Joshua Duncan b. 1799/1800

Joshua Duncan, born 1799/1800 in Virginia according to census information, is the earliest documented Duncan ancestor of our family.  Evidence of his residence in Tennessee first appears in the 1823 tax list for Campbell County .  Early census records for Tennessee were destroyed during the War of 1812.  In 1838, a fire at the Campbell County Court House destroyed other vital records.  No marriage records were saved.  Land records were not destroyed.  The earliest surviving census records for Campbell County are for the year 1830.  Joshua Duncan can be found on the 1830 and 1840 census for Campbell County .

Campbell County , the twenty-sixth county in the State of Tennessee , was formed on September 11, 1806 , from parts of Anderson and Claiborne Counties .  In 1849, a section of Campbell County was taken to form Scott County .  Joshua Duncan is on the census for Scott County records for the years 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880.  Eastern Tennessee opened to settlers in the very late 1700s.  Prior to that time it was known as “ Indian Territory ”.

Of the parents of Joshua there is no trace.  While there is no proof, it is generally accepted that Champion Duncan, b. 1811, is the brother of Joshua.  It is probable that Henry Duncan, b. 1785 is another brother.  All three were born in Virginia and lived in Campbell/Scott counties in Tennessee as adults.  Their names appear together in many of the official records.  They often witnessed each others declarations. Both Joshua and Champion were Court Justices.  Their names are found throughout the available court records.   It is most likely the Duncan brothers migrated and settled in Tennessee as young men.  There were a number of Duncan ’s in the Kentucky/Tennessee area in and around Campbell County in the early 1800s.  Some of those Duncan ’s came from Virginia .  Some came from North Carolina .  There is no available information to link these families.

Various researchers of Joshua and Champion Duncan have stories passed down from elders in their line.  These stories may contain hints of the origins of our ancestors, but they are not necessarily accurate.  Steven Alsip, a descendent of Champion Duncan, b. 1811, tells that Hazel Duncan Moad related a legend of eleven Duncan brothers from Virginia who came into Wayne Co., Kentucky in the early 1800's on their way westward.  They supposedly had a disagreement and three of the brothers decided to stay in the Wayne Co., Kentucky area.  One of the brothers was said to settle in Tennessee and help found Jamestown (Steven is not sure that is the name of the town, it is probably Jacksboro).  The legend says he was a blacksmith.   According to researcher Joel Logsdon, “the original headstone of Champ, Sr. reads ‘C.C. Duncan’”.  The line of Margaret Duncan Meadors believes his name was Chelsey Russell Duncan, but was called "Champion".  If this is true, it is possible that the mother of Champion and Joshua was a Russell.    Champion named one of his children “James Russell”.  Robert Sidney Duncan, a descendent of Joshua Duncan, b. 1799/1800, another researcher, shares stories from his father, Joshua Howard Duncan, which had been told to Joshua Howard by a Major Duncan at Fort Thomas KY in 1909, and recalled by Joshua Howard Duncan 35 years later, in January 1944.  “Joshua Duncan's father had sons:  Joshua, Gideon, David, Claburn, Will "Ducan", Henry, John, Freeman, and Champion Duncan.”This establishes the reason most people think that our Joshua’s father was also named Joshua.

 Robert Sidney Duncan’s line remembers the name of the mother of Joshua Duncan, b. 1799/1800 as being “Martha”.  There is no documentation for any of this, but the following is how that family lists the parents and siblings of our Joshua:

Joshua Duncan, b. ca 1755, spouse Martha Duncan b. ca 1756, mar. 1774

            Henry Duncan b. 1785

            Gideon Duncan b. ca 1787

            David Duncan, b. ca 1789

            Claburn Duncan, b. 1791

            Joshua Duncan, b. 1799, d. 1890,

            Will Duncan , b. 1802.

            Freeman Duncan, b. 1804.

            Champion C. Duncan Sr., b. 3 Nov. 1811 , d. 4 Nov. 1904

 

Steven Alsip’s family tree lists the same parents and children as above, but adds another son, James:

 

Name: James Duncan‑

Born: 11 Apr 1819           Place:

Died: 18 Mar 1863          Place: Civil War, Pine Knot,Whitley Co,Ky

Bur.:                      Place: Hdstne.Davis Cem,Hayes Creek,Mccreary Co,Ky

Spouse: Emily Roark

Marr: 28 May 1840          Place: Morgan Co, Tn

 

This establishes the reason most people think that our Joshua’s father was also named Joshua.

Another group of individuals believe the mother of our Joshua Duncan to be a woman named “Rutha”, who actually appears on the 1860 census in Campbell County .  There is absolutely no documentation that she is the parent of Joshua and Champion or any clues which might indicate the possibility.  It is more likely that she is related by marriage to one Craven Duncan, possibly his widow or the widow of one of Craven’s brothers.  Still another group believes that the father of Joshua, was the son of Samuel Duncan and Mary Embree, Quakers from VA, to NC and then OH.  There is no indication in the Quaker records of that Joshua having ever married.  It is interesting that Quaker records note his birth but no other notations can be found regarding him.  Of course some of the Quaker records are unreadable due to mold and decay.  The elder Samuel’s will does not list either Joshua or his brother Samuel along with his other children.  If he and his brother Samuel were disowned or died young, it is not to be found in the remaining records.

There are quite a few Joshua Duncan’s of the right age to be the father of our Joshua found in the early records.  Records also account for most of them and their offspring.

So we are left with a mystery.  Who were the parents of Joshua Duncan?  Where in Virginia did they reside?  When did they arrive in America ?  From where in Scotland did they immigrate?  Answers to these questions may never be found. 

We do have rich and full documentation on our Joshua and his descendents.  Joshua and Rosey were farmers.  In addition to being a Court Justice and farmer, in later life, Joshua owned a store which still exists in what is now Strunk , KY.

From an article “Stepping back in Time”in the Scott County FNB, dated January 28, 2004, by Josetta Griffith about the Duncan Feed Store

And It All Began With Joshua Duncan in the mid-1800s

JOSHUA DUNCAN operated a general merchandise store in the Buffalo Community during the mid-1800s. According to old ledgers on file with the Scott County Historical Society, a "pare of men shews" sold for $1.75 in 1856. A yard of calico material sold for 20 cents. One dozen buttons for a quarter. Four pounds "shuger" for 50 cents. One "stear," $30 and one "yoake oxens," $75.

Most of the Tennessee Duncan’s were pro-Union during the Civil War.  Joshua does not appear to have been involved in the conflict.  Joshua’s brother Champion was a member of the Northern Home Guard.  Joshua’s son Oliver, a great uncle of Hans Duncan, had a close call according to the following:

Dusty Bits of the Forgotten Past; History of Scott County [TN]" by H. Clay Smith, 1906-1971, by Scott Co. Historical Society ca 1985 (FHL fiche 6,087,645; Placerville FHC 12/17-19/1997; SLC book 976.871 H2sh

Pg.180-183:  In 1861, John L. Smith was living in Huntsville , had large family, his wife a Gibson from Buckeye, Campbell Co.  The Gibsons were in sympathy with the South ...  One of John L.'s sons, Callie, enlisted with the Confederate army, while two of his first cousins joined up with the Union , these being Henry Clay Smith and Turner Polston Smith.  ... Callie decided to pay a visit home, ... relatives were on lookout for him ... Callie wanted to go to his uncle's, Drew Smith's, on Smith Creek; Callie exchanged his red checked shirt with W.H. Sewell, also being home on leave, who with several other rebel regulars were accompanying Callie.  Folks in Oneida heard about it, and gathering some of the Northern Home Guard, took up position at head of Buffalo Creek near Sheriff Jim Sharp's home, including the writer's grandfather, the latter's cousin and his brother-in-law Jesse Roysden, along with Home Guard members Sheriff Sharp, Andy Thompson, Champ Duncan and Capt. Cotton.  ... W.H. Sewell was mistaken and shot for Callie ... the rebels rode a mile or so, and came upon Lark Cross, Oliver Duncan and Ranson Vanover, the same Vanover mentioned in "2nd TN Volunteers" which stated he was out on pass and was captured by the rebels and hanged.  Vanover's wearing a Union uniform caused more panic among [the rebels] and they took him and Mr. Cross and hanged them in Jerry Wilhite's yard.  ... Duncan took refuge in a rail pile, then left his hiding place and started running up the mountain which drew several rebel shots, and discarded his gun as being too heavy to run with up a steep mountain; the rebels went to his home and told his family they had hanged him along with Cross and Vanover, and his mother for a minute or two did not know him when he came in, so sure was she that he had been hanged.  Mr. Cross had not wanted to take any part in this war ...  When they buried Mr. Sewell, preacher "Whig" Duncan, a brother of Oliver, danced on the grave.

In the incident above, Larkin Cross, hanged by rebel soldiers is a son-in-law of Joshua and Rosey.  Larkin married Henrietta, the second child of Joshua and Rosey.

A family legend from Joel Logsdon’s branch of the family relates that Joshua and Rosa Sartin (sometimes spelled ‘Sartain’) met at a river.  Joshua was driving horses – possibly for the Army.  Rosa stopped to admire his horses, and the rest as they say, is history…a very romantic story.  Rosa was the daughter of David Sartain and Henrietta Stanley.  David died young and Henrietta and a Mr. Gardner were appointed guardians by the court to Henrietta’s children.  Rosa ’s brother, Wright, married a Nancy Duncan.

From the
Semi-Weekly Democrat-Banner
Fayette, Howard County, Missouri, February 25, 1896

Was Five Years Old

Mrs. Nancy Sartin, Howard County's Oldest Inhabitant Was That Old When Washington Died

The subject of this sketch, Mrs. Nancy Sartin, whose portrait is herewith presented, is beyond a doubt the only person living in Howard county to-day who is old enough to have ever had any personal recollection of George Washington. One other person still lives in Howard county who was born a short time prior to the death of the first president, namely, Mrs. Betsy Robb, of near Burton , who was born November 13, 1799 .
Mrs. Sartin was, before her marriage to Wight Sartin, a Miss Nancy Duncan and was born in Montgomery county, Va. , December 15, 1794 , and was therefore just five years old when Washington died, or 102 years old on the 15th day of last December. She removed from Virginia to Tennessee with her father, John Duncan, in 1809, where she was married to Mr. Sartin in 1812. She removed with him to Missouri in 1834, and settled in Chariton Township , this county, where Mr. Sartin bought a farm near Rock Springs , which farm Mrs. Sartin still owns. Mrs. Sartin was the mother of ten children five of whom two sons and three daughters, still...the Baptist C...Mount Moriah in 1856 under the teachings of Rev. Amos Cake and has been a consistent member of that church ever since. Mrs. Sartin was strong and active up to July, 1893, at which time her mental and physical strength to a large extent deserted her. She makes her home with her son, Henry D. Sartin, who is constable of Franklin Township , and while almost helpless, enjoys very good health.

Wright Sartain owned 100 acres on Buffalo Creek, granted by the State of Tennessee in 1826, which he sold after migrating to Howard County, MO.   Joshua Duncan was living on that land when Wright sold it.  Early records for Virginia are available for a John Duncan living in Montgomery Co, however it does not appear to be this John Duncan, so it is unclear what, if any relationship may exist between Joshua and Nancy.

Joshua and Rosey had eleven children.  One of whom, Champion, presumably named after Joshua’s brother, is the next ancestor in our Duncan line.  Champion married another Duncan, Louisa Emeline Jane, ‘Emily’.  The marriage is documented but there are no clues to her parentage.  Champion and Emily had ten children.  Their third son, Oliver is next in the ancestral line.  Oliver married Malinda ‘Linda’ West.  Oliver and Linda had five children before Linda’s death at the age of 31.  Our line picks up with their youngest child, Claburn Mountville ‘Monty’ Duncan .

Monty married twice.  Monty married, Anna Gertrude Dorweiler, a German nurse at the close of World War I in Coblenz , Germany .  They resided in Scott County, TN.  Their son, Capt. Hans Paul Duncan “Dunc” was the only issue of the marriage.  Family history relates that the birth was very difficult.  The doctor did not expect the child or mother to live.  For that reason he left the home after the delivery without issuing a birth certificate.  Dunc was baptized a year later in Ohio .  His mother was Catholic.  The baptismal certificate became the document Dunc used for means of identification.  Monty and Gertrude divorced when Dunc was still a boy.  She moved with Dunc to Cincinnati , OH .  Later in life she returned to Weiler Germany the home of her birth and death.  There is a story that at the age of twelve, Dunc made a journey on foot back to Onieda from Cincinnati .  He loved and missed the hills of Tennessee , his cousins and his grandfather, Oliver Duncan.

When this researcher began the search for the ancestor, she was surprised to discover that no other Duncan researchers knew of the first marriage of Monty and that he had descendents from this line.

Monty married Lovis Goodman when he was 44 years old.  Lovis was 34 at the time of their marriage.  She bore Monty three more children.

K. A. Rueschhoff

 

Descendants of Joshua DUNCAN

----------------------------

1-Joshua DUNCAN

born: 1799-1800, VA

died: 1890, Pleasant Grove , TN

buried: Walter Duncan Cemetery , Scott Co, TN

 

+Rosa SARTIN

born: 1802, TND

Died: 1878, Winfield , TN

buried: Duncan Cemetery, Winfield, Scott Co TN

marr: @1820, Campbell Co, TN

parents: David SARTIN and Henrietta STANLEY

 

      2-Henry DUNCAN

      born: 29 Jan 1823 , Campbell Co, TN

      died: 8 Jan 1883

      +Catherine THOMPSON

      born: 1828, Campbell Co, TN

      marr: 20 Feb 1845 , Campbell Co, TN

 

            3-Marion DUNCAN

            born: 1848

 

            +Jennie FOSTER

 

            3-Emanuel DUNCAN

            born: 15 Nov 1869

            died: 21 Sep 1947

 

            3-Joshua DUNCAN

            born: 1852, Scott Co, TN

 

            3-Levi DUNCAN

            born: 1854

 

            3-Rebecca DUNCAN

            born: 1859

 

            3-Ewell Moses DUNCAN

            born: 29 Nov 1860

            died: 15 Jun 1942

            buried: Duncan Cemetery , Paintrock , TN

 

            +Jane TERRY

 

      +Rutha THOMAS

      parents: Abner THOMAS and Rebecca Brown

 

            3-Aaron DUNCAN

            born: 29 Aug 1869

            died: 14 Sep 1908

     

      2-Henrietta Clara "Rittie" DUNCAN

      born: 15 May 1825 , Campbell Co, TN

      died: 10 Feb 1889

      buried: Cross Cemetery, Smith Creek Road, Scott Co, TN

 

      +Larkin W. "Lock" CROSS

      Born: 23 Feb 1823 , Wythe Co, VA

      died: 7 Nov 1862 , Buffalo, Scott Co, TN

      marr: 2 Apr 1856 , Campbell Co, TN

      parents: Micayah CROSS and UNKNOWN

     

            3-Rebecca CROSS

            born: 1844, TN

 

            3-Emanuel J. CROSS

            born: 20 Dec 1847

            died: 21 Apr 1917 , Scott Co, TN

buried: " Cooper-Cross Cemetery , Rock House Creek, Bought and Placed there by Easter (His Wife)"

 

            +Easter COOPER

            born: 1 Mar 1853 , Scott Co, TN

            marr: 4 Apr 1869 , Scott Co, TN

 

                  4-Louise CROSS

                   born: 10 May 1870 , Scott Co, TN

 

                  4-Morlena CROSS

                   born: 26 Apr 1871 , Scott Co, TN

 

            3-Harriet CROSS

            born: 30 Oct 1851 , Scott Co, TN

            died: 21 Oct 1936 , Scott Co, TN

 

            +Joshua "J.J." DUNCAN

            born: 16 Dec 1833 , Campbell Co, TN

            died: 17 Mar 1909 , Scott Co, TN

            buried: Duncan Cemetery, Stanley Creek, Scott Co, TN

            marr: 9 Sep 1888 , Scott Co, TN

            parents: Champion C., Sr. "Champ" DUNCAN and Sarah Emily BAKER

 

            3-Micayah CROSS

            born: 1855

 

            3-Claiborn CROSS

            born: 10 May 1857 , Scott Co, TN

            died: 9 Jun 1946 , Oneida, Scott Co, TN of Myocardial Failure

            buried: Cross Cemetery, Onieda, Scott Co, TN

 

            +Connie BARRON

            born: 15 Mar 1862

            marr: 11 Apr 1880 , Scott Co, TN

 

                  4-Eva CROSS

                  born: 30 Jun 1881 , Scott Co, TN

 

            3-Martha Morlene CROSS

            born: 1861

 

2-Jesse "Emanuel" DUNCAN

born: 1828, Scott Co, TN

died: 10 Aug 1895

 

+Unknown

3-Fern DUNCAN

born: 1850

 

+Tabitha Elizabeth DAUGHERTY

born: 1834

died: Wayne Co, KY

buried: Duncan Cemetery, McCreary Co, KY

 

3-Relda J. DUNCAN

born: 1852

 

3-Franklin Asbury DUNCAN

born: 1854

 

3-Rosey Rebecca DUNCAN

born: 13 Dec 1855

 

3-Joshua DUNCAN

born: 1859, Whitley Co, KY

 

3-Krisie DUNCAN

born: 1865

 

3-Burrel "Burl" DUNCAN

born: 10 Nov 1865

 

3-Emanuel Jesse "Jess" DUNCAN

born: 19 Jul 1867

 

3-Oliver Arthur DUNCAN

born: 9 May 1870 , Whitley Co., KY

 

3-Emby DUNCAN

born: 14 Mar 1874

 

2-Oliver DUNCAN

born: 28 Sep 1830 , Campbell Co, TN

died: 23 Apr 1916 , Scott Co, TN

buried: Jeffers Cemetery, New Salem, Scott Co, TN

 

+Rutha "Ruthy" DUNCAN

born: 4 Aug 1832 , Campbell Co, TN

died: 14 May 1902 , Scott Co, TN

buried: Jeffers Cemetery

marr: 13 Mar 1856 , Scott Co, TN

parents: Champion C., Sr. "Champ" DUNCAN and Sarah Emily BAKER

 

3-Lucinda DUNCAN

born: 15 Apr 1857 , Scott Co, TN

died: 27 Nov 1946 , Scott Co, TN

 

3-Joshua Sartin DUNCAN

born: 12 Nov 1859 , Scott Co, TN

died: 17 Dec 1934 , Scott Co, TN

 

3-Champion S. DUNCAN

born: 12 Nov 1860 , Scott Co, TN

died: 27 Feb 1947 , Scott Co, TN

 

3-Oliver, Jr. DUNCAN

born: 20 Nov 1862 , Scott Co, TN

 

3-Julia E. DUNCAN

born: 17 May 1865 , Scott Co, TN

 

3-William C. "W.C." DUNCAN

born: 15 Jan 1868 , Scott Co, TN

died: 8 Mar 1952 , Scott Co, TN

 

3-Emily J. DUNCAN

born: 7 Oct 1869 , Scott Co, TN

 

3-Sarah DUNCAN

born: 29 Apr 1873 , Scott Co, TN

died: 16 Oct 1908 , Scott Co, TN

 

2-Nancy Rosa DUNCAN

born: 8 Apr 1833 , Scott Co, TN

died: 8 May 1874

buried: Duncan Cemetery, Strunk, McCreary Co, KY

 

+Hiram C. (Harmon) DAUGHERTY

born: 27 Dec 1838

marr: 1856

 

3-Rosey S. DAUGHERTY

born: 22 Jul 1860 , Whitley Co, KY

 

3-Emmanuel DAUGHERTY

born: 1862

 

3-Elisha King DAUGHERTY

born: 2 May 1864 , Whitley Co, KY

 

3-Joshua D. "Josh" DAUGHERTY

born: 16 Jan 1866

 

3-Burl K. DAUGHERTY

born: 16 Jan 1868

 

3-Isham G. DAUGHERTY

born: 16 Jan 1868

 

3-Mary DAUGHERTY

born: 1857

 

2-Joshua DUNCAN

born: 3 Feb 1836 , Scott Co, TN

died: 25 Sep 1877 , Scott Co, TN

buried: Chitwood Cemetery, Winfield, Scott Co, TN

 

+Sarah Ann CHITWOOD

born: 11 Apr 1843

died: 31 Jul 1901 , Scott Co, TN

buried: Chitwood Cemetery, Winfield, Scott Co, TN

marr: 17 Aug 1854

 

3-Nancy DUNCAN

born: 1857

 

3-Joshua, III DUNCAN

born: 1861

 

3-Joel C. DUNCAN

born: 6 Apr 1862

 

3-Granville DUNCAN

born: 18 Dec 1865

 

3-Rosa Sartin "Rosey" DUNCAN

born: 9 Mar 1867

 

3-Elizebeth DUNCAN

born: 1869

 

2-Granville C. "Whig" DUNCAN

born: 3 Feb 1838 , Scott Co, TN

died: 12 Aug 1921

 

+Louisa STANLEY

born: 1837

marr: 1858

 

3-Rhodes DUNCAN

born: 18 Sep 1859

 

3-Elizabeth DUNCAN

born: 1861

 

3-Joshua H. DUNCAN

born: 1864

 

3-Rosey DUNCAN

born: 1862

 

3-Emily DUNCAN

born: 1869

 

+Helen Ann SHARP

born: 15 Aug 1848

died: 10 Jan 1890

buried: Walter Duncan Cemetery, Winfield, Scott Co, TN

marr: 8 Nov 1873 , Scott Co, TN

 

3-G. F. DUNCAN

 

3-David DUNCAN

 

3-Soloman DUNCAN

 

3-Andrew DUNCAN

 

3-Mary DUNCAN

 

3-Cornelious DUNCAN

 

+Anna Liza STRUNK

born: 2 Mar 1856

died: 29 Jul 1931

buried: Duncan Cemetery, Winfield, Scott Co TN

marr: 22 Nov 1891 , Scott Co, TN

parents: Solomon STRUNK and Elizabeth CHITWOOD

 

2-Champion DUNCAN

born: 1840, Scott Co, TN

died: 12 Sep 1896 , Scott Co, TN

 

+Louisa Emeline Jane DUNCAN

born: 1838

di