Duncan research files of
Mary Ann (Duncan) Dobson
the Genealogy Bug
Last revised November 8, 2006
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Duncan research files of |
1870 Tangipahoa Par. LA Census
Ward 1, P.O. Amite City
Pg. 94, #285-280, DUNCAN, L.H. (m) 73 MD (white) farmer $1500-$500
Sylvia C. 63 VA
FOKES, Wm. (m) 10 LA at school
LOGAN, Maggi (f) 24 SC (white) teacher
George 19, Abram 17 LA BLACK laborers
Solomon 18 LA BLACK laborering
Patsey 18 LA BLACK
(MAD: Lemuel H. Duncan, 1860 St.Helena Par. LA census)
Amity City
Pg.103, #3-3, JONES, Sarah 35 VA MULATTO keeps house
Joshua 18 LA, Ephraim 14 LA MULATTO
Maggie (f) 12 LA MULATTO
Jno. (m) 10 LA BLACK
DUNCAN, Sarah 60 LA BLACK at home
Pg.104, #18-19, DUNCAN, Wm. 34 LA (white) Lawyer $3000-$500
Martha 30 LA
Adile (f) 3 LA
DAVIDSON, Rosa 12 LA (white) at school
GRASSFIELD, Annetta? (f) 15 LA BLACK domestic
(MAD: 1860 Livingston Par. LA census)
Ponchitoula
Pg.161, #43-43, DUNCAN, Robt. 36 LA (white) carpenter $600-$200
Arizona (f) 27 LA
Emma 16, Ella 14, Louisa 12 LA
William 10, Robt. 8, Thos. A. 6 LA
(MAD: 1860 Livingston Par. LA census)
Tangipahoa Par. LA Records (extracts from Jim Perrin, Historian of Ponchatoula, LA, 10/2005)
On 31 May 1856 Mrs. Margaret STATHART of New Orleans, Widow of Thomas A. DUNCAN, appointed Robert T. DUNCAN to be her attorney. [Tangipahoa Conveyance Ordinance Book Livingston 1, p. 327. Note: Tangipahoa Parish was formed from Livingston and three other nearby parishes in 1869]
Margaret Jane Stathart Duncan, of New Orleans widow of Thomas A. Duncan, appointed Robert T. Duncan to represent her in the purchase of two tracts of land totaling about 161 acres in Section 31, Township six south, Range eight east in June 1856. Margaret then "of Livingston Parish" {the Ponchatoula area} sold 121 acres of this land to Cornelia Speake of New Orleans on credit at a considerable profit in June 1860. (from Jim Perrin 10/21/2005)
Mrs. Margaret Jane DUNCAN of Livingston Parish, widow of Thomas A. DUNCAN, sold to Cornelia SPEAKE of New Orleans, 121 & 38/100 acres in T6S, R8E with all buildings and improvements for $3,500 on 30 June 1860. [Tangipahoa COB 2, p. 290]
With very neat penmanship, Margaret made out her will 1 March 1860 at Ponchatoula writing on a small piece of paper and folded into a small envelope. In the will she left 1/3 of her property to her daughter Ella D. STEWART, 1/3 to her son Robert T. DUNCAN, and 1/3 to her grandson Tom Duncan STEWART. Her daughter Ella was named to be the executrix. In the will Margaret said it was her intention to sell her city property, her property "on Ponchatoula," and to purchase a plantation on the Red River or elsewhere, "if I should be called away before my plans are matured, if agreeable to my daughter and son, I wish them to carry out the same." The will was presented in court in Springfield, Livingston Parish on 28 Jan. 1861. On the same day the will was presented Ella DUNCAN STEWART, widow of James D. STEWART, of Livingston Parish, requested that an inventory of her mother's property be conducted. Ella said her mother had died 6 Jan. 1861 in New Orleans. The inventory listed three tracts of land of about eighty acres each in the area just northeast of Ponchatoula, 27 slaves, horses, a wagon, carriage, mules, etc. Also a mortgage against Cornelia SPEAKE, and notes against E. A. TYLER of New Orleans. The total value of the inventory was $31,292.64, a sizeable sum in those days, although most of it was in slaves which was soon lost in the course of the war. [Tangipahoa Parish Succession Record, File No. 121-A]
There is no mention of any other DUNCAN in the succession record.
Tangipahoa Par. LA Records (extracts from Jim Perrin, Historian of Ponchatoula, LA, 10/2005)
There was a Robert DUNCAN listed in the 1860 census in the area that was Ponchatoula, ... in Livingston Parish [LA], [who] married Arizona TURNAGE (b. ca. 1838 in Livingston Parish, dau. of Thomas TURNAGE and Mary BEAVERS), d. 16 Jan. 1917 in Ponchatoula, buried in Wetmore Cemetery just west of Ponchatoula. They had several children: Emma, b. ca. 1853, m. Robert J. ARNOLD; Ella Olivia (1858-1943), m. Edwin Rusha WELLS; Louisa "Lou", b. 5 June 1860 at Springfield, d. 5 Feb. 1931 at Ponchatoula, buried in Wetmore Cem.; William, b. ca. 1862, d. Jan. 1950; Robert, Jr., b. ca. 1867; Thomas A., b. ca. 1869, alive in Jan. 1950; Anna, b. ca. 1871, living in Jan. 1950, m. Octave S. BROUSSARD; and May L. DUNCAN, b. ca. 1875, d. 20 Dec. 1902, buried in Wetmore Cem., m. Charles W. SIMMS. There is a Louisa DUNCAN listed with this Robert DUNCAN family on the 1860 census, age 41.
This Robert DUNCAN is believed to be the same Robert DUNCAN who is listed on the 1850 census in Livingston Parish living with attorney George W. WATTERSTON.
Robert DUNCAN served as a constable in the Ponchatoula area in 1857, Justice of the Peace in 1868, alderman of the town of Ponchatoula 1872-1873, & 1882.
Robert DUNCAN apparently had siblings Henry DUNCAN, b. ca. 1826, d. 2 Nov. 1862. Henry and his brother Robert DUNCAN purchased land in the new town of Ponchatoula in 1857. Henry DUNCAN was a young attorney and was elected as the first mayor of Ponchatoula in 1861, but apparently resigned a few weeks later to enter the Confederate Army. He was dischanged from the army because of sickness 28 Aug. 1861. Henry's brother William DUNCAN was the administrator of Henry's estate, which included a lot in the town of Ponchatoula jointly owned by Henry and Joseph DUNCAN.
William DUNCAN was born about 1834 according to census records {which is much after Thomas A. DUNCAN's death}, and was living with his brother Henry DUNCAN when the 1850 census was conducted in Livingston Parish. William also served in the Confederate Army. William married 3 June 1863 in Livingston Parish to Martha R. KINCHEN and they had four children. William was also an attorney and he moved a bit north in Tangipahoa Parish after the war and lived in Amite, LA. He died between 1880 and 1899.
There also seems to be a Mary Louise DUNCAN in this family, who was born 12 Aug. 1829 at Springfield, and married a Mr. SUMMERS. She died 26 Feb. 1900 in New Orleans. This is probably the Louisa listed on the 1860 with the Robert DUNCAN family. In Dec. 1899, Robert DUNCAN, Sr. of Tangipahoa Parish and Louisa SUMMERS, widow, of New Orleans, stated that they were the sole surviving brother and sister of William DUNCAN, deceased of Tangipahoa Parish, late husband of Mrs. Martha DUNCAN of Amite. [Tangipahoa COB 32, p. 562] (MAD: see 1880 Orleans Par. LA census)
St. Helena and Tangipahoa Par. LA Records (from Jim Perrin, Historian of Ponchatoula, LA, 11/2005, from Amite courthouse, Tangipahoa Par. LA; St. Helena Parish records that were transferred to Tangipahoa Parish when that area of St. Helena Parish became Tangipahoa in 1869)
Robert Duncan of St. Helena Parish sold to John Killian, land in Livingston Parish. His wife Margaret agreed to the sale and signed with her X. [25 June 1837] {Tangipahoa Parish Records, St. Helena Book 1, pp. 400-403}
The case of the heirs of Robert Duncan vs. S. G. Staples is briefly discussed. Land belonging to the heirs was sold to Amos Kent. The heirs were not named in this records. [6 July 1858] {Tangipahoa Parish Records, St. Helena Book 3, pp. 367-368} If I can find the file of records concerning this case on my next visit to Greensburg it certainly should list the heirs and solve this little mystery.
William Duncan of St. Helena Parish and Robert Duncan of Livingston Parish, sell an undivided 2/3 interest in one half interest in a tract of 66 acres. The vendors acquired this land from their deceased father's estate {the name of the father not mentioned here}. Sold for $25 cash and 17,500 feet of lumber. [22 Feb. 1868] Tangipahoa Parish Records, St. Helena Book 4, p. 596}
Robert Duncan acting as the agent of Henry Duncan sells an undivided 1/5 of a 2/13 interest in 1,180 acres of land in St. Helena Parish. [23 July 1845] {Filed in Tangipahoa Parish, 27 Aug. 1902, Tangipahoa Parish COB 36, pp. 394-395} The fractional parts are important clues in this seach. The 1/5 share I believe means that there were five living children from the marriage of Robert and Margaret Duncan at the time of his/her death. I do not know about the 2/13 share, JMP.
Margaret Duncan wife of Robert Duncan of St. Helena Parish and assisted by her husband was the executor for the estate of Alexander Bookter, Sr. {the founder of Springfield, LA, previously called Bookter's Landing, JMP}. [1 Nov. 1828] {Filed in Tangipahoa Parish, 29 Oct. 1902, COB 36, pp. 684-686} (MAD: modified by JMP 11/18/2005)
Margaret Duncan wife of Robert Duncan and assisted by her husband and tutrix of the minor children Rebecca and St. Helena Bookter makes an agreement with Isaac T. Preston. Witnessed by John Killian and Alexander Bookter {Alexander Bookter, Jr., JMP} [27 Oct. 1831] {Tangipahoa Parish COB 36, pp. 694-695}
JMP: Judging from these and other records Margaret seems to have been married to the widowed and much older Alexander Bookter, Sr., who had been previously married to Mary Dawkins. Margaret later married Robert Duncan.
Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records; St.Helena, St.Helena Par. LA, Land Office, Act/Treaty of April 24, 1820, Entry Classification: Sale-Cash Entries (Internet address as of 6/3/2001)
http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/
Name, Acres, Date land document signed, County/Parish
Duncan, Robert, 342.9a, Sep 02 1839, CANCELLED, Livingston
Duncan, Robert, 39.15a, Sep 02 1839, CANCELLED, Livingston
Duncan, Robert, 39.58a, Sep 02 1839, CANCELLED, Tangipahoa
Duncan, Robert, 66a, Sep 02 1839, Livingston
Duncan, Robert, 80.16a, Sep 02 1839, CANCELLED, Livingston
Duncan, Robert & Staples, Solomon G., 160a, Dec 11 1858, Tangipahoa
Duncan, Robert, 316.21a, June 20 1870, Tangipahoa
Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records; Greensburg, St.Helena Par. LA, Land Office, Act/Treaty of April 24, 1820, Entry Classification: Sale-Cash Entries (Internet address as of 6/3/2001)
http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/
Name, Acres, Date land document signed, County/Parish
Duncan, Margaret J., 121.38a, Jun 01 1860, Tangipahoa (MAD: 1850 Orleans Par. LA census)
Duncan, Margarett J., 79.72a, Jul 01 1859, Tangipahoa
Duncan, Robert, 205.2a, Aug 01 1853, E.Baton Rouge & E.Feliciana (MAD: ? 1860 Livingston Par. LA census)
St. Helena and Livingston Par. LA Records (from Jim Perrin, Historian of Ponchatoula, LA, 11/2005; from his research in 1985)
Succession record for a Duncan family that owned property in Montpelier, St. Helena Parish. Margaret Stinson, "late of Livingston Parish," died prior to 10 Jan. 1840 when her husband Robert Duncan, asked for an inventory to be conducted for his late wife. The inventory indicated that Margaret owned a house and several lots in Montpelier and several hundred acres of land on the line of New Orleans and Nashville Railroad {Note this railroad was never built as the company failed following the Panic of 1837. The New Orleans, Jackson and Great Northern Railroad which was constructed in the same area in present day Tangipahoa Parish in the early 1850's followed the same route as the New Orleans and Nashville RR}.
(JMP: Other documents concerning this family)
In January 1827, Robert Duncan and his wife Margaret Duncan of St. Helena Parish sold a slave to James Harris, tutor for Micajah and William Harris.
This is probably the same Robert Duncan who was called to attend a family meeting in St. Helena Parish, Nov. 1833 concerning the minor heirs of Mathew Killian.
Robert Duncan was listed as a land holder in a deed record in Dec. 1837 in what was then Livingston Parish, even earlier St. Helena Parish, but now Tangipahoa Parish.
The Robert Duncan family appears on the Livingston Parish census of 1840. Judging from the names listed next to Robert Duncan on the schedule with whom I am familiar, this appears to be the neighborhood of Springfield-west Ponchatoula. (JMP: Robert Duncan, the widower of Margaret Stinson Duncan, who died in Jan. 1840)
A Robert Duncan witness a land sale in the Livingston parish area that later became Tangipahoa Parish in June 1847.
The Baton Rouge Gazette of 14 Oct. 1848, page 2, has an article about the burning and sinking of the steamboat "Piney Woods" enroute from Springfield to New Orleans on 13 Oct. 1848. Among those lost in the fire and sinking was "Mr. Duncan, merchant of Springfield, was picked up drowned."
This may well have been Robert Duncan, widower of Margaret Stinson, who does not appear in any records in this area post 1848, of which I am aware. If this Mr. Duncan left any succession records in the Livingston Parish courthouse, they were destroyed with the burning of the courthouse in 1875.
Bienville Par. LA Conveyance Ordinance Book (extract from Jim Perrin, Historian of Ponchatoula, LA, from his trip to the Amite, Tangipahoa Par. LA, courthouse, 11/2005)
Conveyance Ordinance Book 53, pp. 667-668: T. D. Stewart of Bienville Parish sells to Mrs. Ella D. Stewart, widow, also of Bienville Parish, all of his interest in land in Section 31, Township six south, Range eight east with all improvements thereon, for the sum of $1 and other valuable considerations. {JMP: This land is northeast of Ponchatoula and was part of the land left by Margaret S. Duncan to her grandson Tom D. Stewart in her will of 1860} Signed at Arcadia, Bienville Parish, LA, 22 July 1908, and recorded shortly thereafter in Tangipahoa Parish.
The next page {p. 668}. Tom D. Stewart stated that he is a son of Mrs. Ella D. Stewart and a nephew of Robert T. Duncan, deceased. Robert T. Duncan was the son of Mrs. Margaret J. Duncan, late of Livingston Parish, who died in 1861. In her will, Mrs. Ella D. Stewart, Robert T. Duncan, and T. D. Stewart were named to share equally in her property. "Robert T. Duncan was never married but died without issue in the year 1869." My mother Ella D. Stewart was the sister and only heir of Robert T. Duncan and through him became the owner of all his interest in the estate of Margaret J. Duncan.
Livingston Par. LA information from Jim Perrin, Historian of Ponchatoula, LA, about Ella Duncan Stewart, daughter of Thomas A. Duncan (d.1829) and Margaret Stothart (d.1861), 10/2005)
Ella Duncan Stewart (b. Oct. 1827-d. post 1910 census). She seems to have lived near Ponchatola for a time and went back and forth to Arcadia, LA, in Bienville Parish in the northern part of the state. She appears on the 1880 census in Bienville Parish (p. 542) living with her son Thomas Duncan Stewart (May 1852-30 April 1934) and his family, whom she appears to have lived with for the rest of her life. Thomas D. Stewart, who is sometimes listed as Tom and sometimes as Duncan, married about 1875 to Sarah B. Caskey (b. ca. May 1854 in LA, d. 18 Aug. 1925 at age 71 in Bienville Parish. They had eight children: James D., b. ca. 1877; Elizabeth "Bessie" b. Dec. 1878, m. a banker named Will Deas; Ella, b. Dec. 1879; Mary Bell, b. Feb. 1882; Roberta "Bertie" W., b. March 1884; Eva D., b. April 1886; Roderick D., b. June 1888; Malcomb, b. June 1891.
By 1900, the Tom D. Stewart family, including Ella, had returned to Tangipahoa Parish and was farming out from Ponchatoula (p. 317). They went back to Arcadia by 1910 and apparently stayed there for many years as they are listed in Bienville Parish on the 1910 census (p. 11), which is the last schedule on which I found Ella; 1920 (p. 37-B); and 1930 (Sheet 2-B). Tom D. Stewart worked as mailman for many years.
"Louisiana Genealogical Register" Vol.18 #3 1971, and Vol.19 #1 and #3, 1972 (FHL book 976.3 B2gr, and from Evelyn Sigler 12/1984). Some of the same or similar records were included in "LA Misc. Records," 1971, by DAR (FHL film 893,747, item 2)
Livingston Parish, LA, Court Records, taken from books at Tangipahoa Parish. "Livingston Parish LA was created from St.Helena Parish in 1832 and a section of Livingston Parish was given to the Parish of Tangipahoa when the latter parish was created in 1869. Fortuitously, someone, probably the Clerk of Court, of the newly created Tangipahoa Parish, sent a scribe to Livingston Parish and copied some of the documents dealing with land transactions, said land now being included in the Parish of Tangipahoa. The Courthouse of Livingston Parish was destroyed by fire in 1870 and the original records were lost."
MAD: Some of these copied records were submitted to the periodical by Mrs. John T. Watkins, Hammond, LA. These included deeds from "Book No. 1 & 2 Combined" and from "Book 3"
MAD: The deeds included in Book 1&2 an 1843 deed on pg.274 from G.W. Wallerston and wife Rebecca Booker to Robert Rhinds witnessed by H. Duncan (V.19#1 pg.57) and an 1844 deed on pg.161 from James H. Harvey & wife Elizabeth Kendrick to Thomas Roddy witnessed by Henry Duncan (V.18#3 pg.278).
An 1856 deed on pg.324 from William Tucker and wife Mary Ann Shilling to Mrs. Margaret Jane Duncan, widow of Thomas Duncan. (MAD: Thomas A. Duncan mar. Margaret Jane Stoddard or Stothart 1/24/1822 Davidson Co. TN; she in 1850 New Orleans, LA census.) An 1856 deed on pg.327 from Mrs. M. Duncan to Robert T. Duncan. (MAD: These documents were listed as Book 1&2 in the periodical, but as Book 1 by the DAR on pg.252)
An 1857 deed on pg.500 from Wm. Ackers to Henry and Robert Duncan. (V.19#3 pg.212) and in Book 3, an 1862 deed on pg.288 from Henry Duncan to Hanson Johnson. (V.19#3 pg.218, and pg.263 of the DAR booklet where it was listed as Book 2&3) (MAD: Henry Duncan, age 26, born LA, a lawyer, enlisted in Civil War in June 1861 in Livingston Parish, discharged on surgeon's certificate Aug. 1861; he was listed as a lawyer in 1859 in Springfield, Livingston Parish LA, in "US Law Register & Official Directory", pg.309-312 in Dec. 1986 issue of "LA Genealogical Register"; cannot identify him on the 1860 census)
Index to War of 1812 Pension Applications and Bounty Land Warrant Applications; National Archives Film (FHL film 840,458)
Duncan, Lemuel H., widow Sylvia Co.; WO 34741, WC 21791; BL 52973-80-50, 35710-80-55; Private Capt. Allen's Co. TN Mil. 9/28/1814 to 4/7/1815; sol. res. 1852, 1853 New Orleans, LA, 1855 Parish of Orleans, LA; wid. res. 1879 PO Amite City, Par. of Tangipahoa, LA, 1887, 1888 San Jose, Santa Clara Co. CA; maiden name of widow: soldier's 1st wife Abena Fights, 2nd wife Emily White, widow Sylvia Cork (1st m. Ross) m. Dec. 4, 1837, Warren Co. MS; sol. d. June 23, 1871, Parish of Tangipahoa, LA; wid. d. June 11, 1892. (MAD: 1860 St.Helena Par. LA census; Lemuel Hall Duncan d. 1/23/1871, age 75y, bur. Arcola Cemetery, listed on pg.342 of "LA Gen. Register" Vol.24, 1977; Tangipahoa Par. LA Will & Donation Book 1879-1904, pg.55, Joseph A. Reid donation to Simeon Bennett for graveyard land previously sold by S. Bennett to Mrs. S.C. Duncan wife of Lemuel H. Duncan, 5/11/1889, listed on pg.78 of "LA Misc. Records" 1971, by LA DAR, on FHL film 893,747 item 2; Mrs. Malvina Norwood Folkes d. 5/2/1860 age 26, dau. of Col. L.H. Duncan at Amite City, Tangipahoa Par. LA, per newspaper 5/9/1860 listed on pg.273 of "Marriages and Deaths from MS Newspapers 1850-1861" Vol.4, by Betty Couch Wiltshire)
"Records of LA Confederate Soldiers and LA Confederate Commands" by Andrew B. Booth, 1920, Vol.2, B-G (FHL film 1,305,384 and 1,685,400; also from Evelyn Sigler 3/1985, and pgs.712-714 from Florence Dyess 1987 & 1990)
Duncan, Robert, Pvt. Sergt. Co. D, 9th Battn. LA Inf. Enlisted April 19, 1862, Ponchatoula [Tangipahoa Par.], LA. Roll for May and June 1862, Present. Promoted 2nd Sergt. June 1, 1862. Roll for Sept. and Oct. 1862, Present.
END
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