Duncans in Clay Co. MO

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Duncan research files of
Mary Ann (Duncan) Dobson
the Genealogy Bug

Last revised October 30, 2014

CLAY CO. MO
Formed 1822 from Ray
Clinton formed 1833 from Clay
 

CENSUS RECORDS

1830 Clay Co. MO Census (from Vivian Biddle 1982)
Pg.274  James Duncan          2111,001      - 1120,001
        Matthew Duncan        1021,101      - 0211,01
        William Duncan        3010,01       - 0210,1


1840 Clay Co. MO Census (from Vivian Biddle 1982)
Pg.  3  Mathew Dunkan         0010,1000,1   - 0000,0100,1
     9  Stephen Duncan        0121,001      - 2110,1
    10  Philemon Duncan       0000,01       - 0001,01
    13  David Duncan          0000,511      - 0000,1
    18  William Duncan        0121,0002     - 0000,0001
    29  James Duncan          0211,0001     - 0110,001
        Jehoda Duncan         1000,1        - 0000,1
        Mary Duncan           0100,2        - 0011,001

1850 Clay Co. MO Census (also from Vivian Biddle 1982)
Liberty Twp.
Pg.301, #22, Mathew DUNCAN 24 KY farmer $2000
                  Susan 19 KY
                  (neighbors YOUNG and BARNS)
Gallatin Twp.
Pg.323-324, #312, Stephan DUNCAN 52 KY farmer $2000
                  Nancy 36 KY
                  Stephen 17 KY farmer $0
                  Mary 14 KY
                  Henry C. 9, Pembroke S. 6 MO
                  Martha A. 4, Benj. M. 3 MO
                  Lucy J. 18 KY
                  Lucy E. 3, Mathew 9/12 MO
                  James BROWNING 40 KY farmer
                  (MAD: 1860 Clinton Co. MO census; Henry C. b. 1841 the son of Jacob or Stephen & Nancy ??; ?? Lucy J. Duncan b.1832 the widow/wife of Matthew Duncan mar. 3/26/1848, she mar. James Lloyd Browning 10/30/1853, in 1860 DeKalb Co. MO census)
Pg.324, #314, Isaac WOOD 43 KY farmer $3000
                  Louisa 26 KY
                  Benj. F. 14, Richard J?. 13, George W. 10 MO
                  Ann K/R?. 8, Cordelia F. 6 MO
                  (MAD: Louisa Duncan mar. Gibson T. Owen 1/26/1837; Louisa Owen mar. Isaac Wood 5/24/1849; she d. 1870, the dau. of late William Duncan per obit, dau. of William Duncan & Jemima S. Scott per History)
Pg.331, #413, Thaddius DUNCAN 26 KY farmer $2000
                  Martha 20 MO
                  Elizabeth 5, Stephen 1 MO
                  (MAD: 1860 DeKalb Co. MO census; ? one Martha Duncan was named as sister of Milton McDaniels in his will dated 12 Nov. 1845 recorded 9 Oct. 1852 in Will Book C, pg.137; from Clay Co. MO Abstracts of Wills and Administrations, Books A, B, C, 1825-1839 and 1848-1853, from pg.70, Vol.11, 3/1981, of "Missouri Miscellany" FHL book 977.8 D2w, from Denzil Mauldin 1984)
Pg.334, #472, John DUNCAN 35 KY farmer $2500
                  Nancy 21 KY; mar. in year
                  (MAD: 1860 Harrison Co. MO census; wife said to be Nancey Frances Vance, mar. 11/29/1849 at unknown locality, from info of Michael Robidou 5/1999)
Pg.335, #474, Polly H?. DUNCAN 38 KY
                  Madeline BAXTER 8 MO
                  Elizabeth G. 16 MO
Platte Twp.
Pg.351, #731, Garland GENTRY 44 KY farmer
                  Penelope 30 KY
                  Mary E. 21 KY
                  Ellison 18, Reuben? 12, Allen 10, Synthia 8 IN
                  James M. 6, Blackstone (m) 6 (sic) IN
                  William 6/12 MO
                  (MAD: one Garland Gentry mar. Nancy Duncan 6/26/1821 in Fayette Co. KY; probably not this one since he would have been 15)
Fishing River Twp.
Pg.376, #1133, William DUNCAN 60 KY farmer $3114
                  Theodore 23 MO farmer $250
                  (MAD: also see 1850 Yuba Co. CA census)
Pg.377, #1138, A.B. DUNCAN (m) 44 KY farmer $4000
                  Hellin M. 33 KY
                  Martha A. (f) 13, James W. 10 MO
                  George W. 9, E.D. (m) 7 MO
                  Jane E. 5, Jeremiah 1 MO
                  (MAD: Alexander B. Duncan mar. Helen Mary Bell 8/17/1837; no Matthew F. in household)
Pg.381, #1198, Nancy DUNCAN 57 KY -- $12,000
                  James 22, Stephen M. 20 MO
                  John W. 15, Thomas 9 MO
                  (MAD: Nancy (Musick), widow of James Duncan Jr.; Stephen Duncan in 1860 Clinton Co. MO census)
Pg.381, #1199, Joseph DUNCAN 27 KY farmer $3500
                  Juliett J. 18 MO
                  James 2, Seth 9/12 MO
                  (MAD: 1860 Clinton Co. MO census; Joseph Duncan, son of Seth Duncan and Jane Penn, mar. Juliet Jane Duncan, dau. of James Duncan and Nancy Musick, 8/5/1857, from "Marriage Records of Clay Co. MO 1822-52" by Nanon L. Carr, FHL book 977.816 V25c)
Pg.381, #1202, Mary FORTUNE 60 KY -- $1000
                  Jane DUNCAN 20 KY
                  (MAD: ?? Martha Jane Duncan ?, dau. of Joseph Duncan & Polly Brooks?; one Nicholas Fortune mar. Mary Duncan 11/11/1841)
Pg.381, #1203, Abijah DUNCAN 27 KY farmer $800
                  Mary J. 26 OH
                  Mary E. 8, Nancy J. 5 MO
                  Margaretta C. 3 MO
                  Frances B. 6/12 MO
                  (MAD: STRODE family neighbors; Frances f? or m? written over; also in 1850 Holt Co. MO census)
 

1860 and 1870 and later CENSUS

Go to the Clay Co. MO 1860 and 1870 and later Census
 

ESTATE RECORDS

James McDaniel Probate Package, Clay Co. MO Archives (from Dorothy Franks 4/1989; typed by Evelyn Sigler)
      (DF: Elizabeth Duncan, dau. of Thaddeus C.S. Duncan and Martha Duncan, married James McDaniel; Verna Hamilton's relatives.)
      To the Honorable Co. Court of Clay Co. or the Clerk thereof in vacation, I Elizabeth McDaniel, widow and relict of James McDaniel, deceased, late of Clay Co., MO, do hereby renounce my right or preference as next of kin to the said James McDaniel, deceased, to the administration of the estate of said deceased and request that my son John McDaniel may be permitted to administer on said estate given up law and seal. this ? day of February AD 1838, /s/ Elizabeth McDaniel seal. Teste Aaron Vine, David McDaniel, William McDaniel.
      Administator Bond 2 Feb. 1838 for $40,000 for John McDaniel, by John McDaniel, Hiram Rich and Greenup Bird. James McDaniel left a widow and 6 children: John, David, William, Alexander, Milton and Martha. Abraham Shafer, clerk.
      To Mrs. Elizabeth McDaniel administratrix of Estate of James McDaniel dec. Take notice that on Monday the 6th day of February 1843 I shall petition the Circuit Court of Clay Co. to be released from all future liability as one of your duties for the faithful performance as administrator of the Estate of James McDaniel, dec'd., said petition will be presented to said Court in the town of Liberty. The cause I shall assign and that some of my care consequenties have become insolvent and that most of them have left Clay Co., that you are mismanaging said estate and that I am unwilling to be longer bound, at which time and place you can attend. Liberty, January 17, 1843. /s/ Greenup Bird by A.W. Doniphan his attorney.

Clay Co. MO Probate File of David T. Dunkin, file 4-2-217 (from Claylain Starr 7/1995)
      April 24, 1872. Know all men by these presents that we, David T. Dunkin and Titus Dunkin of Clay Co. MO have this day sold to Nelson Pearson of same, the following lots in Clay Co. MO in the village of old Couterville, the East 1/2 lot 1 and also East half lot 2 in Block 4, for $50, $10 paid on the execution of this contract, the receipt is confessed and acknowledged, and the (blank) in four equal monthly payments from this date in the first to begin in May next. In default of any payment being made when due, then it shall drawn 10% till paid. Upon payment of the sums above mentioned, we will cause a good and sufficient deed or deeds to be made to said Nels Parson. /s/ David T. Dunkin, Titus Dunkin. (MAD: does not say why both people signed document)
 

LAND RECORDS

Go to the Clay Co. MO Land Records Part 1, Deed Index and Deed Books A to I, to 1846
 

Go to the Clay Co. MO Land Records Part 2, Deed Books K to R, 1846 to 1860
 

COURT RECORDS

"Reports of cases determined in the Supreme Court of the state of Missouri from July 1848 to October 1849" by Louis Houck, Consellor at law, Vol.XII, pgs.35 to 37; ("Missouri Reports") Vol.12, pgs.53 to 57 (California State Law Library, Sacramento, 1/2004)
      NAGEL v. NAGEL; Supreme Court of Missouri, 12 Mo. 53; July, 1848, Decided.
      Appeal from Clinton Circuit Court. (MAD: Counsel's arguments omitted here; see Clay Co. MO)
      (Opinion:) McBRIDE, J. Martin M. Nagel brought his petition for a divorce in the Clinton Circuit Court, against his wife, Parthena Nagel, in which he charges her with adultery and cruel treatment. The defendant filed her answer denying the charges made against her in the petition, and makes her answer a cross-bill against the plaintiff, charging him with cruelty and inhuman conduct toward her, and prays for a divorce from her husband. The cause was heard by the court on the bill, answer and proofs, and the court decreed against the wife. She then moved for a new trial, which having been refused, she excepted, and has brought the case to this court by appeal. The bill of exceptions states that "it is admitted that the evidence sustained the plaintiff's allegations of adultery and also the defendant's allegation of cruel and inhuman treatment, and of such indignities toward the person of the defendant as rendered her condition intolerable." The facts found by the court for each of the parties, are, under our statute, causes for divorce; but each party having been found guilty of a breach of their marriage contract, the question arises whether a decree should be rendered for either or both of them.
      This question must be decided upon our statute, which embraces and regulates the whole subject, as was stated by this court in the case of Ryan v. Ryan, 9 Mo. 539. The finding of the Circuit Court, in that case, was similar to the finding in this case; for there the court found the defendant had been addicted to habitual drunkenness for the space of two years and more, and that the complainant had been guilty of adultery; and thereupon dismissed the bill of the complainant. This court sustained the judgment of the Circuit Court.
      The first section of our statute regulating the subject of Divorces, Rev. Code, 1845, p. 426, enumerates the several causes for which a divorce may be obtained; amongst others that of adultery is named, as also, cruel and inhuman conduct, and declares that, for the commission of any of the acts specified, the injured and innocent party may obtain a divorce from the bonds of matrimony.
      It is insisted that the terms injured and innocent party as used in the first section, were employed on account of the peculiar phraseology of that section, to designate which of the parties were entitled to a divorce. But the same terms occur in the third section, which provides for the filing of the answer to the bill, and authorizes the defendant to set forth and charge in the answer, that the complainant has been guilty of some of the acts specified in the first section, and pray the court for such cause to grant a divorce to said defendant, and upon the hearing "if the court shall be satisfied that the defendant is the injured party, the court shall enter a decree divorcing the said defendant from the said complainant, as prayed in the answer." And by the 8th section, it is provided that in all cases of divorce from the bonds of matrimony, the "guilty party" shall forfeit all rights and claims, under and by virtue of the marriage; nor shall the guilty party be allowed to marry again by reason of the divorce under five years thereafter, unless otherwise expressed in the decree of the court; and in all cases of ex-parte proceedings, the court shall, before it grants a divorce, require proof of the good conduct of the petitioner, and be satisfied he or she is an innocent and injured party. Thus it is seen that a party applying for a divorce must show that he or she is the innocent and injured party; otherwise the court should not grant the divorce. And the principle seems to pervade all the sections on this branch of the subject, except the seventh.
      By the seventh section it is enacted that "if it shall appear to the court that the adultery or other injury or offense complained of, shall have been occasioned by the collusion of the parties, or done with the intention of procuring a divorce, or that the complainant was consenting thereto, or that both parties have been guilty of adultery, then no divorce shall be decreed." Why the draftsman of this section should have used language in the forepart of this section sufficiently comprehensive to embrace all causes of divorce specified in the first section, and then conclude by restricting the prohibition to adultery alone, it is difficult to conceive. Any and all the other causes enumerated in the first section of the act, are equally effective in entitling a party complaining, to obtain a divorce. It cannot, with reference to the rights of the injured party, be said that adultery is a more heinous offense, or one of greater moral turpitude, than others enumerated in the act, for the effect of each is the same, as they severally entitle the party injured to a divorce.
      We have examined the history of this law in our State and find that the first act was passed in the year 1807, then a supplemental act passed in 1817, neither of which contain the provision under consideration; but a discretion was given to the courts to hear all applications under the act, and to determine the same as to law and justice shall appertain, by either dismissing the petition or libel, or sentencing and decreeing a divorce. In the Revision of 1825, p. 330, the provisions of the 7th section of the act of 1845 were first introduced into the statute of this State. At that time the causes which would entitle a party to a divorce, were impotency, a previous existing marriage, adultery and desertion. The provision at that time could only operate practically upon two of the causes of divorce, to-wit: adultery and desertion. If, therefore, both parties have been guilty of adultery, no divorce should be granted, and if the desertion complained of is collusive or done with the intention of procuring a divorce, or the complainant consented thereto, then no divorce should be granted. So that where both parties are guilty either in fact or in contemplation of law, no divorce is to be granted. Subsequent to the Revision of 1825, other causes of divorce have been created by statutory enactment, until in 1845 we find no less than nine distinct causes set out in the statute, for which a divorce may be granted; and still the fourth section of the act of 1825 is retained in the very language in which it was first incorporated in the law. (Footnote: Duncan v. Duncan, post, 157)
      Now it is contended that the express permission of the Legislature to recriminate one offense (as in the 7th section) is an exclusion of the right to recriminate any other. We feel the force of this difficulty in the case, and yet we must make it an exception to the general rule laid down, or sacrifice to its operation what we consider to be a principle pervading the whole act. The whole act evidently contemplates the innocence of the party obtaining a divorce. With what propriety could a court divorce a husband from his wife because of desertion on her part, when she had been driven to abandon her home because of the cruel and barbarous treatment of the husband? Or how shall the court determine which is the innocent and injured party where the evidence establishes the fact that the wife has been addicted to habitual drunkenness for the space of two years and that the husband has been guilty of adultery? Which party has a right to appeal to the court to set aside and vacate the marriage contract, when both have been guilty of a breach thereof? If A. brings a bill for a divorce against B. and on the trial it should be established by evidence that A. was the guilty party, the court would not grant A. the divorce prayed for. Here the husband brought his bill for a divorce, and the wife makes her answer a cross-bill against the husband, and the court find, upon the hearing of the two complaints, that both parties are guilty; which then is the innocent and injured party, and entitled under the statute to a divorce? Upon consideration of the whole statute, we are of opinion, that where both parties are found guilty of any of the enumerated offenses for which a divorce may be granted, the court should dismiss the bill. The judgment of the Circuit Court will, therefore, be reversed and the bill dismissed.
 

"Reports of cases determined in the Supreme Court of the state of Missouri from July 1848 to October 1849" by Louis Houck, Consellor at law, Vol.XII, pg.99; ("Missouri Reports") Vol.12, pg.157 (California State Law Library, Sacramento, 1/2004)
      DUNCAN v. DUNCAN; Supreme Court of Missouri, 12 Mo. 157; July, 1848, Decided.
      Appeal from Clay Circuit Court.
      (opinion) McBRIDE, J. This case comes within the principle decided in the case of Nagel v. Nagel. (see ante, p. 53) The decree of the Circuit Court will be reversed and the bill of the complainant dismissed.
      (MAD: from the Missouri Supreme Court Historical Database http://www.sos.state.mo.us/archives/judiciary/supremecourt/
            Supreme Court Case Files:
            Contributor Appellant William Duncan, Respondent Sarah Duncan, filed 1848, Clay Co., Civil proceeding, divorce, cruel treatment, injunction to prevent sale of her slaves; Identifier Old Box Number 55, Old Folder Number 12, Location 16A/4/6, Box 72, Folder 10; Courtesy of the Missouri State Archives.
            Contributor Appellant Sarah Duncan, Respondent William Duncan, filed 1850, Clay Co., Civil proceeding, divorce and possession of 8 slaves; Identifier Old Box Number 57, Old Folder Number 5, Location 16A/4/7, Box 76, Folder 11; Courtesy of the Missouri State Archives.)
 

MILITARY RECORDS

Pension Index Card File, alphabetical; of the Veterans Administrative Contact and Administration Services, Admin. Operations Services, 1861-1934; Duff to A-J Duncan (negative FHL film 540,888, some cards very faint); Joseph Duncan to Dunn (positive FHL film 540,889, some cards very dark)
      Cataloged under Civil War, 1861-1865, pensions, indexes; does not say if Confederate or Federal, but probably Federal. Negative film, some cards much too faint or dark to read, some cards blurred or faded, particularly the service unit and the dates of application. Most of the very faint or dark cards were in a slightly different format, with space for years enlisted and discharged which were sometimes filled in. Many of these were for service in later years, although one or two were for service ca 1866.
      Name of soldier, alias, name of dependent widow or minor, service (military unit or units), date of filing, class (invalid or widow or minor or other), Application #, Certificate #, state from which filed (sometimes blank), attorney (sometimes blank, MAD: did not usually copy), remarks. Sometimes the "Invalid" or "Widow" class had an "s" added to it before the application #; occasionally the area for the service information included a circled "S". The minor's name was frequently that of the guardian rather than the minor.
      The military unit was frequently the Company Letter, the Regiment Number, sometimes US Vet Vol Inf. (US Veteran Volunteer Infantry), L.A. (Light Artillery), H.A. (Heavy Artillery), US C Inf (US Colored? Infantry), Cav. (Cavalry), Mil. Guards, V.R.C. (?Volunteer Reserve Corps?), etc. Sometimes there were several service units given.
      Cards appear to be arranged by the last name, first name, middle initial if any, and state (including "US") of service.
      Duncan, Aaron, widow Duncan, Margaret; B 120 OH Inf.; filed 1884 June 10, Invalid Appl. #515151, Cert. #466362, MO; filed 1912 Feb. 16, Widow Appl. #980699, Cert. #740513, Kansas. (MAD: from Richland Co. OH; 1870 Cedar Co. IA; 1880 Jackson Co. MO; ?? 1900 Clay Co. MO; indexed 1910 Johnson Co. KS)
      Duncan, Thaddeus C.T?., widow Duncan, Martha, minor Duncan, William, et al, G.C. Wilson, John F.; N 1 MO S.M. Cav.; 1888 Feb. 3, Widow Appl. #367111, no cert., MO; 1888 Feb. 3, Minor Appl. #367113, no cert., MO; 1888 Feb. 3, G.C. Appl. #367112, no cert., MO. (MAD: 1850 Clay Co. MO census; 1860 DeKalb Co. MO census)

Military Records include:
      War of 1812 Pension Application of widow of Eddylyn Breckenridge who was a Private in Capt. R. Watson's Co. of KY Militia, enlisted 15 Aug. 1812, discharged 30 Nov. 1812, married 23 Jan. 1817 Eleanor Duncan, lived in Bourbon Co. KY until 1829 when they moved to Clay Co. MO; he died 14 July 1875 Clay Co. MO, she lived in Clay Co. MO in 1878, died 3 Feb. 1879. (from "KY Genealogist" Vol.20, 1978, and other sources)
      War with Mexico, 1846, Doniphan's Expedition, included Theodore Duncan and his brother Matthew Duncan, Privates in Co. C from Clay Co. MO (pg.6 and 7, Vol.11, 3/1981, "MO Miscellany" FHL book 977.8 D2w, from Denzil Mauldin 1984)
      War with Mexico, application WC-576 for pension by Henrietta Duncan, widow of Theodore Duncan, dated 29 March 1887, for his service in Co. C, 1st MO Mtd. Volunteers. ("Index to Mexican War Pension Files" by Virgil D. White, FHL book 973 M22mw)
      War with Mexico, application WC-571 for pension by Permelia Duncan, widow of James Duncan, dated 28 March 1887, for his service in Co. H, 1st TX Mtd. Volunteers. ("Index to Mexican War Pension Files" by Virgil D. White, FHL book 973 M22mw) (MAD: 1850 Henderson Co. TX census)
      Civil War Confederate Soldiers include Capt. Theodore Duncan killed in Jackson Co. 1861, son of Capt. William Duncan; James Duncan died at Cove Creek AR 1862; William Duncan killed in AR 1863; and G.W. Duncan an ex-Confederate in 1895 (pgs.93, 94, 99 of Vol.8, 9/1979, "MO Miscellany" FHL book 977.8 D2w, from Denzil Mauldin 1984 and other sources including "Branded as Rebels" [Missouri] by Joanne Chiles Eakin & Donald R. Hale, which cites issues of the "Liberty Tribune" and other specific sources)
      Civil War Confederate Soldiers include Thomas Duncan, of Clay Co., who applied for a Missouri pension #396, age 89, approved 1 Sept. 1913, died 22 Oct. 1915. (pg.60, Vol.16, 9/1983, "MO Miscellany" FHL book 977.8 D2w, from Denzil Mauldin 1984)
 

REFERENCES FROM OTHER LOCALITIES

Clinton Co. MO Deed (FHL film 1,005,935)
      A-72: 14 July 1835, James Duncan and wife Nancy of Clay Co. MO to Mary Wood late Mary Duncan of Clinton Co. MO, for love, to daughter Mary Wood, 2 tracts in Clinton Co., SW fract. 1/4 of Sec. 10 and NW 1/4 of Sec. 10, Twp 54, Range 33, 282.51 acres. No wit.
 

De Kalb Co. MO Deed (SLC 7/22/2014; have JPG images)
      B-555/556: John D. Branham and Mary E. Branham his wife of Clay Co. MO for $100 paid, sell to Stephen Duncan of Clay Co. MO, tract or parcel of land, NE 1/4 of SE 1/4 and SW 1/4 of NW 1/4 Sec.3 Twp.57 Range 32 containing 78 acres and 88/100 of an acre more or less, in DeKalb Co. MO, with appurtenances, warrant title. 1 Jan. 1852. /s/ John D. Branham, Mary E. Branham. Ack. 7 Jan. 1852 before Samuel Tilley, Clerk of Clay Co. MO Circuit Court, by John D. Branham and Mary E. Branham his wife. Filed for record April 5, 1852. (FHL film 1,005,478 item 2)
 

Platte Co. MO Deeds (from Lu Durham 3/1987)
      D-597: 15 June 1846, John B. Collier and wife Joannah of Andrew Co. MO to Stephen Duncan of Clay Co. MO, 160 acres in Platte Co.
      E-45: 7 Sept. 1846, Stephen Duncan and wife Nancy L. of Clay Co. MO to Robert S. Wear of Platte Co., E 1/2 SW 1/4 Sec. 16, T52, R33, $250.
      E-365: 19 March 1847, Benjamin L. Lampton and wife Mahala to Stephen Duncan of Clay Co., $89.34, 29+ acres.
      E-366: 1 Nov. 1847, Stephen Duncan and wife Nancy L. of Clay Co. to John Gardner, $155.
      E-698: 10 May 1848, Stephen Duncan and wife Nancy L. of Clay Co. to Caleb Magill, 28+ acres.
      P-194: 5 April 1857, Stephen Duncan and wife Nancy L. of Clinton Co. MO, to George Collins of Clay Co., 300 acres in Platte Co., $4800. Land contains burying ground.
      S-560/2: 10 March 1866, Milton Darnell and wife Mary B. to James Duncan of Clay Co., 102 acres.
 

Saline Co. MO Deeds (SLC 7/17/2014; have JPG images)
      H-330/331: 17 May 1840, Stephen Duncan and Nancy V. Duncan his wife of Clay Co. MO to Samuel Miller of Saline Co. state afsd, for $1668.25 paid, sell tracts or parcels of land in Saline Co. MO, the NW 1/2 NE 1/4 Sec. (blank) of Sec.6 Twp.49N, Range 22, containing 80 acres and 84/100 of an acre, also SW (blank) of NE 1/4 Sec.7 Twp.49N Range 22 containing 40 acres and also NW 1/4 SE 1/4 Sec.18 Twp.49N Range 22 containing 40 acres more or less, with appurtenances, warrant title. /s/ Stephen Duncan, Nancy V. Duncan. Ack. 12 May 1840 by Stephen Duncan and Nancy Duncan before Abraham Shafer, Clerk of Clay Co. MO Court. Filed for record 21 May "1848" and recorded 12 June 1840. (FHL film 902,977)
      H-487/488: 30 June 1840, William M. Browning and Nancy Y. Browning his wife of Saline Co. MO to Stephen Duncan of Clay Co. MO, for $500 paid, sell all that piece or parcel of land in Saline Co. MO, W 1/2 of SW 1/4 Sec.8, E 1/2 of NE and SE of SW 1/4 Sec.18, all of Twp.49 Range 23, with appurtenances, warrant title. /s/ William M. Browning, Nancy Y. Browning. Ack. 30 June 1840 by William M. Browning and Nancy Y. his wife before Gilmon Hays, Justice, Saline Co. Court. Filed for record 15 Jan. 1841 and recorded 5 Feb. 1841. (FHL film 902,977)
      O-569/570: 25 Oct. 1847, Stephen Duncan and Nancy his wife of Clay Co. MO to William Linch of afsd, for $300 paid, sell tracts, pieces or parcels of land in Saline Co. MO, the NW 1/4 of SW 1/4 Sec.8 Twp.49 Range 23, also SE 1/4 of NE 1/4 Sec.18 of same Twp. & Range, also 1/2 of SE 1/4 of SW 1/4 Sec.18 Twp.49 Range 23 to be taken off north end of said 1/4 or 40 acres containing 100 acres as per survey, with appurtenances, warrant title. /s/ Stephen Duncan, Nancy L. Duncan. Ack. 25 Oct. 1847 by Stephen Duncan and Nancy his wife before Nathaniel Vincent, Justice of Clay Co. MO County Court. Filed for record 27 Jan. 1852, recorded 27 Jan. 1852. (FHL film 902,980)
 

Barren Co. KY Deed (SLC 9/20/2012)
      O-54/55: 18 May 1835, Joseph Duncan and wife Polly of Clay Co. MO to Joseph Lewis of Barren Co. KY, for $425 paid, sell tract of land in Barren Co. KY on Peters Creek, being part of Greens Military Survey, beg. at George Pages line, then ... State Road opposite to where Doctor Roberts formerly lived, then with a line of his survey along the State road ..., Oliphants corner and line, ... Geo. Page's line, ... warrant title, a deed having heretofore been made by said Duncan to said Lewis for the afsd tract of land on 20 Aug. 1829, but the dower was not relinquished by Mrs. Duncan and the object of this deed being to obtain the relinquishment of the dower of Mrs. Duncan. /s/ Joseph Duncan, Polly Duncan. They appeared 18 May 1835 before William T. Wood, Clerk of Clay Co. MO Court, and Polly Duncan relinquished her right of dower. Certification 19 May 1835 by John Bird, Presiding Justices of Clay Co. MO County Court, for William T. Wood, Clerk. (FHL film 209,726; SLC 9/20/2012) (MAD: see Barren Co. KY Deeds L-487 and L-489)

Garrard Co. KY Deed (SLC 5/2/2013)
      T-505/506: #4859. 15 Nov. 1854, James Duncan and Sally his wife of Clay Co. MO appoint William B. Mason of Garret Co. KY our attorney to receive ... our distributive share of the estate of Thomas Tracy, decd, from Thomas Tracey, admin. of the estate of said Thomas Tracy, decd. /s/ James Duncan, Sally (X) Duncan. They appeared 15 Nov. 1854 before Thomas McCarty, Clerk of County Court of Clay Co. MO. Recorded 24 Dec. 1855 in Garrard Co. KY. (FHL film 183,250)
 

HISTORIES before 1923

Go to the Clay Co. MO Histories before 1923
 

OTHER RECORDS

Obit? of Henry Clay Duncan, no date or source (son of Stephen C. Duncan; extract from Verna Hamilton 7/1988)
      H.C. Duncan was born near Smithville, Clay Co. MO. In the mercantile business with Samuel B. Hitt which he (H.C.) organized 1883. Largest bank in DeKalb Co. MO. At the time of H.C. Duncan's death, 1925, he was president of the Oregon Bank and Vice President of the Sterling State Bank of Kansas City, MO. Services for his funeral was held at his Mapel Hill farm five miles south of Osborne, MO. Buried in Evergreen Cemetery at Osborne. Survived by his widow and 4 daughters, Mrs. Lena Gosnell of Pasadena CA; Mrs. Walter Edwards (Lula M.) of St. Louis MO; Mrs. Stewart Thompson (Susan) of Portland, OR; Mrs. Charles Lyons (Nancy Marmaduke).

Some early Duncans in Clay Co. MO:
      Nancy Duncan, 28 Dec. 1826, mar. John DePriest Hall
      Betsy Duncan, 8 Nov. 1827, dau. of Mathew Duncan, mar. Josiah J. Vaughn.
      Magdalene Duncan, 8 Nov. 1827, mar. James Baxter
      Elizabeth Duncan, 28 June 1831, mar. John F.A. Dunn
      Mary Duncan, 11 Sept. 1834, mar. Lewis Wood
      Philemon Duncan, 23 Oct. 1834, mar. Cecelia or Celetia Keturah Hudson; Katerine Duncan named as daughter in will of Simon Hudson dated 21 March 1849, filed 31 March 1853 in Will Book C, pg.186. (Clay Co. MO Abstracts of Wills and Administrations, Books A, B, C, 1825-1839 and 1848-1853, from pg.72, Vol.11, 3/1981, of "Missouri Miscellany" FHL book 977.8 D2w, from Denzil Mauldin 1984)
      Eleanor Duncan, 23 April 1835, mar. Jeremiah Hall; Eleanor Hall mar. Samuel S. Ligon 10 Sept. 1839. Jeremiah Hall was named as son of Elisha Hall in Elisha's undated will proved 3 March 1851, recorded in Clinton Co. MO Will Book A, pg.232; from pg.11, "Wills and Administrations of Clinton Co. MO 1833-1870" by Nanon L. Carr, from Dorothy Franks 1995)
      Nancy Duncan, 1 June 1836, named as daughter in will of Sarah Musick which included grandson Jahoyda Duncan and named her son-in-law James Duncan Esq. as co-exec.; will filed 8 July 1836, Will Book A, pg.273. (Clay Co. MO Abstracts of Wills and Administrations, Books A, B, C, 1825-1839 and 1848-1853, from pg.59, Vol.11, 3/1981, of "Missouri Miscellany" FHL book 977.8 D2w, from Denzil Mauldin 1984)
      James Duncan, 11 Nov. 1837, died intestate, administrator Matthew Duncan, securities Abijah Brooks and A.B. Duncan, recorded in Book A near end of book on pg.249. (Clay Co. MO Abstracts of Wills and Administrations, Books A, B, C, 1825-1839 and 1848-1853, from pg.60, Vol.11, 3/1981, of "Missouri Miscellany" FHL book 977.8 D2w, from Denzil Mauldin 1984)
      Elizabeth Duncan, 4 July 1837, mar. Jeremiah N. Clark
      Joseph Duncan, 6 Oct. 1837, died intestate, administrator Abijah Brooks, securities John Wilson and Robert H. Brooks, recorded in Book A, pg.239. (Clay Co. MO Abstracts of Wills and Administrations, Books A, B, C, 1825-1839 and 1848-1853, from pg.57, Vol.11, 3/1981, of "Missouri Miscellany" FHL book 977.8 D2w, from Denzil Mauldin 1984)
      Jahorada M. Duncan, 24 Jan. 1838, of Clay Co. MO mar. Eliza Crowe in Clinton Co. MO (MAD: ? see Jehoida Duncan of 1850 Platte Co. MO)
      Rachel C. Duncan, 20 Sept. 1838, mar. Stephen Buckhannon
      Mary Ann Duncan, 15 Aug. 1839, mar. James H. Ford
      Sarah J. Duncan, 22 Aug. 1839, mar. William H[arrison] Lott; Wm. H[arrison] Lott mar. Leticia Duncan 20 Nov. 1844.
      Eleanor Duncan, 12 Sept. 1839, mar. George Tracy of Buchanan Co. MO
      John F. Duncan, 7 July 1842, mar. Leticia Duncan. John F. Duncan decd, per notice in 3 Oct. 1845 issue of "St. Joseph MO Gazette", admin. Peter "Soltzclaw" (pg.7, Vol.1 #1, 1981, "Northwest MO Genealogical Society Journal," FHL book 977.81 D25n)
      James Duncan, 5 March 1845, in case of Sarah Duncan vs. James Duncan, June term, 5 March 1845, Sarah asked the petition be dismissed. (from "Divorces, Separations & Annulments in MO 1769-1850" author not given, from June Davis 1995)
      Judith Ann Duncan, 17 June 1847, mar. John Strode
      Matthew Duncan, 26 March 1848, mar. Lucy J. Duncan
      Matthew Duncan, 16 Nov. 1848, mar. Elizabeth Young
      William Duncan, July 1848, sued for divorce by Sarah Duncan; Case #19, Box 55, July term of MO Supreme Court; also file #25, Box 57, Jan. 1849 and Jan. 1850; from "Missouri State Gen. Association Journal" Winter, 1984, FHL book 977.8 D25m, from Kit Smith 1983-1985)
      Mary Ann Duncan, 5 Feb. 1851, mar. John D. Brannum
      John L. Duncan, 5 April 1852, died intestate, administrator Stephen Duncan, securities Nathaniel Vincent and Washington Scott, recorded in Book C, pg.248. (Clay Co. MO Abstracts of Wills and Administrations, Books A, B, C, 1825-1839 and 1848-1853, from pg.74, Vol.11, 3/1981, of "Missouri Miscellany" FHL book 977.8 D2w, from Denzil Mauldin 1984)
      Thomas B. Duncan, 4 Nov. 1852, mar. Mary E. Hall
      Matthew Duncan, 24 Nov. 1853, decd; administrator Thos. J. Young, securities Joseph D. Anderson, John W. Young and Weekly Dale. An affidavit stated he left a widow and heirs: Nancy Duncan, mother of deceased; Jehoida Duncan; Elizabeth Holtzclaw, wife of Peter, (formerly Duncan); Mary Wood, formerly Duncan, married to Lewis Wood; Permelia Duncan; Stephen Duncan; John Duncan and Thomas Duncan, all of Clay Co.; and Jane Duncan, intermarried with Joseph Duncan, who resides in Clinton Co., brothers and sisters of the decd; William Winn, Mary Winn, Nancy Brackenridge, late Winn, intermarried with Alexander Brackenridge, Mildred Clay, late Winn, intermarried with Thomas H. Clay, Letitia Ecton, late Winn, wife of Abijah Ecton, and George Winn, who are the children of Sarah Winn, late Duncan, intermarried with James Winn and sister to the said Matthew Duncan, deceased; Alice Hall, Mary J. Ligon, James L. Ligon, Ann Eliza and Nanette E. Ligon, children of Ellen Ligon, late Hall, and formerly Duncan, and sister of Matthew Duncan; Belvidere Stout, late Hall, intermarried with D. Stout, Mary Duncan, late Hall, intermarried with Thomas Duncan, Sarah Hall, Adelia Hall, Elisha Hall, George Hall, Jeremiah Hall, Adaline Hall, John Hall, children of Nancy Hall, late Duncan, intermarried with John D. Hall, who was a sister of Matthew, who reside in Clay and Clinton Cos. MO. Recorded in Book D, pg.1. (Clay Co. MO Abstracts of Wills and Administrations, Book D, 1854-1859, from pg.32, Vol.12, 9/1981, of "Missouri Miscellany" FHL book 977.8 D2w, from Denzil Mauldin 1984). James Winn's will dated 27 Feb. 1869 named the children of his first wife Sarah, among other heirs, proved 9 June 1869 and recorded in Clinton Co. MO Will Book (B?), pg.301 (from pg.37-38, with other comments by the author, of "Wills and Administrations of Clinton Co. MO 1833-1870" by Nanon L. Carr, from Dorothy Franks 1995). James Winn mar. Sarah W. Duncan, 13 Oct. 1825, in Howard Co. MO.
      William Duncan, 14 Aug. 1852, wrote his will naming his wife Sarah Duncan; dau. Mary Ann and heirs of her body; dau. Louisa and heirs of her body; children of my son James Duncan decd; son Theodore; exec. Theodore Duncan, wit. Darius Sessions, Nathaniel Mothershead and Stephen Duncan; proved 5 May 1856, recorded in Will Book D, pg.124. (Clay Co. MO Abstracts of Wills and Administrations, Book D, 1854-1859, from pg.39, Vol.12, 9/1981, of "Missouri Miscellany" FHL book 977.8 D2w, from Denzil Mauldin 1984)

Cemetery Records of Clay Co. MO have been published in the following and other books or periodicals:
      "Kansas City Gen." 7/1/1965, contains records of Thomas Duncan, 1824-1915, wife Lucy Ann 1840-1876, and others, in the Salem Cemetery located about 2 miles north of Excelsior Springs, MO (from files of Nancy Reba Roy)
      "Kansas City Genealogist" 1/1/1965, pg.21, contains records of A.B. Duncan 1807-1889 and wife Mrs. Helen M. Duncan 1817-1887, in the Mt. Gilead Cemetery in north-central part of Clay Co. (from MO files of Kay D. Hampton before 1970, loaned through Lu Durham 5/1988, now at Platte Co. MO Historical Society)
      "Cemeteries of Clay Co. MO" by Clay Co. Historical Society ca 1983 (FHL book 977.816 V3c; from Dorothy Franks 1989; typed by Evelyn Sigler). This book contains the above cemeteries and many others.
      "MO Cemetery Records" Vol.I, by Heart of America Genealogy Society & Library (Kansas City, MO) (from Dorothy Franks 1990). This book also contains the above cemeteries and others.

"Kentucky court and other records, volume 2 : from original court entries, wills, deeds, orders, suits, church minutes, marriages, old bibles and tombstone inscriptions; records from Fayette, Jefferson, and Lincoln (first three great counties), Bath, Bourbon, Bracken, Clark, Fleming, Harrison, Hardin, Jessamine, Mason, Madison, Montgomery, Nicholas, Oldham, Scott, Woodford, Warren" by Julia Hoge Spencer Ardery (also from Lucille Mehrkam 1985)
      Pg.137 in this book includes a Franklin Co. KY Deed D-311, 31 March 1814, from John Strode heirs including James Duncan and Elizabeth his wife formerly Elizabeth Strode, and a note that the family record of Abijah Brooks, a Revolutionary Soldier, includes his daughters Polly who married Mr. Duncan and lived in Clay Co. MO, and Nelie married Thomas Duncan of KY; and on pg.138, a Franklin Co. KY Deposition of James Duncan, aged 55, in Sept. 1805.

"Genealogical Notes from 'Liberty Tribune'" (Clay Co. MO newspaper) by Nadine Hodges & Audry Woodruff (FHL book 977.816 D28h; also from Dorothy Franks and others)
      Vol.I, 1846-1858; Vol.II, 1858-1868; Vol.III, 1868-1874; Vol.IV, 1874-1880; Vol.V, 1880-1886; and later.
      Some 1901 and later issues have been abstracted and printed in the
"MO State Genealogical Association Journal" Vol.8 #1 Winter 1988; Vol.8 #2 Spring 1988; Vol.8 #3 Summer 1988; and later (FHL book 977.8 D25m, from Dorothy Franks 1989)
      These volumes should be consulted if you have a Duncan in Clay Co. MO. The notices include marriages, deaths, divorces, and other items of genealogical interest.

"Vital Records from Bibles" by the California DAR, Vol.6 (FHL film 844,415 item 5)
      Pg.18-19 include the Bible records of James Lloyd Browning, b.1823, and wife Lucy Jane Duncan, b.1831, and their children and their marriage in 1853; they were the son and daughter of Charles and Susan Browning and Stephen and Lucy Duncan; Stephen Duncan born 1797, died 1877, his wife Lucy born 1809 and died 1838, both born in Bourbon Co. KY. Complete dates are given in the Bible record.

"Family Bible Records" by Georgia DAR, at GA Department of Archives & History, 1938 (FHL film 6,977)
      Series 1, pgs.1200-1206 (FHL film 6,977), contain the Bible and family record of Archibald Holtzclaw (b.1764 Fauquier Co. VA, to Fayette Co. KY, then Liberty, MO) and of his son Peter Holtzclaw 1802-1855, who married on 2 Aug. 1827 to Elizabeth Duncan, born 14 July 1810, died 2 April 1885, dau. of James Duncan and Nancy "Mussic". The record includes much more on these Holtzclaw families.

1893 "Genealogy of the Lewis family in America, from the middle of the seventeenth century down to the present time" by William Terrell Lewis (FHL book 929.273 L585L and film 483,707; Memphis Public Library book 929.2 L67; from Evelyn Sigler 11/1984)
      Pg.197: Jehoiada, son of Sarah Lewis and her husband Abraham Musick, was born about 1765; married Sally Wynn in Bourbon Co. KY where he died. His widow and two daughters moved to Clay Co. MO. Dau. Nancy Musick married in 1807 Capt. James Duncan, who was a soldier in the War of 1812. They both died near Elm Grove, Clay Co. MO.
      MAD: Much more about this family, with sources, is given on pgs.65-71 in the "Terrell Genealogy" (from Jeannine Wright 11/1991)

"The Duncans of Bourbon Co. KY" by Julia Hoge Spencer Ardery (FHL fiche 6,018,102 and other sources).
      Mrs. Ardery's book contains the descendants of Capt. James Duncan, born 20 Feb. 1750, died 16 Oct. 1817, married 9 Dec. 1777 to Elizabeth Strode, dau. Capt. John Strode. Many of his children moved from Bourbon Co. KY to Clay Co. MO.
 

"Our Hutzel Heritage, A Genealogy of the Hutzel-Hutsell Family" by Sue Hutsell and Jane Hutsell Terral, 1980 (FHL book 929.273 H979h; see also Morgan Co. IN; Clay Co. MO)
      Footnote 57 refers to "Comm. Biog. Rec. of Prominent and Representative Men of Indianapolis and Vicinity" 1908 by Beers & Co. This footnote is the source for information on pg.46 about William Harrison Lott, who married first on 22 Aug. 1839 to Sarah J. Duncan, and second on 20 Nov. 1844 to her cousin Letitia Duncan, both in Clay Co. MO, and third to Louisa Jane Wilkerson in Clinton Co. MO.
      Pg.48 of this book also has information on Stephen Charles Duncan, son of Stephen Duncan born 15 Dec. 1833 in Henry Co. KY and his wife Lucy Browning; Stephen Charles Duncan mar. on 11 Nov. 1870 to Maria Rebecca Winn in Clinton Co. MO.

Clay Co. MO Archives (information from Dorothy Franks 4/1989)
      DF Note: There are really a lot of Duncans of Clay Co. Thelma Duncan Barr had done a lot on the Duncans. Some of it was written by Mrs. Barr (Mrs. Lawrence H. Barr of Overland Parks, KS) Jan. 31, 1971. Each child of Matthew Duncan and James Duncan has an envelope with their line that has been traced to recent times. Anyone who had Duncan kin in Clay Co. at one time would learn a lot of their family. This Matthew and Stephen Duncan are mentioned in the book "The Duncans of Bourbon Co. KY with Notes from other Counties." by Mrs. W.B. (Julia Spencer) Ardery.
      1989 information from Dorothy Franks: When I was searching there, the lady at the archives brought out quite a few envelopes on the Duncan family descendants of Matthew Duncan. Also there was an envelope on Matthew Duncan. All of it was done by Mrs. Barr. They also have on file a lot of the early probate records and land records. The ladies at the archives do research for people. I don't know their fee. If you do research yourself, it's $3.00 a day or a years membership for $5.00. You can copy anything yourself except the very old-old records. They are $1.00 per page and they do the copying. The address for the archives is 210 E. Franklin, Liberty, MO 64068. This bldg. is in the 2nd block east of the square in Liberty. Tel. No. 816-781-3611.
      Oct. 2002 information from Joy Caraway, a volunteer at the Clay Co. MO Archives, lists the current research fee for a non-member at $5 daily, or a $15 membership fee with unlimited research.
 

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