Individual Details
James S. DUNCAN
(1 May 1794 - 4 May 1874)
Medical: At age 18, per widow's pension claim, he was a farmer, 6 ft. tall with
This is the brother of William A. Duncan who assisted him in movingback to IL from MO.
According to list of Morman pioneers, James presented the prophetJoseph Smith with a horse which the prophet names Joe Duncan, afterhimself and the donor.
James was a farmer. The family home was Bountiful, Utah. Allinformation on this family is from Morman Pioneers unless otherwisenoted.
James and his family were in the Kimball train, Pioneers of 1848,according to Heart Throbs of the West, Vo. 9, page 482.
According to a letter from Shu Naylor Taylor, descendent of HuldaDuncan, to Ethel Pratt Brown, James was a First Lieutanant in Capt.Homan's Company, IL Mounted Volunteers in the Black Hawk War, enrolledJune 15, 1832. She said he is listed in the 1830 census in FranklinCo., IL. Joined Morman Church at Nauvoo, IL. Drove ox teams toNebraska in 1847 where he spent winter and reached Utah on Sept. 24,1848 with Heber C. Kimball's Co. She gave his birth date as May 1,1794 in Robertson Co., TN, died 1874 in Bountiful, UT. Married (1)Feb. 20, 1823, Rebecca Herrin, b. March 25, 1807 Springfield, TN, diedJune 11, 1830. Married (2) Hulda Jones, b. May 4, 1813, Wilson Co.,TN, died Feb 22, 1887 in Bountiful, UT.
"Membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints" VolumeXIV compiled by Susan Ward Easton, copied at the library in Salt Lake.US/CAN 289.3 Ea85m. Gives his name, his parents names and his marriagedates, names of wives and children and by which wife. Most referencesare to a family group sheet - self. I attempted to locate a film ofthat while in Salt Lake, April, 2001, but it was not available. Theparents names match those of William A. Duncan, so confirmed they arebrothers. I do have some concern as to who actually submitted thefamily group sheet, because it has a death and burial date and place.This book comments that he presented the prophet Joseph Smith with ahorse which the prophet named Joe Duncan after himself and the donor.It also states that James was with Heber C. Kimball's company as ShuNaylor Taylor stated. She probably obtained her information from thissame source.
Copy, typewritten, of Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register receiveddirectly from Nauvoo, pg 150, has the following entries for FirstCompany - James is at the top of the page, followed by Huldah: JamesDuncan, high priest, born 1 May 1794, Springfield, Robison County,Tennessee, washing and annointing 24 Dec 1845, endowment 20 Jan 1846.In the "comments" column is typed "also endowed 24 Dec 1845 - see page61." Huldah Duncan, female, born 4 May 1813, Wilson County,Tennessee. There is a footnote by the state that says TIB(unverified). Washing and annointing 24 Dec 1845, endowment 20 Jan1846. In comments it says "Hulda Jones in slg[sealing] record".
Additional typed pages received from Nauvoo are headed "70s Record"and lists James (Jonas) L. Duncan, birth TN 1794, Death UT 1874,Parents: John Duncan and Lydia Spiller; wives and number of children,Rebecca Herring (3) and Huldah Jones (4); Quorum: Q23; Early CivilDatea: In Nauvoo; Early Church Data: Endowed Nauvoo Temple 12/24/45(High Priest); Post-Nauvoo Civil data: Farmer, Pleasant Grove UT.Sources: Index, Nauvoo Land and Record Files 217; Index, 70s Bk B Sel,pg. 83; 70s Rec., Qrm 23.
Complete War of 1812 Service Pension file has been obtained. Summaryof the most relevant information:
S.O. - 10217
S.C. - 18546 (soldier's certificate)
W.O. - 36123 (claim No.)
W.C. 25455(widow's certificate)
James Duncan, married to Huldah Jones on Mch 7, 1833, at Marion,Franklin Co., (Now Williamson Co.), IL, by Elijah Spiller, J.P... Hedied 4 May 1874 at Bountiful, Davis Co., UT. Huldah died 22 Feb 1887also at Bountiful. Her pension claim says he volunteered at Nashville,TN, while a resident of Wilson Co., TN, and a farmer. He was 6 ft.tall, light hair, blue eyes, light complexion. She stated that beforehe married her, he had been married to Rebecca Herriman, who died atFranklin Co., IL, 182? [last digit is cut off in copy]. Since hisdischarge, they had lived in Tennessee, then to Franklin Co., IL, thento St. Clair Co., IL, then Hancock Co., IL, then to Davis Co., UT,where they had been since 1848. He served as a private under WilliamCreel in the Tennessee Militia, she stated he served for 4 months..Huldah signed with her mark.
Children were listed as follows:
William Riley Duncan, born 13 May 1834, died at the age of 16 months.
Matilda Ann Duncan, born 20 Apr 1836, [possibly 25 Apr] "now the wifeof Wm. Winters residing at Woolf Creek Nevada".
Rebecca Jane Duncan, born 14 June 1842 "now the wife of John Poormanresiding at Sale Lake City Utah.".
John Duncan, born 24 Apr 1845. died 1 Feb 1878.
A discharge letter in file says he served 3 mo. and 24 days and was onan expedition against the Creek Indians under the command of MajorGeneral Andrew Jackson, and is honorably discharged. Dated 10 May1814. A memo from the Treasury Dept. gives his dates of service from14 March 1814 to 20 May 1814.
James had additional service as a 1st Lieut., Capt. Holman's Co., Ill.Militia, 1832. A certification by John Ewing at Frankfort, October 17,18??, certifies that "James S. Duncan a first Lieutenant in CaptainArmistiad Holmans Company, of the 2nd Regiment 1st Brigade IllinoisMounted Volunteer Gunman, has served a tour of ninety days, on anexpedition against the Sac and Fox Indians. He carried with him thethanks and gratitude of his commanding officer and merits the applauseof his country, and is hereby honorably discharged."
Affidavits from at least two different men indicate they were shownHuldah's family bible with the marriage information.
Huldah was granted a pension of $8.00 per month on 24 June 1879.
In the 1860 census, there is a Fred. Duncan, 14, listed after John. Heis of the right age and place of birth to be one of their children,but Huldah didn't list him as a child in the pension papers. Who ishe? Also, in the 1850 census, there are two children in addition toMatilda, Rebecca and John. Susan Duncan, 17 (1832-33) (daughter ofJames and his first wife) and Hulda Duncan, 7 (1842-43). Hulda is thedaughter of James' brother, William Duncan. In his memoirs, GeorgeDuncan said that his uncle had helped him and his sister back toIllinois. Apparently Huldah lived with James' family for severalyears.
FHL microfilm #183371, Endowments for the Living, has an entry on page17, which is headed 13 Dec 1845. Among the men listed in alphabeticalorder are:
Duncan, James, born 1 May, 1796. The next line says "25 Dec." belowJames' given name. Film viewed at the Family History Library December8, 2008.
On December 9, 2008, at the Historical Department Library and Archivesin Salt Lake City, the author viewed their microfilm: Call No. CR375.8, Reel 6109, High Priest Records. A part of that film had "HighPriests Quorum Genealogy Record 1848 - 1871". Item 17 says: Duncan,James; Born Roberson [sic] Co., Tenn, May 1, 1794; Names of Parents:John and Lydia Spiller; Where and when ordained - Nauvoo -- -- 1844;When Enrolled - April 23, 1848 by T. Cutler." The Library will notallow photocopies of this film. This is a handwritten record, eitherthe original or hand copied from the original, and was done during thelifetime of the subject, so he presumably provided the information.Additionally, on page 4 is an index for Record of Baptisms andRe-Baptisms 1847 - 1863. It lists James Duncan and Huldah Duncan,re-baptized Nov. 1, 1848 by Curtis E. Bolton, convirmed Nov. 1 byWilliam W. Major. After the index, it also lists Mary Duncan,baptized and confirmed at the same time. Two entries after her islisted Dolly Newton. Who is she? Possibly connected in some way? Onlyconsidered because of the name Dolly appearing in close proximity toJames and Huldah.
This is the brother of William A. Duncan who assisted him in movingback to IL from MO.
According to list of Morman pioneers, James presented the prophetJoseph Smith with a horse which the prophet names Joe Duncan, afterhimself and the donor.
James was a farmer. The family home was Bountiful, Utah. Allinformation on this family is from Morman Pioneers unless otherwisenoted.
James and his family were in the Kimball train, Pioneers of 1848,according to Heart Throbs of the West, Vo. 9, page 482.
According to a letter from Shu Naylor Taylor, descendent of HuldaDuncan, to Ethel Pratt Brown, James was a First Lieutanant in Capt.Homan's Company, IL Mounted Volunteers in the Black Hawk War, enrolledJune 15, 1832. She said he is listed in the 1830 census in FranklinCo., IL. Joined Morman Church at Nauvoo, IL. Drove ox teams toNebraska in 1847 where he spent winter and reached Utah on Sept. 24,1848 with Heber C. Kimball's Co. She gave his birth date as May 1,1794 in Robertson Co., TN, died 1874 in Bountiful, UT. Married (1)Feb. 20, 1823, Rebecca Herrin, b. March 25, 1807 Springfield, TN, diedJune 11, 1830. Married (2) Hulda Jones, b. May 4, 1813, Wilson Co.,TN, died Feb 22, 1887 in Bountiful, UT.
"Membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints" VolumeXIV compiled by Susan Ward Easton, copied at the library in Salt Lake.US/CAN 289.3 Ea85m. Gives his name, his parents names and his marriagedates, names of wives and children and by which wife. Most referencesare to a family group sheet - self. I attempted to locate a film ofthat while in Salt Lake, April, 2001, but it was not available. Theparents names match those of William A. Duncan, so confirmed they arebrothers. I do have some concern as to who actually submitted thefamily group sheet, because it has a death and burial date and place.This book comments that he presented the prophet Joseph Smith with ahorse which the prophet named Joe Duncan after himself and the donor.It also states that James was with Heber C. Kimball's company as ShuNaylor Taylor stated. She probably obtained her information from thissame source.
Copy, typewritten, of Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register receiveddirectly from Nauvoo, pg 150, has the following entries for FirstCompany - James is at the top of the page, followed by Huldah: JamesDuncan, high priest, born 1 May 1794, Springfield, Robison County,Tennessee, washing and annointing 24 Dec 1845, endowment 20 Jan 1846.In the "comments" column is typed "also endowed 24 Dec 1845 - see page61." Huldah Duncan, female, born 4 May 1813, Wilson County,Tennessee. There is a footnote by the state that says TIB(unverified). Washing and annointing 24 Dec 1845, endowment 20 Jan1846. In comments it says "Hulda Jones in slg[sealing] record".
Additional typed pages received from Nauvoo are headed "70s Record"and lists James (Jonas) L. Duncan, birth TN 1794, Death UT 1874,Parents: John Duncan and Lydia Spiller; wives and number of children,Rebecca Herring (3) and Huldah Jones (4); Quorum: Q23; Early CivilDatea: In Nauvoo; Early Church Data: Endowed Nauvoo Temple 12/24/45(High Priest); Post-Nauvoo Civil data: Farmer, Pleasant Grove UT.Sources: Index, Nauvoo Land and Record Files 217; Index, 70s Bk B Sel,pg. 83; 70s Rec., Qrm 23.
Complete War of 1812 Service Pension file has been obtained. Summaryof the most relevant information:
S.O. - 10217
S.C. - 18546 (soldier's certificate)
W.O. - 36123 (claim No.)
W.C. 25455(widow's certificate)
James Duncan, married to Huldah Jones on Mch 7, 1833, at Marion,Franklin Co., (Now Williamson Co.), IL, by Elijah Spiller, J.P... Hedied 4 May 1874 at Bountiful, Davis Co., UT. Huldah died 22 Feb 1887also at Bountiful. Her pension claim says he volunteered at Nashville,TN, while a resident of Wilson Co., TN, and a farmer. He was 6 ft.tall, light hair, blue eyes, light complexion. She stated that beforehe married her, he had been married to Rebecca Herriman, who died atFranklin Co., IL, 182? [last digit is cut off in copy]. Since hisdischarge, they had lived in Tennessee, then to Franklin Co., IL, thento St. Clair Co., IL, then Hancock Co., IL, then to Davis Co., UT,where they had been since 1848. He served as a private under WilliamCreel in the Tennessee Militia, she stated he served for 4 months..Huldah signed with her mark.
Children were listed as follows:
William Riley Duncan, born 13 May 1834, died at the age of 16 months.
Matilda Ann Duncan, born 20 Apr 1836, [possibly 25 Apr] "now the wifeof Wm. Winters residing at Woolf Creek Nevada".
Rebecca Jane Duncan, born 14 June 1842 "now the wife of John Poormanresiding at Sale Lake City Utah.".
John Duncan, born 24 Apr 1845. died 1 Feb 1878.
A discharge letter in file says he served 3 mo. and 24 days and was onan expedition against the Creek Indians under the command of MajorGeneral Andrew Jackson, and is honorably discharged. Dated 10 May1814. A memo from the Treasury Dept. gives his dates of service from14 March 1814 to 20 May 1814.
James had additional service as a 1st Lieut., Capt. Holman's Co., Ill.Militia, 1832. A certification by John Ewing at Frankfort, October 17,18??, certifies that "James S. Duncan a first Lieutenant in CaptainArmistiad Holmans Company, of the 2nd Regiment 1st Brigade IllinoisMounted Volunteer Gunman, has served a tour of ninety days, on anexpedition against the Sac and Fox Indians. He carried with him thethanks and gratitude of his commanding officer and merits the applauseof his country, and is hereby honorably discharged."
Affidavits from at least two different men indicate they were shownHuldah's family bible with the marriage information.
Huldah was granted a pension of $8.00 per month on 24 June 1879.
In the 1860 census, there is a Fred. Duncan, 14, listed after John. Heis of the right age and place of birth to be one of their children,but Huldah didn't list him as a child in the pension papers. Who ishe? Also, in the 1850 census, there are two children in addition toMatilda, Rebecca and John. Susan Duncan, 17 (1832-33) (daughter ofJames and his first wife) and Hulda Duncan, 7 (1842-43). Hulda is thedaughter of James' brother, William Duncan. In his memoirs, GeorgeDuncan said that his uncle had helped him and his sister back toIllinois. Apparently Huldah lived with James' family for severalyears.
FHL microfilm #183371, Endowments for the Living, has an entry on page17, which is headed 13 Dec 1845. Among the men listed in alphabeticalorder are:
Duncan, James, born 1 May, 1796. The next line says "25 Dec." belowJames' given name. Film viewed at the Family History Library December8, 2008.
On December 9, 2008, at the Historical Department Library and Archivesin Salt Lake City, the author viewed their microfilm: Call No. CR375.8, Reel 6109, High Priest Records. A part of that film had "HighPriests Quorum Genealogy Record 1848 - 1871". Item 17 says: Duncan,James; Born Roberson [sic] Co., Tenn, May 1, 1794; Names of Parents:John and Lydia Spiller; Where and when ordained - Nauvoo -- -- 1844;When Enrolled - April 23, 1848 by T. Cutler." The Library will notallow photocopies of this film. This is a handwritten record, eitherthe original or hand copied from the original, and was done during thelifetime of the subject, so he presumably provided the information.Additionally, on page 4 is an index for Record of Baptisms andRe-Baptisms 1847 - 1863. It lists James Duncan and Huldah Duncan,re-baptized Nov. 1, 1848 by Curtis E. Bolton, convirmed Nov. 1 byWilliam W. Major. After the index, it also lists Mary Duncan,baptized and confirmed at the same time. Two entries after her islisted Dolly Newton. Who is she? Possibly connected in some way? Onlyconsidered because of the name Dolly appearing in close proximity toJames and Huldah.
Events
| Birth | 1 May 1794 | Robertson Co., Tennessee |  | ||
| Residence | 1814 | Wilson Co., TN. Per Widow's claim for pension, he was a resident of Wilson Co., TN, when he volunteered at Nashville, TN. | |||
| Military | Bet 14 Mar 1814 and 20 May 1814 | TN; Military service: Capt. William Kreeler's Company, Tennessee | |||
| Marriage | 20 Feb 1823 | Rebecca HERRING | | ||
| Military | 1832 | IL; Military service: Captain Armistiad Holmans Company, of the 2nd | |||
| Marriage | 7 Mar 1833 | Wilson Co., TN - Huldah JONES | | ||
| Marriage | 7 Mar 1833 | Franklin Co., Illinois - Huldah JONES | | ||
| Baptism | 1 Nov 1848 | Re-Baptized. LDS -Church Historical Dept., Call # CR 375.8, Reel 6109, Record of Baptisms & Re-Baptisms 1847-1863, page 4, index. Baptized by Curtis E. Boldon, confirmed by William W. Majors. | |||
| Census | 1850 | 1850 Davis Co., UT, page 10, household No. 118. James Duncan, 56 (1794) born TN, value of real property $135. | |||
| Census | 1 Jun 1860 | Bountiful, Davis Co., UT, pg. 17; Jas Duncan, head, 63 (1796-97), born TN, farmer, real estate of $600, personal of $800. | |||
| Pension | 14 Feb 1871 | Pension for service in War of 1812 began according to widow's affidavit. His certificate was No. 18546. | |||
| Death | 4 May 1874 | Natural infirmity - Bountiful, Davis Co., UT | | ||
| Reference No | 2126 |
Families
| Spouse | Rebecca HERRING (1807 - 1830) |
| Child | James M. DUNCAN (1826 - ) |
| Child | Malinda DUNCAN (1827 - 1844) |
| Child | Susan DUNCAN (1829 - 1880) |
| Spouse | Huldah JONES (1813 - 1887) |
| Child | William Riley DUNCAN (1834 - 1835) |
| Child | Matilda Ann DUNCAN (1836 - 1932) |
| Child | Rebecca Jane DUNCAN (1842 - 1928) |
| Child | John DUNCAN (1845 - 1878) |
| Father | John DUNCAN (1763 - 1834) |
| Mother | Lydia SPILLER (1771 - 1843) |
| Sibling | Melchior DUNCAN (1789 - 1869) |
| Sibling | Benjamin F. DUNCAN (1790 - 1847) |
| Sibling | Warrenton Spiller DUNCAN (1792 - 1878) |
| Sibling | John Pekin DUNCAN (1796 - 1834) |
| Sibling | Abraham Matthew DUNCAN (1799 - 1876) |
| Sibling | Anna DUNCAN (1799 - ) |
| Sibling | William A. DUNCAN (1803 - 1847) |
| Sibling | Thomas J. DUNCAN (1805 - 1877) |
| Sibling | Emaline DUNCAN (1807 - 1852) |
| Sibling | Rachael DUNCAN (1812 - 1880) |
| Sibling | Mary Moore DUNCAN (1814 - 1896) |
Endnotes
1. Membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints"VolumeXIV compiled by Susan Ward Easton, pg 618.
2. LDS - Nauvoo, Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register.
3. Patriarchal Blessings.
4. Membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints"VolumeXIV compiled by Susan Ward Easton, pg 618.
5. Membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints"VolumeXIV compiled by Susan Ward Easton, pg 619.
6. James S. Duncan Pension File.
7. James S. Duncan Pension File.