Duncans in Wayne Co. NY

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

Last revised May 25, 2012

WAYNE CO. NY
Formed 1823 from Ontario, Seneca
 

CENSUS RECORDS

1830 Wayne Co. NY Census
      No Duncan indexed
 

1840 Wayne Co. NY Census
Wolcott
Pg.121  James Duncan      1100,01  -  0110,01
 

1850 Wayne Co. NY Census
Lyons
Pg.459, #756, Henry DUNCAN 40 NY carpenter
                  Jane 36 NY
                  Amelia 9, DeWitt 6 NY
Walcott
Pg.514, #23, James DUNCAN 50 SCT blacksmith $450
                  Mahala 46 NY
                  James Jr. 18 NY laborer
                  Mahala 16, Phebe A. 11 NY
                  Faette (m) 8, Frances (f) 6 NY
                  Hariett 4, Henry B. 2 NY
 

1860 Wayne Co. NY Census
Wolcott
Pg.750, #384-384, Jas. DUNCAN 60 SCT B.smith $2000-$410
                  Mahala 57 NY
                  Fayette (m) 17 NY appr. B.smith
                  Frances (f) 15, Mary Etta 13 NY
                  Brinkerhoff (m) 10 NY
 

1870 Wayne Co. NY Census
Wolcott
Pg.574, #60-62, DUNCAN, James 71 SCT black smith $3000-$2000, parents of foreign birth
                  Mahala 64 NY keeps house
                  Charles F. 25 NY, father of foreign birth
                  Margrett 21 NY, father of foreign birth
 

MILITARY RECORDS

"Military history of Wayne County, N.Y. : the county in the Civil War" by Lewis H. Clark; pub. Sodus, N.Y.: Lewis H. Clark, Hulett & Gaylord, 1863 i.e. 1883, 935 pgs. (LH2747, HeritageQuest images 6/2007; FHL book 974.787 H2c and film 808,348)
      Pg.260: Commencing in the year 1808, there was a militia company in Lyons, the officers which were as follows: ... William Duncan, Sergeant
      Pg.6: List of Soldiers. John E. Duncan. Corporal, Dec.4, '63; 22d Cav., Co.H; discharged, date and place not given on muster out roll.
 

REFERENCES FROM OTHER LOCALITIES

Henry Co. OH Deeds
      20-554/555: Alexander Duncan of Princiss Gate, London, but late of Providence, RI, appoint William Butler Duncan of City & State of New York my attorney to sell all lands etc. in State of OH and in State of MI and in Wayne Co. NY and all states and territories of USA, to each person and upon such terms as to credit etc. as my attorney may deem advisable, ... and Sarah Duncan, wife of said Alexander Duncan, have appointed said William Butler Duncan of New York my attorney (etc.). Alexander Duncan signed 3 Dec. 1864, Sarah Duncan signed 21 Oct. 1864. /s/ Alex Duncan, Sarah Duncan. Wit. for Alexander Duncan, Neil W. Sackteron, George Lindsay. Wit. for Sarah Duncan, Charles Nettleton, Jas. C. Hull. Sarah Duncan, wife of Alexander Duncan, appeared 21 Oct. 1864 before Charles Nettleton, Notary Public, City, County & State of NY. William C. Conner, Clerk of City & County of NY ... certified Charles Nettleton, 2 March 1865. 3 Dec. 186_, U.S. Consul for Leith, Alexander Duncan appeared and acknowledged the same. /s/ Neil M. Sachbun?, U.S. Consul. Recorded July 27, 1874. (FHL film 1,020,913 item 3)
 

HISTORIES before 1923

"Landmarks of Wayne County, New York" by George Washington Cowles; pub. Syracuse, N.Y.: D. Mason, 1895, 859 pgs. (LH2751, HeritageQuest images 6/2007; FHL film 808,347 item 1 and 934,854 item 4)
      Pg.60: One of the companies of the early militia was in existence at Lyons as early as 1808, having been recruited in the vicinity. It was commanded in the year named by ... Orderly Sergeant William Duncan. ...
      Pg.228: Among those living in Lyons village and vicinity in 1808 were ... William Duncan ...
      Pg.259: General William H. Adams, the instigator of the famous Sodus ditch, occupied while a resident of Galen, ... General Adams had four sons, one of whom, Alexander D., became captain of Company B, 27th Regiment, in the war of the Rebellion. The property passed from General Adams to Alexander Duncan, his chief financial backer, and in 1872 the homestead was purchased by Mr. Robinson.
      Part III, Pg.234: Biographies, Walworth. MAIN, MARQUIS S., was born in North Stonington, New London county, Conn., September 15, 1834, son of Avery and Laura Baldwin, he a native of Stonington, Conn., born in 1806, and she a native of Fenner, Madison county, born in 1816. He and wife came to West Walworth in 1863, where he died April 17, 1892, and his wife resides with her children. He was a mason by trade and a farmer. Subject ... married, September 22, 1858, Mary J. Ten Eyck, a native of Chenango county, and daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Duncan) Ten Eyck, natives of Dutchess county, who settled in Chenango county, and he died in Madison county in 1882, and she in 1885. Subject and wife had seven children: Florence, Luella, Edith who died aged 18; Jennie, Marcus A., Willis J. and Edward E. ....
 

1898 "A Portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit Counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Ohio" pub. by A.W. Bowen, also 1906 (FHL book 977.13 D3p and film 1,000,336 item 5; from Charles A. Duncan 5/1987)
      Pg.731: Charles Duncan, an ex-soldier of the Civil war, and now a respected citizen of Mantua Station, Portage Co. OH, was born in Red Creek, Wayne Co. NY, August 31, 1844, a son of James and Mahala Duncan.
      James Duncan, father of Charles, was born in Scotland in 1799, was taught blacksmithing under the good old thorough Scotch methods, and at the age of 27 years came to the U.S., located in Troy [Rensselaer Co.], NY, where he worked at his trade for many years in the Troy Mills, his specialty being ax-making, and later moved to Red Creek. He married a widow, Miss Mahala Withington, who bore the maiden name of Williams, and who was of Puritan stock, and whose father was a soldier in the war of 1812. The children born to this marriage were named Mahala, James, Phebe, Charles, Francis, Maryette and Henry. The father of this family was called to rest in Red Creek, at about the age of 77 years, dying in the faith of the Presbyterian church.
      Charles Duncan was taught blacksmithing by his father and worked at his trade until August 12, 1862, when he enlisted, at Red Creek, in Co. G, 138th NY Vol. Inf., but was soon afterward transferred to the 9th NY Heavy Art., 6th Army Corp, 3rd Div., 3rd Brigade, under Col. William A. Seward, in which he served until honorably discharged in July, 1865, at Syracuse NY, ...
      September 12, 1876, Mr. Duncan married, at Sterling [Cayuga Co.], NY, Miss Isabella Van Patten, dau. of Christian C. Van Patten, and in 1877 came to OH and settled at Mantua Station, Portage Co., where he has ever since successfully followed his trade. To the marriage of Mr. & Mrs. Duncan has been born one child, Ward C., now a youth of great promise. ...
 

1878 "American Biographical History of Eminent and Self-Made Men : Michigan Volume" pub. by Western Biographical Pub. Co. (HeritageQuest image 2/2007, Local History Reel/Fiche Number 10122; FHL book 977.4 D3a and films 874,387 and 1,035,727 item 11 and 1,000,076 item 1)
      District I, pg.47-48: DUNCAN, HON. WILLIAM CHAMBERLAIN, of Detroit, was born in Lyons [Wayne Co.], New York, May 18, 1820. His father's family removed from Lyons to Rochester [Monroe Co.], New York, when he was about five years of age. In the latter city his earlier years were spent and he received there the advantages of a common-school education. At the age of 21, desiring to engage in some employment for himself, which might lead him into active business, he accepted the position of steward on one of the passenger steamers then plying on the lakes, remaining until 1846, when he became engaged in a similar occupation on Lake Superior. Any one familiar with the vast commerce which is now seen upon Lake Superior, and who knew Mr. Duncan, will find it difficult to realize that he was present and engaged in the enterprise of taking the "Julia Palmer," the first side-wheel steamer that ever floated on the lake, across the portage of Sault Ste. Marie. In 1849 Mr. Duncan became a permanent citizen of Detroit [Wayne Co. MI], and engaged in the business of a brewer and maltster. Detroit was then a comparatively small city, and Mr. Duncan grew with its growth. .... He was elected Alderman in 1853, and served in that capacity five years. He was the first President of the Common Council, after that office was created by an amendment to the city charter. Mr. Duncan was always a Democrat, and his personal popularity and services to the City Council led to his nomination, in 1861, for the office of Mayor. To this post he was triumphantly elected, and served during the years 1862-63. ... In the fall of 1862, he was chosen as a State Senator from the Second District, and filled the office during the years 1863-64. In 1865 Mr. Duncan retired from active business, his impaired health requiring that he should enjoy more recreation and rest. From that time until his death he gave his attention to the management of his large estate, ... In the spring of 1873, upon the organization of the Board of Estimates, ... he was chosen a member at large. ... His popularity never waned, and his friends indulged the hope that his life would be spared for still higher duties in business and political life; but, in the prime of his manhood, the insidious destroyer terminated his useful life, December 19, 1877. (MAD: nothing said of marriage or family)
 

1888 "Early history of Michigan : with biographies of state officers, members of Congress, judges and legislators : published pursuant to Act 59, 1887" by S.D.Bingham, pub. by Thorp & Godfrey, state printers and binders (HeritageQuest image 2/2007; sketches in alphabetic order, Local History Reel/Fiche Number 4546; FHL film 1,000,076 item 2)
      Pg.240: WILLIAM C. DUNCAN, Senator from Wayne county in 1863-4, was born in Lyons [Wayne Co.], N.Y., in 1820, and acquired a business education at Rochester [Monroe Co.], N.Y. Began business for himself in 1821. Came to Detroit in 1849, and went into business as a brewer and malster. He was alderman from 1854 to 1858, and mayor of Detroit in 1862-3. He was a member of the board of estimates in 1873, and was tendered the nomination for mayor but declined. He retired from business about 1865, and died December 19, 1877.
 

1890 "Chronography of notable events in the history of the Northwest Territory and Wayne County [Michigan]: period embraced, 1531-1890 : together with biographical sketches of the early explorers and pioneers" by Frederick Carlisle, pub. Detroit: O.S. Gulley, Bornman & Co., printers (HeritageQuest image 2/2007, Local History Reel/Fiche Number 5017; FHL fiche 6,072,241)
      Pg.447-449: GEN. ELLISON C. DUNCAN's well-known and strongly marked physiognomy and figure, the expression of the former indicating a kind and generous nature, combined with courage, independence and frankness, ... a strong will, familiar to many in Detroit. Ellison C. Duncan was born at Lyons, Wayne Co. NY, November 12th, 1817. His opportunities for acquiring an education, were the common schools of Lyons, which he improved to the extent of securing sufficient knowledge to venture into the world outside of his parental home at a very early age, and to rely upon himself for his future. In 1833 he took a canal boat for Albany, from thence he proceeded to New York and Newark, N.J., and engaged in the service of the New Jersey Railroad, which subsequently became known as the Pennsylvania Railroad, serving from 1836 to 1861. In the latter year he came to Detroit, where he has since resided and conducted a successful business. (several paragraphs about his experience as engineer omitted here, no other genealogy info) (MAD: 1860 Hudson Co. NJ census)
 

END

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