Duncans in Schenectady Co. NY Histories

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

Last revised August 24, 2007

SCHENECTADY CO. NY
HISTORIES before 1923
 

1875 "American biographical notes : being short notices of deceased persons, chiefly those not included in Allen's or in Drake's biographical dictionaries, gathered from many sources" by Franklin B. Hough, pub. by Joel Munsell (FHL film 599,808 item 2; from Charles A. Duncan 3/1987)
      Duncan, Capt. Richard, a partizan tory officer of the revolution; formerly of Schenectady; died there in Feb. 1819; was for a time member of the executive council of Upper Canada.
            MAD: see also "American Loyalist Claims : abstracted from the Public Record Office, Audit Office series 13, bundles 1-35 & 37" by Peter Wilson Coldham, F.A.S.G., 1986, FHL book 973 R2cp and film 1,035,626 item 1 and fiche 6,051,361, from Jane Anders 7/1990.
            MAD: see also Vol.1, pg.126, Mary Fraser, in "A Dictionary of Scottish Emigrants to the USA" by Donald Whyte, 1972, FHL book 973 W2w, from Evelyn Sigler 4/1981.
 

1916 "A History of Schenectady during the Revolution : to which is appended a contribution to the individual records of the inhabitants of the Schenectady district during that period" by Willis T. Hanson, Jr.; pub. by E.L. Hildreth & Co. (FHL film 1,425,590 item 2; HeritageQuest image 2/2007, Local History Reel/Fiche Number 6769)
      Individual Records of Service.
      Pg.159-160: DUNCAN, JOHN: Born in 1722; died May 5, 1791. He came to Schenectady in 1755, and was a merchant of considerable means, having his warehouse on the northwest corner of Washington Avenue and Union Street. Soon after his establishment he took into partnership James Phyn, a London merchant. The firm of Duncan & Phyn became widely known, and both men very wealthy. The business was later carried on by the Ellices, on the retirement of Mr. Duncan. Mr. Duncan had a city residence on the southeast corner of Union and Ferry Streets, and a country seat comprising some eight hundred acres known as the Hermitage situated in Niskayuna, of which the present estate of Mr. Welton Stanford comprises a part. He lived in Schenectady after the war and died here. On March 11, 1776, General Washington informed the Committee of Safety that he had been informed that Duncan had three hundred stand of arms. On May 21 the Board was informed that a number of enemies to the cause of liberty were gathered at his house. The Board, however, did not feel justified in taking any action, as the Hermitage was outside the Schenectady district. On December 19, he was ordered confined to the limits of his farm until further notice and required to give a bond of £500 for his good behavior and the carrying out of the order. On March 28, 1777, he was paroled by the Committee of Safety. In May he was recommended to the field officers as "a dangerous person," and on May 3 arrested in order to be taken to Albany, but was released after giving his oath that he would take up arms in defense of the country in case of any invasion. On October 16 the inhabitants petitioned General Gates for his removal as commissary for the purchase of supplies for the hospital, and on November 7 he resigned. On July 23, 1778, he was cited to appear before the Commissioners of Conspiracies to render satisfaction regarding his conduct conformable to the Act respecting persons of a neutral or equivocal character. He was unable to attend because of illness, but on August 1 appeared and requested time to consider taking the Oath of Allegiance. On August 8 he again appeared and stated that while he "conceived himself not to be comprehended within the meaning of the Act nevertheless to show his further zeal and attachment to the State and the cause of America, he was willing and ready to take the Oath voluntarily." This he accordingly did. On August 16, 1780, he was reported as having received letters from the enemy. His name appears on the rolls of the 2d Albany County Militia, Land Bounty Rights.
      Pg.160-161: DUNCAN, RICHARD: Died in February, 1819. He was living with his father in Schenectady when the war broke out. In June, 1776, under an assumed name he accompanied to Johnstown General McLean, an officer of the British service who had come to the house in disguise, endeavoring to make his way to Canada. In May, 1777, he was recommended to the field officers as a "dangerous person." He was appointed a captain in the British army and joined the troops at Saratoga, bringing with him not a few volunteers. He remained with the troops until a little while before the Convention, when with General Burgoyne's permission he left to join his corps at Ticonderoga accompanied by a number of other soldiers. The band was pursued and fired upon by the American troops but no one was taken prisoner. He was in immediate command of a company of regular troops under Sir John Johnson in his attack upon the Mohawk River settlements in 1780, and is said to have commanded "with great gallantry and success on the retreats, when attacked by a spirited regiment of the army of General Robert Van Rensselaer." He remained in the army until the reduction of his regiment in 1783. Captain Duncan "was never taxed with cruelty or severity by the settlers" and after his father's death in 1791, he resided for many years at the Hermitage, "an accomplished Christian gentleman of extremely urbane manners and very much respected."
 

"Centennial address relating to the early history of Schenectady [New York] and its first settlers" by John Sanders; pub. Albany, N.Y.: Van Benthuysen Print. House, 1879, 362 pgs. (LH6980, HeritageQuest images 2/2007 & 6/2007; FHL book 974.744/S1 H2s and film 823,785)
      Chapter VI, Early Settlers.
      Pg.181-182: John Duncan, a young Scotchman, with his wife, Martha March, came to Schenectady in 1755. He was possessed of a good capital, and opened an extensive mercantile establishment on what is now the northwest corner of Washington avenue and Union street. He was the pioneer of a new style of merchants and a new mode of trade at Schenectady. Soon after his location here he formed a partnership with James Phyn, of London, and they became extensive wholesale and retail merchants and forwarders, extending their business far and wide over the Northern lakes; and, after 1759, dealing largely and directly with Montreal. None can claim more justly giving an early impetus to the mercantile prosperity of Schenectady than the great firm of Duncan & Phyn. Mr. Duncan's city residence was the dwelling erected by him on the southeast corner of Union and Ferry streets. The business at Schenectady was principally conducted by him, while his partner Phyn conducted business abroad and at Montreal, where he mostly resided. Both becoming exceedingly rich for that day, they retired from business, except that James Phyn retained an interest in the succeeding firm of John, James, Alexander and Robert Ellice, merchants from London, who continued their great business.
            Mr. Duncan subsequently purchased nearly all of the present town of Princetown (then called Corrysbush), and titles to lands there are now held under grants from himself or his sons.
            He built a country seat called "Hermitage" (after his decease burned down) on his extensive farm of 800 acres in the now town of Niskayuna, a part of which is at present owned and occupied by ex-Senator Charles Stanford.
            At the Hermitage Mr. Duncan died May 5th, 1791, aged 69 years, much esteemed to generous hospitality and unostentatious benevolence.
      Richard, his oldest son, was a Captain in the regular British army, and had the immediate command of a company of regular troops under command of Sir John Johnson, in his attack upon the Mohawk river settlements in 1780. He is said to have commanded his company with great gallantry and success on the retreats, when attacked by a spirited regiment of the army of General Robert Van Rensselaer. He was never taxed with cruelty or severity by the settlers. The enormities committed were perpetrated by the Tories and Indians under Sir John Johnson's command.
            After his father's decease, Captain Duncan resided for many years at the Hermitage, an accomplished Christian gentleman, of extremely urbane manners, and very much respected. He had only one child, Maria, who died January 8th, 1816, aged 23 years, unmarried. His wife, Mary, died September 8th, 1815, aged 45 years, and Captain Duncan died February --, 1819 -- all swept away within three years, and now sleep in the family vault, under the chapel adjoining the Presbyterian grave-yard, Schenectady.
      John Major Duncan, a son of John Duncan, by a second marriage, born June 22d, 1781; died July 6th, 1875, aged 94. He inherited considerable property from his father in Delaware county and elsewhere, and at his decease left one son and four daughters.
      Pg.207: After the fall of Quebec, and the consequent reduction of Canada, John Duncan and James Phyn, leading merchants of Montreal, immediately availed themselves of the favorable location, and after conducting an immense business under a partnership of a few years, John Duncan, the senior partner, retired, as we have shown, upon a large fortune; and the old business was continued under the firm of Phyn, Ellice & Co. ...
      Pg.211: John Duncan, Esq., (our distinguished trader), the first Recorder (23 Oct. 1765) ...
 

"The papers of Sir William Johnson" by William Johnson; pub. Albany: The University of the State of New York, 1921, 13958 pgs. (PS314, HeritageQuest images 6/2007)
      4:213: From Robert Rogers, etc. In the Johnson Calendar [1763], p.182, are entered the following papers, which were destroyed by fire: a letter of October 6th from John Glen, Junior, at Schonectady, concerning the desire of Mr. Duncan's son to be a lieutenant in the troop and the difficulty, the appointment of officers being already settled; ...
      4:266: From John Duncan, etc. In the Johnson Calendar [1763], p.193-94, are entered the following papers, which were destroyed by fire: a letter of December 8th from Captain John Duncan, at Corrysbush, mentioning a road to Schohary which he is running, discussing a misunderstanding with Captain Glen about an appointment of Richard Duncan to a lieutenancy and expressing his sense of the honor of serving under Sir William and his satisfaction with any appointments which the latter may make; a letter of the 8th from Captain John Glen Junior, at Scshonectady, explaining his difference with Mr. Duncan over appointing Duncan's son to be an officer in the troop, and reminding that he awaits Johnson's consent before ordering accouterments for the troop in London; ...
      5:47: From John Duncan, A.L.S., Scheny. Monday forenoon 3d March 1766. (MAD: portions missing) [] Arrived, the letters for the Upper [] for your care, wish it May not be [] I think it right to Send them [] [] Son intends takeing his departure for [Europe ] in a few days will do himself the [] to wait on you. (MAD: more not copied) (to) []ble Sir Wm. Johnson &c &c &c
 

"Old Schenectady [New York]" by George S. Roberts; pub. Schenectady, N.Y.: Robson & Adee, 1904?, 290 pgs. (LH6979, HeritageQuest images 6/2007; FHL book 974.744/S1 H2r)
      Pg.28: A charter was granted on October 22, 1765, which made Schenectady a borough and created the following offices which were filled by the following citizens: Recorder, John Duncan. ...
      Pg.30: Princetown was made a township in March, 1798. ... These original owners (in 1737) sold to William Corey, who affected a settlement, for many years known as Coreybush. Corey sold to John Duncan. The town was named in honor of John Prince, a resident of Schenectady who represented Albany County -- before the forming of Schenectady County -- in the Assembly.
 

"Union University : centennial catalog, 1795-1895, of the officers and alumni of Union College in the city of Schenectady, N.Y." (anonymous); pub. Troy, N.Y.: Troy Times Printing House, 1895, 218 pgs. (LH4393, HeritageQuest images 6/2007)
      Pg.2. Alumni. 1800. Non-Graduates: Duncan, John; Residence at Entrance: Schenectady; Last Residence: Schenectady; Decease: * (MAD: some names have a year in this column, some are blank)
      Pg.64. 1842. Non-Graduates: Duncan, Robert; Salem; Salem; [18]45 (MAD: Salem, Washington Co. NY)
 

"Schenectady County, New York : its history to the close of the nineteenth century" by Austin A. Yates; pub. unknown: New York History Co., 1902, 743 pgs. (LH4396, two books with same LH number, HeritageQuest images 6/2007; FHL book 974.744 H2y and film 1,036,212 item 1)
      Pg.89: Daniel Campbell in 1754 came here and settled in Rotterdam to enter the service of the king. Very soon after his coming, John Duncan came the year following, to not only serve under the king, but to remain in it all through the Revolution, and to take command of a company under Sir John Johnson and attack the settlement on the Mohawk River.
      Pg.133: Previous to this, (23d October, 1765), Schenectady was created a borough, ... and under that charter ... John Duncan, Esq., (our distinguished trader), the first recorder. ...
      Pg.138: ... from lands originally patented to George Ingoldsby and Aaron Bradt in 1737, and subsequently sold to William Corry, who formed a settlement there "which was long known as Corrysbush," who sold his interest to John Duncan. The town itself was named after John Prince ... (MAD: similar reference on pg.415, not copied)
      Pg.287: Samuel Fuller, one of the most distinguished architects that this county has produced, ... came to Schenectady during the French War, on the 28th day of March, 1758, and was then wholly employed in the King's service at Schenectady, ... to Schenectady, where he arrived in July, 1761, and on the 13th of the same month commenced the building of a mansion in this town, and the year following erected "The Hermitage," in Niskayuna, for our great ex-merchant, John Duncan, upon his extensive estate there. This latter building was, long after its erection, burned down, and is now replaced, at a point not far distant, upon a portion of the same domain, by a fine mansion, the residence of ex-Senator Charles Stanford.
 

"A history of the Schenectady patent in the Dutch and English times : being contributions toward a history of the lower Mohawk Valley" (NY) by Jonathan Pearson; pub. Albany, N.Y.: J. Munsell's Sons, printers, 1883, 492 pgs. (LH4395, HeritageQuest images 6/2007)
      Pg.149: This lot was on the south corner of Washington and Union streets (in a 1702 deed). Long afterwards, it came into possession of John Duncan and John and Henry Glen. (MAD: similar on pg.86, not copied)
 

"Schenectady [New York], ancient and modern : a complete and connected history of Schenectady from the granting of the first patent in 1661 to 1914 : presenting also many historic pictures and portraits of those who have been conspicuous figures in its history" by Joel Henry Monroe; pub. Geneva, N.Y.: Press of W.F. Humphrey, 1914, 327 pgs. (LH6770, HeritageQuest images 6/2007; FHL fiche 6,093,457)
      Pg.76: The movement for the building of a church took concrete form in 1769 when John Duncan, Jans Wilson, James Shuter, Andrew and Hugh Michel, Andrew McFarland, William White and Alexander Merser, united in the purchase of a church log.
      Pg.140-141: From the middle to the close of the eighteenth century there were many men of high type and strong character settled in Schenectady. They were merchants, professional men, and others who held conspicuous places in the affairs of state and nation.
            Samuel Fuller, who located in the village about 1758, probably did as much as an architect to build up and add grace and character to the style of buildings, for a half century, as any who succeeded him. ... The John Duncan mansion or Hermitage in Niskayuna was also a part of his work, ...
            John Duncan was another one of this group. He was a Scotchman and a loyal English subject when the war for independence came on. He, however, maintained neutral ground during the struggle and, therefore, was not harassed or disturbed by the colonial authorities. He was the first recorder chosen under the city charter in 1798. Duncan was a merchant of recognized ability, a progressive and successful business man. Duncan & Phynn had large warehouses in Schenectady with branch houses in London, Montreal and Detroit. They were wholesalers and importers with trade relations in any section of the then settled country. Duncan died at his country mansion on May 6, 1791.
 

"Annals and occurrences of New York City and State in the olden time : being a collection of memoirs, anecdotes, and incidents concerning the city, country, and inhabitants from the days of the founders : intended to preserve the recollections of olden time, and to exhibit society in its changes of manners and customs, and the city and country in their local changes and improvements" by John Fanning Watson; pub. Philadelphia: H.F. Anners,, 1846, 403 pgs. (LH5582, HeritageQuest images 4/2007; FHL fiche 6,081,277)
      Pg.31: First Settlement of Schenectady ... The first English church, called St.George - was erected under the auspices of Mr. John W. Brown, who came from England sometime preceding the year 1762, - when the Episcopal church was founded. Its principal benefactors were Sir Wm. Johnson and John Duncan, Esq. ...
 

"Our county and its people : a descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York" by Joseph Wilcox, James Perry, E. Brown Jr.; ed. by Edgar C. Emerson; pub. Boston: Boston History Co., 1898, 1293 pgs. (LH3329, HeritageQuest images 6/2007; FHL film 934,834 item 1)
      Pg.48: In pursuance of this reservation (northward of the Oneida Lake), August 8, 1789, the surveyor-general was directed to lay off for and at the expense of Penet the tract to be selected by him. John Duncan acted for him and selected a location in the north part of what is now this county, including the greater part of the towns of Clayton and Orleans, and a small portion of Pamelia, within its boundaries. The return of the survey was made and noted in the land office minutes, November 19, 1789. The patent itself was made to Duncan, November 19, 1789, in pursuance of a power of attorney from Penet, dated January 23 of that year. On July 13, 1790, for the nominal sum of five shillings, Duncan conveyed the square to James Watson and James Greenleaf, of New York; and on February 26, 1795, Watson released his half to Greenleaf ...
      Pg.549: The Town of Clayton. ... The Oneidas claimed the territory, but it is probable they were induced to enlarge the extent of their alleged domain at the suggestion of John Duncan, a resident of Schenectady and the agent of Penet in locating the hundred square miles of land granted the latter as "a benevolence" from the Indians. (MAD: more minor mention of the portion of the town of Clayton occupied by Penet's square, 64,000 acres, granted to John Duncan in behalf of Peter Penet)
      Pg.720: The Town of Orleans. (similar mention of John Duncan, not copied, see pg.48) Two-fifths of the tract is in the town of Clayton.
 

"History of Wapello County, Iowa" by John Beach; pub. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1914, 1064 pgs. (LH6305, HeritageQuest images 4/2007)
      Pg.600-601: Captain Charles Perry Brown, ... born Warren, Herkimer Co. New York, 30 October 1840, his parents being the Rev. Charles Edward and Frances (Lyon) Brown. ... On May 2, 1842, he and his family left Utica, New York, for the west ... (Iowa). Returned to New York 1851, returned to Iowa in July 1857 to make a home in Howard Co. Died Ottumwa, Iowa, 23 July 1901, while his wife died 12 June 1887. The latter ... was a daughter of Dr. Benjamin Lyon, of Herkimer Co. NY, whose wife, Mrs. Brown's mother, was Margaret Duncan, daughter of Richard Duncan, a prominent Scotchman who left his native land on account of political disturbances and settled near Schenectady, New York, at an early day. ....
 

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