrendonÕs third husband was the William Duke, who was no doubt an older brother
or cousin of Col. Henry Duke. William Duke was justice of Charles City County in
1677. Thus, Col. Henry had a second connection to William Byrd in addition to
his son James.
Wynne:
Joshua Wynne also witnessed the will of William
Byrd. Robert WynneÕs widow married William Byrd and Minor Wynne, son of John
Wynne and Elizabeth Minor, married Martha Ann Byrd, the wife of William Byrd.
Thus, the Byrds and the Wynnes had a relationship.
Epps:
Littlebury Epps also witnessed the will of William
Byrd in 1704. Unlike the other witnesses to William ByrdÕs will, Littlebury
Epps had no independent familial relationship to William Byrd. Or did he?
Capt. Henry DukeÕs second wife was Elizabeth
Taylor. It is by this connection to Elizabeth Taylor that we see the
significance of Henry Duke Jr. at the witnessing the will along with Littlebury
Epps. Elizabeth Taylor, Francis Taylor, Sarah Taylor and Henrietta Maria Taylor
were the daughters of John Taylor and his wife Henrietta Maria. They had no
sons.
Elizabeth Taylor married Capt. Henry Duke. Francis
Taylor married a Mr. Greenhill, Sarah Taylor married Francis Hardiman and
Henrietta Maria Taylor married John Hardiman the brother of John Hardiman. The
mother of Francis and John Hardiman was Mary Epps, the wife of Lt. Col. John
Hardiman and sister of Littlebury Epps who witnessed the will of William Byrd.
It is particularly important to recognize the close
relationship of these families. The descendants of Capt. Henry Duke, through
William Duke the elder, used the names Eppes, Hardiman and Taylor as first
names for their children. This shows that William the elder was indeed the son
of Capt. Henry. Additionally, the descendants of Cleavers Duke used the name
Taylor in their line, in honor of the woman who raised Cleavers, Elizabeth
Taylor (Duke).
Evidence that Henry Duke Jr. and Capt. Henry Duke
were one and the same:
As set forth above the importance sequence of
events is as follows:
1. Col. Henry Duke appears on the scene in James
City County Virginia in 1680 where he is listed as a justice. (A land patent in
1682 refers to an assignment of land in 1670 that may refer to Capt. Henry Duke
at that time. The record is unclear due to the language of the patent.)
2. Henry Duke Jr. appears in the quit rent roles on
1000 acres of land, apparently the one thousand acres of land owned by Col.
Henry Duke.
3. In 1704 Col. Henry Duke and Henry Duke Jr. both
witnessed a will of Col. William Byrd. (This will be discussed more fully
below.)
4. There are no further references to Henry Duke
Jr. in the records.
5. However, land records make numerous references
to a Capt. Henry Duke.
6. There is no other Henry Duke in the vicinity who
could be construed to be Henry Duke Jr.
Add the additional piece of evidence, that Henry
Duke Jr. (Capt. Henry Duke) witnessed the will of William Byrd, thus providing
a relationship between William Byrd and a fifth unrelated witness, Littlebury
Eppes, and the evidence clearly shows that Henry Duke Jr. and Capt. Henry Duke
were one and the same.
Still Further Evidence that Henry Duke Jr = Capt.
Henry Duke
Posted by: D.W.
Duke (ID *****3988) Date: December 01, 2003 at 20:19:17
Once again, my research has turned up still further
evidence that Henry Duke Jr is one and the same as Capt. Henry Duke. I post
this for others who are researching and writing on this topic.
Ludwells MSS, in 1724 refers to Elizabeth, widow of
Henry Duke, and James Duke, Gent., as the surviving executors of Henry Duke,
Esq.
Strangely EDB misinterpreted this to mean that the
widow of Col. Henry Duke was someone named Elizabeth.
Morris' interpretation is even a little stranger.
She concluded that this is referring to yet another Henry Duke married to an
Elizabeth Duke.
What neither EDB nor Morris recognized (I didn't
bother to check Walter on this one) is that the following occurred:
Col. Henry Duke died in 1713. At that time, his son
Capt. Henry Duke and his other son James Duke, became the executors of his
estate. Capt. Henry Duke died in 1717. At that point, Capt. Henry's wife
Elizabeth (Taylor) Duke became the executor of Col. Henry's estate in place of
her deceased husband. The estate of Col. Henry was still in probate in 1724.
Thus, the surviving executors of his estate were Elizabeth (Taylor) Duke and
her brother in law James Duke.
In 1723 Elizabeth Taylor Duke joined with her
sisters to sell land on Pigeon Swamp, south of the Blackwater River and west of
Cypress Swamp, left to them by their father, Capt. John Taylor:[52]
p. 123 (p.493) 17 Dec 1723...John Hardyman and wife
Henrietta Maria Hardyman, Francis Hardyman and wife Sarah Hardyman, Elizabeth
Duke and Frances Greenhill to Nicholas Partridge . . . 262 acres on east side
of Pidgeon Swamp and bounded by the Underground Branch and Richard Bland, decd. Wit:
John Mason, John (X) Freeman and William (X) Raynes
p. 125-126 (p.529) 17 Dec 1723...John Hardyman and
wife Henritta Maria Hardyman, Francis Hardyman and wife Sarah Hardyman,
Elizabeth Duke and Frances Greenhill to John Mason...223 acres on east side of
Pidgeon Swamp and bounded by Cattail Branch and Richard Bland, decd. Wit:
Nicholas Partridge, John (X) Freeman, Jr. and William (X) Rayne Rec:
18 Dec 1723 and 15 Apr 1724
p. 126 (p.532) 17 Dec 1723...John Hardyman and wife
Henrietta Maria Hardyman, Francis Hardyman and wife Sarah Hardyman, Elizabeth
Duke and Frances Greenhill to Nicholas Partridge...262 acres on east side of
Pigeon Swamp and bounded by Underground Branch and Richard Bland, decd. Wit:
John Mason, John (X) Freeman, Jr. and William (X) Rayne Rec:
18 Dec 1723 and 15 Apr 1724
It will later be seen that the witnesses to these
documents are important in
reconstructing aspects of Duke family history in Virginia and in South
Carolina.
On 6 Oct 1732 Elizabeth Duke of Prince George Co
sold to Joshua Poythress, merchant, her share of the Flowerdew estate,
inherited from her father John Taylor (copy of the original, Virginia Historical
Society Library, Richmond, VA). Daniel Eelbanks, John Duke, John Taylor Duke,
and Henry Duke were witnesses. Daniel Eubanks had married a daughter of Capt.
Henry Duke. Shortly after this time, Capt. Henry DukeÕs sons began to acquire
their own land and live elsewhere.
Elizabeth Duke also had time for a lively social
life, perhaps as a means of recovering from the death of her husband. The
diaries of William Byrd II of Westover document her frequent appearances at
Westover for dinner, some times accompanied by her attorney, John Poythress,
and other times by other friends and family members, especially members of the
Hardyman and Eppes families.[53] She
took the ferry across the James River from her home at Flowerdew. These
frequent visits appear to have begun in 1719, following the death of Capt.
Henry Duke, and continued at least through 1721. Robert Munford and members of
the Randolph, Bolling, Anderson and Harrison families were also frequent
visitor at Westover.
One of the persistent questions surrounding Capt.
Henry Duke is the identity of his sons. John Duke was his heir at law,[54] and
was a son of his first wife, who has never been identified. John Taylor Duke
and Henry Duke were certainly his sons with Elizabeth Taylor Duke. It is also
possible that William Duke, who first appears in the records of Brunswick Co VA
in 1728, was his son. There may have been others.
Evelyn Duke Brandenberger did not accept this
reconstruction, instead tracing Capt. Henry Duke through Col. Henry Duke of
James City County VA, and identifying William Duke as son of Col. DukeÕs son
James Duke and his wife Mary Byrd, daughter of William Byrd I of Westover.
John Duke , son of Capt. Henry Duke
The sons of Capt. Henry Duke were apparently living
on his Prince George and Surry county properties until about 1733. They appear
elsewhere with their own lands, principally in Greensville Co VA, after the
sale of the TaylorÕs Flowerdew estate in 1732.
On 5 Apr 1733 John Duke bought 285 acres of land on
the north side of Three Creeks (Brunswick Co VA Deed Bk 1: 36-37).
On 24 Mar 1734 John Duke received land on Three
Creeks, Rocky Run, adjacent William Raines, Col. [Benjamin] Harrison, and
Thomas Jackson (VPB 15: 481-482). A deed dated 1 June 1750 shows John Duke
adjacent Hinchee (Hinshaw or Hinchea) Mabry, John Pettaway, Charles Trunballs,
and Thomas Deens on Rocky Run (VPB 29: 107-109). Others with land on Three
Creeks were Jehu Peoples, Peter Simmons, Thomas Sissums, Whitmore, Richard
Cocke, Richard Pace, Hambleton, Tapley, Charles Kimball, Thomas House, Isaac
House, James Wyche, Robert Hix, William Batte, John Peterson, John Davis, Ralph
Jackson, William Collier, John Raines, Sampson Lanier, and Richard Ransom.
Specifically on Rocky Run we find land belonging to Hinchea Mabry, George
Mabry, Charles Trunball, Thomas Deans, William Smith, Thomas Cocke, John
Freeman Jr. (but he was still living in Sussex County in1760), Henry Freeman,
Benjamin Harrison, Col. Nathaniel Harrison, William Raines, Thomas Jackson,
John Cumbow, John Pettaway, John Williamson, William Collier, Hugh Drysdale,
and James Washington.
John Duke had many additional land transactions in
the Three Creeks area (Brunswick Co VA Deed Bk 1: 455; Bk 1: 418; Bk 1: 442; Bk
18: 434; Bk 2: 78; Bk 2:249; Bk 3: 325-327; VPB 18:434).
The House family is well represented in Three
Creeks grants. Lucy House became the first wife of Maj. John Duke, as the will
of James Fletcher in 1733 and the will of her father, Thomas House, show.[55] A
grant in 1724/25 to John Davis Òthe WelchmanÓ (VPB 12:165) is to the father of
Rejoice Davis, who married John Duke after the death of his first wife. John
Davis had come to Brunswick Co from Isle of Wight Co VA.
On 5 May 1743 John Duke purchased from John Taylor
Duke 504 acres on MooreÕs Swamp (Brunswick Co VA Deed Bk 1: 277). On 6 Nov 1747
John Duke sold this land to Major Pryor (Brunswick Co VA Deed Bk 3: 425-426).
On 8 Oct 1750 John Duke received 500 acres in
Lunenburg (now Mecklenburg) Co VA adjoining John Taylor Duke on Flatt Creek
(VLP Bk 30: 229). In 1748 John Duke and his son, also John Duke, were on the
list of tithables for that part of Lunenburg Co. that became Mecklenburg Co, on
the North Carolina border. William Taylor, Thomas Lanier, John Freeman, John
Davis, Thomas Jarrett, William Tucker, Owen Myrick, and Nicholas Major were
neighbors there.
In 1757 Thomas Taylor acquired land on Flat Creek
in what is now Mecklenburg Co VA, adjacent that of John Duke (VPB33p368-369).
In 1780 John Williamson acquired land adjacent William Taylor in Mecklenburg
(MC# CGB A p598-599).
In 1752 Maj. John Duke is identified as a resident
of Dinwiddie Co VA when he sold to Ephraim Mabry land on Flatt Creek in
Lunenburg Co (Lunenburg Co VA Deed Bk 4: 19). The appearance of the name
Charles Duke as a witness to this deed represents the first evidence of this
son of John Duke. John DukeÕs sons may have moved to South Carolina.
In Aug 1753 Edward Goodrich (who may have married a
daughter of Maj. John Duke) petitioned Brunswick Co Court for time to render an
account of the estate of Susanna Duke, daughter of John Duke, deceased
(Brunswick Co VA Order Book1: 171). The account was rendered on 26 Aug 1756.
(Brunswick, Co VA Orphans Account Bk 5: 28).
John Taylor Duke, Son of Capt. Henry Duke
John Taylor Duke was the son of Capt. Henry Duke
and his second wife, Elizabeth Taylor Duke, and was named for his maternal
grandfather. It has been proposed by Patrick Anderson to the Duke list on
Rootsweb that his wife was Jane Anderson. His argument is as follows:
Descendants of Jane Anderson
Generation No. 1
1. JANE5 ANDERSON (Thomas4, Thomas3, Thomas2,
RICHARD1)1 was born Abt. 1705 in "The Cattails", Charles City County,
Virginia. She married John TAYLOR Duke, son of HENRY Duke and ELIZABETH TAYLOR.
He was born 1705 in Prince George County, Virginia, and died 1790 in Wilkes
County, Georgia.
Notes for JANE ANDERSON:
My current theory is that Jane married John Taylor
Duke. The connection is unproven but substantiated by the fact that she is born
within a few years of John Taylor DukeÕs birth date and is a contemporary of
his and her brother.
Charles witnessed the 1727 sale of Richard Taylor's
1673 patent which descended to Elizabeth (Taylor) Duke wife of Henry Duke. John
Taylor Duke and Jane Anderson definitely knew each other as teenagers but I am
still seeking proof that she is his wife Jane.
Jane Anderson was the daughter of Sarah BarkerÕs
last child by her 2nd husband Robert Lucy and Elizabeth (Taylor) Duke was a
daughter of John Taylor, Sarah Barker's first child by her 1st husband Richard
Taylor. John Taylor, father of Elizabeth was the guardian for Mary Lucy the
mother of Jane Anderson in 1694.
Richard Taylor and Robert Lucy obtained side by
side patents along the Blackwater River in 1673 and in 1683 Thomas Anderson
patented the land above them along Cattail Creek.
________________________________________________
Prince George County, Virginia, Wills & Deeds
1710-1713, page 161 Inventory of all Jean Anderson, daughter to Thomas
Anderson, dec'd, her estate, bequeathed to her by the said Andreson in his last
will & testament. One featherbed in the trundle bedstead with the furniture
thereunto belonging, one cow with calf & heifer of Two years old, one
chest, one silver tumbler, one small iron pott and pott hooks, two pewter
dishes. Pr. Geo County Court the day of [?] 1712.
This above written acctt of estate of Jean Anderson
was presented into court by Cornelius Cargill her guardian and ordererd by the
justices to be truly recorded - Edward Goodrich
More About JANE ANDERSON:
Living: 1712, Prince George County, Virginia
Linda L. Clements <clements@sierra.net>
John Taylor Duke was born between 1705 and 1710 in
Prince George County, Virginia, and was named after his maternal grandfather.
He married Jane. He owned land and live in several different counties in
Virginia. He seemed to move quite often. Before 1769 he had left Virginia and
lived in both North and South Carolina. By the end of the Revolutionary War
John Taylor Duke was living in Georgia. (from Duke web site (www.geocities.com/WallStreet/Market/4071/Duke.html
presumably taken from a Duke family history book, accessed 7-99)
Endnotes
1. Thomas Anderson, 1711 Will of Thomas Anderson,
(1710-1713 Will Book, Page 36, Prince George County, Virginia).
Patrick J. Anderson
Like his brother John, John Taylor Duke purchased
land in the Three Creeks area (later Greensville Co VA) in 1733.[56] In
1738 he made an additional purchase.[57] In
1741 he had moved on to land on Old Field Branch (VPB 20: 135). He sold that
tract as well as a previous grant on 4 Feb 1733 to Richard Lanier and James
Cocke.[58]
John Taylor Duke then moved on to Lunenburg (later
Mecklenburg) Co VA near the North Carolina boundary, purchasing land on Flatt
Creek, a tributary of the Roanoke River.[59] His
brothers John and Henry joined him there. It was here that
long-standing connections with the Crenshaw and McKee families were formed.
By 1769 John Taylor Duke had moved to Camden District,
South Carolina. Evelyn Duke Brandenberger has identified the sons of John
Taylor Duke as Robert, Henry, Thomas, James, Edmund, and John.[60]
Eventually he and many of his descendants moved on to Georgia.
Page 90, Will Book 1, Mecklenburg County, Virginia:
Thomas Duke lived in Brunswick County, Virginia in September of 1773 as an
overseer for Henry Delony's lands.
The Taylors
The descendants of Ethelred Taylor owned land on
Three Creeks, Greensville Co, near the sons of Capt. Henry Duke, through
inheritance. William Kinchen purchased 750 acres on the lower side of Three
Creeks from Christopher Hill, and left that land to his son Matthew Kinchen,
who in turn left it to William Taylor, his cousin.[61] This
appears to have been transferred to Ethelred Taylor II, and in 1775 Henry
Taylor bought out his brothersÕ shares of this property. HenryÕs son Ethelred
sold much of this land in 1786. All of these individuals seem to have continued
to live in Southampton Co VA rather than moving to this property.
In 1731 Daniel Taylor of Brunswick Co VA acquired
land in Lunenburg Co VA on Shining Creek (VPB14p346-347). He sold it in 1754
(BRDBk5p569-571). In 1750 Joseph Duke owned land on Shining Creek (VPB34p537).
Henry Duke, son of Capt. Henry Duke
Daughter of Capt. Henry Duke and Elizabeth Taylor
Duke
A daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Duke married
Daniel Eubanks or Eelbanks. Daniel Eelbanks had witnessed the sale of Elizabeth
Taylor DukeÕs property at Flowerdew Hundred to Joshua Poythress in 1732, as
previously noted. On 9 Nov 1724 Daniel Eelbank witnessed the will of Richard
Washington, recorded in Surry Co Will Bk 7, p. 583..[62]
Richard Washington was the father of Elizabeth Washington, who married Sampson
Lanier, Sr.
James Duke : Another son of Capt.
Henry Duke? Brother of John Duke the Elder?
An individual named James Duke appears in Surry Co
and Brunswick Co VA records. Who was he?
James Duke appeared in 1727 in Surry Co VA records,
as a witness with Dasey Southall and John Ellerbee for a deed from William
Rainey to Francis Lightfoot for 100 acres on the south side of the main
Blackwater Swamp (Surry County Deeds, Wills, Etc. Bk 7, p. 759). In 1723
William (x) Rayne was a witness with Nicholas Partridge and John Freeman to a
deed from Elizabeth Duke and her sisters for 223 acres on the east side of
Pigeon Swamp. The property was bounded by the mouth of Cattail Branch, Richard
Bland, decd., and the Underground Branch, and was sold to John Mason (Surry
County Deeds, Wills, Etc. Bk 7, p. 491 and p. 529). The Raines family was also
closely related to the Myricks. Mary Myrick later married John, son of William
Duke. The Myricks were from an area on the boundary of Surry and Isle of Wight
counties.[63] The
1727 Surry County reference to the deed from William Rainey to Francis
Lightfoot therefore places James Duke in the company of associates of the
family of Capt. Henry Duke and his wife Elizabeth Taylor Duke.
Raines or Rainey also owned land near the Greensville
Co area where John Duke, Henry Duke, and John Taylor Duke settled for several
decades. His land was on the south side of Three Creeks and the north side of
Little Creek in Lawnes Creek Parish, bounding land sold by James Washington to
Nathaniel Harrison on 14 Jun 1725, with Sampson Lanier a witness (Surry County
Deeds, Wills, Etc. Bk 7, p.591). Raney also bought 150 acres on the south side
of the main Blackwater Swamp bounded by William Jones and Henry Jones from
George Pasamore (Surry County Deeds, Wills, Etc. Bk 7, p.76). Robert Wynne,
Burrell Green and William Green were witnesses. George PasamoreÕs land bounded
that of Thomas House Jr., and William House on Three Creeks (Surry County
Deeds, Wills, Etc. Bk 7, p.714).
In 1732 the following is found in the Brunswick
Order Book I, page 3:
ÒJohn Ross is appointed Surveyor of the Road from
Reedy Creek to the courthouse and is ordered that he with male Laboring Fit
persons belonging to Joseph Warborton, John Evans, James Arnato, James Duke and
William Duke, John Edwards, . . .Ó
EDB (Vol.II:13) interprets this James as the son of
Col. Henry Duke, in keeping with her theory that William Duke was the son of
James Duke and his wife Mary Byrd Duke of James County Parish. However, it
seems more likely that this is the James Duke who appeared a few years earlier
in Surry County with associates of the Capt. Henry Duke family.
An alternative possibility is that this James Duke
is a son of John Duke of York County, VA, who in turn was probably a son of
Thomas Duke who settled in that area with Thomas Hampton. A 6 Jun 1651 deed
recorded by William Byrd in his title book documents this:[64]
ÒPatent to Mr. Thomas Hampton, Clerk, and Thomas Duke for 430 acres containing
two necks of land lying on Warreny Creek on the east side of the Chickahominy
River, James City County, bounded NW and SSE on a swamp dividing it from land
of Edward Cole; ENE upon land of Mr. SoaneÕs; and due said Hampton and Duke by
assignment of rights of transportation of nine persons into the colony by Mr.
William Barret. Dated June 6, 1641.Ó Thomas DukeÕs widow subsequently married,
after his death, a Wade. A patent was issued to Mrs. Mary Wade for 463 acres on
a branch of Tiaskun Swamp, formerly patented to Thomas Hampton who assigned his
patent to her (VPB 7: 174). It is likely that Mary Duke Wade was a daughter of
Thomas Hampton, to receive hundreds of acres of land from him. (It is said that
Thomas Hampton IÕs tombstone is on the land of Nathaniel Bacon I on the York
River.) In
ÒThe HamptonsÓ, Chapter 12, from Tidewater Virginia
Families—A Social History, by Virginia Lee Hutchinson Davis, Urbanna, VA,
1989, it is said that the children of Rev. Thomas Hampton were John (marr. 1.
Mary Mann, 2. ___ Cary), Mary (marr. 1. ___ Duke, 2. ___ Wade), Thomas (marr.
Elizabeth Bridle).
A probable son of Thomas Duke and Mary Hampton
Duke, John Duke, received land on Tyaskon Swamp in 1673. This was on the line
dividing New Kent and James City counties. On 15 Dec 1673 he received an
additional 136 acres in the same area bounded in part by Joseph Wade (VPB
6:504).
On 19 Jul 1670/71 John Duke received 107 acres in
York County VA on the east side of Otter Dam. This was witnessed by Thomas
Bushrod and John Scarsbrook (York Co VA Records 1664-1672: 436). John DukeÕs
wife was Jane Scarsbrook. When the will of John Scarsbrooke was proved in York
County Court, John Duke Sr. was already dead, and his widow had remarried, to
Thomas Mountfort (York Co VA Probate & Adm. Bonds beginning 1679, p. 174).
The will mentioned minor children of John and Jane Duke, but not by name.
On 24 Jan 1692/93, John Duke, son of John Duke of
York Co., decÕd, age 21 years of thereabouts, provided a deposition for York
County courts (York Co VA 1690-1694, p. 196). John Duke Jr., married Susanna
Goodwin, daughter of Maj. James Goodwin. In 1694 a Henry Duke was witness for a
document relating to John Duke Jr., suggesting that he might be another son of
John Duke Sr. (York Co VA 1693-94, p. 272).
James Duke and Susanna Duke, children of John Duke
and Susanna Duke, were mentioned in the will of Rachel Porter Goodwin, second
wife of Maj. James Goodwin, father of Susanna (WMQ ). Although Henry Duke
continues to appear in York County records for many years, there is no further
record of this James Duke in York Co. VA, or of his father John Duke Jr. The
James Duke of Surry could be this James Duke of York Co VA.
Elizabeth Duke and James Mason, Ethelred Taylor,
and William Edwards
Elizabeth Duke has been identified by EDB as the
sister of Capt. Henry Duke of Prince George County, VA. She married first James
Mason of Matthews Mount in Surry Co. James Mason was the son of Francis Mason,
who was born in 1594 and died about 1648, and who came to Virginia in 1613.
Francis Mason was a magistrate, vestryman, and sheriff in Lower Norfolk.[65] He
received a grant in Lynhaven, Lower Norfolk, in 1745.[66] This
was very near the area where Thomas Duke of Nansemond County lived. In 1678
Francis Mason received land on Tappahanock or Crouches Creek, in Surry Co.[67] The
Petway family was on Crouches Creek from at least 1652.[68] In
1682 Richard Bennett was granted land on Polantink Swamp adjacent Francis Mason
and William Edwards,[69]
Elizabeth DukeÕs first father-in-law and her third husband.
James Mason of Southwark Parish, Surry County, and
Elizabeth Duke had a son James Mason Jr., who married Mary Petway, daughter of
Robert Petway Sr. and Ruth Gwaltney.[70] They
also had sons Francis and John Mason. James Mason Jr. became prominent in
Greensville Co VA affairs; Greensville Co Order Book 1 contains numerous
references to his public functions and offices. James
Mason died in about 1701. Elizabeth probated his estate on 18 Jul 1701.[71]
Elizabeth then married Ethelred Taylor. [72] On 2
Mar 1702 Ethelred and Elizabeth Taylor presented an inventory of the estate of
James Mason, deceased. Ethelred was a first-generation English emigrant,
appearing in the Surry Co VA records in 1702. In 1714 he purchased 332 acres in
Lawnes Creek Parish from Nathaniel Harrison, William Robinson, and Nathaniel
Ridley. William Edwards witnessed the deed.[73]
Nathaniel HarrisonÕs grants were in the upper parish adjacent Owen Myrick and
William Simons (VPB 9 p496) and near Charles Jordan on Stony Run (VPB 10
p152-153).
Elizabeth and Ethelred Taylor had sons Ethelred,
Henry, William, and Samuel. Ethelred Taylor owned many hundreds of acres of
land in both Surry and Isle of Wight counties. In 1710 he posted bond as
sheriff of Surry County.[74] He
was frequently called upon for public functions.[75] With
Robert Lancaster he witnessed a deed for land on the south side of Blackwater
Swamp (Surry County Deed & Will Book 7 p. 685).
He died in 1716. His will gave lands on Poketank or
Pohatink Swamp and the same side of CokerÕs branch, purchased from the trustees
of Joseph John Jackman, to son Samuel. He gave land on CokerÕs Branch adjoining
John Bruton and Samuel Cornwell to son Henry, and to Ethelred Taylor II he gave
land on Lightwood Swamp (south of the Blackwater River, on the boundary between
Surry and Isle of Wight Co VA), and other locations (Surry Co VA Wills and
Administrations Book 7, p. 19).[76]
All of these place names have not been relocated.
However, Jackman bought his property from William Butler in 1713 (Surry Deed
& Will Book 6 p155). William Butler obtained his grant in 1643 adjacent William
Lawrence at the head of LawnesÕ Creek (VPB 1 p900). On 6 Apr 1647 William
Lawrence had been granted Ò300 acres. On south of Mr. Thomas Stamp, north
towards Shippeaks Creek. Lying on Hogg Island main.Ó[77] This
places the Ethelred Taylor family very near Silvester Thacker (who cared for
the cattle of Thomas Duke of NansemondÕs wife), Justinian Cooper, Anthony
Ffulgham, and other familiar names. In 1641 Richard Jackson received land on
Seawards Creek adjacent Justinian Cooper, in part by assignment from Thomas
Stamp and John Sweete.[78] John
Coker, who may have given his name to CokerÕs Branch, was listed in 1635 as
transported by Justinian Cooper in exchange for land at the head of LawnesÕ
Creek.[79] We
shall see that this was also very close to John Duke of Isle of Wight Co VA.
Ethelred Taylor II lived on Lightwood Swamp in
Southampton Co and married Patience Kinchen, daughter of William Kinchen and
Elizabeth Joyner. In 1735 he was granted land on the Nottoway (IW DBk 4
p476-477). They had numerous children: Ethelred, Henry (married Temperance
Peterson), William, John, Kinchen, Jane, James, Mary (m. Batte Peterson),
Sarah, Elizabeth (m. Miles Cary), and Richard. These children and their
descendants are subsequently found in close proximity to the Duke family in Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Ethelred Taylor II served in the
House of Burgesses from Southampton Co in 1753, 54, 55, and 1756-58. His son
Henry Taylor served there in later years.
The Kinchen connection is particularly interesting.
The children of William Kinchen married families with other Duke family ties.
Patience Kinchen TaylorÕs sister Elizabeth married Joseph Exum, son of William
Exum Sr. who was entrusted with the cattle due to Margaret Duke, wife of Thomas
Duke of Nansemond Co VA.
Patience KinchenÕs brother, William, married Sarah
House, daughter of Robert House who was the earliest founder member of the
House family in the area.[80]
Thomas House Jr. of Surry County was the father of Lucy House who married Maj.
John Duke, eldest son of Capt. Henry Duke. His (gr?) nephew Isaac House married
Mary, daughter of William Duke. Jr. and Mary Green. The following references
relate to these early Houses. Robert House was the earliest founder member of
the family in the area. He was granted land on Johnchecohunk Swamp.[81]
10 Sep 1695...Robert Howse (House), Sr of
Southwarke Parish to Bartholomew Andrews of the same...250 acres on east side
of Johnshohoun Swamp adjoining Robert Owins (Owen?) old line, Richard Jordan,
Sr. and the Hickory Branch. (Margrett Howse wife of Robert Howse, relinquished
her Right of Dower.)
Robert (X) Howse
Margrett (X) Howse
Rec: 10 Sep 1695
Thomas House Sr. was the father of Isaac House Sr.,
whose son Isaac House Jr. married Mary Duke. In 1723 he gave Isaac House Sr.
land on Three Creeks in what became Greensville Co VA:[82]
7 Nov 1723 . . . Thomas House, Sr to Isaac House .
. . 60 acres on south side of Nottoway River in Lawnes Creek Parish and bounded
by Three Creeks, said House, said Isaac House and Nicholas Hatch (land is the
upper part of a patent granted to said Thomas House for 120 acres in 1719).
Thomas (X) House
Wit: James Washington, Lawrence (X) House and John
(X) Bartholomew.
Rec. 15 Jan 1723
Thomas House Jr. was the father of Lucy House, who
married Capt. John Duke, son of Capt. Henry Duke, in Greensville Co VA.
Catherine House and Capt. John Duke were executors of his16 Feb 1734 will,
witnessed by John Taylor Duke and David Case, and proved 4 Sep 1734.[83]
William Duke of Warren Co NC later married a Bartholomew. Joseph House was
listed in the 1790 federal census of Dobbs/Lenoir Co.
Finally, Elizabeth married William Edwards. On 23
Mar 1715/16 William Edwards had been granted land on the Nottoway River in Isle
of Wight County for transporting ElizabethÕs previous husband, Ethelred Taylor,
to Virginia (VPB 10 p270). William Edwards, husband of Elizabeth Duke Mason
Taylor Edwards, was granted land on Pigeon Swamp on 20 Apr 1684 (VPB 7:368).
There is no record of William Edwards and
Elizabeth having had children; both were older at the time of their marriage.
William Edwards represented Surry Co in the House of Burgesses in 1706. He
married first Elizabeth, a daughter of Col. Benjamin Harrison, a member of the
Royal Council of Virginia. She died at the age of 17. Edwards apparently
married a second time, perhaps to a daughter of Micajah Lowe, nephew of the
prominent London merchant Micajah Perry.[84] With
her he had William, Micajah, Mary, Elizabeth, Ann, and Sarah. Elizabeth was
apparently a third wife. His will dated 9 Jan 1722 was proved in Surry Co on 25
Feb 1722 (Surry County VA Deeds, Wills, etc. Book 9, p. 389.).[85] He
left lands throughout Surry County in many locations, including Pigeon Creek
where Elizabeth Taylor Duke inherited lands from her father Capt. John Taylor.
John Edwards and Nathaniel Edwards were among the witnesses to his will.
William Duke of Brunswick Co VA and Warren Co NC
William Duke was in Brunswick Co VA on Reedy Creek,
near the modern town of Lawrenceville and the historical Fort Christiana, in
1728. The earliest mention is in a deed to Capt. James Baker of Isle of Wight
County, on the north side of the Maherrin River on Rocky Creek, adajcent
William Duke (VPB 13:187).
A James Baker was an original trustee of
Smithfield.[86] In
1740 James Baker was an executor, with Charles Binns and John Ruffin, of the
estate of James Ransom.[87] In
1739 James Baker acquired land in Isle of Wight County on the Circular Tract
adajcent Benjamin Ruffin. In 1747 ÒJames Baker Gent.Ó was the surveyor for a
parcel in the Circular Tract, Assamasook Swamp, Southampton Co, VA, sold by the
Nottoway Indians to Thomas Cocke, John Simmons, and Benjamin Edwards, and by
them sold to William Bailey (IW Deed Bk 7: 244-245). Ethelred Taylor II owned
land on Assamasoon Swamp, Circular Tract, by 1740/41 (IW Deed Bk 5:3-5).
On 28 Sep 1728 William Duke acquired land adjacent
Nathaniel Green on Reedy Creek (VPB14p31). John Duke acquired land adjacent
William Duke and James Baker on the same day (VPB14p59). John Duke sold this
property to Sterling Clack in 1745 (Brunswick Co VA Deed book 3:96-98).
In 1747 Sterling Clack obtained addition land
adjacent John Duke, John Edwards, and Robert Munford (VPB 28:155-156). In 1756
Charles Edwards obtained land on Reedy Creek adjacent John Edwards (VPB33p261-262).
In 1762 John Edwards obtained land adjacent Charles Edwards (VPB34p1053-1054).
Edward Tatum acquired land on Reedy Creek in 1756, near Robert MunfordÕs line
and adjacent Peter Tatum (VPB33p105-106). George Standback (VPB18p168-169),
Sterling Clack (VPB28p155-156), and Capt. James Baker of Isle of Wight Co
(VPB13p187) also owned land in the immediate vicinity.
In 1774 Robert Ruffin was granted land on Reedy
Creek previously granted to William Duke in 1728, John Duke in 1728, and Samuel
Duke in 1747 (VPB42p735-737). At this time the land was adjacent Morris,
Herbert, and Edwards. It is interesting that the property was being sold as one
parcel.
Other relevant Brunwick Co grants: Edward Freeman
received 300 acres near Thomas Eave on Buck Quarter Branch in 1768 (VPB
38:458-569). He had land near Sexton, John Knotts, John Wall as early as 23 Dec
1754 on the road to Fort Christianna (PB32p430-431). The town of Freeman, named
for the family, is the only town on Reedy Creek, about 4 miles east of the present
town of Lawrenceville.
William DukeÕs first wife is unknown. His second
wife was Elizabeth Bartholomew, widow of John Bartholomew who died in 1735
(Brunswick Co VA Deeds, Wills, Etc. Bk
1, PP. 234-235, inv. & appr. recorded 2 Oct. 1735).
John Bartholomew left one son, Charles. The Bartholomews were from Prince
George Co VA, as listings for an earlier Charles Bartholomew, apparently JohnÕs
father, show. The records also show that JohnÕs mother, Rebecca Bartholomew,
was an Eppes (Prince George Co, Virginia
Record Book B 1693-1713):
BARTHOLOMEW, Ann
From Charles & Rebecca BARTHOLOMEW
200 acres, formerly Rebecca EPES
Deed (lease) Sep 4, 1711 Page 69
Deed (release) Sep 10, 1711
BARTHOLOMEW, Charles & Rebecca
To Anne BARTHOLOMEW, dau.
Granted Rebecca by patent Apr 29, 1690
(formerly EPES)
Deed (lease) Sep 4, 1711 Page 74
Deed (release) Sep 10, 1711
200 acres
BARTHOLOMEW, Charles & Rebecca
To Anne BARTHOLOMEW, dau
200 acres, part of land granted Rebecca (EPES)
during her widowhood, patent Apr 29, 1690
Deed (lease) Sep 4, 1711 Page 69
Deed (release) Sep 10, 1711 Page 74
Charles Barthlomew was listed on the 1704 quit rent
rolls for Charles City County, VA. In 1715 he inventoried the estate of Edward
Bolling, along with Gilbert Hay (Prince George County Records, 1713-1728, p.
55).[88] Hay
also inventoried the estate of Capt. Henry Duke. In 1718 a deed from John
Roberts and Thomas Winningham to Darrel Young Jr. of Prince George County
identifies WnninghamÕs land as bounded by that of Charles Bartholomew, John Young,
and Capt. John Poythress (Prince George County Records, 1713-1728, p.220).[89]
John Duke of Isle of Wight Co VA
George Duke was transported by John Seward of Isle
of Wight Co VA, who was granted land on the Blackwater branch of the Roanoke on
15 Apr 1648 (Cavaliers and Pioneers, Patent Book 2, Page 171).
The Isle of Wight Duke family was supposedly (EDB)
begun by William Ducke, who was imported by Justinian Cooper in 1639, in
exchange for land at the head of Lawnes Creek (VA Land Patents Book 1, part 2,
p. 681). This is probably untrue. There is no further mention of him in Isle of
Wight Co VA records. The next William Duke reference known in the area is that
of William Duke who married Hannah Grendon, appearing in the records in 1674,
35 years later.
John Duke I in Isle of Wight Co VA
John Duke appears in the deed records in 1665, when
Jeremiah Rutter sold 300 acres on the Cypress Swamp in what was then Nansemond
Co VA to John Duke (VA Land Patent Bk. 5, p. 265). Capt. Thomas Goodwyn
received a grant adjoining John Dukes, Chuckatuck Parish, Isle of Wight Co (VA
Land Patent Bk. 6, p. 6 and p.111). They were living on the boundary of Isle of
Wight and Nansemond counties.
In short, within two years of the first land grant
to Thomas Duke in the same parish on the same river, within a few miles of one
another, John Duke received his first land grant. This John Duke is very likely
the brother or other close relative of Thomas Duke of Nansemond. It seems
unlikely that John Duke Jr. was the only child of John Duke and Elizabeth Duke
(Mercer), but others have not been identified.
On 23 Sep 1689 John Duke of Isle of Wight County
sold to John Burnet, shoemaker, of the same county, Òa parcel of land . . .
containing fifty acres thereabouts, which land my father John Duke, deceased,
formerly bought of Jeremiah Rutter of Chuckatuck then in Nansemond County,
being out of a patent of three hundred acres lying and bounded by the land of
John Goseling (Goslin) and the house of my father John Duke where he was
situated, etc.Ó Witnessed by William Bradshaw and Richard Beale and signed by
the marks of John Duke, Bridgett Duke (wife of John Duke, Jr.) and Elizabeth
Mercer (Isle of Wight Deed Bk 1, p. 25).
Elizabeth Mercer was John DukeÕs widow, remarried
after his death to Robert Mercer. Robert Mercer was granted land on the Myery
Branch on the south side of the Main Blackwater Swamp adjacent John Holliman
and William Edwards (VPB 12 p217-218). HollimanÕs land was on the boundary of
Surry Co and Southampton Co (VPB 33 p611-612). In 1724/25 a William Edwards
owned land adjacent Robert Mercer and John Halliman on Myery Branch on the
south side of the main Blackwater Swamp (VPB 12 p217-218; VPB 15 p192-193). In 1717 James Mercer had acquired land adjacent
William Kinchen and George Williamson
on the south side of the main Blackwater Swamp (VPB 10 p371). His will was
dated 1734. There are Southampton Co VA wills for a John and Robert Mercer in
1775, and another for a John Mercer in 1789.
William Boddie and his wife Elizabeth on June 9 1694
sold to Nicholas Carey land on Cypress Swamp adjacent land formerly sold to
John Duke and formerly called JacksonÕs Plantation.Ó (Isle of Wight Co VA DB 1,
p.111). George Breen and William Greene witnessed the deed.
William Boddie and his wife Elizabeth Boddie of
Isle of Wight County then sold to John Duke Òthat plantation which Henry Kinge
lately lived on. The said plantation and woodland ground is bounded thus . . .
over against John JacksonÕs ould plantation . . . whether the plantattion be
one hundred acres or two hundred acres . . . we do not know.Ó The deed was
witnessed by Anthony Davis, William Fowler and Walter Howell and proved 21 Oct
1689 (Isle of Wight Co VA Deed Bk 1, p. 21). [90]
In 1641/42 Richard Jackson received a grant for 450
acres near Justinian Cooper, through assignment of rights from Thomas Stamp and
John Sweet. CooperÕs lands were principally at the head of Lawnes Creek (VPB 1
pp. 454, 772, 874), although he owned numerous parcels in Isle of Wight County.
Henry Kinge had received an 18 Apr 1688 grant for Ò1000 acres on the first
branch of the Blackwater &c. 750 acres of this land being formerly gtd. by
patt. to John Sweet dated 26th of Septr. 1643.Ó John Sweet received 650 acres
adjacent Justinian Cooper and Francis English on the blackwater in 1642 (VPB 1
p858). [The term Òthe blackwaterÓ was not confined to the Blackwater River at
this time; that is usually referenced more specifically as Òthe main Blackwater
Swamp.Ó) This suggests that John Duke and his family moved toward the head of
Lawnes Creek in Surry Co VA. This location is very interesting, placing John
Duke and his family virtually next door to Ethelred Taylor I and his wife
Elizabeth Duke Mason Taylor.
In 1693 William Duke and Mary Duke witnessed a deed
of gift of Thomas Mann to Sarah Mann of 100 acres on Curawaok Swamp (Isle of
Wight Deed Book). This William Duke may be William Duche, Dutch founder of an
Isle of Wight family. That family frequently spelled their name ÒDuck.ÓWilliam
Duck is listed in the 1704 quit rent rolls for Isle of Wight County.
On 15 Apr 1704 John Duke of Isle of Wight Co
witnessed a will including a bequest for land purchased from Edmond Palmer,
John Portis, Sr., and Henry Martin, subsequently probated 9 Jan 1706[91]:
"Jones, Ann: Leg. son John the 300 A.
purchased of Edmond Palmer, John Portis, Sr. and Henry Martin; son Abraham; son
John's three children, Joseph, John and Ann; Daughter Ann Barnes. Capt. Arthur
Smith and Henry Applewhite, Overseers. D. April 15, 1704. R. January 9, 1706/7.
Witnesses: John Watts, John Duke, Henry Applewhite." Page 477
On 5 Feb 1672 Edmund Palmer received a grant for
land in Isle of Wight Co near John Portis, Arthur Smith, Anthony Matthews and
ÒMr. BodiesÓ [Boddie] (VPB 6 p443). John Portis and Henry West were granted 900
acres in 1673, situated on Òsome of the Blackwater branches.Ó[92] In
1684 PalmerÕs land adjoined a 3350 acre grant to William Boddie between the
western branch of the Nansemond and the Cypress Swamp (VPB 7 p394-395). On 28
Oct 1643 Henry Watts received 157 acres on Pagan Point Creek.[93] In
1674 Henry Applewhite was granted 300 acres in Isle of Wight county adjacent
Robert Edwards and William Bodie.[94] It
is likely that this property was close to Cypress Swamp, probably on the
western side. [Robert Edwards was, with his brother James, founder of a large
Isle of Wight Edwards family without a known connection to the family of
William Edwards who was the third husband of Elizabeth Duke Mason Taylor.]
A later deed indicates a Seacock and Lightwood
Swamp area location for a descendant of the original John Portis:[95]
John Phillips of Surry County, Virginia to Benjamin
Holden dated 7 Nov 1751. 20 acres on the south side of Seacock Swamp adj.
Lightwood Swamp, Bartholomew Andrews, John Portis, Joseph John Ravells, and
Long Branch (patent to sd. John on 29 Aug 1757), S: John (-) Phillips, W: no
witnesses
In 1713 Richard Jackson acquired land on the
Blackwater Swamp near Edward Boykin (VPB 10 p99-100). A later deed to Thomas
Moore shows that this grant was near Terrapin Swamp, a tributary of the
Blackwater near the Surry County boundary (VPB 12 p451). In 1734 Joseph Turner
was granted land adjacent William Kinchen and Edward Boykin on Tuckers Swamp
(VPB 15 p344). On 25 Sep 1750 Thomas Joyner was granted land on the south side
of the Blackwater Swamp adjacent Edward Kinchen and Joseph Turner (VPB 33
p963-964).
In
1725 a John Jackson with later Duke family ties lived near William Kinchen on
Meadow Branch, Isle of Wight Co, VA, and consequently near Robert Mercer and
Elizabeth Duke Mercer:
ref VPB 12 p448-449
dat 24 Mar 1725/26
frm Hugh Drysdale
to John Jackson of Isle of Wight County
con 15 Shill.
re 145a on the S side of the Main Blackwater Swamp
in sd Co.
loc 127080 -39560 F127 L0 P255
pt A) pine on the E side of the Meadow branch a
Corner Tree
!of William Kinchins Land
!thence Crossing the Branch by Kinchins Line
ln S75W; 86P; William Kinchin Cross Meadow Br.
. . .
And also near Robert Harris:
typ patent
ID eSN#
ref VPB 26 p579-581
dat 20 Aug 1748
to Thomas Atkinson
con 35 Shill.
re 350a Isle of Wight Co. on the S side of the Main
Blackwater Sw.
loc 127094 -39721 F127 L0 P255
pt A) pine on the E side of the Meadow Branch a
Corner of
!William Kinchin's and James Atkinson's Lands
ln N75E; 22P; James Atkinson, frm Wm Kinchin's c.
pt B) red oak
ln S60E; 98P;
pt C) Lightwood post
ln NExE; 144P;
pt D) pine
ln N; 174P;
pt E) pine a line tree of Robert Harris's Land
ln S70W; 176P; Robert Harris
. . .
pt I) maple on the side of the Meadow Branch
!a Corner Tree of John Jacksons Land
!and down the Run of sd Branch to the beginning
lm ;; down Meadow Br. fm John Jackson's c.
end
And
Southampton Co Deed Book. Pages 86-88: John and
William Jackson to John Clayton, joiner, dated 8 Jan 1756
145 acres on the north side of the main Blackwater
Swamp adj. The east side of Meadow Branch and William Kinchen (land taken up by
John Jackson), S: John (I) Jackson and William (I) Jackson, W: Richard (signed)
Kello, Thomas (signed) Williamson, and Richard (signed) Baker
Ethelred Taylor, husband of Elizabeth Duke Taylor,
left land on Lightwood Swamp to his son Ethelred Taylor II, who married
Patience Kinchen.[96]
Lightwood Swamp is immediately south of the Blackwater along the Surry Co
border. Thomas Williamson was the son of George Williamson Sr. and Hester Bridger,
daughter of Joseph Bridger and Hester Pitt. George Williamson was the son of
Robert Williamson and Joan Allen. George WilliamsonÕs land was adajcent that of
William Kinchen and the Mercer family (VPB 10 p371). In 1725 John Jackson
received land adjacent William Kinchen (VPB 12: 448-449). Richard Jackson also
owned land on Tarapin Branch (VPB 12 p451).
John Duke Jr. and his wife Bridget had sons James,
John and Robert Duke. His daughtersÕ names are unknown. His will was recorded
on 3 Aug 1720 (Isle of Wight Co VA Great Book p. 53, part 2). An inventory of
his estate was returned by Bridgett Dukes, Administratrix, and recorded on 27
Feb 1720/21 (Isle of Wight Co VA Wills, Deeds, etc. Great Book 147- 1800, part
2, page 67.) Given the location of John DukeÕs land and also of Elizabeth Duke
Mercer, he would have been well acquainted with the families of Ethelred Taylor
and Elizabeth Duke Taylor, of the Kinchens, Jacksons, Williamsons, Harris,
Claytons and so forth.
John Duke and his mother Bridgett Duke were in
Brunswick Co VA by 1728, where he was an adjoining landholder to John Jackson
and also to William Duke. John Duke obtained a grant Sep 28, 1728 (VPB14p59),
as did William Duke. William Reynolds Òof Brunswick CoÓ obtained a grant
adjacent Ralph Jackson the same day (VPB 14:34-35). Ralph JacksonÕs grant was 7
Jul 1726 (VPB12p520). Thomas Jackson received a grant the same day (VPB12p520).
John Jackson may have been in the area earlier.
William Kimball of Surry Co received land on Rocky
Creek adjacent James Baker and Col. Harrison on 28 Sep 1728 (VPB14p27-28).
Nathaniel Green of Surry Co received land on Reedy Creek on the same day
(VPB14p67). Peter Tatum Òof Prince GeorgeÓ received land on Reedy Creek
adjacent the Jacksons (VPB14p76). Peter Tatum was originally from Sussex Co.
Ephraim Parham received land on Reedy Creek (VPB13p358-359). The Parhams owned
land in Sussex Co adajcent on Southwestern Swamp adajcent William Rainey,
Joseph Tucker, and James Cain (CGB N p1). John Hicks of Surry was granted land
on the north side of the Maherrin on the same day (28 Sep1728), as did Henry
Harrison (PB14p535).
A grant to Ralph Jackson Òof Surry CountyÓ on Reedy
Creek was dated 1726 (VPB12p520), as was one to Thomas Jackson (VPB12p520).
Ralph Jackson seems to have been associated with the Eppes family. Ralph
Jackson received a land grant in Bristol Parish, Charles City County, with
grant in 1692. John Dugles and Joseph Maddox, on 29 Apr 1692 (Land Office
Patents No. 8, 1689-1695, p. 244, Reel 8.). In 1713 he received land from John
and Rebecca Jackson of Prince George Co VA (Prince George County VA Record Book
B 1693-1713, p. 244):
JACKSON, Ralph
From John JACKSON &
Rebecca JACKSON
100 acres ( formerly Henry KING) adj.
To George WILLIAMS line
Oct 12, 1713
Ralph Jackson died in Brunswick Co and his will of
4 Apr 1744 was witnessed by Bridget Duke, John Douglas, and James Robinson and
proved by the oaths of John Duke and Bridget Duke (Brunswick Co VA Will Bk 2,
pp. 100-101). Note that John Douglas shared his Bristol parish land grant in
1692.
John Jackson grants on Reedy Creek in Brunswick Co
VA are well documented (VPB13p358-359, VPB19p671-672). John Duke witnessed some
of his land transactions:
Indenture made the 1st day of October, 1747,
between John Jackson, Sr., and Mary Jackson, his wife, of Albemarle Parrish,
County of Surry, and John Jackson, Jr., of St. Andrews Parrish,County of
Brunswick, for 5 pounds, conveying 195 acres, located on East side of Reedy
Branch, corner of Edward Accols land, and also adjoining land of Thomas Wilson.
Witnesses were John Duke, Thomas Embry, and John Mabry. Acknowledged in Court
on October 1, 1747. Deed Book 3, page 346.
Indenture made the 1st day of October, 1747,
between Edward Accollo and Mary Accollo, his wife, of Albemarle Parrish, County
of Surry, and John Jackson, Jr., for 5 pounds, conveying 400 acres, on Reedy
Branch. Witnesses were John Duke, Thomas Embry, and John Mabry. Acknowledged in
Court on October 1, 1747. Deed Book 3, page 347.
Peter Tatum of Surry County also obtained a grant
on Reedy Creek on 28 Sep 1728, adjacent Thomas Jackson (VPB14p76), and another
in 1748 (VPB26p562-563). One genforum posting suggests Thomas may have been a
son of John Jackson, and that a younger Ralph Jackson was another son.
John Duke was also associated with the Perry family
in Brunswick Co VA:
Indenture made 27 July 1745, between Francis Price
of Brunswick County and John Butts of same, £25, land whereon John Bush now
lives, 447a, being a moiety of a larger tract of land granted to John Duke by
Letters Patent dated 24 March 1734 & by the sd,. John Duke sold and
conveyed to Thomas Collier & by the sd. Collier sold & conveyed to the
sd. Francis Price. Signed Francis Price. Witnesses: Thomas Lanier, Micajah
Perry, Peter Adams (bhm). Court August 1, 1745, Indenture proved by oaths of
Thomas Lanier, Gent. & Micajah Perry. Court May 6, 1747, Indenture
acknowledged by Francis Price. Deed Book 3, Page 314.
In 1789 Benjamin Perry was associated with the Duke
family in Fairfield Co SC (Kershaw District, SC Probate, Apartment 56, Package
1858).
Sons of John Duke the Elder
The sons of John Duke the Elder include John Duke
Jr., who married Mary Duggar (Brunswick Co VA Will Book 7, p. 467). John Duke
Jr. did not leave Virginia until 1774, He appears on the 1776 tax list of Bute
County. John Duke the Elder and his wife Ruth left Burnswick Co VA and moved to
Bute Co NC. On 1 mar 1762 John Duke bought from William Duke 500 acres of land
in Bute County. This was witnessed by Benjamin Duke and Bed. Green (Bute Co NC
Deed Bk 2, p. 211).
In Feb 1775 the hands of Benjamin and Jacob Duke
were ordered to work on the road from Hawtree to Robert Caller (Bute Co Minute
Book). Samuel Duke(s) Jr. left a will in Muhlenburg County KY in which he
identifies sons John, Sampson, Jacob, William, and Benjamin and daughters
Elizabeth Groves and Pashence Williams.[97]
In 1779 John Duke the Elder sold land in Bute Co NC
to Lewis Scarbrough, with witnesses Simon, Benjamin, and Joel Duke (Warren Co
NC Deed Bk 7, p. 228). These were sons of John Duke the Elder.
Sons of John Duke Jr. in Bertie County NC
James and Robert Duke, sons of John Duke of Isle of
Wight Co VA, were in Bertie Precinct NC in 1739. This
James Duke is almost certainly the one who was in Surry Co and Brunswick Co VA
in the interim.
On 1 Nov 1730 Bartholomew Shavers deeded 200 acres
of land on the Roanoke (Marrotoch) River to Benjamin Duke and Henry Wooten
(Bertie CO NC Deed Book C, p. 293). A Robert Duke grant in Bertie County NC
followed in 1737:
13 Feb. 1737, Bertie County Grants E, 202
Richard Pace, Jr. to Robert Dukes 200 acres (part
of a patent to John Green of 640 acres on northside of Yawmehoke Swamp on 1
March 1719, part of patent sole to Ralph Mason and from Mason to Richard Pace,
Sr. and part sold to Bartholomew Chavas then from Chavas to Barnaby Mackinne,
Sr. and this part from John Green to Richard Pace, Jr. for 200 acres; then to
Robert Dukes so that all Robert DukeÕs part of patent is on the northside of
Yawmehoke Swamp. (The Yawmehoke Swamp is the bonds between Richard Pace, Sr.
and Barnabe Mackinne.)
The 1739/40 list of jurymen for Bertie Precinct,
North Carolina contains the names of Benjamin Duke, Robert Duke, and James
Duke. Robert and James were the brothers of John Duke the Elder of Brunswick Co
VA, and Benjamin Duke was a son of Robert Duke.
After 1741 Robert DukeÕs land was in Northampton Co
NC. On 4 Aug 1761 Robert Duke Sr. sold to Robert Duke Jr., 100 aces adjoining
the land of John Thomas (Northampton Co NC Deed Book 3, p. 84). Robert Duke Sr.
married Isabel Vinson, daughter of Thomas Vinson.
The 1763 will of Robert Duke of Northampton County
NC provided for sons Samuel, Benjamin, John, and Robert and daughters Elizabeth
Fullen, Monen, and Mille. [98]
James Duke of Stanley County, NC was a
Revolutionary War soldier who in his pension application noted that he was born
in 1764 in Northampton Co NC, and that his father died when he was about 18
months of age. This conforms to the death of Robert Duke Sr.[99]
Benjamin Duke disappeared from North Carolina
records and might be the Benjamin Duke found in the Georgetown SC area in 1745.
Samuel Duke appears in the early Bertie County
records, witnessing a deed from William Baldwin to John Williams on 12 Jan
1735.[100] This
individual is too early to be a son of William Duke of Brunswick Co VA and
Warren Co NC. A Samuel Duke was on the Tax List of Halifax Co NC (adjoining
Northampton) in 1781; this may be the same individual or a son. William and
Matthew Kinchen were also present in early Bertie County, acquiring land with
James Turner. J.Edwards was witness.[101]
(Samuel Duke who EDB believed to be the son of
William Duke was on the Granville Co list of titheables for 1750 and 1755, and
on the muster roll for the militia in 1754. EDB states that a court paper from
Granville Co. identifies William Duke as security for a debt by Samuel Duke.[102]
SamuelÕs sons names were Britain, Burwell, Starling, and Harrell, as well as
descendants with the given name Green. Samuel may have married a daughter of
William or Nathaniel Green, since the name Green is common in his line. )
John Edwards, Sampson Lanier, and John Petway
Eventually the parish of St. Andrews in Brunswick
Co was paying for the care of Bridget Duke, a Òpoor person,Ó in her old age.
The Vestry Book of St. Andrews Parish, Virginia contains notes of this kind for
1750, 1752, 1755, 1756, 1758, 1758, 1760, and finally 1762.[103]
However, on 4 Nov 1752 and 25 Sep 1753 John Edwards received payment for her
care.
In 1747 John Edwards received a grant adjacent John
Duke and Robert Munford on Reedy Creek, Brunswick Co VA (VPB28p155-156). In
1756 and 1761 Charles Edwards received land in the same area (VPB33p261-262;
VPB34p1056). A1788 deed shows that John EdwardsÕ wife was Ruth Edwards, and
that by that time a Mathew Edwards was also present in the place variously
called Reedy or Dukes Creek (Brunswick Co Deed Book 15: 145).
In 1724/25 a William Edwards owned land adjacent
Robert Mercer and John Halliman on Myery Branch on the south side of the main
Blackwater Swamp (VPB 12 p217-218; VPB 15 p192-193). Later John Edwards owned
land adjacent Robert Mercer and George Williamson on the south side of the
Blackwater in Isle of Wight Co VA (VPB 12 p217-218), probably as the heir of
the William Edwards who owned land in the same location earlier.
The
Edwards families are very difficult to sort out. William Edwards and Maj.
Arthur Allen received 800 acres on the south side of the main Blackwater Swamp
at the fork of Tuckers Swamp on 25 Apr 1701 for transportation of 16 persons to
Virginia (VPB 9:330-331). On 28 Oct 1702 William ÒKintchingÓ [Kinchen] received
land adjacent this same Arthur Allen on the south side of Blackwater Swamp (VPB
9:458). William Edwards Òof Surry CountyÓ also owned land on the south side of
the Blackwater, on Round Hill Swamp, (for example see VPB 10:174). That William
Edwards left his son Micajah Edwards land on the south side of the Blackwater
Swamp in Nottoway Parish Òknown as Cippahawk and TarrapinÓ along with his land
on the Nottoway River. Micajah Edwards obtained 980 acres formerly granted his
father William Edwards on the south side of the Nottoway River in Isle of Wight
Co VA in 1745 (VPB 22 p575-576). In 1789 a John Edwards left land adjacent
William Simmons, William, and Matthew Williamson to his son Micajah, and left
his son Joel and Newit other lands (Southampton Co VA Will Book IV: 346). These
are members of the family of William Edwards who married Elizabeth Duke.
Surry County land belonging to a John Edwards was
close to that of Robert Ruffin and to a 1658 grant to William Harris of Surry
Co (VPB 7:27). He was close to Thomas Binns (VPB 4: 102-103). On 16 Apr 1690 a
John Edwards was granted land on the northwest side of Pigeon Swamp (VPB 8:
101).
However, the John Edwards who cared for Bridget
Duke may have been the son of William Edwards of Nottoway Parish, whose will
was recorded 14 Feb 1750/51 and recorded heirs John, Elizabeth,, William and
Thomas Edwards (Southampton Co Will Book 1, p. 33).
In any case, the Edwards connection continued into
North Carolina. Later Mary Myrick, daughter of Francis Myrick Sr. married John
Duke, son of William Duke of Bute Co NC, who died between 1755 and 1764. She
then married Matthew Edwards (EDB 1979: 156, 431). A Matthew Edwards had land
adjacent Kinchen Taylor, son of Ethelred Taylor II and Patience Kinchen, in
Nottoway Parish, Southampton Co, on the Nottoway River near the Cypress Swamp
(CGB 16 p414-415).
On 11 Apr 1755 John Petway and Sampson Lanier are
listed as having maintained Bridget Duke. John Petway was born about 1717 in
Surry Co VA and married Elizabeth Bailey Mabry, daughter of Hinchia Maybury and
Frances Parham. John PetwayÕs sister, Mary, married James Mason, son of James
Mason and Elizabeth Duke. The Petways owned land on Pigeon Creek adjacent Syon
Hill, William Edwards, and Thomas Binns (VPB 7 p370, VPB 7 p408), on Green Swamp adjacent
William Edwards and Syon Hill (VPB 7
p377), on Green Swamp adjacent John Clark (VPB 7 p377), and on Crouches Creek
and Round Island adjacent Henry Hart and George Foster (VPB 7 p576, VPB 6
p107). Land granted on 20 Apr 1684 to William Edwards on Pigeon Swamp was near
that of the Petways (VPB 7:370). James Mason Jr., son of James Mason and
Elizabeth Duke Mason, married Mary Petway, daughter of Robert Petway and Ruth
Gwaltney.
Sampson Lanier Sr. was a brother of John Lanier who
married Elizabeth Byrd, daughter of Thomas Bird and Hannah Grendon. He was born
in Charles City Co., married his wife Elizabeth Washington, daughter of Richard
Washington, in 1706 in Surry Co Va, and died after 8 Jan 1742 at Brunswick Co
VA.
In 1709 John Lanier and his wife sold land bounded
by Bland Creek and Upper Chippokes Creek with George Nicholson as a witness. In
1719 Sampson Lanier Sr. was overseer of the will of Robert Nicholson in Surry
Co VA (Surry County Wills Bk 7, p. 244). Robert Nicholson received land on
Upper Chippokes Creek from George and Sarah Lee of James City Co, his
parents-in-law (Surry Deed & Will Book 3 p. 90). In 1688 he received land
on Upper Chippokes, Swan Bay, from his brother George (Surry Co Deed Bk 4, p.
50).
Robert Nicholson obtained land adjacent Edward
Harris on the Lightwood Swamp south of the Blackwater before 1756 (VPB
33:334-335). Lightwood is over the Isle of Wight Co boundary near Seacock
Swamp. Ethelred Taylor II also owned land on Lightwood Swamp,[104] and
John Duke of Isle of Wight Co
VA was nearby after his move from the James River.
In 1721 Sampson Lanier bought land on Trumpet
Branch adjacent Mr. Barker and the Reedy Branch from Thomas Hunt Jr., with
William Marriott and John Windom witnesses (Surry County Deeds, Wills, etc. #7,
p. 385). On 22 Feb 1724 Sampson Lanier witnessed a deed from James Washington
to Nathaniel Harrison, esq. This was for land on the south side of Three Creeks
and north side of Little Creek in Lawnes Creek Parish, bounded by William
Raines and the Rocky Run (Surry Counbty Deeds, Wills, etc. #7, p. 591).
(William Raines was previously associated with both Elizabeth Taylor Duke and
James Duke who witnessed a Surry Co Va deed.)
Richard WashingtonÕs will gives Elizabeth Lanier
200 acres on the west side of Mill Branch Òwhere she now livesÓ and her husband
Sampson Lanier 200 acres in Isle of Wight Co on Flaggy Run and various other
bequests.(Surry Co Will Book 7, p. 583). Mill Branch crosses the Surry –
Isle of Wight boundary northeast of the Blackwater River. This would have
placed her no more than about 5 miles from the John Duke family. Sampson
LanierÕs brother, John Lanier, married Elizabeth Byrd, daughter of William Byrd
and Hannah Grendon. Hannah married William Duke after the death of William
Bird.
However, Sampson Lanier was probably living at
Three Creeks at the time that he cared for Bridget Duke, who lived on adjacent
Reedy Creek:
typ patent
ref VPB10p392
dat 12Jul1718
to Sampson Lanier of Surry County
con 15sh.
re 150a on S side of the three Creeks in sd County
loc -19252 -3568 F127 L0 P255
pt A) 2wo&spo growing together near sd Creek
Side
. . .
John Raines or Rainey was adjacent Sampson Lanier
in this location (VPB11p185). In 1724 Adam Tapley acquired land on the north
side of Three Creeks (VPB12p224-225). In 1766 Robert Ruffin acquired land near
both Three Creeks and Reedy Creek, and adjacent DeBerry, Parham and Mabry
(VPB36p961-962).
John DukeÕs 1739 grant on Three Creeks and the
Watery Branch adjacent the GovernorÕs Road was in Brunswick Co adjacent Charles
Kimball (VPB18p494-496). Isaac House was also in the portion of Three Creeks
that was in Brunswick Co (VPB27p503-505).
John Petway was born about 1717 in Surry Co VA and
married Elizabeth Bailey Mabry, daughter of Hinchia Hinshaw Maybury and Frances
Parham. The closest identifiable relationship of John Petway and the Duke
family was the marriage of PetwayÕs sister, Mary, to James Mason, son of James
Mason and Elizabeth Duke. In 1684 Edward Pettaway owned land on Pigeon Swamp
adjacent William Edwards (VPB 7 p370). Much of Elizabeth Taylor DukeÕs land
inherited from John Taylor was at Pigeon Swamp. On 1 Jun1 1750 John Pettaway
purchased 314 acres on Rocky Run, south side of the Nottoway River, from James
Matthews. This was adjacent John Duke (apparently Maj. John Duke) and several
of the Mabry family, over the border in Greensville Co (VPB 29 p107-109).
Altogether we can see that this places together in
the early 1700Õs near the Isle of Wight Co VA boundary with Surry Co, the
following:
Elizabeth Duke Mercer, mother of John Duke,
William Kinchen (whose daughter Patience married
Ethelred Taylor II),
Ethelred Taylor and his wife Elizabeth Duke Taylor,
sister of Capt. Henry Duke of Prince George county,
John Edwards, who cared for Bridget Duke in
Brunswick Co VA and who may have been related to William Edwards who married
Elizabeth Duke Mason Taylor,
Sampson Lanier, who cared for Bridget Duke in
Brunswick Co VA,
By the period 1728-33 another concentration
developed in the small area between Three Creeks and Reedy Creek on the
Greensville-Brunswick Co VA border. This location was between the main trading
route south to the Carolinas along old Indian trails on the east and Fort
Christianna, the Indian lands boundary at that time, on the west on the
Maherrin River. This concentration included:
John Duke, son of Capt. Henry Duke of Prince George
County, on Three Creeks
John Taylor Duke, son of Capt. Henry Duke of Prince
George County, on Three Creeks
John Duke of Isle of Wight Co VA, on Reedy Creek
James Duke, probable brother of John Duke of Isle
of Wight Co VA, on Reedy Creek
William Duke, of unknown origin, on Reedy Creek
Lands belonging to the descendants of William
Kinchen and Ethelred Taylor (who continued to live in Southampton Co VA), on
Three Creeks
John Edwards from Isle of Wight Co VA, who went to
Reedy Creek
Sampson Lanier from Surry Co VA, who went to Three
Creeks
John Petway from Surry Co VA, who went to Three
Creeks
William Raines, who was associated with James Duke
in a Surry Co deed and owned land adjacent Maj. John Duke in Greensville Co VA,
John Williamson, related to the Exum and Petway
families of Isle of Wight and Surry counties
The Freeman families, associated with Freeman
Snellgrove and also with Capt. Henry Duke and his wife Elizabeth Taylor Duke
Peter Tatum, who inventoried the estate of Henry
Snellgrove, on Reedy Creek,
Robert Munford, who in 1728 employed Miles Riley as
overseer of his plantations (but Riley documented only on Roanoke River
plantations).
After 1745 William Duke and his sons moved south to
Warren Co NC,
The family of John Taylor Duke moved directly to
South Carolina from Virginia, including sons Robert, Henry, Thomas, James,
Edmund, and John.
John Duke and Kinchen Taylor were in Dobbs Co NC by
the 1780Õs.
Duke Reassessment Pt. 2:
Orangeburgh County SC Connections
Miles Riley
William Byrd, whose sister Mary married Capt. Henry
Duke's brother James, surveyed the VA-NC boundary in 1728, mentioning Miles
Riley (found with Joseph Dukes and Freeman Snellgrove in Orangeburg, above) as
the overseer of a plantation of Robert Munford. Riley joined the Byrd survey
party for a time.[105] The
plantation visited by Byrd during his survey was one of MunfordÕs plantations,
described as immediately beyond their ford on the Roanoke, where the Trading Path
passed through the Roanoke River. This places the location in southernmost
Greensville Co VA:
Munford principally lived there on Sapponi Creek,
not far from Capt. Henry Duke and his wife Elizabeth Taylor Duke, who lived
near the Prince George-Surry County boundary.
That the South Carolina individual named Miles
Riley was from this Virginia group is supported by the family associations in
old Orangeburgh District SC: the Barker, Kirkland, Jackson and Myrick families.
From the Allendale Co SC genealogical site:
Miles
Riley b c1729 married Elizabeth b c1729. (Andrea record #196) Elizabeth Riley
wife of Miles Riley was one of sponsors at baptism of Elizabeth dau. of Thomas
& Elizabeth Barker on 10 May 1750 together with John Russell & Mary
Campbell. Miles Jackson Riley & Miles Riley Calhoun & just plain Miles
Jackson are all found in Barnwell after 1800, also a Miles Riley Faust.
Miles Riley born c1784 married Winifred Kirkland.
George Owen Riley 8 May 1808 - 16 August 1841, born
at "Fiddle Pond Plantation." Married first Amanda Hogg, second Mary
A____ Sheriff 1837-1841, died in office.
Owen Riley estate probated by Miles A. Riley
6/9/1830 Barnwell Probate Package 12 Case 53. 22 Nov. 1830, 3 heirs, nothing
useful in this one.
James Wilson Riley born c<1822 married Emily
Cleveland Myrick
George Owen Riley 3 March 1843 - 5 June 1902,
married Martha Melinda Roberts 1865, farmer at Sycamore. (The County Offices
and Officers of Barnwell County, SC 1775-1975, Reynolds & Fuant, The
Reprint Company, 1976 p24).
Thomas Riley married a sister of Mary Jenkins
Connell.
On 4 Apr 1743 a Miles Railey was christened, the
son of Peter and Anne Railey, in Albemarle Parish, Sussex County, VA. This may
be a relative of Miles Riley, overseer for Robert Mumford and father of the
friend of Joseph Duke of South Carolina.
The Myrick Connection
The Myricks originated at Lawnes Creek, in the
Surry and Isle of Wight Co VA dividing line area. On 6 Jan 1786 Owen MyrickÕs
will was witnessed by Arthur Applewhite and William Newsum (Southampton Bk. IV:
176).
They were early settlers in Brunswick Co, having
land grants from 1717 there. The Myricks were in Brunswick Co VA by 1733 (Order
Book No. 1, p. 42. Brunswick Co. VA.) Mary Myrick, daughter of Francis Myrick
Sr. and Rebecca Raines (daughter of William Raines, who was associated with
James Duke in Surry Co VA) married first John Duke son of William Duke of Bute
Co NC, and second Matthew Edwards (EDB 1979: 431). Owen Myrick, son of John
Myrick Sr., married Fanny Nicholson, daughter of Joshua Nicholson of
Southampton Co VA. Moses Duke of Richland married Mary Faust and his brother,
Aaron, married Mary's sister, Peggy (Richland County, SC Probate, Box 9,
Package 224, John Faust). That Moses Duke was the son of Robert Duke of
Fairfield Co SC. (James
D. Evans. 1932. Nicholson Family of
Virginia . William and Mary College Quarterly Historical
Magazine, 2nd. Ser., Vol. 12,
No. 1. (Jan., 1932), pp. 49-66.
Freeman Snellgrove
Freeman Snellgrove was one of many Virginians who
left that increasingly crowded colony for land grants in the Carolinas in the
early 1730Õs. On June 10, 1736, a plat for 200 acres of land and a town lot in
Amelia (modem St. Matthews) were recorded for Freeman Snellgrove.[106] The
grant is dated September 16, 1738. The property is described as follows:
"200 acres, adjoining Miles Jackson and vacant land on three sides; also
Town Lot # 99 adjoining lots of William Loe, Isaac Winningham, a vacant lot,
and fronting on "A" street.Ó[107]
On
26 Apr 1740 Rev. Giessendanner baptized Edward Freeman Snellgrove, son of
Freeman Snellgrove and his wife. Sponsors were Peter Horger, Johannes Wettstein
and Anna Wettstein.[108] Rev.
Giessendanner does not name the mother of Edward Freeman Snellgrove, and there
is no record of an early Orangeburgh District marriage for Freeman Snellgrove.
On Thursday 31 Dec 1741 Freeman Snellgrove was a
sponsor, with W. Cammel and Mrs. Cammel, at the baptism of William Weekly,
child of Thomas Weekly and his wife.[109]
On Sunday, 8 Apr 1749/50, Freeman Snellgrove was a
baptismal sponsor for William, son of William and Martha Evans. Giessendanner
in his record makes the remark that the other sponsors were the parents Òas no
others could be got.Ó[110]
Snellgrove remarried while in Orangeburgh, to a
local widow: [111]
Ò[1751] On Thursday September 26th In
Orangb. Church By Banns, Freeman Snellgrove of Amelia Township to Ann Jenkins,
widow, being present: Miles Riley, John Fairy, Joseph Duke.Ó
Other children of Freeman Snellgrove, besides
Edward Freeman Snellgrove, include Nancy
Snellgrove. W. Henry Snellgrove, and John Snellgrove.
Virginia Origins of the Snellgroves
Freeman Snellgrove was the son of Henry Snellgrove
and a Miss Freeman from Surry County, VA. Colonial records provide more
information on these origins, showing that Henry Snellgrove, son of John
Snellgrove of Everett, Dorset, England, was apprenticed to John Bright on 28
June 1684.[112]
Henry Snellgrove was among twenty-five indentured servants to come over on the
ship Booth,
commanded by Capt. Peter Pagan (who gave his name to the Pagan River in
Virginia) in 1684. HenryÕs Indenture number was ÒD, 615.Ó Henry was 21; he
signed his name with an ÒxÓ. Abraham Harrison witnessed the indenture, and
Abraham Bayly notarized it.
In 1701 John Poythress Sr. of Deep Bottom was
credited with transporting Henry Snellgrove to Virginia:
ÒGrant to John Poythress Sr. of Deep Bottom, 350 acres lying on the north side
of the Nottoway River, for the transportation of seven persons; John Lee; Robt.
Boreman, Humphry Hix, Henry Snelgrove, Mary Drin, U. Standback, Wm. Lambud. 24,
Oct 1701.Ó[113] In
the 1600Õs it was common for several merchants or planters to claim land from
the crown for transportation to Virginia of a single individual. In those
pre-computer days, it was apparently difficult to verify that no previous grant
had been given for the same immigrant. It is even possible that Poythress
obtained SnellgroveÕs indenture legitimately, buying it from John Bright.
It is said that Henry Snellgrove was married to
Miss Freeman by 1693.[114]
Given the time period, the Miss Freeman who married Henry Snellgrove must have
been a daughter of John Freeman, who established the Freeman family in Surry Co
VA.[115] This
John Freeman is believed to be the son of James and Mary Freeman, and the
grandson of Lt. Col. Bridges Freeman and Bridget Fowler of New Kent Co VA. John
Freeman obtained many early land grants along both sides of the Nottoway River
in Surry Co (later Sussex Co), beginning in 1701.[116]
We know essentially nothing of Henry SnellgroveÕs
life in Surry Co VA. His name does not appear in land grants, and it is likely
that he lived on some of the extensive Freeman family lands. He does not seem
to have been active in public affairs. There is one interesting appearance of
the Snellgrove name in public records, however. The Bristol Parish Vestry Book
shows the following reference to a William Snellgrove:[117]ÒIt
is ordrd That William Snelgrove Son of Jane Matts wife of Wm. Matts Indian the
sÕd Snelgrove be bound unto Robt Lyon to serve sixteen years from the date of
the Indenture which is Nov. 7th, 1722.Ó From this reference, it seems likely
that Henry Snellgrove had an illegitimate son, and that Freeman had an
illegitimate half-brother. William Snellgrove remained in Virginia. In 1748,
1749, and 1741 he was listed as a titheable individual in what is now Prince
Edward County, VA.
Henry SnellgroveÕs Estate
Henry Snellgrove died by early 1720. The inventory
of the goods and chattels of Henry Snelgrove was taken and appraised by
Christopher Tatum, Peter Tatum and Frances Maybury [Mabrey]. John Doby was
Administrator. The inventory was recorded on Feb 24, 1720 in Surrey County
Virginia, Deeds and Wills, 1715-1730, Book 7, p 328: [118]
Some old iron and wedges 6.00
Three cows and three yearlings 4.00.00
One old gun 10.00
2 Pair of wool cards 2.6
Two old iron pots with hooks,
frying pan and bell. 3.6
Some old wooden ware 9.6
Two old beds with ragged rugs,
one bedstead 10.
One small parcel Tobacco in a barrel 5.
Four sows and ten pigs ?.?
One old mare, one old saddle,
horse collar and harness ?.?
John Doby Admin. 8:9:0
Sworn and attested before
Howell Edmundson and signed
The individuals who administered and inventoried
his estate indicate that Snellgrove, like the John Freeman family, lived
between the Blackwater and Nottoway rivers in the portion of Surry Co that
became Sussex Co, VA. John Doby, administrator of the Henry Snellgrove estate,
gave his name to a stream that lies near the boundary between Prince George and
Sussex counties, near Pigeon Swamp in Sussex Co. In 1709 he obtained from
Benjamin Harrison 100 acres on Jones Hole Swamp on the Nottoway River (Surry Co
Deeds, Wills, etc. Book 5, page 77).[119]
(Wiliam Stainback, whose transport to Virginia was credited to Poythress at the
same time as Henry Snellgrove, also owned land and lived on Jones Hole Swamp.)
Residents of Albemarle Parish included Christopher
Tatum, 40 years clerk of Nottoway Church, who died in 1750 of small-pox, and
John Stokes, who also died of smallpox in 1750.[120] John
and William Mason, husband of Elizabeth Duke, were witnesses to the will of
Christopher Tatum (Sussex Co. VA Will Book B, p. 218). Edward Tatum purchased
land on Josephs Swamp in 1709 (Surry County Deeds, Wills, etc., #6, p. 2).
Freeman Snellgrove would have been a minor at his
fatherÕs 1720 death. It is likely that he thereafter stayed with his Surry Co
Freeman relatives. John Freeman Sr., is estimated to have died in about 1725.
His sons who survived him, and with whom Freeman Snellgrove might have lived
for a time, include the following:
Henry Freeman (will filed 17 Dec 1753 in both
Lunenburg and Sussex counties) lived on the north side of the Nottoway River in
Sussex with his wife Prudence Jones, daughter of Arthur Jones.
Arthur Freeman (1706-1753) also lived on the north
side of the Nottoway River, and had sons Hamlin (m. Lucy Hancock), Elizabeth,
Thomas, James, and Joel (d. 1758, m. Martha (Patty) Richardson, daughter of
William Richardson). His Sussex Co VA will was dated 16 Apr 1753.
John Freeman Jr. later owned land in Greensville Co
VA, acquiring it in grants the same day that John Duke and John Taylor Duke,
sons of Capt. Henry Duke of Prince George County, VA, obtained adjacent land.
Duke Family Connections
The Freeman family of Surry County were
well-acquainted with the family of Capt. Henry Duke, who lived along the Prince
George-Surry County line. Capt. Henry Duke died in about 1720, and his second
wife, Elizabeth Taylor Duke, joined with her sisters to sell land on Pigeon
Swamp left to them by their father, Capt. John Taylor. John Freeman served as
witness to these transactions:[121]
p. 123 (p.493) 17 Dec 1723...John Hardyman and wife
Henrietta Maria Hardyman, Francis Hardyman and wife Sarah Hardyman, Elizabeth
Duke and Frances Greenhill to Nicholas Partridge . . . 262 acres on east side
of Pidgeon Swamp and bounded by the Underground Branch and Richard Bland, decd. Wit:
John Mason, John (X) Freeman and William (X) Raynes Per
"Surry County, Virginia Records 1652-1684" by Eliza Timberlake Davis.
p. 125-126 (p.529) 17 Dec 1723...John Hardyman and
wife Henritta Maria Hardyman, Francis Hardyman and wife Sarah Hardyman,
Elizabeth Duke and Frances Greenhill to John Mason...223 acres on east side of
Pidgeon Swamp and bounded by Cattail Branch and Richard Bland, decd. Wit:
Nicholas Partridge, John (X) Freeman, Jr. and William (X) Rayne Rec:
18 Dec 1723 and 15 Apr 1724 Per "Surry County,
Virginia Records 1652-1684" by Eliza Timberlake Davis
p. 126 (p.532) 17 Dec 1723...John Hardyman and wife
Henrietta Maria Hardyman, Francis Hardyman and wife Sarah Hardyman, Elizabeth
Duke and Frances Greenhill to Nicholas Partridge...262 acres on east side of
Pigeon Swamp and bounded by Underground Branch and Richard Bland, decd. Wit:
John Mason, John (X) Freeman, Jr. and William (X) Rayne Rec:
18 Dec 1723 and 15 Apr 1724 Per "Surry County,
Virginia Records 1652-1684" by Eliza Timberlake Davis
The location of the Capt. John Taylor and Capt.
Henry Duke family property on Pigeon Swamp is very near Doby Creek, named for
John Doby, administrator of Henry SnellgroveÕs estate. These connections make
it virtually certain that Henry Snellgrove was well acquainted with the family
of Capt. Henry Duke.
Another Pigeon Creek landowner is of interest.
Thomas Goodman Duke was one of the earliest Duke family members in South Carolina,
and possibly (although by no means certainly) the father or brother of Joseph
Dukes of Orangeburgh. A Thomas Goodman, possible source of the name Thomas
Goodman Duke in South Carolina, is found in the records of Surry Co. VA. The
estate of Thomas GoodmanÕs wife Elizabeth was inventoried 20 Dec 1748 by Peter
Warren, John Watkins, and John Colleck (Surry Co VA Wills and Administrations
Book 9, p. 596).[122] Land
records place the home of the Goodman family near Pigeon Creek, where Elizabeth
Taylor Duke inherited land from her father John Taylor.[123]
John Poythress, who had claimed land rights for
importing Henry Snellgrove to Virginia, also provides evidence of connections
between the Snellgroves and the family of Capt. Henry Duke. John Poythress was
among the three individuals who appraised and inventoried the estate of Capt.
Henry Duke in Prince George Co. VA, along with John Hatch and Gilbert Hay, on
22 Jan 1718/19 (Prince George Co VA Wills, Deeds, etc. 1713-1728, pgs.
336-337).[124] John
Poythress was both attorney and social acquaintance to Elizabeth Taylor Duke.
On 19 Sep 1720 Col. William Byrd recorded in his diary that he dined at his
home, Westover, with Mrs. Duke and her attorney, Mr. Poythress, along with his
Òbrother and sister Duke,ÓJames Duke and his wife, Mary Byrd Duke.[125]
Other Orangeburgh District Connections of the
Snellgroves
Christopher Tatum, who assisted in the inventory of
the Henry Snellgrove estate, remained in Surry Co until his death in about
1751. However his grandson, also Christopher Tatum, was in Orangeburgh County
SC. by the time of the 1790 federal census. The family acquired land near
Branchville.
John FreemanÕs grandson Josiah (1715-1774), son of
Henry Freeman, married Phoebe Stokes, daughter of Silvanus Stokes and Cecilia
Walker. Members of this same Stokes family later established the Stokes family
below Branchville, SC.[126]
The list could go on at considerable length, as the
net is thrown wider. The records of Virginia south of the James River are
fertile ground for research by many Orangeburgh families.
John Dukes of Dobbs /Johnston/Greene Co NC and the
Aylors
According to Orangeburg County SC Dukes family
tradition, Thomas Duke went to the Neuse River area to visit relatives and met
his wife Ann Ayler. The only Ayler family on the Neuse at the right time period
was in Dobbs Co. NC., and they were close neighbors of a Duke family.
Ayler
William Ayler sold land in Dobbs Co NC to Obediah
Smith as early as 1757/58 (Old
Dobbs Co VA Deed Book 5 - April 1757 – April 1758 p. 190). Not
much later William Ayler sold land to Thomas Thompson in Dobbs Co. (Old Dobbs
Co NC Deed Book 6, Apr 1758-1765, p. 563) and during the same period Thomas
Williamson sold land to William Ayler (Old Dobbs Co NC Deed Book 6, Apr
1758-1765, p. 260). William Ayler or Aylor purchased several parcels of land
from William Barwick in 1771-3 (Old Dobbs Co NC Deed Book 9, Apr 1771-Apr 1773,
pp. 272, 275, 294). An additional deed represents a land sale from William
Ayler to Shadrick Hartsfield (Old Dobbs Co NC Deed Book 13, Apr 1784 to Apr
1789, p. 16) and from John Hartsfield to William Aylor (Old Dobbs Co NC Deed
Book 13, Apr 1784 to Apr 1789, p. 308). William Ayler sold land to Benjamin
Lewis (Old Dobbs Co NC Deed Book 18, 1798-1799, p. 95).
William Ayler was a taxpayer in Dobbs County (now
Lenoir County), North Carolina, in 1769.[127] The
family of this William Ayler is the only one found after years of searching
that could be that of Ann Ayler Dukes. The family oral tradition tells us that
he lived near relatives of the Dukes family, objects of Thomas DukesÕ visit.
There are many candidates for relatives of Thomas Edmund Dukes in the Dobbs
County area.
On 26 Jul 1777 William Aylor was drafted as a
member of the Dobbs County NC militia, Capt. KennedyÕs company. Members listed
adjacent his name are Fra. Freeman and Tho. Byrd. William Aldridge, Reuben
Freeman, John Fontaine, and Benjamin Risher are also listed (the Birds and
Rishers, and possibly the Aldridges, were later in
Orangeburg County). In 1780 those drafted incuded Elisha Freeman, Thos. Bird,
Israel Joyner, and Joseph House. A Joseph House is listed along with John Bird,
Joseph Dudley, Christopher Dudley, and Richard Lanier in Chowan Precinct NC ca.
1715. A Thomas Spivey is also listed.[128]
The Byrd family in Chowan County and later Lenoir
County was derived from William Byrd of MartinÕs Brandon, husband of Hannah
Grendon Jennings Byrd Duke Archer. His sons John and William moved to Chowan
County NC. His granddaughter Elizabeth, daughter of son Thomas, married John
Lanier.
In 1780 William Ayler was listed with 400 acres of
land in the Dobbs County tax list, District 1, Lenoir County, Kinston west, but
north of the Neuse River. He was payee #16. The Birds were also present. John
Dukes was listed in District 10, payee 84.
The following deeds mention William AylorÕs land:
JAMES M. (MADISON) HINES COLLECTION - NORTH
CAROLINA ARCHIVES PC 152.1
PARTIAL DEEDS
1. No 12 - John CREECH to JESSE ALDRIDGE
Deed of sale for 100 acres of Land - name Benja
Creech with no further information - beginning at a pine on ES of branch adj
William Aylor, patent line - part of larger survey patented to WM. B. - torn
Dobbs COUNTY
2. Grantee - Thomas Williamson - Grantor to John
Barrs ? 200 acres - Jan Court on oath of William Aylor - Enrolled Dobbs Co
– Charles Young, Regt
3. Samuel Thomas - patent and deed - (this
documents is in a lot of small pieces) - 1745 - 20 April - this appears to be
the patent date - NS Neuse
The Creech family was from Nansemond Co VA,
according to information at http://cwoodcock.com/
A Thomas Williamson was married to a daughter of
Josiah John Holliman of Southampton Co VA; her sister married John Clayton
(Southampton Co VA Will Book 2, p. 136). Sarah Williamson, daughter of Thomas
Williamson of Southampton Co VA, married first a Ruffin and then John Taylor,
son of Ethelred Taylor II and Patience Kinchen.[129] This
John Taylor was the brother of William Taylor of Dobbs Co NC. The Williamsons
of Isle of Wight Co VA have many Duke family connections.
There is also, from Abstracts
of Pre-1880 Lenoir county and Dobbs county deeds, Surveys, Land Grants, and
Miscellaneous Documents in the Collection of Paul Arendell Hodges and Alma
Dawson Hodges – North Carolina Archives:
Date: 5 March, 1779
Nature
of document: Land survey
Surveyed for: John Creech
Surveyed by: C. Markland
Amount
surveyed: 100 acres lying in Dobbs County
Adjoining lands: Jude Watters, William Ayler, and Benjamin
Creech
NOTE:
A small map of the land surveyed is drawn in the upper right corner of the
document. Thomas House sold land to John P. White ((JOHNSTON/ DOBBS/ LENOIR
COUNTIES GRANTOR INDEX – BOOK 1, 1746-1750, p.3).
Thomas House was possibly the brother of Lucy
House, first wife of Maj. John Duke, son of Capt. Henry Duke of Prince George
County VA. The Thomas House of Greene Co NC is said to have died in Darlington
Co SC. The Thomas House of Brunswick Co VA has been said to have died in
Lancaster Co SC.
And,
Date: 11 June, 1781
Nature
of document: Deed for sale of land
Grantor: Joshua Barwick
Grantee: John Hartsfield, blacksmith
Extent: 270 acres
In
consideration of: 80 pounds specie money
Mentioned in description of bounds: William Ayler's corner,
Creech's line
Witnesses: William Ayler, Shadrach Hartsfield
And,
Date: 7 March, 1786
Nature
of document: Deed for sale of land
Grantor: Simon Creech of Dobbs County
Grantee: Major Croom
In
consideration of: 100 pounds current money
Extent: 150 acres, described as "being all that part of
land left to
said
Creech by his father..." Mentioned in description of bounds: line of
patten granted Benjamin Creech, Joshua Barwick, Paul Hartsfield's line, all
House's orchards
Witnesses: Isaac Croom, William Ayler, Ezekiel (X) Creech
Simon Creech died in Union Co SC according to
information at http://www.cwoodcock.com/cgi-bin/igmget.cgi/n=ebfamily?I15359
Note
the reference to Òall HouseÕs orchards.Ó A Thomas House had land in Dobbs Co, [130] as
did William House.[131] Both
Thomas and William House were in Greensville Co VA near Maj. John Duke and John
Taylor Duke, and had at least three relationships by marriage to the Duke and
Taylor families:
"Surry County, Virginia, Deeds 1684-1733 and
Other Court Papers," by William Lindsay Hopkins,
p. 138: 16 Jan 1726...Thomas HOUSE, Jr to William
HOUSE...175 acres on NS of Three Creeks...Thomas (X) House, Jr 17 May 1727
In 1772 William Ayler was security, with Gershom
Wiggins, for the estate of John Ratcliff, administered by Joseph Ratcliff (An
Account of Letters of Administration Granted for Dobbs County in the Year
1772). In 1784 a100 acre plat was registered for Samuel Ratcliff on the waters
of the Edisto in Orangeburg County SC.[132]
Another 100 acre plat on Cattle Creek was registered in the same year.[133] A
fifty acre plat on Cattle Creek was also registered.[134]
Later grants were also made to the Ratciffs in the same area.
The1769 tax list for Dobbs Co NC (USGENWEB
Archives) included The Ratcliffs, Rishers, and Byrds, along with some ÒDucksÓ
and Hanks (GeorgeÕs family):
RATCLIFF John son Thomas 2
RATCLIFF Moses 1
RATCLIFF William 1
BYRD Benjamin 1
BYRD John 1
BYRD Joshua 1
BYRD Nathaniel 1
BYRD Richard &son Richard 2
BYRD Thomas 1
DUCK Jacob 1
DUCK John Barefoot Duck
HANKS Mot 1
HANKS Epaphroditus 1
HANKS John 1
RASHER John sons John & Benjamin 3
RASHER Thomas 1
The following message from the Ratcliff list on
Rootsweb shows the Orangeburg Ratcliff family descending from that of the
Kingston, Dobbs Co, NC area:
Subject: [RATCLIFF] Re: RATCLIFF-D Digest V03 #13
Descendants of William Ratcliff
Generation No. 1
1. WILLIAM5 RATCLIFF (JOSEPH4, JOHN3, RICHARD2,
RICHARD1) was born Abt. 1752 in abt 5 miles west of Kinston (then Johnston
County), North Carolina.. Probably on family Plantation "Ratcliff's
Choice", and died February 06, 1795 in Orangeburg District, South
Carolina. He married AGNES OR AGGA. She died Bet. 1820 - 1840 in Mississippi.
Children of WILLIAM RATCLIFF and AGNES AGGA are:
2. i. JOSEPH GENTRY6 RATCLIFF, b. Abt. 1782, Dobbs
County, North Carolina or Orangeburg District, South Carolina; d. Abt. 1851,
Lawrence County, Mississippi.
ii.
WILLIAM RATCLIFF JR., b. Abt. 1783, Orangeburg District, South Carolina; d.
Abt. 1851; m. NANCY, Abt. 1808.
iii.
SAMUEL RATCLIFF, b. Abt. 1785, Orangeburg District, South Carolina; d. Abt.
1797.
iv.
RICHARD RATCLIFF, b. Abt. 1787, Orangeburg District, South Carolina; d. Abt.
1799.
v.
JOHN RATCLIFF, b. Orangeburg District, South Carolina; d. Aft. 1795.
vi.
JAMES SHELTON RATCLIFF, b. October 22, 1793, Orangeburg District,
South Carolina; d. November 16, 1849; m. ELIZABETH
OTT, January 16, 1817.
Generation No. 2
2. JOSEPH GENTRY6 RATCLIFF (WILLIAM5, JOSEPH4,
JOHN3, RICHARD2, RICHARD1) was born Abt. 1782 in Dobbs County, North Carolina
or Orangeburg District, South Carolina, and died Abt. 1851 in Lawrence County,
Mississippi. He married SUSAN.
Notes for JOSEPH GENTRY RATCLIFF:
Information on this family is documented in the
book---Richard Ratcliff of Lancashire, England and Talbot County Maryland, and
his Ancestors and Decendents 1066-1988,byClarnece Earl Ratcliff.
More About JOSEPH GENTRY RATCLIFF:
Burial: Hickory Grove Cemetery, Lawrence County,
Mississippi
More About SUSAN:
Burial: Hickory Grove Cemetery, Lawrence County,
Mississippi
Children of JOSEPH RATCLIFF and SUSAN are:
3. i. JOHN BENJAMIN7 RATCLIFF, b. June 21, 1819,
Orangeburg District, South
Carolina; d. January 21, 1882, McCall Creek,
Franklin County, MS..
ii.
H.A. RATCLIFF, b. Abt. 1820, South Carolina.
iii.
WILLIAM S. RATCLIFF, b. Abt. 1825, So. Carolina; m. MARY JANE LOFTON,
February 04, 1849, Franklin Co. Mississippi.
iv.
R.G. RATCLIFF, b. Abt. 1830, So. Carolina.
v.
L.A. RATCLIFF, b. Abt. 1834, So. Carolina.
vi.
E.M. RATCLIFF, b. Abt. 1836, South Carolina; d. Aft. 1880.
Notes for E.M. RATCLIFF:
E.M. Ratcliff was never married
Was found in 1880 census, so death date would have
been after that time.
vii. R. RACHEL RATCLIFF, b. Abt. 1840, Probably
Copiah County, Mississippi;
d. Aft. 1880.
Notes for R. RACHEL RATCLIFF:
was found in the 1880 census
William Ayler is on the 1780 tax list for Lenoir Co
NC, District #1, from Kinston west, north of the Neuse River along with
Benjamin Bird, Reuben Freeman, William and John Aldridge.
William Ayler was later joined by William Ayler Jr.
in the 1788 voting rolls for Dobbs Co (Annals of Progress, the Story of Lenoir
County and Kinston, North Carolina, by William S. Powell).
Elinder Aylor later appears in the same area. Abiel
Smith sold land to Elenor Ayler (Old Dobbs Co NC Deed Book 10, Apr 1773 to Apr
1775, p. 49). Reedy Branch was eventually in Greene Co NC, a little over a mile
north of the boundary with Lenoir Co. The location was very near the land of
John Duke, which must have been in the extreme southwestern portion of District
10 of Dobbs County. Elinder Aylor later sold that land.
INDENTURE
3 December 1795
State of North Carolina, County of Lenoir
This Indenture made this Third day of December and
in the Year of Our Lord One thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety five between
Elinder Aylor of the State of North Carolina & County of Lenoir of the One
part & Hardee Croom of the same place of the Other part - sum of Thirty
Three pounds to her in hand paid by said Hardee Croom - sell a persel of Land
on NW side of Gum Swamp beginning in Ready Branch - fifty acres
Signed Ellender (X) Aylor
Wit Will Croom, Nathan Green?, Joseph Pool
To Court Jany Term 1796, Lenoir County on oath of
Joseph Pool
Signed Winston Caswell, Clk
Enrolled in the Registers Office of Lenoir County
in Liber K pages 393 & 394 the 4th day of February Amo Dom 1796
Signed D. Caswell, Regr
William Ayler appears in the list of those drafted
for the militia 26 Jul 1777 in Dobbs Co for Capt. KennedyÕs company, along with
Jesse Aldridge, Robert Bird, Thomas Bird, William Aldridge, John Fontaine, John
Aldridge.
In that group he was accompanied by other
individuals from Dobbs (Lenoir) County, NC, all with later Orangeburgh County,
SC, residence. These included Benjamin Risher, who went on to found the Risher
family of the Colleton/Orangeburg county area. John Fontaine, apparently the
brother of Mary Fontaine who married Benjamin Risher before they moved to
Orangeburgh, was also a member. (Francis Fontaine, her grandfather, was in
1721/22 minister of St. PeterÕs Parish, New Kent and James City Counties,
Virginia, home of some of the Duke family and many other families mentioned
here.[135]) Thomas
and Benjamin Byrd are listed, and are probably brothers of the Nathaniel Bird
of Lenoir County, NC, who founded the Orangeburgh/Colleton Byrd or Bird family.
Nathaniel Bird appears in records with William Ayler.
The Aldridge and Byrd families were also on the
boundary between Greene and Lenoir counties:
COLONIAL RECORDS OF LENOIR COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
ALSO KNOWN AS THE LOVIT
HINES COLLECTION - abstracted from Microfilm roll
MF - 95 by Martha Mewborn Marble
INDENTURE - DREWRY ALDRIDGE SENR TO RICHARD BYRD
P 253 - 1 January 1800 - Indenture - DREWRY
ALDRIDGE SENR of County of Greene to RICHARD BYRD of Lenoir - 20 pds - ES
Falling Creek, NS Jumping Run, Sawpit Meadow in RICHARD BYRD'S corner of a
patent granted to WILLIAM ALDRIDGE JUNR, adj THOMAS BYRD --- 17 1Ú2 acres,
houses, gardens, orchards
Signed by mark
WIT JAM BYRD, JOHN (X) ALDRIDGE
To Court January Term 1800 on oath of JOHN ALDRIDGE
S. BRIGHT, CC
Enrolled Liber B pages 153, 154 11 February 1800
JAS BRIGHT, Regr
Falling Run crosses the Greene-Lenoir county
boundary immediately west of Institute, NC.
The Bird family, later of Orangeburg and Colleton
Co SC, was involved in a prosecution of William Aldridge of Craven (Dobbs,
Lenoir) County NC:
The State vs WILLIAM ALDRIDGE
Issued
8th May 1782
Summoned ROB WHITE Sheriff
The State of North Carolina to the Sheriff of Dobbs
County GREETINGS
We
command you to summon ISAAC CROOM, NATHAN BIRD, THOMAS BIRD & RICHARD BIRD
personally to be and appear before the judges of our Superior Court to be held
for the District of Newbern at the courthouse in Newbern on the fifteenth day
of May next & then & there to testify & the truth to say in a
certain controvercy then and there to be tried between the state plantiff &
WILLIAM ALDRIDGE JR defendant on the part of the plantiff & this they shall
in no wise omit under the penality incumbent.Herein fail not & have you
there and this writt.Witness JOHN COOKE clerk of court at Newbern the twentieth
day of April in the sixth year of our independence Anna Dom 1782
JOHN
COOKE
By
WINSTON CASWELL
William AylorÕs land was close to that of the
Aldridges:
Date: 23 December, 1817
Nature of document: Deed for sale of land
Grantor: William Croom
Grantee William Y.(?) Aldridge
Extent: Tracts of 150 acres, 200 acres, 40 acres,
77 acres, 77 acres, 27 and one-half acres, 40 acres, and 100 acres. Included is
"the mill and plantation formerly owned by Paul Hartsfield, decd." In
consideration of: 5,600 dollars
Mentioned in description of bounds: Simon Lovick
and Barwick lands, Joshua Barwick, and William Ayler's corner. Witnesses:
William Herring, John Sugg Aldridge
Dukes in Dobbs County
Old Dobbs County BOOK l - November l746 - April
l750
This appears in Book 2 in the Grantor Index
Kinchen, William Thomas Jarrell 23
Keys, William John Ratcliff 31
Kinchen, William William Duke, Jr. 49
Same Ambrose Jackson 70
John Dukes appears on the 1780 taxlist of Dobbs Co
NC (Dobbs/Lenoir/Greene
County NC - Taxlist - Dobbs 1780 Taxlist) with 400 acres of land, in District
10 as payee 84.[136] District 10 became Greene County, and extended
from Snow Hill south to Wheat Swamp including the Hookerton vicinity and Arba.
Wheat Swamp is immediately east of Falling Creek. Drewry Aldridge and John
Freeman were in the same district, along with Standlys.
John Dukes is on the list ÒMilitary Men over Age in
Dobbs Co, NC, in 1781.Ó Joseph and Robert Taylor are also listed. Murtie June
Clark, Colonial Soldiers of the South, 1732-1774 (Baltimore MD: Genealogical
Publishing Co., Inc., 1983), says that the age range for the militia
requirement was usually 16 to 60, but each colony could make its own laws about
that as circumstances changed. Public employees and ministers were excused from
duty, as were Quakers and other conscientious objectors, indentured servants,
and slaves. So, this John Dukes was probably, but not certainly, born before
1721.
The 1788 voting list of Lenoir Co NC includes
William and John Taylor, another William Taylor and John Taylor, as well as
John Dukes, William Aylor, William Aylor Jr., Richard Byrd, Nathan. Byrd.
John Dukes appears in the 1790 census along with
members of the Freeman (John, Francis L.), Goodman (Henry, James, Timothy,
William), Ruffin (Ethelred), Hardy, Harrison, Wade, and Jones families and many
Taylors.
In 1796 Ann Dukes, wife of John, was ordered to
appear in court to testify against Francis Meeks (CRAVEN COUNTY, NC - COURT - New Bern District Court
Records Dobbs Co. and others, part18, 1798), along with Jesse Aldridge, Joseph
Taylor, and John Turnage:
Folder: 1798 (second folder)
Information: Summons for Jesse ALDRIDGE John
TURNAGE Ann DUKES to appear and testify in a matter in which Joel MEERS in
plaintiff and Francis MEEKS is defendant. (Back: Not found).
Date: 19 Mar 1796
Date of: Summons
County: Glasgow
Folder: 1798 (second folder)
Information: Summons for John TURNAGE Ann DUKE wife
of John DUKE and Joseph TAYLOR to appear and testify against Francis MEEKS.
Date: 19 Sept 1795
Date of: Summons
County: Glasgow (later Greene)
John Turnage gave his name to the Turnage Millpond
on Tyson Marsh, less than a mile north of the Lenoir Co boundary in Greene
County, NC, less than two miles from Reedy Branch where Elinder Aylor owned
land and about four miles east of Button Branch, where the William Taylor
family lived. This is consistent with other evidence that John and Ann Dukes
lived quite close to the boundary between Glasgow/Greene county and
Dobbs/Lenoir counties, and quite close to the Aylors and to the Taylors.
John Dukes (James) sold land to Elizabeth Lewis in
about 1800 (Johnston/ Dobbs/ Lenoir Counties Grantor Index - Book 19 - Lenoir
County 1799, 1800, 1801, p. 167). At about the same time William Ayler sold
land to Benjamin Lewis (Old Dobbs Co NC Deed Book 18, 1798-1799, p. 95).
John Dukes is in the 1790 census of Dobbs Co:
Dukes John 1-3-3-0-0
Also Bird:
Bird Eleanor 0-1-3-0-1
Bird Joshua Jr. 1-0-2-0-0
Bird Joshua Sr. 3-4-2-0-1
Bird Nathan 1-1-4-0-1
Bird Richard 2-4-2-0-0
Bird Richard Jr. 1-0-1-0-0
Bird Richard Sr. 1-0-1-0-2
Also Ratcliff:
Ratcliff Aaron 1-1-2-0-0
In the 1800 census of Lenoir Co are John Duke,
various Byrds, Taylors, Ratcliffs, Hardys.
In the 1810 census of Lenoir County are John M.
Duke, born 1774-1784, and a female the same age. Also, these Byrd:
BYRD, Benjamin M: 1755-1774 F: 1755-1774
M:
1790-1800 F: 1790-1800
F:
1790-1800
10
Slaves F: 1784-1790
BYRD, Edward M: 1755-1774 F: 1774-1784
M:
1790-1800
M:
1790-1800
M:
1790-1800 2 Slaves
BYRD, Elijah M: 1755-1774 F: 1755-1774
BYRD, Elinor F: b. before 1755
M:
1755-1774 F: 1774-1784
9
Slaves
BYRD, Esther F: b. before 1755
M:
1790-1800 F: 1784-1790
M:
1784-1790 F: 1774-1784
M:
1774-1784 12 Slaves
Byrd, Jesse M: 1755-1774 F: 1774-1784
2
Slaves
BYRD, Joshua M: b. before 1755 F: b. before 1755
M:
1784-1790
M:
1774-1784
M:
1774-1784
M:
1774-1784
BYRD, Joshua Jr. M: 1755-1774 F: 1755-1774
M:
1790-1800 F: 1784-1790
M:
1790-1800 F: 1784-1790
M:
1790-1800
M:
1790-1800
BYRD, Richard M: b. before 1755 F: b. before 1755
M:
1790-1800 F: 1784-1790
M:
1784-1790 F: 1784-1790
M:
1784-1790
M:
1774-1784 11 Slaves
M:
1774-1784
BYRD, Richard Jr. M: 1755-1774 F: 1755-1774
M:
1790-1800 F: 1790-1800
M:
1784-1790 F: 1784-1790
M:
1774-1784 F: 1784-1790
F:
1774-1784
10
Slaves
BYRD, Samuel M: 1755-1774
M:
1790-1800 F: 1790-1800
M:
1784-1790 F: 1774-1784
M:
1755-1774 F: 1774-1784
12
Slaves
BYRD, Thomas M: 1755-1774 F: 1774-1784
F:
1790-1800
F:
1790-1800
BYRD, Thomas M: b. before 1755 F: b. before 1755
M:
1774-1784 F: 1790-1800
F:
1774-1784
10
Slaves F: 1774-1784
And also
RATLIFF, Aron M: 1755-1774 F: 1755-1774
M:
1790-1800 F: 1790-1800
M:
1790-1800
RATLIFF, Saley F: b. before 1755
M:
1774-1784 F: 1774-1784
There were also many Taylors and Tilmans.
Joseph J. Dukes was enumerated as #456 in Wayne
County (formed from the western portion of Dobbs) in 1850, Neuse North Side
township, page 176. He was a farmer 28 years old, living with Subary (?) female
36 years old, Sarah 3 years old, and James R. Dukes, 22, carpenter. His
neighbors were Langstons. The 1850 census also lists three Bird households (173A-229A-231A).
An 1868 petition for a public road near Aldridge
and Byrd properties in Lenoir Co. was signed by J. J. Dukes, among others
(Brothers Collection, Donated by Warren Brothers, & Mrs. Henry Brothers of
Institute, Lenoir County, N.C. Transcribed by Sloan Mason. J. M. Patrick, F. A.
Brothers and Others to the Court: Petition for Public Road, filed Jany. Term
1868. State of North Carolina.), again placing the Duke property in the general
vicinity of that owned by the Aldridge and Byrd families.
John Dukes appears in the 1790 census of Dobbs Co
NC, along with members of the Freeman, Goodman, Hardy, Harrison, Wade, and
Jones families and many Taylors:
Dukes John 1-3-3-0-0
Freeman John 3-2-7-0-3
Freeman John 1-1-2-0-0
Freeman Francis
L. 1-1-3-0-0
Goodman Henry 1-0-1-2-8
Goodman Henry 1-0-2-0-9
Goodman James 1-3-2-0-1
Goodman Timothy 1-0-2-0-6
Goodman William 2-2-2-0-9
Ruffin Etheldred 1-5-3-0-19
Taylor Ann 0-2-3-0-0
Taylor Christopher 2-0-2-0-0
Taylor Daniel 1-3-6-0-3
Taylor Henry 1-0-5-0-7
Taylor Hillary
Jr. 1-0-2-0-0
Taylor Hillary
Sr. 3-2-4-0-0
Taylor Isaac 2-0-2-0-0
Taylor Isaac 1-3-5-5-7
Taylor James 1-0-4-0-0
Taylor James 1-1-4-0-0
Taylor Jesse 1-1-1-0-0
Taylor John 1-1-3-0-1
Taylor John 1-2-2-0-0
Taylor John 1-3-4-0-0
Taylor Joseph 1-2-2-0-9
Taylor Robert 1-0-2-0-1
Taylor Robert 1-1-1-0-0
Taylor Robert 2-4-6-0-3
Taylor Stephen 1-3-4-0-0
Taylor William 1-1-4-0-4
Taylor William 1-1-5-0-12
Taylor William 1-1-2-0-0
Taylor William
Sr. 3-1-8-0-0
An 1867 Lenoir Co NC deed places J. J. DukesÕ land
adjacent that of T.P. Hardy, and near Brothers and Wilson (Brothers Collection
Donated by Warren Brothers, & Mrs. Henry Brothers of Institute, Lenoir
County, N.C. Transcribed by Sloan Mason Alexander Wilson (deed of land) to F.
A. Brothers -1867).
The Hardys were closely
connected with the North Carolina Byrds descended from William Byrd who married
Hannah Grendon. Ann Byrd married John Hardy. Both the Byrd and Hardy families
moved from Chowan to Lenoir Co NC.
The Laniers, descendants of William Byrd and Hannah
Grendon, were in Duplin (Wayne) Co:
Wayne County, NC - Heritage Series
Reprinted with permission of the Mount Olive
Tribune and cannot be reproduced without permission.
Transcribed by Sloan Mason.
"Our Heritage" by Claude MOORE
Friday, November 12, 1993
The LANIER Family of Duplin
The LANIER family may have originated in Italy
during the crusades and then migrated to France. The name LANIER in French
means "Falcon." During their long stay in France, many of them were
musicians, poets, and painters. During the Protestant Reformation, they became
Huguenots.
During the reign of Queen Elizabeth (1558-1603),
much emphasis was placed on music at the Court of England. In 1561 the Earl of
Hertford went to France and induced Nicholas LANIER (d. 1612), a musician at
the Court of Henry II, to accept an appointment to the Royal Orchestra in
England. He played the flute and the coronet. His wife, Lucreese, was also a
musician. Nicholas had six sons, all of whom were musicians in the Royal
Orchestra, as well as two sons-in-law, and eight grandsons also played in the
Royal Orchestras under Queen Elizabeth, James I, Charles I, and Charles II.
Clement LANIER (1585-1661) married Hannah COLLET and had 11
children. One of his sons, John LANIER (1631-1676), married and migrated to
Charles City County, Virginia, in 1657. They had a son, John LANIER, Jr.,
(1655-1719) who married and lived in Prince George County, Virginia, and had
five children, one of his sons was John LANIER III (1680-c. 1725) who married
Elizabeth BIRD. They had four sons: Bird Thomas, Lemuel, Robert and Benjamin.
Bird
Thomas LANIER (b. 1703) married and moved from Surry County to Brunswick
County, Virginia, and in 1750 to Duplin County. Two of his four sons migrated
to Georgia. Lemuel LANIER (1707-1756) married and moved to Duplin County in
1752 and in 1756 he was living in Screven County, Georgia. Their children were:
Thomas (1733-1787), Elizabeth, John, Lemuel Jr., Benjamin and Mary.
Thomas
LANIER (1733-1787) married Sara Mills of Onslow County, and settled on Cypress
Creek near Chinquapin. He served in the N.C. Militia during the American
Revolution. Thomas and Sara LANIER had the following seven children: James
(1756-1815); Jesse (1757-1812); John (1769-1791); Stephen (1760-1840) Anne,
Fannie, and Elizabeth.
Stephen LANIER (1760-after 1840) was married in
1800 to Rhoda JAMES, a daughter of Isaac JAMES of New Hanover County and they
lived on Cypress Creek. Their children were: Dennis (1804-1871) who married
Elizabeth JAMES; and had two children; Emma (1807-1858) who married John
BOSTIC; and Thomas who married Susan MAREADY and had nine children.
John and Emma Lanier BOSTIC lived on a plantation
on the east side of the North East River and near Muddy Creek. Their children
were: Thomas, Samuel, Jacob, Isaac and Mary Susan.
Mary Susan BOSTIC (1847-1918) married David F.
CHAMBERS and had nine children.
The southern poet, Sydney LANIER (1842-1881) of
Macon, GA., was descended by one of the LANIER brothers who settled in Georgia.
Sydney LANIER was also a musician and a Confederate soldier. There are hundreds
of LANIER descendants now living in Duplin and surrounding counties. LANIER
descendants may qualify for membership in the Huguenot Society.
(Source:Mrs. Mamie Chambers SAWYER, Duplin County Records.)
Kinchens and Taylors in Dobbs Co NC
In 1756 William Kinchen sold land in Dobbs Co to
John Moring (Old Dobbs County Book 4, 1756-57, p. 334.) William W. Kinchen sold
land to Blake Baker (Old Dobbs County Book 22 -
1746-CA-1810, p. 428), and William Kinchen sold land to George Cole (Old Dobbs
County Book 5, Apr 1757-1758 p. 287).
William Kinchen was the brother of Patience
Kinchen, who married Ethelred Taylor II of Southampton Co. VA. Ethelred's
mother was Elizabeth Duke. In Southampton Co VA William Kinchen II owned land
near Thomas Williamson:
Southampton Co Deed Book 2, Pages 86-88: JOHN and
WILLIAM JACKSON to JOHN CLAYTON, joiner, dated 8 Jan 1756
145 acres on the north side of the main Blackwater
Swamp adj. The east side of Meadow Branch and WILLIAM KINCHEN (land taken up by
JOHN JACKSON), S: JOHN (I) JACKSON and WILLIAM (I) JACKSON, W: RICHARD (signed)
KELLO, THOMAS (signed) WILLIAMSON, and RICHARD (signed) BAKER
Thomas Williamson sold land in Dobbs Co NC to
William Ayler (Old Dobbs Co NC Deed Book 6, Apr 1758-1765, p. 260). (Joseph J.
Dukes is found in the 1850 census at the boundary of Greene, Lenoir, and Wayne
counties.) On the Williamsons:
Re: Thomas Williamson- Matilela Elizabeth