Duke Reassessment
Maryland
It is commonly believed that Richard Duke of Otterton, born 1599 to Richard Duke and Margaret Bassett, was an Ark and Dove colonist in Maryland, and the same individual who established the Brooke Manor family there. One Richard Duke who immigrated to Maryland has been identified in Colonial Families of the United States, Vol. V, List of the Ark and Dove Passengers, page 597, as follows:
“Richard Duke, 1633
Warrants, Lib. Lib. I, p. 20, 28, and Lib. A. B. H. p. 66,
Born in England about 1613, Deposition abt., 35 yrs. June 20—1648).
Md. Arch. Vol. 4, p. 392. Married in Eng. Son Richard Duke, born abt. 1633. Deposition, St. Mary’s Co. Md. Jan. 19—1665, abt.32 yrs. Of age – Pro. Court Lib. F. F. P. 161. Returned to Eng., & makes a deposition being abt. 47 yrs. Of age. Aug. 14, 1664 as a scrivener & citizen of London. Pro. Court—Lib. B. B. 393, 395.”
The birthdate suggested for this individual by his deposition does not conform to that of Richard Duke of Otterton.
Early Families of Southern Maryland, Vol. 5, Duke, Page 6, states that:
"Richard Duke (1), b. ca. 1613, age 35 in 1648 (MD); d. by 1681; married Mary ______; d. after 1681 Calvert Co.; Richard witnessed the will of John Speed of St. Mary's Co., which was probated 6 Oct 1639 (MCW I.1). Their known children:
1. Richard Duke (2)
2. James Duke
Mary's Dukedom (also called Mary Duke's Doom) or 100 acres surveyed 19 Dec 1681 for Mary Duke on the north side of the Patuxent; possd. by James Duke; Leonard Creek Hundred (CaCRR & SOM 24/358; 31/24) [note: this is a Calvert Co rent roll, undated]. . . .
James was among the legatees of William Jennings of Prince George's Co. written 23 May 1711 . . . "
From Colonial Genealogies #1, 1607-1920, Colonial Families of the United States, Vol. VI, Duke Family, Pages 197-198. MyFamily.com, Inc. Dec. 2, 2003, edited by George Norbury Mackenzie, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1912:
“The Dukes of Maryland are supposed to have originated in Devonshire, England, and Duke of Lake is presumed to be the head of the American branch. Richard Duke came to Maryland with Father White’s party in 1734, and settled at St. Mary’s; it is family tradition that he was Father White’s private secretary; he was also a close friend and advisor to Governor Leonard Calvert, who called him “my trusted friend;” he was on Kent Island in 1641; he was a Member of the Assembly 1637 to 1653 and a leading spirit thereat and was otherwise a prominent man in the affairs of the colony; his wife’s name is unknown; in 1653 he retured to England with his wife and sons Thomas and Richard, who d. young, it is believed in London, and never returned to Maryland.
Issue:
Richard, returned to England, no further record.
Thomas, returned to England, no further record.
Andrew, no record
James I, died after 1672, of whom later.
William, returned to England, no further record.
James Duke, I, of Calvert Co., Maryland, in 1652; will proved there in 1672; m. Margaret, surname unknown.
Issue
James II, d. 1693, of whom later.
John, no record.
Joseph, no record.
William, no record.
The age of the older Richard Duke of the Ark and Dove is too young to be the disinherited individual from Devonshire (born 1599, before his younger brother Robert in 1600) and besides, his son left the colony. The Devonshire individual could still have been the Richard Duke of Brooke Manor Place.
The Dr. Lois Green Carr files at the Maryland Archives provide documentary evidence:
Duke, Richard, b. 1618, arr. 1634, free by 1639; selling Indians
1649 patent for 100 acres, Dukes Place
proxy to T. Cornwallis 1642 Assembly
transported 1634
witness to will of John Speed
servant to Mr. Pulton, oath concerning bequest
present at 1641/42 assembly
action of debt
action of debt 1642/43
action of debt 1647
action of debt 1648
deposition 1648 regarding sale of Indian
age 30; deposition regarding sale of Indian
action of debt 1648
action of debt 1650/51
Duke, Richard, immigrated 1653 with wife and two children, unnamed
demands 200 acres land
demands 200 acres land
age 32 in 1665/66; witness to sale
Duke, Thomas, b. 1651, servant to Wm. Hatton
No information on land
Servant to Hatton, age judged by court to be 16 years in 1667
Richard Duke of Otterton, disinherited, was admitted to the Inner Temple (as son and heir of Richard, of Otterton) in 1619 and was buried at Otterton 27 Mar 1653. (See Foster’s Inns of court Reg. The disinherited Richard had a son, Richard, who also matriculated at Exeter College, on 21 May 1669, aged 17; of the Inner Temple 1670, buried at Otterton 1 Oct. 1716. (See Foster’s Inns of Court Register).[1]
A Richard Duke, “citizen and scrivener of London”, died in England and his will was probated in 1670 (PRO Reference: Prob/11/332). His principal heir was a son, Richard Duke, but he listed “all my children” as Richard, Robert, Anne, Sara, Suzanne, and Elizabeth. His estate included stock in the East India Company. He does not appear to be the Maryland individual.
Another Richard Duke was indentured by his mother Jane Duke to John Dodman of Westmoreland Co on 1 Aug 1655 (Genealogy.com. Colonial Abstracts, Volume I, Westmoreland County, 1653-1657, page 669.) Richard Duke appears in an account from Westmoreland Co. in 1652 (Virginia Colonial Abstracts, Volume I, Westmoreland County, 1653-1657, Page 663).
Virginia: On the North Side of the James River
Thomas Duke of James City County, VA
Thomas Duke apparently arrived in James City County Virginia by 1651, or at least received land there by that date. He received at least one land grant with Thomas Hampton of that county. William Byrd’s title book indicates that on 6 Jun 1651 Thomas Duke and Thomas Hampton received 430 acres lying on Warreny Creek on the east side of the Chickahominy River, bounded northwest and SSE on a swamp dividing it from Edward Cole, and ENE on Soane’s land. The grant was due for transportation of nine persons into the colony by William Barret. In 1671 Thomas Hampton sold this land to Daniel Parke”[i]
A patent was issued on 20 Apr 1682 to Mrs. Mary Wade, widow of Thomas Duke, for lands assigned by Thomas Hampton. She had by then married a Wade, after the death of Thomas Duke. The patent was for 463 acres on a branch of Tiaskun Swamp, with boundaries on Tiaskun Swamp, down Warreny Run, Preston’s Spring Branch, and the land of Capt. Henry Duke, formerly patented to Mr. Thomas Hampton who sold 100 acres to Preston and assigned the remainder to Mary Wade, by name of Duke, under date of 30 Nov 1670 (VPB 7:174). This is the strongest evidence that Mary Duke, wife of Thomas Duke, was a daughter of Thomas Hampton.
The history of Thomas Duke of James City County has been confused with that of Thomas Dew of Nansemond County VA (for example, see Evelyn Duke Brandenberger’s The Duke Family). Col. Thomas Dew of Nansemond County was the founder of the Dew family in that area and a prominent citizen of Virginia in his own right. Thomas Dew was a Charles City County justice in1755, speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1652. He had a son, John Dew of Isle of Wight County, whose daughter Sarah was the third wife of William Bridgers. Her second husband was a Cotton.[ii] Thomas Dew’s son, John Dew, died in Isle of Wight County, where his will was proved in 1678.[iii]
Thomas Dew and other prominent citizens were publicly converted to the Society of Friends by George Fox in 1672.[iv] This was one year after Thomas Hampton sold James City County land to Daniel Parke, noting that the Thomas Duke who had received the grant with him was “long deceased.”[v] Col. Thomas Dews was certainly not the same as Thomas Duke who received a grant with Hampton.
The error was doubtless encouraged by the proximity of Hampton and Dew lands in Nansemond County:[vi]
6 Jan 1642 Mr William Brookes, 300 acs. Up.Co. New Norfolk. "Upon the W. side of the Southern Br. of Nansamund River, beg. opposite land of Thomas Dew & adj. Thomas Hampton, Clerke."
However, Hampton family histories say that this Thomas Hampton was not the same individual who was in James City County with Thomas Duke. The Thomas Hampton of Nansemond is sometimes said to have been the father of the Thomas Hampton of James City County, but this has also been rejected by family researchers. The relationship between these individuals with the same name is said to be unknown.[vii]
These are the relevant documents that are frequently cited as evidence of Thomas Duke’s presence in Nansemond County:
25 Jan 1634Tho. Dew was a witness to a grant (no county mentioned) concerning four persons transported (I pa 56)
1 Aug 1638 Thomas Dew was granted 400 acs. "in Nansamund River, Up. Norf. Co. -- lying about one line from the plantation of Thomas Powell. 200 acs. by assignment of Thomas Powell & 200 acs. due from Trans. of 4 pers." (I pa 95)
22 Apr 1640 John Geary, 250 acs. Up. Norfolk Co. "Bet. land late in the possession of Mr. Thomas Dew and by him assigned to Thomas Davis & land now in possession of Thomas Powell bounded N. W. on the S. branch of Matravers." (I pa119)
10 Oct 1638 Thomas Dew 300 acs. Up. Norf. Co. "In Nansamund Riv., beg. at a small Cr. at the old Indian Towne, S.E. into the woods a small island being opposite against sd. land. Due for Trans. for 6 pers. (Renewed 18 Jan 1643 & 450 acs. added)
8 Jan 1643 Thomas Dew Gent. 750 acs. Up. Norf. Co. "Upon the Ewd. side of the Swd. br. of Nansamund River, beg. at the mouth of Craney Cr. opposite to 2 small islands called Craney & New Haven river , & adj. Mr. Randel Crew." 300 acs. by former patent & 450 acs. due for Trans. of 9 pers. His own Per. adv. Georg Speevy -- and others" (1 pa151)
10 Oct 1670 Col. Thomas Dew 750 acs. Up. Norf. Co. "one the E’wd side of the S’n br. pf Nanzemond Riv., S’wd side of Crany Cr. opposite Crane & Nehokin Islands ; & adj. Mr. Randall Crew; 10 Oct 1670/ Granted sd. Dew 8 Jan 1643. (II pa83)
In 1671 Thomas Hampton of JCC wrote in a deed that Thomas Duke was “long since deceased.”(Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. XXXXX, p. 25.).
In 1672 Thomas Dewe of Nansemond converted to the Society of Friends.
23 Apr 1681 Col Thomas Dew 450 acs. "in Uper. Par. of Nazemond, at head of Crany Cr. issuing out of the Southern Br. Beg. in line of Hood’s neck pattent, now Francis Parker’s; to Georg Spivey, Senr., crossing Beaver Dam, into the maine Pocoson; and Granted to Randall Crew 12 Nov. 1640, which, after severall surrenders & descent, is in possession of sd. Col. Dew. (II pa221)
25 Mar 1700 Daniel Pugh Sr. (will dated 25 March 1700) is listed as a headright "twice imported" of Nicholas Stallings in a patent of 25 April 1701 (Va Pat. Book 9 , p303). Daniel Pugh Sr patented land in Nansemond Co. in 1695, 1698, 1699 and 1700. By his wife Ann, Daniel Pugh had issue: Ann Pugh who married John Duke, as well as other children John Pugh, Francis Pugh, Theophilus Pugh, and Daniel Pugh. Daniel Pugh Jr. died intestate leaving 450 acs of land (part of a patent for 750 acs granted Col. Thomas Dew 10 Oct 1670, on which today lies the city of Suffolk) inherited from his father Daniel Pugh , to his son Daniel Pugh III who in turn left the land to his mother and three sisters. (Daniel Pugh died 1745, was a vestryman in 1743) (Va Gen. Mag. II p102)
25 Mar 1700 Daniel Pugh willed 250 acs. adj. Cross Swamp to his grandson , John Duke "being the son & heir of his daughter Ann (Pugh) (Nansemond Co. Norfleet)
22 November 1739: John Duke of Nansemond Co., sold to Richard Newsum, 250 acress of land adjoining the Cross Swamp on Richard Newsum’s land. "which my grandfather, Daniel Pugh , bought of James Peters and gave to me being the son and heir of his daughter Ann (Pugh) according to his will made 25 March 1700.” Signed by John Duke (no witnesses) (From the papers of the Riddick Family of Nansemond Co Va 1720-1856) (Virginia State Library)
10 Oct 1638 John Wright was granted 200 acs. Up. Co. New Norfolk. "Beg. at the miles end of land of Thomas Dew , Gent. (I pa116)
7 Nov 1640 Thomas Dew 250 acs. Up. CO. New Norfolk, " Upon his own land, running E. by S. through a reedy Poquoson etc. 50 acs. for Trans. of 1 per. & 200 acs. by assignment from John Wright. " (I pa118)
23 Apr 1681 Thomas Duke 430 acs. Up Par. of Nazemond: "Neare Thomas Harrell: adj. Thomas Parker: the Cross Sw.; & 200 acs. formely belonging to William Wright & 200 acs. granted sa. Wright 18 Mar 1662 who conveyed to sd. Duke; 230 acs. for trans. of 5 pers. Tho. Duke , Tho. Duke, Fra. Marr, Jno. Deverett, Wm Harring. (II pa221)
10 Nov 1678 176 acs. part therof patented 10 Nov 1678 to Wm. Speight "at a place called "Barbicue" ..adj. Humphry Griffin . . . to an island in Cross Swamp, to the land of James Duke. (Virginia Genealogical Society pq 101, Norfleet Riddick papers ,Nugent II 193-194)
24 Apr 1682 Thomas Duke 350 acs. in the Up. Par. of Nanzemond, att Cross SW of Barbecue. Trans. of 7 Pers." (II pa 240)
28 Oct 1702 Thomas Duke Jr. 350 acs. Up. Par. of Nansemond Co. at place called Saram, beg. at Peter Pheebus, cor. of Richard Barefield; up Saram Swamp. Trans. of 7 pers. (III pa63)
24 Apr 1703 John Duke 113 acs. Up. Par. of Nansemond Co.; "on SW side of the Cyprus SW., a br. of Summerton Cr.; adj. Thomas Allman’s land. Trans. of 3 pers." (III pa 68)
14 July 1718 Francis Duke 231 acs (N.L.) Up. Par. of Nansemond Co.; "on SW side of Barbicue Swamp: adj Joseph Baker; Thomas Duke; Imp. pf 5 pers." (III pa207)
1704 Land Records for Nansemond Co. Va. From: English Duplicates of Lost Va. Records. :Jno Duke 113 acs. Tho. Duke Jr 930 acs. Tho. Duke 400 acs.
Except for those grants in which the name is spelled “Duke” these are indeed grants to the Dewe family. Part of the land identified here was known until recently as “Dew’s Point.” When the Duke family appeared in Nansemond County they acquired land immediately adajcent that of Col. Thomas Dewe. Col. Thomas Dew’s estate was handled in York County VA courts in 1691, identifying debts to a number of individuals including “Tho. Jefferson” [an ancestor of the more famous individual of that name] and listing his family as sons Andrew, John, Thomas, and Richard and daughters Elizabeth and Ann. A careful review of the grant information will show that no land granted to Thomas Dewe was ever inherited by anyone named Duke. Even the inheritance involving Daniel Pugh, father-in-law of John Duke, was land bought from Col. Thomas Dewe.
And so, it would appear that there is no evidence that Thomas Duke I, who was first documented in James City County in 1651, ever set foot in Nansemond Co VA. He appeared in James City County records in 1751 and died sometime before 1771.
John Duke of James City County
On 13 May 1673 there was a grant to John Duke for 486 acres on the east side of the Chickahominy River abutting northwest on Tyascon Swamp, to William Dormers land, David Nowell’s land, then south to Robert Hubert’s land, then north to Tyascum (VPB 6:452). On 15 Dec 1673 there was another for 136 acres beginning at Jos. Wade’s corner gum and extending north to Edward Gyllies land, down Miry Branch to a corner hickory by Tyascum Swamp in the mouth of the small branch “where the said John Duke now lives” (VLP Bk 6:504). These are very close to the early grants to Thomas Duke in James City County. Diascond Creek at its mouth forms the boundary between New Kent and James City counties, and it then extends northwest into New Kent County.
It is certain that the James City County grants were to John Duke, a son of Thomas Duke. Evelyn Duke Brandenberger believed that John Duke of York Co VA was that individual.[viii]
John and Henry Duke of York County VA
Brandenberger equates John Duke of James City County and John Duke of York Co VA. There is no evidence for or against this. On 19 Jul 1670/71 Bryan and Dorothy Smith assigned to John Duke 107 acres in York County on the east side of Otter Dam. This was witnessed by Thomas Bushrod and John Scarsbrook.[ix] John Duke married Jane Scarsbrooke, daughter of Col. John Scarsbrooke and his wife Mary Martinau, in about 1669. Mary was the daughter of Capt. Nicholas Martinau and his wife Jane, widow of Edward Berkley. Capt. Martinau died in 1657 leaving three daughters.
Col. John Scarsbrook’s estate, which included a bequest to Jane Duke, was proved by Henry Power and Thomas Munford in 1679.[x] Thomas Muntford married Jane Duke after the death of John Duke. Duke was still alive on 27 Aug 1678 when he appraised the estate of William Major.
On 24 Jan 1692/93 John Duke II of York County deposed that at the house of Thomas Mountfort he heard Francis Read say that they had difficulty persuading Benjamin Read to make his will.[xi] He married Susanna Goodwin, daughter of Major James Goodwin. A Henry Duke witnessed a 3 Oct 1694 deed in which John Duke sold to Thomas Mountford 107 acres previously owned by his father.[xii] Rachel Porter Goodwin, mother of Susanna Goodwin, left bequests to grandchildren James and Elizabeth in her 1701 will.[xiii]
Henry Duke appears on the 1704 York Co Quit Rent Roll with 25 acres next to Hansford lands. Charles Hansford, in his will of 1702, left a bequest to his daughter Lydia Duke. Henry Duke is mentioned in York Co. records through at least 1736.
Henry Duke of James City County (Henry Duke, Councillor)
Henry Duke acquired lands adjacent those that had belonged to Mary Hampton Duke Wade, and other patents in addition. The earliest record is the reference to a 1670 grant adjacent Mary Wade (VPB 7, p. 174). On 23 Oct 1690 he received 1000 acres on the south side of the Chickahominy River, touching Webb’s Run (VPB 7, p. 123.) On 20 Apr 1694 Henry Duke, Gent., received 736 acres on Warreny Creek and dBirchen Swamp adjacent John Aylor [possibly Aylett], Wm. Elcome, Edward Chilton, and Mr. Burwell (VPB 8, p. 321). (Burwell’s land was in New Kent County; Diascond Creek at its mouth forms the boundary between New Kent and James City counties.) On the same date he received 90 acres in Diaskun Swamp adajcent Wm. Manning, to Warreny Creek (VPB 8:322). On 20 Oct 1704 he received 1168 acres of land on Licking Hole Swamp in New Kent County (VPB 8, p. 611). On 8 Apr 1711 he received 80 acres on the southwest side of the Chickahominy River in James city County adjacent John Soane (VPB 10, p. 4).