DUNCAN SURNAME ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

 

Special Issue Fall 2004

 

 

*    In Memoriam: W. A. "Wes" Duncan

*    The Genealogy Bug's Column

*    The Clan Donnachaidh ("children of Duncan") Y-DNA genealogy project

*    Some Duncan descendants closely related by DNA-tested genetics

*    Introducing new DSA members
*    A request for members to report updated email and postal addresses

 

Do you know a couple of Duncan researchers who aren't members of DSA? Then please take a moment now to forward this newsletter to them.

 

 

In 1990, Wes Duncan met with several Duncan researchers, including our Mary Ann Dobson, and founded the Duncan Surname Association soon afterward. Wes was interested in Duncan genealogy research but only a little dedicated to it on his own behalf. Wes was more devoted to his family, his church, his computers, cutting-edge software, and teaching classes about computer technology. He early recognized how computers could help Duncan researchers discover their early ancestors, and established the DSA for that purpose. From the beginning Mary Ann (Duncan) Dobson contributed her vast files on early Duncan genealogy research. Wes organized and managed the Association as a public-friendly information distribution and exchange system based on computers and the Internet.

 

When I joined the DSA in 1997, I was a genealogy and computer "newbie." Wes patiently coached me through the mysteries of opening compressed and encrypted diskettes of Mary Ann's research files. Later, when I became the newsletter editor, Wes taught me how to use a database program for keeping track of the members' contact information, and how to use FTP (File Transfer Protocol) to maintain the DSA website. Always a computer technology pioneer, Wes called me in 1999 via Internet Telephony. At the end of the day, Wes was a willing and generous Teacher. Once asked why he organized and managed the DSA, when he was not much involved in genealogy himself, Wes replied, "I just want to help people."  Wes was stricken with stomach cancer in 2002. After a valiant battle, Wes succumbed in August 2003. Wes, we all miss your teaching and your help!

 

Wes Duncan's obituary:     http://www.dsa.duncanroots.com/obit.gif
Wes' photo:    http://www.dsa.duncanroots.com/wes.gif

 

C. T. "Terry" Duncan, Editor

 

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September 4, 2004

I was very sorry to hear of the death of W.A. "Wes" Duncan on August 26, 2003.  He was the founder and organizer of the Duncan Surname Association in 1990-1991.  I miss him.  I can still see him, scolding his fingers and saying that they betrayed him sometimes when he was trying to type DSA information into his computer.
 
Terry Duncan has done a great job of continuing the DSA, at Wes Duncan's request.
 
The DSA membership fee was reduced in January 2004 from $25 to $15.  The original fee included a one-year subscription to the DSA newsletter.  However, the newsletter was discontinued after much of the source material was posted on my WebPages at     http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~dobson My WebPages also contain my email address.
 
In the special DSA newsletter of May, 2003, I offered my original copies of documents to DSA members who would like them and would tell me which document(s) or counties they wanted.  Only a few members requested specific documents or counties, and those have been sent out.
 
I'm extending this offer again, through the end of January 2005, to DSA members. Any remaining copies or old correspondence files will be donated to a library for their archive of material on the Duncan surname. Yes, I'll continue to research and answer queries, but at a MUCH slower pace.
 
In 1999, my computer printouts of my complete Duncan research files were microfilmed by the genealogy library in Salt Lake City.  They are on microfilm reels 0795947 through 0795953, and can be ordered on loan at the branch Family History Centers.  Look in the catalog at    http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/default.asp
under Title: Duncan research files of Mary Ann (Duncan) Dobson Authors:  Dobson, Mary Ann Duncan (Main Author)
 
As you all know, I continuously update my personal research files with queries from other Duncan researchers, source material from others or from my own research, and anything else that I come across.  If it isn't in my personal research files, I don't have it and can't find it.
 
My current files contain a LOT of court decisions from the Appellate and Supreme Courts of the states and the US, through about 1880, that mention a Duncan.  If I have looked at the published court decisions, these have also been posted on my WebPages.  But I have not looked at all of them, so they cannot be posted on the open web.
 
My current files contain transcriptions of all the Duncans in households in the 1870 US census, and an 1870 index to the households for each state.  I am working on a master index similar to the ones for 1850 and 1860.  When I finish, the master index will be posted on my own WebPages and also be available for downloading by DSA members from the DSA WebPages.
 
A new and updated copy of my files was sent to Terry Duncan in August.  He has posted them on the DSA WebPages for members to download.  The files require a password to open them, since there is copyrighted material and other people's names and addresses in them.  If you need the password, please email Terry Duncan.  His email address is also posted on the Duncan Surname Association WebPages:  http://dsa.duncanroots.com
 
The exciting news this year is the DNA surname project.  The Duncan surname is included in the Clan Donnachaidh surname project at FamilyTreeDNA  http://www.familytreedna.com

For instance, through the DNA project, we know that my own Marshall Duncan the Elder who lived in Prince William Co. VA in 1739, is definitely related to John Duncan (Sr.) of Fauquier Co. VA in 1769, the father of John Duncan who married Dinah Bradford.  We do not know the identity of their mutual ancestor, but we know it should be within a generation or two earlier.  We also know that both of them are related to John Duncan (Sr.) of Randolph Co. NC, father of Charles Duncan born there in 1766.  We also know they are related, although perhaps not as closely, to William Duncan the Elder of Culpeper Co. VA.  We know that descendants of Thomas Duncan of Cumberland Co. PA, who had six sons, do not match this DNA, or at least, only distantly.
 
Since I'm female, and the Duncan surname project traces back through the Y-chromosome which is from father to son, my brother's son submitted DNA on my behalf.  The cost for the tests was my Christmas and Birthday gift(s) from my husband.
 
I'll let Terry Duncan tell you more about it.
 
Enjoy your genealogy search.
 
Mary Ann (Duncan) Dobson, the Genealogy Bug
Placerville, CA  95667
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~dobson

 

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First, what is the Clan Donnachaidh? 

Clan Donnachaidh, which means the children of Duncan, emerged from the union of the Scottish and Pictish kingdoms and counts amongst its forebears the Kindred of St. Columba. The main clan name and that of the chiefs is Robertson, but many other names taken by those descending from the chiefs or belonging to the families who lived on clan estates and sought the chief's protection can be considered septs of the clan, principally families with the surnames Duncan, Robertson or Reid/Reed. The Clan Donnachaidh has invited people of Scottish heritage who bear these three main surnames to participate in this DNA project being conducted by Family Tree DNA.

 

The Duncan Association objective is, through DNA research in the Family Tree DNA Project, to establish genetic relationships between Duncan descendants.  We encourage DSA members to participate in the 37-marker Y-DNA test which may indicate blood relationships which match or support our conventional document genealogy. Already we have found one small group of Duncan descendants who share a common ancestor who probably lived no more than about ten generations ago. This genetically-related group is described in the following article. Note that Y-DNA testing is for Duncan males only, but that female descendants can participate by having a brother, uncle, nephew or male Duncan cousin take the totally painless DNA test on their behalf.

To learn more about the Clan Donnachaidh and the DNA project, click here.

 

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Last Name	First Name	Earliest Documented Ancestor	Anc DOB	Spouse Last Name	Spouse  First Name	Genetic (DYS#) Variations (in bold italics)
Family Tree DNA Test Results (Alleles) for Selected Members						12-Marker Test	25-Marker Test	37-Marker Test
Marker Numbers Showing Variation        »»»						N/A	449	H 4	607	CDY b
Dobson	Mary Ann	Marshall Duncan	ca 1705	??	Ann/ Mary Ann	None	30	11	16	40
Duncan	C. T.	John Duncan	ca 1735	??	Eleanor/ "Nellie" (?)	None	30	10	16	40
Duncan	James R.	Robert Duncan	1762	Carr	Hannah	pending	pending
Duncan	Robert A.	Marshall Duncan	ca 1705	??	Ann/ Mary Ann	None	30	11	16	40
Duncan	Thomas O.	William Duncan	1659	Rawleigh/ Rawley	Ruth	None	29	11	15	40
Sutton	Sandi Ashley	James Jordan Ashley	ca 1788	??	Phoebe (?)	None	30	11	16	40
Urban	Mary M.	William Duncan	1785-86	??	??	None	30	11	16	38
Waddell	Phyllis	John Duncan	ca 1690	??	??	None	30	11	16	40

Complied from Family Tree DNA data by 
C. T. Duncan 09/28/04 for the Duncan Surname Association

As indicated by the matrix, the above group of Duncan descendants is genetically related. The most-related (one step-variation, or less) probably share a MRCA (Most Recent Common Ancestor) who lived just seven - ten generations ago; ie., perhaps just a generation or two beyond already-documented ancestors.

Here's Mary Ann (Duncan) Dobson's summary background on some of the above descendants' ancestors:

MARY ANN DOBSON's & ROBERT A. DUNCAN's ancestor:  Marshall Duncan the Elder, wife Ann or Mary Ann, born ca 1700-1710, of Prince William Co. VA in 1739, to [Rowan Co.] NC by 1751, died 1777 in Surry Co. NC.  Had a son John Duncan born ca 1733, wife Roseannah, who died without children; Roseannah died in 1825, having remarried William Stephenson, and her will left her estate to some of John Duncan's nephews and nieces in accord with John Duncan's will in 1776 (missing).
 
C. T. "TERRY" DUNCAN'S ancestor:  John Duncan Sr., wife perhaps Nellie, born ca 1735 VA (family tradition says he was from Virginia), of Orange Co. NC in 1771, of Randolph Co. NC from 1779 to 1806, died by 1823 when his son Charles Duncan - born 1766 NC, wife Elizabeth Aldred - posted a bond to administer his estate.  John Duncan Sr. was also the father of John Duncan Jr. - born 1764, died 1855 in Jackson Co. GA.  John Duncan Sr. was also probably the father of Robert Duncan -- born 1762 NC, wife Hannah Carr, died in 1845 Greenville Co. SC, known cousin of Charles Duncan born 1748, son of Marshall Duncan the Elder.  Family tradition: there were two Johns [first name] before the Charles [first name] started.
 
PHYLLIS WADDELL'S ancestor:  John Duncan Sr., born ca 1690?, of Fauquier Co. VA in 1768; unidentified otherwise; had known son John Duncan Jr., born ca 1720 VA?, wife Dianah or Dinah Bradford per "Bradford Genealogy", of Fauquier Co. VA in 1766-1768 (deed says son of John Duncan).  John Jr. also had son William Duncan born 1750 who married Lydia Duncan, daughter of Rice Duncan and Elizabeth.
 
MARY URBAN's ancestor:  William Duncan, born 1785-1786, first wife unknown but married by 1805 (birth of son Meredith), married last (2nd?) to Jane Adam or Oden in 1825 in St.Mary Par. LA; to Liberty Co. TX by 1826 (age 40), died 1836.  Perhaps son of Robert Duncan, wife Hannah Carr, who was probably a son of John Duncan Sr. born ca 1735 VA.
 
SANDI ASHLEY SUTTON's ancestor:  James Ashley (born ca 1788 in NC or SC, wife Phoebe by 1814, of Barnwell Co. SC, to Jackson Co. AL - son James Jordan Ashley born 1/13/1820 - then in Franklin Co. TN from 1830 to 1840.  James Jordan Ashley married Sophia Bradford in 1841 in Franklin Co. TN.  The Duncan connection may have been in Barnwell Co. SC (father of James Ashley born ca 1788) or in Jackson Co. AL (father of James Jordan Ashley born 1820).
 
Possible Duncan connection for Sandi's Ashley family:  Joseph Duncan born ca 1747, married Hannah Jennings in 1785 in Fauquier Co. VA, to Barnwell Co. SC by 1787, died 1823 in 67th year of his life. - Said to have married first? to Sarah Fletcher in 1767 and second? to Hannah Freeman in 1771, both Fauquier Co. VA from Family Group Sheets filed with LDS church, but not proven.  This Joseph cannot be the son of Marshall Duncan the Elder, whose son Joseph was in Rowan Co. NC in 1768 on the tax list, and was later in Warren Co. KY with a wife Susannah. OR there may be an unidentified Duncan connection in Jackson Co. AL.

Editor's note: If you're descended from one of the above ancestors and are interested in taking the DNA test, please contact me to see whether the DSA can help subsidize the cost of your test. Write down this email address and copy it into your email program address window.

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New Member Name	Anc First Name	Born ca	Anc  Spouse	County	State
Brown ~Connie B	Turner	????	Sarah Luttrell	Greenville	SC
Caldwell ~Kenneth	Andrew	1799	Martha ????	????	PA
Cawley ~Kathy Duncan	Thomas	1720	Jane ????	Cumberland	PA
Duncan ~Carl I	William Southern	1818	Mahitable Eleanor	Thomas	KY
Duncan ~Donald L	Benjamin	1755	Mary Davis	Wilkes	NC
Duncan ~Jerry D	John	1765	????	Richland	SC
Duncan ~Jon A	Samuel	1745	Hannah Donnell	Sagadahoc	ME
Duncan ~Kathleen E	John R	1822	Mary H Walker	Boone	IN
Duncan-Vaughn ~Janis	Joseph	1717	Lydia ????	Fauquier	VA
Forrest ~Gary	Leroy	1779	Agnes Williams	Fauquier	VA
Foster ~Sharon L	Joseph	1790	Catherine ????	Bedford	PA
Frazer ~Jane	John Thomas	1826	Judie McDonald	Richmond	NC
Gray ~Candace C	Elihu Garner	1804	Jane Null	????	NC
Gray ~Candace C #2	John	1801	Hettie W	????	SC
Hazzard ~Sara	Martha Isabelle	1839	Elisha Fargusson	????	KY
Meredith ~Douglas D	John L	1844	Sara Jennie Higginbotham	Warren	TN
Pellegrino ~Nancy	William J	1659	Margaret McMurdo	Culpepper	VA
Ragsdale ~Cheryl D	John R	1822	Mary H Walker	Boone	IN
Reichen ~Lynn A Browneller	David	????	Elixabeth Herron	Franklin	PA
Robbins ~Gary W	Hayden	1820	Sarah Luttrell	????	TN
Rueschhoff ~Kathryn A	Joshua	1800	Rosey Sarten	????	VA
Sengel ~David Duncan	Martin C	1781	Mary Ray	Person	NC
Stewart ~Carolyn L	Joseph	1719	Lydia Hoe	Orange	VA
Stewart ~Carolyn L #2	Benjamin	1769	Mary Benneth	Mercer	KY
Syfert ~Mary E	Hiram	1807	Lucinda Robertson	Patrick	VA
Thurman ~Ann R	Mary	1725	John Gibson	Caswell	NC
Vinyard ~Garland D	Stephen Coleman	1777	Margaret Hays	Patrick	VA
Walker ~Sue Sherer	William	1805	Amanda ????	Marion	KY
Williams ~Pamela R	Marshall Sr	1705	Mary Ann Durron	????	VA

To get the email address of one of these new members, please email the editor at: cduncan22@comcast.net

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