Individual Details
Melchior DUNCAN
(2 Feb 1789 - 1869)
1810 Hopkinsville, Christian Co., KY, pg. 552; Melchar [sic] Dunkin, head.
1-0-0-1-0 1-0-0-1-0 0-1
1 m 26 - 44
1 f 26 - 44
1 m under 10
1 f under 10
0 other free persons
1 slave
1820, Lawrence Co., TN. Not sure if this is the right person, but is the only Mel* Duncan (including soundex search) in this census index found at ancestry.com.
Lawrence Co., TN
Indexed as Meleher Duncan, but is probably Melcher Duncan. There is a Mrs. Mary Ervine on the same page.
3-0-0-0-1-0 3-1-0-1
1 m 26-45 (1775-1794)
1 f 26-45
1 f 10-16 (1804-1810)
3 m under 10 (1810-1820)
3 f under 10 (Syrena, Verlinda and Lydia)
1830 Pike Co., MO; Melcher [indexed Micher] Duncan. Enumeration is in alphabetical order and he is the only Duncan in Pike County.
1-1-1-2-0-0-1 0-1-1-2-0-1
1 m 40-50 (1780-1790)
1 f 30-40 (1790-1800)
2 m 15-20 (1810-1815)
2 f 15-20 (Syrena and Verlinda)
1 m 10-15 (1815-1820)
1 f 10-15 (Lydia or Margaret?)
1 m 5-10 (1820-1825) (William J.)
1 f 5-10
1 m under 5 (1825-1830) (Jesse)
1840 Pike Co., MO; Melcher Duncan. Note that on same page is William Irvine, Samuel Irvine, Melcher Oyler, Jonathan Oyler and next door is Robert S. Duncan, of the right age to be a son.
0-0-1-1-1-0-0-1 0-0-0-0-2-0-1
1 m 50-60 (1780-1790)
1 f 40-50 (1790-1800)
1 m 20-30 (1810-1820)
2 f 20-30
1 m 15-20 (1820-1825)
1 m 10-15 (1825-1830) (Jesse)
Robert S. Duncan, next door, had this household:
1 m 20-30 (1810-1820)
1 f 20-30
1 f under 5 (1835-1840)
After reviewing the 1830 and 1840 census, it would appear that Lydia and Margaret may be wives of Melcher's sons rather than his own children, as there were no females in the 1825-30 date range.
1 Jun 1850, Indian Creek Twp., Pike Co., MO, pg 69;
Melcher [sic] Duncan, head, 62 (1787-88), born TN, farmer
Sarah Duncan, 59 (1790-91) born N.Carolina
Jesse W. Duncan, 24 (1825-26), born TN, farmer
Mary A. Duncan, 25 (1824-25) born KY
Sarah C. Duncan, 2/12, born MO. Either born March 1850 or July (if they calculated from actual rather than official enumeration date.)
Lydia S. Duncan, 23 (1826-27) born TN
Margaret L. Duncan, 22 (1827-28) born TN
Mary S Duncan, 11 (1838-39), born MO.
1 Jun 1860, P.O. New Harmony, Indian Twp., Pike Co., MO, pg. 250;
Melser Dunkin [sic], head, 72 (1787-88), born TN, farmer
Sarah Dunkin, 68 (1791-92) born N. Carolina
Lidia Duncan, 30 (1829-30) born TN
Margaret J. Dunkin, 20 (1839-40) born TN
Mary S Duncan, 22 (1836-37), born MO.
Note that birthplace of Logan Co., KY, came from the Duncan book. 1850 census says Tennessee. The book lists a Mary A. Duncan as a child, a year older than Jesse. But in 1850 census, Mary A. is listed right after Jesse, and a year older, with Sarah C. Duncan, 2/12, listed right after Mary. Appears that Mary A. is probably Jesse's wife and Sarah C. their child. Lydia and Margaret are listed after Sarah and Mary, 11, born MO, after that. Whose is Mary? Confirmed Lidia and Margaret are in this family, as they are living with Jesse in 1880 and listed as sisters.
In 1860, Mary is still in the household, age 12, born MO.
This from the USGENWEB page for Caldwell Co., MO:
Except for a few probate records, all Caldwell County records were lost in an 1860 fire that destroyed the courthouse. The Illustrated Historical Atlas of Caldwell County, 1876, provides the earliest history.
According to a history at that site, it was in 1836 that MO split counties and established Caldwell to be just for Mormans. However there were already non-Mormans living there and not all wanted to sell to the Mormans. One wonders if it was a coincidence that Melcher bought land there or was he a Morman, at least for a while. And did his brother, William A. Duncan, live on Melcher's land or rent near Absolam Free? There is no record that William got a patent in MO. I note that Melcher was listed in the census in 1830 and in 1840 in Pike Co., MO and as of Feb., 2009, the two patents are the only record of his being in Caldwell County.
The three eldest children, with birth dates and death dates, came from Tom Duncan - a letter he sent dated 19 Aug 1937 to "Dorman" from "Aunt Amine?" Not sure of her given name. The son John, second eldest, was her grandfather. The letter also gives the name of daughter Mary's husband and his information. She said that Melcher was born in Kentucky and they lived in Lawrenceburg, Lawrence Co., TN, before Robertson Co., TN, and all their children were born in Tennessee. She listed as children: Mary South Duncan, John, Irvine, Syrena, Lydia (never married), Margaret (never married), Josephus, Spicy, James and Jesse., all with birth and death years except Irvine, and she had just a birth year for him. The James she listed could be William J.. She did not list Verlinda, though she did list Spicy and she wasn't on my list already. None of the information verified unless noted.
Land Grant from the State of Tennessee, #22564, Book Y page 672, FHL No. 1012963, image in file:
"By virtue of part of Certificate No. 5569 dated the 21st day of May 1824 issued by the Register of West Tennessee to John Cobb for 600 acres and entered on the 27th day of May 1824 as an ocupant [sic]claim under the act of 1823 No. 1330,
There is granted by the said State of Tennessee to Milcher [sic] Duncan assignee of the said John Cobb a certain tract or parcel of land containing Eighty acres by survey bearing date the 10th of June 1824 lying in the Seventh District in Lawrence County waters of Shoal Creek, Range four and Section four And bounded as follows to wit: Beginning at a black and red oak on the east side of the Military road and nine poles South of the north east corner of entry No. 469 in the name of A & J McDonald from thence east one hundred and ten poles to a white oak, thence south one hundred and sixteen poles to a post oak & black oak, thence west one hundred and ten poles to two black Jacks on said McDonalds east boundary, thence north one hundred and sixteen and three fourth poles with McDonalds east boundary to the Beginning. Dated 15 October 1824.
State of Tennessee Land Grant No. 25315 to Melcher Duncan, Book CC page 544, FHL NO. 2023967, image in file.
Know ye that by virtue of certificate No. 920 dated the 1st day of March 1826 signed by the Commissioner for west Tennessee to the assignee of the Register of the Western District for 25 acres and entered on the 2nd day of May 1826 as an occupant claim under the act of 1825 by No. 1733.
There is granted by the State of Tennessee to Melcher Duncan assignee of the said Register a certain tract or parcel of land, containing Twenty five acres by survey, bearing date the 7th day of November 1826, lying in the Seventh District in Lawrence County in Range four Section four bounded as follows to wit: Beginning at a black oak the north east corner of entry No. 469 Thence west sixty poles to a post oak. Thence south twenty six poles with the west boundary of said entry to the north east corner of Jno A. Hart's entry, a post oak. Thence west with the north boundary of the same twenty & a half poles to a post oak & black oak. Thence north seventy & three fourth poles to a post oak & black oak. Thence east 80 poles to a post oak on the west boundary of an entry made by McDonald. Thence south forty four & 3/4 poles with the same to the beginning. Dated 16 Mar 1827. Copied from FHL film.
http://www.tngenweb.org/lawrence/goodspe.htm
Lawrence County, Tennessee Goodspeeds History
Taken from "Goodspeed's History of Tennessee;"
Published in 1886
The pioneers on Beeler Fork were John Beeler, M. Duncan, Robert Hayne, Josephus Irvine, Samuel Thomas and Thomas Paine. On Middle Fork were Bailey Alford, Samuel McLean, William Thomas, John Welch, John Chambers, J.E. Edmiston, Warren Mason, David Crockett, Daniel Levi, Jacob and William Matthews, etc., etc.
Also at the genweb site:
Lawrence County, Tennessee
1818 Voters List
The following is a list of the number and names of the Census returned by Henson Day, Esquire, to-wit:
M.H. Buchanan, William F. Cunningham, John W. Talley, Samuel Sullivan, Alexander Miller, Richard T. Bailey, Robert Montgomery, Nathaniel Casey, Needham Futtrell, Nathaniel Armstrong, William Higgs, Charles McHughs, John L. Henson, Humphrey Tomkins, Stephen Rowland, George W. Jones, Josephus Irvine, Silas Mitchell, Edward McDonald, John McCann, William McCann, Lazarus Stewart, Nathan McClendon, Bryan McClendon, Hugh Sinclair, Archer Nail, Abraham Henry, Alexander Davis, Abraham Helton, Melcher Duncan, William Wooten, John McHughs, John Thompson, Samuel Askew, Barrel Campbell, Groves Sharp, James McHughs, Oliver Page, Robert Haynes, Jesse Helton, John Grimes, George Grisham, Samuel Thomas, Spencer Rice, David Adams, Hamilton Reynolds, James Helton, Robert Gray, John Nelson, John Welch, Ezer Evans, Daniel Beeler, Hugh Reynolds, Henson Day, John Allsup. Simon Higgs, Lakin Baker, James Scott, Joel Phillips, John Gray, Richard Hill, David Dale, Samuel Sealy, George Hanks, Henry Sharp, Solomon Grisham, Thomas Keese, James Smith, Lewis Franks
Amounting in the whole to 70.
1-0-0-1-0 1-0-0-1-0 0-1
1 m 26 - 44
1 f 26 - 44
1 m under 10
1 f under 10
0 other free persons
1 slave
1820, Lawrence Co., TN. Not sure if this is the right person, but is the only Mel* Duncan (including soundex search) in this census index found at ancestry.com.
Lawrence Co., TN
Indexed as Meleher Duncan, but is probably Melcher Duncan. There is a Mrs. Mary Ervine on the same page.
3-0-0-0-1-0 3-1-0-1
1 m 26-45 (1775-1794)
1 f 26-45
1 f 10-16 (1804-1810)
3 m under 10 (1810-1820)
3 f under 10 (Syrena, Verlinda and Lydia)
1830 Pike Co., MO; Melcher [indexed Micher] Duncan. Enumeration is in alphabetical order and he is the only Duncan in Pike County.
1-1-1-2-0-0-1 0-1-1-2-0-1
1 m 40-50 (1780-1790)
1 f 30-40 (1790-1800)
2 m 15-20 (1810-1815)
2 f 15-20 (Syrena and Verlinda)
1 m 10-15 (1815-1820)
1 f 10-15 (Lydia or Margaret?)
1 m 5-10 (1820-1825) (William J.)
1 f 5-10
1 m under 5 (1825-1830) (Jesse)
1840 Pike Co., MO; Melcher Duncan. Note that on same page is William Irvine, Samuel Irvine, Melcher Oyler, Jonathan Oyler and next door is Robert S. Duncan, of the right age to be a son.
0-0-1-1-1-0-0-1 0-0-0-0-2-0-1
1 m 50-60 (1780-1790)
1 f 40-50 (1790-1800)
1 m 20-30 (1810-1820)
2 f 20-30
1 m 15-20 (1820-1825)
1 m 10-15 (1825-1830) (Jesse)
Robert S. Duncan, next door, had this household:
1 m 20-30 (1810-1820)
1 f 20-30
1 f under 5 (1835-1840)
After reviewing the 1830 and 1840 census, it would appear that Lydia and Margaret may be wives of Melcher's sons rather than his own children, as there were no females in the 1825-30 date range.
1 Jun 1850, Indian Creek Twp., Pike Co., MO, pg 69;
Melcher [sic] Duncan, head, 62 (1787-88), born TN, farmer
Sarah Duncan, 59 (1790-91) born N.Carolina
Jesse W. Duncan, 24 (1825-26), born TN, farmer
Mary A. Duncan, 25 (1824-25) born KY
Sarah C. Duncan, 2/12, born MO. Either born March 1850 or July (if they calculated from actual rather than official enumeration date.)
Lydia S. Duncan, 23 (1826-27) born TN
Margaret L. Duncan, 22 (1827-28) born TN
Mary S Duncan, 11 (1838-39), born MO.
1 Jun 1860, P.O. New Harmony, Indian Twp., Pike Co., MO, pg. 250;
Melser Dunkin [sic], head, 72 (1787-88), born TN, farmer
Sarah Dunkin, 68 (1791-92) born N. Carolina
Lidia Duncan, 30 (1829-30) born TN
Margaret J. Dunkin, 20 (1839-40) born TN
Mary S Duncan, 22 (1836-37), born MO.
Note that birthplace of Logan Co., KY, came from the Duncan book. 1850 census says Tennessee. The book lists a Mary A. Duncan as a child, a year older than Jesse. But in 1850 census, Mary A. is listed right after Jesse, and a year older, with Sarah C. Duncan, 2/12, listed right after Mary. Appears that Mary A. is probably Jesse's wife and Sarah C. their child. Lydia and Margaret are listed after Sarah and Mary, 11, born MO, after that. Whose is Mary? Confirmed Lidia and Margaret are in this family, as they are living with Jesse in 1880 and listed as sisters.
In 1860, Mary is still in the household, age 12, born MO.
This from the USGENWEB page for Caldwell Co., MO:
Except for a few probate records, all Caldwell County records were lost in an 1860 fire that destroyed the courthouse. The Illustrated Historical Atlas of Caldwell County, 1876, provides the earliest history.
According to a history at that site, it was in 1836 that MO split counties and established Caldwell to be just for Mormans. However there were already non-Mormans living there and not all wanted to sell to the Mormans. One wonders if it was a coincidence that Melcher bought land there or was he a Morman, at least for a while. And did his brother, William A. Duncan, live on Melcher's land or rent near Absolam Free? There is no record that William got a patent in MO. I note that Melcher was listed in the census in 1830 and in 1840 in Pike Co., MO and as of Feb., 2009, the two patents are the only record of his being in Caldwell County.
The three eldest children, with birth dates and death dates, came from Tom Duncan - a letter he sent dated 19 Aug 1937 to "Dorman" from "Aunt Amine?" Not sure of her given name. The son John, second eldest, was her grandfather. The letter also gives the name of daughter Mary's husband and his information. She said that Melcher was born in Kentucky and they lived in Lawrenceburg, Lawrence Co., TN, before Robertson Co., TN, and all their children were born in Tennessee. She listed as children: Mary South Duncan, John, Irvine, Syrena, Lydia (never married), Margaret (never married), Josephus, Spicy, James and Jesse., all with birth and death years except Irvine, and she had just a birth year for him. The James she listed could be William J.. She did not list Verlinda, though she did list Spicy and she wasn't on my list already. None of the information verified unless noted.
Land Grant from the State of Tennessee, #22564, Book Y page 672, FHL No. 1012963, image in file:
"By virtue of part of Certificate No. 5569 dated the 21st day of May 1824 issued by the Register of West Tennessee to John Cobb for 600 acres and entered on the 27th day of May 1824 as an ocupant [sic]claim under the act of 1823 No. 1330,
There is granted by the said State of Tennessee to Milcher [sic] Duncan assignee of the said John Cobb a certain tract or parcel of land containing Eighty acres by survey bearing date the 10th of June 1824 lying in the Seventh District in Lawrence County waters of Shoal Creek, Range four and Section four And bounded as follows to wit: Beginning at a black and red oak on the east side of the Military road and nine poles South of the north east corner of entry No. 469 in the name of A & J McDonald from thence east one hundred and ten poles to a white oak, thence south one hundred and sixteen poles to a post oak & black oak, thence west one hundred and ten poles to two black Jacks on said McDonalds east boundary, thence north one hundred and sixteen and three fourth poles with McDonalds east boundary to the Beginning. Dated 15 October 1824.
State of Tennessee Land Grant No. 25315 to Melcher Duncan, Book CC page 544, FHL NO. 2023967, image in file.
Know ye that by virtue of certificate No. 920 dated the 1st day of March 1826 signed by the Commissioner for west Tennessee to the assignee of the Register of the Western District for 25 acres and entered on the 2nd day of May 1826 as an occupant claim under the act of 1825 by No. 1733.
There is granted by the State of Tennessee to Melcher Duncan assignee of the said Register a certain tract or parcel of land, containing Twenty five acres by survey, bearing date the 7th day of November 1826, lying in the Seventh District in Lawrence County in Range four Section four bounded as follows to wit: Beginning at a black oak the north east corner of entry No. 469 Thence west sixty poles to a post oak. Thence south twenty six poles with the west boundary of said entry to the north east corner of Jno A. Hart's entry, a post oak. Thence west with the north boundary of the same twenty & a half poles to a post oak & black oak. Thence north seventy & three fourth poles to a post oak & black oak. Thence east 80 poles to a post oak on the west boundary of an entry made by McDonald. Thence south forty four & 3/4 poles with the same to the beginning. Dated 16 Mar 1827. Copied from FHL film.
http://www.tngenweb.org/lawrence/goodspe.htm
Lawrence County, Tennessee Goodspeeds History
Taken from "Goodspeed's History of Tennessee;"
Published in 1886
The pioneers on Beeler Fork were John Beeler, M. Duncan, Robert Hayne, Josephus Irvine, Samuel Thomas and Thomas Paine. On Middle Fork were Bailey Alford, Samuel McLean, William Thomas, John Welch, John Chambers, J.E. Edmiston, Warren Mason, David Crockett, Daniel Levi, Jacob and William Matthews, etc., etc.
Also at the genweb site:
Lawrence County, Tennessee
1818 Voters List
The following is a list of the number and names of the Census returned by Henson Day, Esquire, to-wit:
M.H. Buchanan, William F. Cunningham, John W. Talley, Samuel Sullivan, Alexander Miller, Richard T. Bailey, Robert Montgomery, Nathaniel Casey, Needham Futtrell, Nathaniel Armstrong, William Higgs, Charles McHughs, John L. Henson, Humphrey Tomkins, Stephen Rowland, George W. Jones, Josephus Irvine, Silas Mitchell, Edward McDonald, John McCann, William McCann, Lazarus Stewart, Nathan McClendon, Bryan McClendon, Hugh Sinclair, Archer Nail, Abraham Henry, Alexander Davis, Abraham Helton, Melcher Duncan, William Wooten, John McHughs, John Thompson, Samuel Askew, Barrel Campbell, Groves Sharp, James McHughs, Oliver Page, Robert Haynes, Jesse Helton, John Grimes, George Grisham, Samuel Thomas, Spencer Rice, David Adams, Hamilton Reynolds, James Helton, Robert Gray, John Nelson, John Welch, Ezer Evans, Daniel Beeler, Hugh Reynolds, Henson Day, John Allsup. Simon Higgs, Lakin Baker, James Scott, Joel Phillips, John Gray, Richard Hill, David Dale, Samuel Sealy, George Hanks, Henry Sharp, Solomon Grisham, Thomas Keese, James Smith, Lewis Franks
Amounting in the whole to 70.
Events
| Birth | 2 Feb 1789 | Logan Co., KY or TN | |||
| Marriage | 30 May 1808 | Elkton, Todd Co. KY or Logan Co., KY - Sarah IRVINE | |||
| Census | 1810 | Hopkinsville, Christian Co., Kentucky | |||
| Census | 1820 | Lawrence Co., Tennessee | |||
| Property | 15 Oct 1824 | Lawrence Co., Tennessee |  | ||
| Property | 16 Mar 1827 | Lawrence Co., Tennessee | | ||
| Census | 1830 | Pike Co., Missouri | |||
| Property | 10 Oct 1835 | Caldwell Co., Missouri | | ||
| Property | 2 Aug 1838 | Caldwell Co., Missouri | | ||
| Census | 1840 | Pike Co., Missouri | |||
| Census | 1 Jun 1850 | Indian Creek Twp., Pike Co., Missouri | |||
| Census | 1 Jun 1860 | Pike Co., Missouri | |||
| Death | 1869 | Harmony, Pike Co., Missouri | |||
| Reference No | 6440 |
Families
| Spouse | Sarah IRVINE (1792 - 1860) |
| Child | Mary South DUNCAN (1809 - 1902) |
| Child | John DUNCAN (1810 - 1835) |
| Child | Irvine DUNCAN (1812 - ) |
| Child | Syrena DUNCAN (1812 - 1876) |
| Child | Lydia S. DUNCAN (1816 - 1907) |
| Child | Margaret L. or J. DUNCAN (1817 - 1907) |
| Child | Josephus DUNCAN (1820 - 1898) |
| Child | Spicy Lucinda DUNCAN (1822 - 1908) |
| Child | William J. DUNCAN (1823 - 1870) |
| Child | Jesse Warren DUNCAN (1825 - 1902) |
| Father | John DUNCAN (1763 - 1834) |
| Mother | Lydia SPILLER (1771 - 1843) |
| Sibling | Benjamin F. DUNCAN (1790 - 1847) |
| Sibling | Warrenton Spiller DUNCAN (1792 - 1878) |
| Sibling | James S. DUNCAN (1794 - 1874) |
| 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) |