Duncans in the Revolution - Pennsylvania

"PA Archives" 5th Series, Vol.2 (from Louis Boone 1/1987)
      Pg.8-9: Col. William Thompson's Battalion of Riflemen: ... These companies led the advance under captain, afterward Col. Daniel Morgan, through the wilderness*, and participated in the attack on Quebeck on the morning of the 31st of December at Palace Gate, where as the dispatch of the day reads, "that excellent young officer, Capt. William Hendricks, of PA, fell" and the rest of the command after desperate fighting, were forced to surrender. The survivors were paroled on the 7th of August 1776, and after being exchanged, for the most part re-entered the service, following the fortunes of the PA Line with Gen. Wayne, down into GA, resisting the fearful night attack made upon Wayne's camp, near Sharon, GA, on the 24th of May, 1782; entering Savannah in triumph with him on the 11th of July; Charleston on the 14th of December 1782, and only returning in the month of July 1783, when the last of the PA troops embarked at James Island, SC, on board of transport for Philadelphia.
      *Footnote: At Fort Western (on the Kennebeck) ... (MAD's extract) Lt. Archibald Steele, of Smith's Co., sent to mark the Indian paths; he took with him Jesse Wheeler, George Merchant, and James Clifton of Morgan's Co., ...
      ... A letter dated September 13 (1775?) "On Monday last (11th) Col. Arnold having chosen 100 effective men, ... set off for Quebec ... Dr. Coates, who goes as surgeon, Mr. Matt. Duncan, Mr. Melcher, and several other southern gentlemen as volunteers. ..."
      In general orders, dated Cambridge, Sept. 11, 1775, occurs: "Col. Thompson's battalion of riflemen posted ..." Also, September 13: "The 33 riflemen of Col. Thompson's battalion tried yesterday, by a general court-martial, ... for 'disobedient and mutinous behavior,' sentenced to pay 20 shillings, except John Leamon who also ... is to suffer 6 days imprisonment.
      Pg.162: 5th PA Battalion; Roll of Capt. John Richardson's Co. (incomplete). On May 28, 1776, the mustered officers and men numbered 81. Captains: Duncan, Matthew, commissioned January 5, 1776; Richardson, John. First Lts.: Richardson, John, Chester, commissioned January 6, 1776; promoted captain vice (instead of) Duncan, absent; taken November 16, 1776; exchanged August 26, 1778. Footnote: Matthew Duncan was a gentleman volunteer in the campaign through the wilderness, in 1775, and was captured at the storming of Quebec, December 31, 1775. He is marked in a return dated February 13, 1777, of 6th PA, as present on parole.
 

1891 "PA in the War of the Revolution; Battalions and Line" Vol.1 & 2, by John Blair Linn and William H. Egle (from Louis Boone 1/1987; not indexed)
      Pg.5: A number of gentlemen went along as independent volunteers. Their names were not entered on the rolls and they claimed the privilege of paying their own expenses and returning at their own pleasure ... Edward Burd, Jesse Luken, Matthew Duncan and c. (given within Col. Thompson's Battalion data.)
      Pg.8: Dr. Coates, Mr. Matt Duncan and Mr. Melcher and several other Southern gentlemen were volunteers ... at the battle of Quebec, captured 31 Dec. 1775.
      Pg.7: Col. Daniel Morgan participated in the battle of Quebec ... the survivors were paroled 7 Aug. 1776.
 

1914 "The PA-German in the Settlement of MD" by Daniel Wunderlich Nead (from Joyce Colliflower 6/1988 and FHL book 975.2 F2n)
      Pg.216: Capt. Jacob Good's Co. in the Flying Camp: John Duncan, Private, June 21, 1776, in Middle District now Frederick Co.
      Pg.223: Capt. Henry Hardman's Co. in the Flying Camp: James Duncan, Private, under 1st Lt. Daniel Stall, in Upper District now Washington Co. MD.
      Pg.228: Maryland's German Regiment (Scots-Irish as well as Germans listed): James Dunkin, June 1776.
      Pg.233: Roll of Capt. William Heyser's Co. 23 Oct. 1776: James Duncan, Private. (MAD: James Duncan of Huntingdon Co. PA, had Rev.War pension)
      Pg.236: Pay Roll of Lt. Col. Weltner's Co. in the German Regt. of the Continental Forces of the US, July, Aug., Sept., Oct. 1779: James Duncan, Private.
      Pg.236: Capt. Heyser's Co., enlisted Washington Co. MD, 22 May 1777: James Duncan, Private.
 

"Census of the Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services, Act of Sixth Census (1840) pub. 1841" (CA State Library)
      James Duncan, of Pymatuning, Mercer Co., Western Pennsylvania, age 84, living with John Duncan.
 

ALEXANDER DUNCAN, Rev. Pension Application S-42187, PA (FHL film 970,863; National Archives Roll 863)
      Applied 2 Oct. 1821, age nearly 80, in Franklin Co. PA; enlisted Aug. 1775 in Lancaster Co. PA under Capt. James Ross, Col. Wm. Thompson; served 1 year; has blind wife; living with son who has wife and 4 children; applied also 5 May 1818.
      Click here for more from the pension file.
 

ANTHONY DUNKIN, Rev. Pension Application S-1808, Invalid, TN (FHL film 970,867; from National Archives; extract also from June Rickets 11/1985)
      Greene Co. TN, 25 Oct. 1832, Affidavit of Anthony Dunkin, aged 88, Entered Militia service; was citizen of Augusta Co. VA, volunteered under Capt. Cunningham and served 12 months at Ford Dinwiddie; does not recollect the year or month in which he entered service; discharge is lost; he again was drafted and served 3 months under Capt. Trigg, Col. Preston, marched from Montgomery Co. VA to NC and fought at Guilford Courthouse and Whitesils? Hill at Shallow Ford of Yadkin, he knew Majors Cloyd and Sawyers; he was born in Lancaster Co. PA 1743 or 4 but has no record of age; moved to Augusta Co. VA, then to Montgomery Co. VA, then after Rev. to Washington Co. TN, then to Greene Co. TN where he has lived for past 30 years. Testimony by Edwin Grubs and Azariah Doty.
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JAMES DUNCAN, Rev. Pension Application S-37901, PA, NC, GA (MS) (FHL film 970,863; National Archives Roll 863)
      Applied 19 Nov. 1827, age 74-5? in Feb. 1827, in Baldwin Co. GA; enlisted in 1776 for 2 years at Pittsburg (PA) under Capt. Andrew Waggoner, Col. James Wood; witnesses Benjamin Gilbert of Putnam Co. GA who served with James, Wm. Y?. Hansell of GA.
      Statement of James Duncan, son of James, 22 Jan. 1850; that James Sr. lived in Baldwin Co. GA 4-5 years before his death, before that he lived in NC; James Sr. d. 17 Feb. 1834 in Baldwin Co. GA, leaving no widow and only 4 children heard of in 4-5 years: James, John, Jane Harris, Edy Neely. Eady Nealy of Jasper Co. MS on 16 June 1851; John Duncan and Jane Harris of Pontotoc Co. MS on 26 July 1852; James Duncan Jr. still living 26 July 1852.
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JAMES DUNCAN, Rev. Pension Application W-3400, PA (FHL film 970,863; National Archives Roll 863)
      Application of Margaret Duncan, widow of James, 27? Sept. 1845 in Southampton Twp, Cumberland Co. PA; James lived in Lancaster Co. PA before going to War; Margaret m. James on 30 Dec. 1788; James d. 1 Jan. 1838; James a Corporal in 10th PA Reg. from Dec. 1780 to April 1781; James Duncan m. Margaret Johnston on 30 Dec. 1788 in Presbyterian Church, Carlisle, Cumberland Co. PA, by Rev. Robt. Davidson; Margaret, age 85, made declaration 17 Sept. 1848.
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JAMES DUNCAN, Rev. Pension Application S-42681, PA (FHL film 970,863; National Archives Roll 863)
      Applied 14 April 1818; age 66, of Henderson Twp, Huntingdon Co. PA; enlisted 1776 as private in Capt. William Heiser's Co. in German Battalion under Col. Hooseacre and Lt. Col. Hasker; in winter quarters at the Valley Forge; served 3 years; discharge lost when he was removing from Frederick Town to Kragers Town in MD.
      Statement 16 Aug. 1820; original pension #2909; age 67; blacksmith; wife Temperance aged 55 years; now farming on a place rented upon shares (1/3 to landlord) by himself but crops are small & not adequate for support of himself & wife. Statement 16 Aug. 1820 by John Shorthill, acquaintance. Owes Joseph Dorland, Henry Clapbough, John Yoaun?, Peter Hess, Alexander McCall, Alexander McConnell, Samuel Steel, Stewart Steel, William Corben, John Fee, C. Garber, Wm. Jackson, Peter Swoope, Isaac Dorland, David Reec.
      Died Aug. 29, 1832.
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JAMES DUNCAN, Rev. Pension Application S-2187, PA (FHL film 970,863; National Archives Roll 863)
      Applied 13 Nov. 1832, age 77, in Washington Co. PA; lived Nottingham Twp; drafted Aug. 1776 in Lancaster Co. PA under 1st Lt. John Hickman, served under Gen. Irwin and Armstrong, Col. Greenwalt, Col. Porter & others for 2 months; drafted Dec. 1776 under Capt. Robert Ramsey and Lt. John Hickman and Ens. John Ramsey for 2 months; drafted Aug. 1777 in Lancaster Co. PA under Capt. John Scott; served two months each in 1778, 1779, 1780; b. 1755 in Lancaster Co. PA; lived in Washington Co. PA 43 years; known by Lewis? Hamilton, Robert Sore?, John Witherow, John Hamilton, Robert Barr; wit. David Hamilton of Nottingham Twp and David Bolton of Hollowfield Twp.
      Statement by Elisebeth McCord, age 60?, on 11 Sept. 1832 in Washington Co. PA; that she lived in same family with her brother James Dunkin in Pearth? Twp, Lancaster Co. PA when he was drafted; she is widow of Mark McCord likewise drafted who died long ago; she has been blind for 11 years and depends on her brother for support.
      Letter 2 Dec. 1843 refers to widow (unnamed); James d. some time in 1835.
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ROBERT DUNCAN, wife Margaret, Rev. Pension Application S-42188 (5108), MD, PA (FHL film 970,864; National Archives Roll 864)
      Applied 14 April 1818, age ca 64, in Huntingdon Co. PA, of Hopewell Twp; served 1776 in 7th MD Regt. under Capt. Bettis for over 7 years; his discharge was washed in the pocket of his overalls about 3 months after he received it; statement by James Duncan of Huntingdon Co. PA for Robert's enlistment in Fredericktown, MD in Aug. 1776; statement by David Stewart who knew Robert for some years. Statement 16 Aug. 1820, his family consists of wife Margaret, age ca 50. Letter 24 May 1844, two of four children (unnamed) were paid pension from 4 Sept. 1838 to 26 April 1839.
      Click here for more from the pension file.
 

An index to PA Revolutionary War Records, known as the Revolutionary War Military Abstract Card File, the World War I Service Medal Application Cards and the Spanish American War Veterans' Card File of United States Volunteers, are available online 7/9/2001, as images of index cards. The Civil War and Mexican Border Campaign card images are in progress.
      The PA State web site: http://www.state.pa.us
      The PA Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) web site: http://www.phmc.state.pa.us
      The images web site: http://www.digitalarchives.state.pa.us/
 

END

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