Individual Details
William A. DUNCAN
(6 Mar 1803 - 22 Jan 1847)
Database at Illinois State has this: DUNCAN, WILLIAM H PVT Co. AHOLMAN FRANKLIN CO Reg- 2, Brigade 1
This may not be him, but can't be sure without more information. There were three Duncans who signed up in Franklin Co.:
DUNCAN, ABRAHAM SGT A HOLMANFRANKLIN CO 2 1
DUNCAN, JAMES 1LT A HOLMANFRANKLIN CO 2 1
DUNCAN, WILLIAM H PVT A HOLMANFRANKLIN CO 2 1
Deed dated 29 Nov 1837, recorded Book J page 432, 7-13-65 St. Clair Co., IL. William D. Smith of the County of St. Clair sold to William "H." Duncan of St. Clair Co., IL, for $75.00, the NE 1/4 of SE quarter of Section No. 35 in Township one south range 6 west, containing 40 acres."The said Duncan however on his part agrees with the said Smith to allow the said Smith to retain possession of the said premises for and during the term of nine months from the present date. And if within or at the expiration of said term the Smith pays the said Duncan the said seventy five dollars, then the said Duncan will cancel this obligation and this contract will remain null & void, but if the said Smith shall fail to pay to said Duncan said sum as aforesaid, then said Duncan shall enter upon and take possession of the aforesaid tract of land, without any lot or hindrance on the part of said Smith." Not yet confirmed this is actually William A. Duncan, as of 12 Jul 2003.
U. S. Patent dated 1 Aug 1838, certificate No. 4,332, recorded Book ?,page 229 (or 224?) grants to William A. Duncan of St. Clair County,Illinois, The Southwest quarter of the Southeast quarter of Section 4,Township 2 South, Range 6 west in the district of lands subject to sale at Kaskaskia, Illinois, containing forty acres. (Printed from the web)
Deed dated 19 May 1838, recorded Book J pg 280 7-13-65, William A. Duncan and Dolley H., his wife, of the County of St. Clair, State of Illinois, for $125.00, granted to Toodar Schonebaum the Southwest fourth of Southeast quarter of Section 4 Township 2 South, range 6 east. Signed by William A. and Dolley H. Duncan, not by a mark.
1840 St. Clair, IL, census, William Duncan, head. While not proven this is the right family, it fits exactly what is known of the family.
1 m 30-40 (1800-1810) William
1 f 20-30 (1810-1820) Dolly
1 m 10-15 (1825-1830) James
1 m 5-10 (1830-1835) G. W.
1 m under 5 (1835-1840) O.H.P.
On 08 Jun 1995, copied information from the record at Morman Winter Quarters that gave death date, age at death as 43 yr 10 mo 16 days and gave birth date and place. Stated he was husband of Dolly H. Duncan, deceased and grave number. It did not list cause of death for him.
The book "Winter Quarters" by Conrey Bryson, Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City, UT, at the LDS library in Salt Lake, lists William Duncan as having died of dropsy.
"Nauvoo, Early Mormon Records Series, Vol. 1" by Lyman DePlatt, Highland, UT, 1980, at the LDS library, has a Record of Members,1841-1845, that lists William A. Duncan, place of origin, "Hghlnd Br" page 112. This contains names of members of LDS who handed in certificates to the Church Clerk at Nauvoo. The date the certificate was made out, the place of issue, and the name of the presiding authority who signed it are given in the original records.
"Membership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Volume XIV" Compiled by Susan Ward Easton, Religious Studies Center, BYU,1986, at the LDS library, lists William A. Duncan. Reference of Temple Index Bureau gives his birth date as March 6, 1803 and place as Robertson, TN; his wife's name as Mary Hollingsworth; death date and place, and his parents names as John Duncan and Lydia Spiller. Reference of Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register 1845-46, gives his birthdate as May 6, 1803, Robertson, TN; and wife's name as Dolly Hollingsworth.
However, typed copy of the Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register received directly from Nauvoo, has William A. Duncan listed in the Third Company and he was in the "seventy", birth date 6 Mar 1803 in Robertson, Tennessee. He was endowed 20 Jan 1846, the same date as"washing and annointing" There was nothing in the additional comments page and his wife's name was not given. The Endowment Register, I believe, would have had information that William provided. His was the last entry on page 156. First on the next page was Dolly H. Duncan, female, born 24 Feb 1811 in Christian County, Kentucky. Washing and annointing and endowment both on 20 Jan 1846. In the comments and additional information it says "Mary Hollingsworth in TIB record". In the notes below it stated TIB (unverified). I take this to mean that information was NOT provided by her and that it was entered by some other person at a later time. [That was later confirmed by a person at the Family History Library when I discussed this with them.]
Additional typed pages received from Nauvoo are headed "70s Record" and lists William A. Duncan, Birth: TN 1803 (1800), Death, NE 1847;Parents: John Duncan and Lydia Spiller: Wives and number of children, Mary Hollingsworth (number of children not shown); Quorum: Q10: Early Civil Data; Nauvoo; Early Church Data: Endowed Nauvoo Temple 1/20/46 ); Post Nauvoo Civil Data: Died Winter Quarters NE 1847; (Other record says in Salt Lake City UT in 1850s).
Sources: Susan Black, Early LDS Members Rec 14:641; Index, Nauvoo Land and Record Files 217; Index, 70s Bk B Sel, pg. 26; 70s Rec. Qrm 10.
Printout of James Duncan File 18457 received from Nauvoo says he owned the East half of the Northeast quarter of Sec. 27, Twp 4 Range 8, Highland Branch and the South half of Section 26, Township 4, Range 26, 320 acres in all. They also sent a map, but mis-marked the first parcel.
The Women of Mormondom by Edward W. Tullidge, New York, 1877, has some information on pages 155 - 160. The author talks of Louisa F. Wells."In July, 1837, her father, Absalom Free, who had embraced Mormonism Fayetteville, St. Clair county, Ill., in the year 1835, emigrated with his family to Caldwell county, Mo.
In Caldwell, Brother Free purchased a farm and built a good house. It goes on to say that the "saints" had been driven out of Jackson county, and mobs were ravaging in Davies county, but there was peace in Caldwell until the Fourth of July, in 1838. Louisa's father joined the organization for defence of the city of Far West and left a sick son at home with the women. It mentions Louisa and her sister Emeline and says that Emeline was the same who was later well known in Utah as the wife of Brigham Young.
It goes on to say that after the fall of the city of Far West, the Mormons decided to make a grand exodus from Missouri in the spring but Mr. Free determined to anticipate it. He abandoned the farm he had purchased and paid for and started with his family for Illinois. Along with his party were William Duncan and Solomon Allen, whose feet were so badly frozen one day that they were unable to proceed. The mob forced them to cross the Mississippi river above St. Charles even though ice was running so fiercely that is was very dangerous to cross.
Copies of those pages are in file.
This places William specifically in Caldwell county and his return to Illinois in the winter of 1838/1839.
On December 9, 2008, at the Historical Department Library and Archives in Salt Lake City, the author viewed their microfilm: Call No. CR375.8, Reel 6109, High Priest Records. A part of that film had "High Priests 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 not allow photocopies of this film. This is a handwritten record, either the original or hand copied from the original, and was done during the lifetime of the subject, so he presumably provided the information.
William's son George, stated that his uncle had helped him and his sister Huldah back to Illinois. Huldah was enumerated in James' household in the 1850 census. That seems to make it certain that James was, in fact, that uncle, and thereby proves that William A. Duncan is also the son of John Duncan and Lydia Spiller.
On the same film at the Historical Department Library and Archives is a Record of Baptisms, 1847 - 1863. It lists William Duncan Baptized Oct. 22, 1848 by Willard Snow and Confirmed Oct 22 by Erastus Snow. He was listed immediately before his brother, James. Since this was after William's death, his was apparently a baptism for the dead. Note that Dolly was not listed as baptized at that time.
Also December 9, 2008, at the Historical Department Library and Archives in Salt Lake City, the author viewed their microfilm: Call No. CR 499, Series 10A, Reel 30, Seventy Quorum Records, Volume 1,1844 - 1973. A list of member of the Tenth Quorum of Seventies organized Oct. 8, 1844, lists as No.64 "William Duncan, Born March 6,1800 at Robison, Tennessee; Name of Father John; Name of mother -blank; When baptized and ordained - blank; residence: G. S. City; Remarks: Deceased". This list and the remark was not dated. The next item on the film is the genealogy of the member of the tenth quorum and William is not included. Note that the birth year is different on this list.
Another page has a list of names, ages, birth place and residence of the members of the Quorum. William is listed last on the page and itis very dark and hard to read. The list wasn't dated, but it was after the minutes of October 8, 1844. Parentage: John; #16; William Duncan; age 45, born Mar. 6; Nativity: Virginia [sic], residence Bair [sic]Creek. Note that this is the only place found that states Virginia as birth place. The Library does not allow this film to be photocopied, only hand copied.
This may not be him, but can't be sure without more information. There were three Duncans who signed up in Franklin Co.:
DUNCAN, ABRAHAM SGT A HOLMANFRANKLIN CO 2 1
DUNCAN, JAMES 1LT A HOLMANFRANKLIN CO 2 1
DUNCAN, WILLIAM H PVT A HOLMANFRANKLIN CO 2 1
Deed dated 29 Nov 1837, recorded Book J page 432, 7-13-65 St. Clair Co., IL. William D. Smith of the County of St. Clair sold to William "H." Duncan of St. Clair Co., IL, for $75.00, the NE 1/4 of SE quarter of Section No. 35 in Township one south range 6 west, containing 40 acres."The said Duncan however on his part agrees with the said Smith to allow the said Smith to retain possession of the said premises for and during the term of nine months from the present date. And if within or at the expiration of said term the Smith pays the said Duncan the said seventy five dollars, then the said Duncan will cancel this obligation and this contract will remain null & void, but if the said Smith shall fail to pay to said Duncan said sum as aforesaid, then said Duncan shall enter upon and take possession of the aforesaid tract of land, without any lot or hindrance on the part of said Smith." Not yet confirmed this is actually William A. Duncan, as of 12 Jul 2003.
U. S. Patent dated 1 Aug 1838, certificate No. 4,332, recorded Book ?,page 229 (or 224?) grants to William A. Duncan of St. Clair County,Illinois, The Southwest quarter of the Southeast quarter of Section 4,Township 2 South, Range 6 west in the district of lands subject to sale at Kaskaskia, Illinois, containing forty acres. (Printed from the web)
Deed dated 19 May 1838, recorded Book J pg 280 7-13-65, William A. Duncan and Dolley H., his wife, of the County of St. Clair, State of Illinois, for $125.00, granted to Toodar Schonebaum the Southwest fourth of Southeast quarter of Section 4 Township 2 South, range 6 east. Signed by William A. and Dolley H. Duncan, not by a mark.
1840 St. Clair, IL, census, William Duncan, head. While not proven this is the right family, it fits exactly what is known of the family.
1 m 30-40 (1800-1810) William
1 f 20-30 (1810-1820) Dolly
1 m 10-15 (1825-1830) James
1 m 5-10 (1830-1835) G. W.
1 m under 5 (1835-1840) O.H.P.
On 08 Jun 1995, copied information from the record at Morman Winter Quarters that gave death date, age at death as 43 yr 10 mo 16 days and gave birth date and place. Stated he was husband of Dolly H. Duncan, deceased and grave number. It did not list cause of death for him.
The book "Winter Quarters" by Conrey Bryson, Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City, UT, at the LDS library in Salt Lake, lists William Duncan as having died of dropsy.
"Nauvoo, Early Mormon Records Series, Vol. 1" by Lyman DePlatt, Highland, UT, 1980, at the LDS library, has a Record of Members,1841-1845, that lists William A. Duncan, place of origin, "Hghlnd Br" page 112. This contains names of members of LDS who handed in certificates to the Church Clerk at Nauvoo. The date the certificate was made out, the place of issue, and the name of the presiding authority who signed it are given in the original records.
"Membership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Volume XIV" Compiled by Susan Ward Easton, Religious Studies Center, BYU,1986, at the LDS library, lists William A. Duncan. Reference of Temple Index Bureau gives his birth date as March 6, 1803 and place as Robertson, TN; his wife's name as Mary Hollingsworth; death date and place, and his parents names as John Duncan and Lydia Spiller. Reference of Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register 1845-46, gives his birthdate as May 6, 1803, Robertson, TN; and wife's name as Dolly Hollingsworth.
However, typed copy of the Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register received directly from Nauvoo, has William A. Duncan listed in the Third Company and he was in the "seventy", birth date 6 Mar 1803 in Robertson, Tennessee. He was endowed 20 Jan 1846, the same date as"washing and annointing" There was nothing in the additional comments page and his wife's name was not given. The Endowment Register, I believe, would have had information that William provided. His was the last entry on page 156. First on the next page was Dolly H. Duncan, female, born 24 Feb 1811 in Christian County, Kentucky. Washing and annointing and endowment both on 20 Jan 1846. In the comments and additional information it says "Mary Hollingsworth in TIB record". In the notes below it stated TIB (unverified). I take this to mean that information was NOT provided by her and that it was entered by some other person at a later time. [That was later confirmed by a person at the Family History Library when I discussed this with them.]
Additional typed pages received from Nauvoo are headed "70s Record" and lists William A. Duncan, Birth: TN 1803 (1800), Death, NE 1847;Parents: John Duncan and Lydia Spiller: Wives and number of children, Mary Hollingsworth (number of children not shown); Quorum: Q10: Early Civil Data; Nauvoo; Early Church Data: Endowed Nauvoo Temple 1/20/46 ); Post Nauvoo Civil Data: Died Winter Quarters NE 1847; (Other record says in Salt Lake City UT in 1850s).
Sources: Susan Black, Early LDS Members Rec 14:641; Index, Nauvoo Land and Record Files 217; Index, 70s Bk B Sel, pg. 26; 70s Rec. Qrm 10.
Printout of James Duncan File 18457 received from Nauvoo says he owned the East half of the Northeast quarter of Sec. 27, Twp 4 Range 8, Highland Branch and the South half of Section 26, Township 4, Range 26, 320 acres in all. They also sent a map, but mis-marked the first parcel.
The Women of Mormondom by Edward W. Tullidge, New York, 1877, has some information on pages 155 - 160. The author talks of Louisa F. Wells."In July, 1837, her father, Absalom Free, who had embraced Mormonism Fayetteville, St. Clair county, Ill., in the year 1835, emigrated with his family to Caldwell county, Mo.
In Caldwell, Brother Free purchased a farm and built a good house. It goes on to say that the "saints" had been driven out of Jackson county, and mobs were ravaging in Davies county, but there was peace in Caldwell until the Fourth of July, in 1838. Louisa's father joined the organization for defence of the city of Far West and left a sick son at home with the women. It mentions Louisa and her sister Emeline and says that Emeline was the same who was later well known in Utah as the wife of Brigham Young.
It goes on to say that after the fall of the city of Far West, the Mormons decided to make a grand exodus from Missouri in the spring but Mr. Free determined to anticipate it. He abandoned the farm he had purchased and paid for and started with his family for Illinois. Along with his party were William Duncan and Solomon Allen, whose feet were so badly frozen one day that they were unable to proceed. The mob forced them to cross the Mississippi river above St. Charles even though ice was running so fiercely that is was very dangerous to cross.
Copies of those pages are in file.
This places William specifically in Caldwell county and his return to Illinois in the winter of 1838/1839.
On December 9, 2008, at the Historical Department Library and Archives in Salt Lake City, the author viewed their microfilm: Call No. CR375.8, Reel 6109, High Priest Records. A part of that film had "High Priests 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 not allow photocopies of this film. This is a handwritten record, either the original or hand copied from the original, and was done during the lifetime of the subject, so he presumably provided the information.
William's son George, stated that his uncle had helped him and his sister Huldah back to Illinois. Huldah was enumerated in James' household in the 1850 census. That seems to make it certain that James was, in fact, that uncle, and thereby proves that William A. Duncan is also the son of John Duncan and Lydia Spiller.
On the same film at the Historical Department Library and Archives is a Record of Baptisms, 1847 - 1863. It lists William Duncan Baptized Oct. 22, 1848 by Willard Snow and Confirmed Oct 22 by Erastus Snow. He was listed immediately before his brother, James. Since this was after William's death, his was apparently a baptism for the dead. Note that Dolly was not listed as baptized at that time.
Also December 9, 2008, at the Historical Department Library and Archives in Salt Lake City, the author viewed their microfilm: Call No. CR 499, Series 10A, Reel 30, Seventy Quorum Records, Volume 1,1844 - 1973. A list of member of the Tenth Quorum of Seventies organized Oct. 8, 1844, lists as No.64 "William Duncan, Born March 6,1800 at Robison, Tennessee; Name of Father John; Name of mother -blank; When baptized and ordained - blank; residence: G. S. City; Remarks: Deceased". This list and the remark was not dated. The next item on the film is the genealogy of the member of the tenth quorum and William is not included. Note that the birth year is different on this list.
Another page has a list of names, ages, birth place and residence of the members of the Quorum. William is listed last on the page and itis very dark and hard to read. The list wasn't dated, but it was after the minutes of October 8, 1844. Parentage: John; #16; William Duncan; age 45, born Mar. 6; Nativity: Virginia [sic], residence Bair [sic]Creek. Note that this is the only place found that states Virginia as birth place. The Library does not allow this film to be photocopied, only hand copied.
Events
| Birth | 6 Mar 1803 | Robertson Co., Tennessee |  | ||
| Marriage | 12 Feb 1827 | Dolly H. DUNCAN | |||
| Emigration | Jul 1837 | Estimated time of emigration from St. Clair Co., IL, to Caldwell Co., MO,, St. Clair Co., Illinois | |||
| Property Sale | 19 May 1838 | Book ? Pg 280 & 281, St. Clair Co., IL. William A. Duncan and Dolley H. his wife sold to Toodar (?) Schonebaum for $120, SW qtr SE qtr S4 T2S RR6W, 40 acres. Copy of deed made at Belleville, IL, but no note made of book number. - St. Clair Co., Illinois | |||
| Property | 1 Aug 1838 | Patent #4332 to William A. Duncan of St. Clair Co., IL. SW qtr of SE qtr S4 T2S R6W, 40 acres. Copy of patent in possession of the author. - St. Clair Co., Illinois | |||
| Emigration | Bet Dec 1838 and Feb 1839 | Left Caldwell Co., MO and returned to IL, based on Absolam Free movements., Caldwell Co., Missouri | |||
| Census | 1840 | St. Clair Co., Illinois | |||
| Baptism for the Dead | Bet Sep 1840 and Nov 1841 | FHL #255501, Nauvoo baptisms for the dead in the Mississippi River. Exact date not shown. "Wm A. Duncan for Father John Duncan". [Note his mother was still alive at that time.] - Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois | |||
| Death | 22 Jan 1847 | Dropsy - Winterquarters,, Florence, Douglas Co., Nebraska | | ||
| Burial | Aft 22 Jan 1847 | #59, Winterquarters Memorial, Florence, Douglas Co., Nebraska | |||
| Reference No | 849 |
Families
| Spouse | Dolly H. DUNCAN (1811 - 1846) |
| Child | James Madison DUNCAN (1828 - ) |
| Child | George Washington DUNCAN (1832 - 1911) |
| Child | Oliver Hazard Perry DUNCAN (1836 - 1889) |
| Child | William Pekin DUNCAN (1840 - 1907) |
| Child | Hulda Caroline DUNCAN (1845 - 1921) |
| 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 | James S. DUNCAN (1794 - 1874) |
| Sibling | John Pekin DUNCAN (1796 - 1834) |
| Sibling | Abraham Matthew DUNCAN (1799 - 1876) |
| Sibling | Anna DUNCAN (1799 - ) |
| Sibling | Thomas J. DUNCAN (1805 - 1877) |
| Sibling | Emaline DUNCAN (1807 - 1852) |
| Sibling | Rachael DUNCAN (1812 - 1880) |
| Sibling | Mary Moore DUNCAN (1814 - 1896) |
Endnotes
1. LDS - Nauvoo, Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register.
2. Washings and Annointings 1845-1845, Book A, Page 259.
3. WinterQuarters records.