DUNCAN David - Sillytown, Fife

[jennywren001]

Hi Wiggy,
Apart from the 1851 census do you have anything else to suggest this man (father to Caroline) was from Fife? It seems a bit odd a Fifer living in Devon lives out his life in a cottage called 'Montrose'. Also, a bit odd by 1871 there are in England (or at least I can only see) three David Duncan's born 1795 (+/-5) - they are all born Scotland and two of them are living in Devon.
Jen

[Wiggy]

Hi Jen . . . .  when he was in the Navy he said he was from Fife.   That's all we know.   

But wouldn't it make sense to be in a big Naval base?   

Actually Gadget found one birth,  some time ago which could have been right.  (She thought it the most likely - and she's a very good 'looker'    ) 
 - - - - David to Henry and his wife Smith Neilson in Tranent East Lothian   30 Dec 1792   

And another reason for her thinking that was because David's first son, born 1819, was called Henry  - in Plymouth.  I think he was unknown when I first posted this thread.  (Also two older girls we knew nothing about   MaryAnn born 1815 and Grace born 1816)

I am trying for proof positive but doubt I will get much further with it!    Just keep miggling away with it.  Don't know if it can be proved that this Tranent David moved away.  Hence my email to RN to ask for his siging on papers

(I suppose he might have moved to Fife as a really young child and given Fife as his home Shire.)

Thanks for your interest.   

Wiggy 

[jennywren001]

Hi Wiggy,
Another question - sorry! Have you made a connection to the David Duncan age 60, born Scotland, occupation - Navy, living Devon in 1841? Ref: HO107/275/6 folio 29 page 52

Jen

Edit:on the above census there appears to be a wife and two daughters although as it's 1841 that's my assumption. Ages are Jane 60, Jane 20 and Elizabeth 20. Both Janes are showing born outside the county but Elizabeth is showing born in Devon. I'm well confused as the only birth of an Elizabeth Duncan around 1821 in Devon I can find is the one to David and Grace - which would mean another David Duncan, mariner, from Scotland also had a daughter called Elizabeth around the same time 

[Wiggy]

David and Grace are my family Jen - not the other one.   

David doesn't appear in the 1841 census  - presumably away at sea.  but he is there with family in 1851, 61 and 71.

His son David, born Plymouth Dec 1824 baptised Jan 1825, came to Australia in about 1849 to found the 'dynasty' over here. 

[Wiggy]

I have been looking again through everything I've accumulated over the years and this clip might be of assistance. 

From 1816 -  his birthplace was given as Dysart, Fifeshire, Scotland.  Unfortunately the name of the ship isn't on the record.  His age on this record is 24. 

The first Naval ship I have him listed for is the Dwarf in 1817 as Able seaman.

[Wiggy]

I still haven't established that this man came from Fife . . . . . . . BUT

I have had a lovely couple of days trawling through various links given by others, and now I have been able to establish that my GGGgrandfather visited these shores in 1831 when he was serving on the HMS Zebra - that's a very exciting link to make for me.

  (I am now imagining him arriving back from his long journey and telling the family all about it and spurring the interest of his son to come this way to settle.     )

[Gadget]

Hi Wiggy 

For some inexplicable reason, I was thinking about your David Duncan this afternoon and found this thread again. I see that you found a connection with Dysart and, although I've not found a baptism, I've found a marriage that might be of interest. Not sure if it's come up before but I thought it was worth mentioning:

Dysart:   26th March 1791 David Duncan and Margaret Johnstone

I think I mentioned the stamp duty on parish record entries at that time and wonder if your David was never entered because of it.

Just a thought.

[Wiggy]

Hi Gadget,

Yes that marriage has come up before , and I have saved it just in case something came of it.   I will give it some more thought and more chasing (- probably on the 26th or even the 29th after the family gatherings of various kinds have been and gone.    )  I don't think I ever chased it further though. 

Before we found David having an older brother Henry, I think we'd thought maybe his grandfather might have been David rather than his father.  I will certainly follow this up again and think more on this subject - thanks for your continued interest.