Duncan Family Files
John Duncan, Jr.
HUSBAND: John Duncan Jr.
BORN: 5 June 1805
MARRIAGE: apx.1828
OTHER MARRIAGES:
MILITARY SERVICE:
DIED: 9 August 1866
FATHER’S NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH: John Duncan Sr. 4/1/1773
MOTHER’S NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH: Margaret Story8/4/1773
NOTES: This information was taken from the John Duncan Sr. family bible except for the John Duncan Jr. marriage date which was presumed according to the birth year of the oldest child, William M. Duncan.
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WIFE: Polly
BORN: 1 May 1807
OTHER MARRIAGES:
DIED: before 1850
FATHER’S NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH:
MOTHER’S NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH:
NOTES: the 1850 census of DeSoto Co. Mississippi lists John Duncan with a family of children, no wife is listed with the group. She had most likey died. The youngest child, Z. (Zadock)Bradley was 2 years old at the time of the 1850 census. The 1914 death certificate for Martha C. Duncan Emerson gives the mother’s maiden name as “Winn”. The certificate also states she was born in North Carolina.
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CHILD 1: William M. Duncan
BORN: apx. 1830 TN
MARRIAGE: Nancy Davis
OTHER MARRIAGES:
MILITARY SERVICE:
DIED: Before 1905
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CHILD 2: Margaret L. Duncan
BORN: apx. 1832 TN
MARRIAGE: John Young
OTHER MARRIAGES: E. J. Carter
MILITARY SERVICE:
DIED: after 1902
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CHILD 3: Martha C. Duncan
BORN: 14 Oct. 1833 TN
MARRIAGE: W. M. Emerson
OTHER MARRIAGES: D
MILITARY SERVICE:
DIED: 29 Sept. 1914
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CHILD 4: Elimina R. Duncan
BORN: apx. 1836 TN
MARRIAGE:
OTHER MARRIAGES:
MILITARY SERVICE:
DIED:
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CHILD 5: Ann E. Duncan
BORN: apx. 1839 MS
MARRIAGE:
OTHER MARRIAGES:
MILITARY SERVICE:
DIED:
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CHILD 6: James H. Duncan
BORN: apx. 1843 MS
MARRIAGE:
OTHER MARRIAGES:
MILITARY SERVICE:
DIED:
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CHILD 7: Wynefred E. Duncan
BORN: 1846 MS
MARRIAGE: Atlas Gratton Duncan
OTHER MARRIAGES:
MILITARY SERVICE:
DIED: 1908
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CHILD 8: Zadock Bradley Duncan
BORN: apx. 1848 MS
MARRIAGE:
OTHER MARRIAGES:
MILITARY SERVICE:
DIED:
Submitted by: Margaret Meyer
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ADDITIONAL NOTES:
The following is a letter from Wynefred Duncan to Margaret L.Duncan Carter in Venable, Texas Dec. 21, 1902(1905?). “My dear Sister I recieved your appreciated letter a few days ago. Was sure glad to hear from you. Now that is the kind of letter I like to get I cant will write short letters. I am sometime afraid I will weary my friends with my long letters. But they never need be afraid of anything of that kind with me. I have never tired reading one yet. I would have answered so soon as I red,d but have been so busy as Christmas is so near at hand. We have had many many drawbacks since we moved out to the farm. We wanted to make(a)good many changes in the house as we wanted to arrange for both families work that we always intended to do as the house was built an old time house. In trying to move a room by roleing (?) it we found it could not be done so the hands all turned in to tear it down and build it over. Atlas in trying to help bruised his hand for over three months he never carried it out of a swing (sling?) having blood poison. I don’t think the Dr. had much hopes o! f him. He told Lola if blood poison set in there would be no chance for him at his age. Atlas was doing most of the work his self Then the work or most of stoped as he thought he would soon be able to work again. We just about finished up yesterday Lola and me done most of the papering and if you ever tried it you know what hard work it is. But I tell you I feel awful good to think we have gotten the house as comfortable and arranged to suit us in our old age and to leave a nice home for one of the children which of them will own it I don’t know. Lola said last night when we about(shering?)putting up shades and curtains we sat down on the floor. Lola said Oh if I did only know I would never have to leave this dear old house that is prettier and dearer to me than anywhere on earth said that there was no city mansion that she would exchange it for I am not partial to anyone of my children But I have often wished Lola would be the one to remain at the old home when w! e are gone. I feel I had rather one of the girls own it on account of there being so much here that no one would ever appreciate it as one of the girls would and Lola more than Mary Kate. I know full well Mary Kate will never live on a farm for she has a very business man for a husband and(he) is doing a big business. He very often tells Mary Kate he is going on a farm so she can make a living raising chickens. It would hurt me to know what Aunt Winnie left here would not be cared for while there there are numbers of things that are of no use to anyone this day. I want them taken care of because they were hers and she valued them so much. (Yes?) here is her loom wheels reels cards warfing bars winding blades carding chairs carding basket spool basket quill basket loom chair and everything that belongs to old time workers. She had a house in the yard for all these things. The house had grown old and did not suit to stay there. We had it torn away I took one room upstairs put everything of that kind in it. We put the old gas lampos old brass candle sticks candle molds I could (couldn’t) begin to tell you half. When I was at the centennnial in nashville five years ago I saw among everything else a little log cabin with all these old time things in it. I told some of my friends that was with me I could arrange a room that would beet that bad for old time. They had an old time cord bedstead that was made over a hundred years ago about three feet high head and foot the same never ever been painted. I really don’t suppose there was ever anything made that she did not have yes I have her little flax wheel flax breaks. The room is a large one 18f by 20 feet there is not hardly room to walk. Now don’t you know at some distant day that will be grand for her great great grandchildren to look at realy it is a sight now for children to see and lots of grown ones When we moved to town we did not take anything like half that was in the house s! uch as old cupboards sugar chest and old time bedclothes chest. Now there is such a cry for old corner cupboards so many want them We have four and would not part with them only to the children as old relics I gave Mary K the old sideboard. It is a very fine old trick she has had it polished with a very fine cabonet put on it. It is a perfect beauty and attracts more attention than anything she has in her house and she prizes it more than everything else. She told her husband one day she wanted it to go back to someone of the family as she had no children. Mary Kate was out to see us one day the last week. she has such a sweet baby I can hardly realize Mary Kate has a baby. It seems such a little while since she was a wee baby herself thing (?) She is twenty two She is so well and so pretty and fine looking But when Harley died we was afraid Mary Kate would go the same way her health was awful bad. Oh so little did I think once the Harley would die with cons! umption but he had a spell of typhoid fever three years before he died he never was real well anymore then he exposed himself out on the telephone lines he was so unfortunant(?) did not take care of his dear self If I could have kept him at home with me. I know many times he put on damp underwear because he had no Mamony(?)to see after and dry them for him. This is the first winter Will has been from home He will be at home Christmas I am going to try so hard for him not to go back I wrote him to bring his trunk and all his clothes so I could mend them I think when he gets here I will sure hang on to him I don’t think it is best to try force him to stay. He telephoned Will Hardison a few days ago to know if he could give him work I think he will Will is such a sweet boy I never saw him mad in all my life But Vance as got enough temper for both he will fight with his shadow Margaret I am going to Bettie about those pictures I think I registered them I s! ent all the family all large pictures mine & Atlas togerther Lola & Ellen, Will & Mary Kate alone I sent the same to all the family except Ann I never did send hers I have them here yet Nannie Martha Bud(?) & Henderson’s children all wrote they got them I did not send Harley’s I did not have a real good one of him and he was not at home when they were made I am so sorry you did not get them I felt so sure you would appreciste them I have thought and spoke of it that Bellie(Bettie?) might have kept them as you was so far away I am glad she appreciated that much but she is not the one I want to have them I will write for her to please send them to you or back to me I would not care for her having them if I had more to send to you but the lot of pictures I had made at that time cost me sixteen dollars I wanted all my own people to have one of each and some other near friends the pictures are just splendid and fine work and perhaps the last I ! shall ever have made You asked me about Nannie I have not heard from her since I sent those pictures I had a long letter from her thanking me for them Sister Martha told Lola when she was there that Mr. Carlton(sp?) was broke up in business and Nannie was living in the rear of his family I don’t know how true it is but I can hardly believe all of that. Well realy I don’t believe all she tells (no?) way Though all that may be so but I feel like Nannie would almost suffer death before she would live that way. I have often I would write to Nannie. but I don’t realy want to know it if she would not tell me I feel so sorry for her Margaret do you know if Bro William ever made any will she sold her place down there at Arkabutla and bought a place joining Mr C’s farm I have often woundered why William did not fix that so no one could take it from her. But I see —? he was like me never think— of her marrying she would have been the last one I would have thought of ! marry—. I never did hear if he had made a will if you know I want you to tell me. I thought of going on down to see Nannie when I went to Buds but I did not want to see her in that shape not that I would not love her all the same, but I know she would not want to see me or any of her friends. If it is not true I wish she (knew?)the report but I don’t want to tell her I know Martha told Lola things when she was there that were not true I wish I could see you, couldn’t we have a good old time talking But I feel so sure we will never see each other again what part of Texas do you live I have so many friends gone from here to different parts of Texas Near what large city do you live I would think you could not miss seeing people from in and around Lewisburg where there are so many gone I expect I had better close as it is now ten o’clock Vance and Mr. Liggett said when they went to bed if tomorrow was a good day they would kill hogs so I will have to rise early and prepare myself for a good day of work I hope I have not wearried you with my 18 pages write me soon lets not liv- as we have been I have plenty of time to write as I am not confined down with wearrysome boarders Thanks for it too I am at this time more pleasantly and happily situated than ever before in my life You are a pretty fair reader I —- You can read this! I write so fast I don’t half do it My love to Cloud(Claud?) & wife and kissess to the children tell them Aunt Bettie wishes they were here to see Christmas I know Santa Claus will bring them nice things good night Your devoted sister Bettie”