WASHINGTON CO. TN
MISC. RECORDS
 

"From the Court of the Watagua Association, 1772" (book in bottom cellar at Washington Co. TN courthouse in Jonesborough; from Charles Gordon 8/1984)
      Records of Oct. 16, 1775: (CJG: apparently taxables)
      William Dunkham, 17-6-4
      John Calaham, 20-0-0
 

Washington Co. TN; Jonesboro Educational Society records Aug. 1885 - Jan. 1923 (FHL film 825,501 item 2)
      C.A. Duncan an original member (1885)
 

Baptist Churches of Washington and Sullivan Co. TN 1845-1927 (TN State Library film #327; from Joyce Colliflower 8/1989)
      Limestone Meeting House (Muddy Creek), Washington Co. TN; 26 Dec. 1841, appointed a board of managers ... John Duncan.
      Obion (Mion?) Meeting House, Washington Co. TN; 27 Dec. 1846, Education society convened and was organized ... appointing Elder Rees Bayles chairman ... Board of managers includes Thomas Duncan, Phillip Moulky, John Spurgen, Joseph Duncan.
      Names of Contributors 1845-1846 includes "John Duncan paid 2.00"
 

Duncan-Melvin Cemetery, Knob Creek, Washington Co. TN (from Treva Lefler 6/1988)
      She received a letter from Mrs. George (Margaret Sherfy) Holley; they own the Charles Duncan log home and found his tombstone in the Duncan-Melvin graveyard after the graveyard was cleared in 1985. They are now keeping it mowed. The Duncans and Melvins that have marked stones are as follows:
      Chas. Duncan, b. 1748 - d. 1818
      Sarah Duncan, Jan. 16, 1816 - Aug. 1889
      Ralph Melvin, Apr. 22, 1806 - Jan. 28, 1823
      Mahala Melvin, Oct. 29, 1804 - Mar. 7, 1875
      Susanna Melvin, June 10, 1810 - July 15, 1872
      Mary E. Melvin, Oct. (blank) 1863 - Apr. 13, 1938
      { Margaret Melvin, Mar. 27, 1848 - Dec. 25, 1915
      { William Melvin, Nov. 29, 1853 - Mar. 3, 1919
      Stacy A. Melvin, Jan. 18, 1857 - May 25, 1933
      { James R. Melvin, Jan. 2, 1817 - Oct. 22, 1887
      { Nancy E. (wife), Oct. 23, 1823 - Nov. 11, 1871
      Raleigh Melvin, son of J.R. & N.E., Oct. 28 ____ - Sept. 28 ____
      There are numerous limestone markers, no dates.
      Also there was a Bill Melvin and he had a grist mill on Knob Creek, was a bachelor and was the son of Squire Jim Melvin.

Cemeteries of Greene, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington Co. TN 1780-1960 (TN State Library film #320; from Joyce Colliflower 8/1989; incomplete)
      Deed for the land for Fall Branch Baptist Church Cemetery, mentions "the old Duncan grant; called "Old Cemetery". Wash. Co. TN deed 32-81/82: 10 June 1847, reg. 4 March 1850, Jesse H. Crouch to Eldredge G. Edwards, 103a in 13th Civil Dist. of Washington Co. TN on the Fall Branch of Horse Creek, adj. lands of John Vincent, James Hall, John Hall and others, adj. A. Millers corner, east bank of Fall Branch, John Vincent's corner, corner to the old Duncan tract, thence with Vincent's line ..., James Hall's line, John Hall's corner and line, except that portion deeded to Fall Branch Church for a burying ground ... Wit. E.W. Headrick, James Wright.
 

Typed copy of letter, typed by Barbara D. Spurgin, Feb. 13, 1975 (from Larry Spurgin 4/1984; MAD's spacing)
      (from:) Dr. Geo. R. Duncan, Express Office, Fordtown, TN. Fall Branch, TN, April 16, 1913. (To) Miss Celia Spurgin, Bristol, TN. My dear Miss Spurgin,
      In answer to your inquiry in regard to the Duncans in this part of the Country I am fearful that I can not give you very much information as my parents both died when I was very young. I know that the Lucy Parker- and your Grand Mother Rosanna Spurgin were Sisters of my Father Rice Duncan and Uncle Horlan. My brother Dr. S.V. Duncan went also to Iowa and settled in Pleasantville - Perhaps if your parents settled near where Aunt Lucy lived that you also knew - my brother out there. He lives in Dallas Texas at the present time. Uncle Horlan died many years ago - & his 2 sons John & Richard went to Kentucky near Glassco. He had 2 daughters. The oldest Fannie married a Hall - they are both dead and their children are scattered. The other one married a Ford. She died but left no children. There were 6 of my family 5 boys & 1 girl. John S. the oldest went to Ill - before the war & was killed in a R.R. wreck about 28 years ago. His widow lives at Bluff City Ill- They have 2 children a boy McClelland who lives some where in Mo. The girl Eleanor married a R.R. man by the name of Burke. I have not heard from them in 2 or 3 years & don't know where they are. The next Dr. S.V. lives at Dallas Texas, only has one child Dr. Miles who also lives in Dallas. William died in the Confederate. Nam (?) married a Ford moved to Texas both are dead. Their children in Dallas Co. Texas. Jos. lives near Brownsboro in this Washington County. His children are all married & scattered. I have 8 children 5 girls & 3 boys. The oldest Dr. O.R. is located at Fordtown in the same Co Bristol is. 2 in Col. 1 in Oregon. 3 girls live at home and 1 married & lives a few miles a way.
      Your great great grand father on your grand mother Duncan had I think 5 brothers one of located near the place where my son Dr. O.R. is located. His family are all gone from here save one great grand son J.E. Duncan who lives in the neighborhood. One went to what is Madison Co. Tenn. I know nothing of his family. One went to what is now known as Blont Co. He has a great grand at Knoxvile John Duncan & one George at Knoxville, one settled in what is known as Lusbury settlement in this Washington Co. the other one was killed by the Indians & is buried in this Co. near the mouth of Boons-Creek on the Walanger River. They all came to this Country with the old Beans. So I guess I might have the right & pleasure to call you Cousin Celia. If you can I would be pleased to have you visit me & come to Bristol some time and if you remain there any length of time I will hunt you up.
      With best wishes I am yours most Respt.      Geo. R. Duncan
      You will please look over bad writing as I am 65 years old am sort of an invalid.
 

Handwritten pages, apparently by Henry R. or Mary Deaderick Duncan, no date; from Henry R. and Mary Deaderick Duncan Collection, McClung Historical Collection, Lawson McGhee Library, Knoxville TN (copy from Mary Sutton 7/1984)
      Washington Co. Tenn. Bible record-
      1. Joseph Duncan - born Jan 6 1733. Was a revolutionary soldier. His wife was Ann Shaw.
      2. This second Joseph must have been a grandson of 1st Joseph.
      Joseph Duncan Born Feb. 27, 1818 and married a Miss Robertson Oct. 13, 1842. To this union were born 5 children- Bob, Jim, Hester Mrs. Walker (Bob Walkers mother), Jane now Mrs. Deakins (still living), Mrs. Beard. His second wife was Miss Ester Barkley. They had six children (MAD: ERROR; see Bible of Robert A. Duncan)
      1. Joseph D. in Jonesboro 1st married Mattie Carson who died when their daughter Mattie was born. (The daughter) she is now Mrs. S.C. Beard of Bristor. His second wife is Miss Byers.
      2. Lizzie married a Mr. Bacon, had 3 sons, she is dead
      3. Flora married Mr. Will Crookshanks. They had 3 children Ada (Mrs. Boyd) (had one daughter) Oak Crookshanks. He married a Miss Hunt they had 3 children - Bess (Mrs. Kirkpatrick) three living children Anna (Mrs. Hunt) Will & Helen.
      4. David married in the west had three children.
      5. Will never married
      6. Minnie (Mrs. Hart of Johnson City) has 6 children.
      James Duncan - Born Jan 8 1790
      Margaret Duncan, ", Aug 2, 1792
      Sarah Duncan, ", Jan 31, 1796
      Andrew Duncan, ", July 26 1799
      The book doesn't say who was these childrens father. Could he have been the old Joseph 1733 and it doesn't mention his 2 brothers -- I copyed all that was in the bible. As you see the record is very incomplete and very little satisfaction in it.

Loose pages in Duncan file; from Henry R. and Mary Deaderick Duncan Collection, McClung Historical Collection, Lawson McGhee Library, Knoxville TN; (handwritten copy from Mary B. Sutton 7/1984)
      Joseph Duncan and Andrew Duncan were brothers. Joseph b. Jan. 6, 1733, m. Anna Shaw, to Washington Co., Tenn. Andrew b. 1738 m. ----, 13 children: 6 sons, 7 daus., to Blount Co., Tenn.
      1. James S. Duncan, b. 8/25/1782 d. 1834, Big Springs Church Cemetery (MBS: there is a Big Springs in Blount Co. with Duncans in it); m. Mary Mitchell, b. 1788, 9 children. His wife moved to Iowa with 6 children.
      2. Samuel Duncan, b. 2/3/1786; Elizabeth Carmichel; 11 children. George, wife & dau. died in Blount Co., buried near Sweetwater, Tenn.
      3. John Calvin Duncan, b. 1789, m. Rachel Duncan (cousin), moved to Iowa.
      4. Alexander, 1790.
      5. Frank, 1799.
      6. George, 1796, m. Nancy Jones, lived in Blount Co.
            1. Melvin 1831-1913
            2. Susan d. young
            3. Richard Jones 1836-1911
            4. Sarah Arminta 1838-1864
 

"Wichita Daily Times" Wichita Falls, Texas, Sept. 16th, 1909 (transcription by and from Kathy Cawley 3/2004; MAD: Washington Co. TN)
      At Grave of First White Man.
      Johnson City, Tenn., Sept. 17. -- On the banks of the Watauga river, seven miles north of this city, representatives of the state of Tennessee and of various historical societies will gather tomorrow to erect a monument to mark the grave of JESSE DUNCAN, who was killed by the Indians in 1765, and was the first white man buried in Tennessee.
      The early white settlers had a stockade fort on the Watauga river and the south fork of Holston. According to tradition the whites made an expedition into the Indian territory and when they were returning, the Indians fired on them, kiling (sp) Duncan. The dead pioneer was buried where he fell, and on the spot the memorial is to be erected.
 

MAD: See "Some Duncan Families of Eastern Tennessee Before 1800" by Mary Ann (Duncan) Dobson for information and lineages about some of the Duncans in Washington Co. TN.
 

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