Powys-Lybbe Forbears - Person Sheet
Powys-Lybbe Forbears - Person Sheet
NameHenry Duncan 
[19, Birth on 24 Jan 1739 and Baptism on 27 Jan 1739 at Dundee, Argus, Scotland], [254, E-mails in April 2003 and his site (see Notes)]
[19, Birth on 24 Jan 1739 and Baptism on 27 Jan 1739 at Dundee, Argus, Scotland], [254, E-mails in April 2003 and his site (see Notes)]Birth24 Jan 1739, Dundee, Scotland
Death7 Oct 1814, Mt Pleasant, Devon
GeneralCommissioner of the Navy
FatherAlexander Duncan (1709-)
MotherIsobel Crawford
Spouses
Marriage27 Nov 1761, Saint Saviour, Dartmouth, Devon [254, E-mails in April 2003.], [19, Marriage on 27 Nov 1761 at St Saviour, Dartmouth, Devon]
Notes for Henry Duncan
The Publications of the Naval Records Society, Vol XL and The Naval Miscellany Vol II show him as coming from a Dundee family of Provosts and Town Clerks, with a second cousin Admiral Adam Duncan becoming Viscount Duncan of Camperdown.
__________________
Henry’s baptism has been transcribed by Daryl Coup as :
“1739 Jan 24 born, Jan 27 baptised Name :- Henry Parents :- Mr Alexr Duncan, clerk, Isobel Crawford Witnesses :-In commemoration of Henry Crawford late of Monorgan, grandfather, Henry Crawford of Monorgan, uncle”
Another excellent.
With this lead, I’ve obntained a copy of the register page.
__________________
Further Daryl Coup has uncovered some records of Henry Duncan's grandfather, George Duncan, which show that George's wife was Helen Balfour, daughter of James Balfour and Louisa Hamilton,, who happen also to be my 5 gt-grandparents.
Here's the site and what he has on it:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kaub/Myers/gd1683.htm
George Duncan
1683 - 1723
GEORGE_DUNCAN
Born : 1683
Place : Unknown
Died : 1723
Place : Unknown
Father : Alexander Duncan
Mother : Anna Drummond Married : 31
December 1708
Place : Edinburgh,
Midlothian, Scotland HELEN_BALFOUR
Born : Unknown
Place : Unknown
Died : Unknown
Place : Unknown
Father : Unknown
Mother : Unknown
Children of GEORGE_DUNCAN and HELEN_BALFOUR are :
i ALEXANDER_DUNCAN
Born : 10 October 1709
Place : Edinburgh,
Midlothian, Scotland
Died : Unknown
Place : Unknown Married : 26 August
1836
Place : Dundee, Angus,
Scotland ISOBEL_CRAWFORD
Baptised : c1711
Place : Unknown
Died : Unknown
Place : Unknown
Father : Henry Crawford
Mother : Ann Hay
ii HELEN_DUNCAN
Born : 21 May 1713
Place : Edinburgh,
Midlothian, Scotland
Died : Unknown
Place : Unknown
iii ISOBEL_DUNCAN
Born : 7 May 1715
Place : Edinburgh,
Midlothian, Scotland
Died : Unknown
Place : Unknown
iv ANNE_DUNCAN
Born : 19 March 1717
Place : Edinburgh,
Midlothian, Scotland
Died : Unknown
Place : Unknown
v LOUVESIA_DUNCAN
Born : 17 January 1719
Place : Dundee, Angus,
Scotland
Died : Unknown
Place : Unknown
vi JAMES_DUNCAN
Baptised : 6 February 1720
Place : Dundee, Angus,
Scotland
Died : Unknown
Place : Unknown
Table of Contents Email Site
Manager
_ (Daryl Coup)
Home
Supporting Evidence
Parish records of Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
10 October 1709
George Duncan, writer to the signet, and Hellen Balfour, his spouse, A.S.N. [a son named] Alexander.
Witnesses John Duncan laite Baillie, James Balfour [merct?] and Alexander Montieth chyrurgeon apothacary was born this day.
21 May 1713
George Duncan, wryter to the signett and Hellen Balfour his spouse A.D.N. [a daughter named] Hellen.
W. John Dunacn late dean of Gild and Willam Cochram of Rocksuilles the child was born this day 7th May 1715
George Duncan writer to the signet and Helen Balfour his spouse A.D.N. [a daughter named] Isoble [sic ]
W. John Duncan [?] Baillie and Mr Charles Gray Advocat the child was born this day
20 March 1717
George Duncan writer to the signet and Helen Balfour his spouse A.D.N. [a daughter named] Anne
W. John Duncan late Dean of Gild and James Balfour merchant in Louk the child was born the 19th Instant
Parish records of Dundee, Angus, Scotland
1719, 17 Jany birth, 21 Bapt
Name :- Louvesia
Parents :- George Duncan, Clk, Mrs Helen Balfour
Witnesses :- Mrs Louvesia Hamilton spouse to Mr Jamy Balfour of Pikgross
1720, 6 Feb birth, 6 Feb Bapt
Name :- James
Parents :- Mr George Duncan, clk, Mrs Hellen Balfour
Witnesses :- James Balfour of Pilridge?, Mr James Duncan Professor of Philospophie in St Salvades? Coledge St Andrews, James Yeaman lat Ballie, James Greene Appothecary, James Patterson mt, James Yeaman yr mt, Sr James
Stewart of Goodtrees
__________________
Henry’s baptism has been transcribed by Daryl Coup as :
“1739 Jan 24 born, Jan 27 baptised Name :- Henry Parents :- Mr Alexr Duncan, clerk, Isobel Crawford Witnesses :-In commemoration of Henry Crawford late of Monorgan, grandfather, Henry Crawford of Monorgan, uncle”
Another excellent.
With this lead, I’ve obntained a copy of the register page.
__________________
Further Daryl Coup has uncovered some records of Henry Duncan's grandfather, George Duncan, which show that George's wife was Helen Balfour, daughter of James Balfour and Louisa Hamilton,, who happen also to be my 5 gt-grandparents.
Here's the site and what he has on it:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kaub/Myers/gd1683.htm
George Duncan
1683 - 1723
GEORGE_DUNCAN
Born : 1683
Place : Unknown
Died : 1723
Place : Unknown
Father : Alexander Duncan
Mother : Anna Drummond Married : 31
December 1708
Place : Edinburgh,
Midlothian, Scotland HELEN_BALFOUR
Born : Unknown
Place : Unknown
Died : Unknown
Place : Unknown
Father : Unknown
Mother : Unknown
Children of GEORGE_DUNCAN and HELEN_BALFOUR are :
i ALEXANDER_DUNCAN
Born : 10 October 1709
Place : Edinburgh,
Midlothian, Scotland
Died : Unknown
Place : Unknown Married : 26 August
1836
Place : Dundee, Angus,
Scotland ISOBEL_CRAWFORD
Baptised : c1711
Place : Unknown
Died : Unknown
Place : Unknown
Father : Henry Crawford
Mother : Ann Hay
ii HELEN_DUNCAN
Born : 21 May 1713
Place : Edinburgh,
Midlothian, Scotland
Died : Unknown
Place : Unknown
iii ISOBEL_DUNCAN
Born : 7 May 1715
Place : Edinburgh,
Midlothian, Scotland
Died : Unknown
Place : Unknown
iv ANNE_DUNCAN
Born : 19 March 1717
Place : Edinburgh,
Midlothian, Scotland
Died : Unknown
Place : Unknown
v LOUVESIA_DUNCAN
Born : 17 January 1719
Place : Dundee, Angus,
Scotland
Died : Unknown
Place : Unknown
vi JAMES_DUNCAN
Baptised : 6 February 1720
Place : Dundee, Angus,
Scotland
Died : Unknown
Place : Unknown
Table of Contents Email Site
Manager
_ (Daryl Coup)
Home
Supporting Evidence
Parish records of Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
10 October 1709
George Duncan, writer to the signet, and Hellen Balfour, his spouse, A.S.N. [a son named] Alexander.
Witnesses John Duncan laite Baillie, James Balfour [merct?] and Alexander Montieth chyrurgeon apothacary was born this day.
21 May 1713
George Duncan, wryter to the signett and Hellen Balfour his spouse A.D.N. [a daughter named] Hellen.
W. John Dunacn late dean of Gild and Willam Cochram of Rocksuilles the child was born this day 7th May 1715
George Duncan writer to the signet and Helen Balfour his spouse A.D.N. [a daughter named] Isoble [sic ]
W. John Duncan [?] Baillie and Mr Charles Gray Advocat the child was born this day
20 March 1717
George Duncan writer to the signet and Helen Balfour his spouse A.D.N. [a daughter named] Anne
W. John Duncan late Dean of Gild and James Balfour merchant in Louk the child was born the 19th Instant
Parish records of Dundee, Angus, Scotland
1719, 17 Jany birth, 21 Bapt
Name :- Louvesia
Parents :- George Duncan, Clk, Mrs Helen Balfour
Witnesses :- Mrs Louvesia Hamilton spouse to Mr Jamy Balfour of Pikgross
1720, 6 Feb birth, 6 Feb Bapt
Name :- James
Parents :- Mr George Duncan, clk, Mrs Hellen Balfour
Witnesses :- James Balfour of Pilridge?, Mr James Duncan Professor of Philospophie in St Salvades? Coledge St Andrews, James Yeaman lat Ballie, James Greene Appothecary, James Patterson mt, James Yeaman yr mt, Sr James
Stewart of Goodtrees
DNB Main notes for Henry Duncan
From the Canadian DNB:
DUNCAN, HENRY, naval officer, office holder, and politician; b. c. 1735; m. 27 Nov.1761 Mary French in Dartmouth, England, and they had two sons and one daughter; d; there 7 Oct. 1814. Little can be ascertained about Henry Duncan's early years.
It is likely that he was born in Dundee, Scotland, and it is possible that he
was related to Adam Duncan, victor of the battle of Camperdown. He entered the Royal Navy on 10 May 1755 as an able seaman on the Nassau, perhaps after early service with the East India Company. Following a period in the Meterranean, the ship went to Halifax, N.S., in 1757 under Vice-Admiral Francis Holburne, as part of the planned expedition against Louisbourg, Ile Royale (Cape Breton Island). Duncan passed his lieutenant's examination on 3 Jan. 1759 and was appointed to the America. After service on several other ships he was paid off at the peace in 1763. Duncan remained on half pay for six years, during which time he was promoted commander (26 May 1768). From 1769 to 1772 he commanded the Wasp sloop on the home station. On 7 Feb. 1776 he was promoted captian and appointed flag-captain to Lord Howe in the Eagle, on board which he was present at the actions off New York City. After again serving as Howe's flag-captain in the Victory the third relief of Gibralter in 1782, on 17 Jan. 1783, he was once more placed on half pay.
Duncan's enforced leisure lasted only until 2 April, when he was appointed resident commissioner of the Halifax dockyard by Howe, now first lord of the admiralty. As commissioner, Duncan was the representative of the Navy Board, the administrative arm of the Admiralty, and orders from London to the dockyard officers and reports from them were transmitted through him. He was in charge of the clerical and shipwright officers, organized local contracts, and negotiated with the commanders of naval vessels over problems of refitting and storing ships.
Immediately after his arrival in October he faced several difficulties.Among them were the need for shipping to England large quantities of stores evacuated from New York and Florida, a local shortage of food which required his supplying transports to take it where needed, and the influx of the loyalists, who had been arriving in Halifax since May. Duncan was instrumental in shipping the refugees elsewhere in Nova Scotia, as in April 1784 when Governor John Parr requested him to move some persons from Port Mouton to Passamaquoddy Bay (N.B.).
Later problems included the supervision of pilots for the Bay of Fundy, a scarcity of species, a shortage of stores from England to build up the yard establishment, and, most important, the friction generated between Duncan and active commanders who wished to have a dominant role in the allotment of supplies to their ships.
One quarrel stemming from this friction resulted in the dismissal of the storekeeper of the yard, George Thomas, by Sir Charles Douglas, commander-in-chief in North America. Thomas went to London to clear his name and was reinstated.
During Duncan's long tenure the dockyard was continuously developed since Halifax had achieved a new importance with the independence of the southern colonies.
A hospital was completed in 1783, the careening wharf was improved throughout the 1780s, and the dockyard property was enlarged in 1790. In the late 1780s Duncan travelled to the Miramichi River, N.B., in search of mast timber. Although this trade developed, his early reports on the availability of large masts proved to be overenthusiastic, since the trees selected were found to be decayed in the centre. In Halifax, Duncan was a member of the North British Society, and was elected its president in 1796. He was appointed by Parr a member of the Council in 1788 but rarely attended, resigning in 1801. Duncan was also associated in a business way with a fellow Scot, Alexander Brymer, deputy paymaster of the forces.
Brymer is reputed to have made £250,000 from his position. There is very
little evidence about Duncan's ability to profit similarly from his post, but he can hardly have amassed such a large amount. At the same time, however, he more than likely made some profit; he had a good deal of freedom in the awarding of local contracts and in such matters as the disposal of ships
not worth repairing; moreover, his access to government hard cash must have been an advantage in a society which was often short of species. In 1796 Lieutenant Governer Sir John Wentworth described him as "very rich", and his occupation as "the best employment in this county or these provinces." Duncan's will gives evidence of comfortable if not great wealth, including a house and land at Dartmouth, N. S., and a "plantation" in St John's, Nfld.
In the spring of 1797 Duncan returned to London for treatment of "a complaint in his head, which breaks through the upper part of his eye." He was replaced as commissioner in 1799 by Isaac Coffin. During his time in England Duncan, still paid as commissioner, was appointed to Coffin's position at Sherrness, Kent.Duncan returned to Halifax on 19 Aug. 1800, sold his land, and left again for London on 11 November. On 21 Jan. 1801 he was appointed deputy controller of the Navy Board, and resigned on 20 June 1806. The evidence for Duncan's tenure as commissioner suggests that he was a tough and experienced officer, efficient by the standards of the age and not devoid of imagination. He enjoyed good relations with Parr and probably Wentworth as well; moreover, he took the part of his men in the dockyard and was not cantankerous or hot-headed, as he demonstrated by maintaining his calm during the Douglas-Thomas quarrel of 1783-84. Relations between naval officers and the commissioner were, however, likely to be troublesome whatever the personalities involved because sea-going officers looked down on the administration, even in the person of formerly active officers such as Duncan.
In this difficulty Duncan's position was strengthened by his being on good terms with Charles Middleton, controller of the Navy Board during the 1780s.
Duncan's elder son, Henry, entered the navy in 1781 but was lost at sea off
Newfoundland in 1801. His daughter, Isabella, married Lieutenant Thomas Twisden in Halifax on 14 Dec. 1790. Nothing is known of his son Arthur.
DUNCAN, HENRY, naval officer, office holder, and politician; b. c. 1735; m. 27 Nov.1761 Mary French in Dartmouth, England, and they had two sons and one daughter; d; there 7 Oct. 1814. Little can be ascertained about Henry Duncan's early years.
It is likely that he was born in Dundee, Scotland, and it is possible that he
was related to Adam Duncan, victor of the battle of Camperdown. He entered the Royal Navy on 10 May 1755 as an able seaman on the Nassau, perhaps after early service with the East India Company. Following a period in the Meterranean, the ship went to Halifax, N.S., in 1757 under Vice-Admiral Francis Holburne, as part of the planned expedition against Louisbourg, Ile Royale (Cape Breton Island). Duncan passed his lieutenant's examination on 3 Jan. 1759 and was appointed to the America. After service on several other ships he was paid off at the peace in 1763. Duncan remained on half pay for six years, during which time he was promoted commander (26 May 1768). From 1769 to 1772 he commanded the Wasp sloop on the home station. On 7 Feb. 1776 he was promoted captian and appointed flag-captain to Lord Howe in the Eagle, on board which he was present at the actions off New York City. After again serving as Howe's flag-captain in the Victory the third relief of Gibralter in 1782, on 17 Jan. 1783, he was once more placed on half pay.
Duncan's enforced leisure lasted only until 2 April, when he was appointed resident commissioner of the Halifax dockyard by Howe, now first lord of the admiralty. As commissioner, Duncan was the representative of the Navy Board, the administrative arm of the Admiralty, and orders from London to the dockyard officers and reports from them were transmitted through him. He was in charge of the clerical and shipwright officers, organized local contracts, and negotiated with the commanders of naval vessels over problems of refitting and storing ships.
Immediately after his arrival in October he faced several difficulties.Among them were the need for shipping to England large quantities of stores evacuated from New York and Florida, a local shortage of food which required his supplying transports to take it where needed, and the influx of the loyalists, who had been arriving in Halifax since May. Duncan was instrumental in shipping the refugees elsewhere in Nova Scotia, as in April 1784 when Governor John Parr requested him to move some persons from Port Mouton to Passamaquoddy Bay (N.B.).
Later problems included the supervision of pilots for the Bay of Fundy, a scarcity of species, a shortage of stores from England to build up the yard establishment, and, most important, the friction generated between Duncan and active commanders who wished to have a dominant role in the allotment of supplies to their ships.
One quarrel stemming from this friction resulted in the dismissal of the storekeeper of the yard, George Thomas, by Sir Charles Douglas, commander-in-chief in North America. Thomas went to London to clear his name and was reinstated.
During Duncan's long tenure the dockyard was continuously developed since Halifax had achieved a new importance with the independence of the southern colonies.
A hospital was completed in 1783, the careening wharf was improved throughout the 1780s, and the dockyard property was enlarged in 1790. In the late 1780s Duncan travelled to the Miramichi River, N.B., in search of mast timber. Although this trade developed, his early reports on the availability of large masts proved to be overenthusiastic, since the trees selected were found to be decayed in the centre. In Halifax, Duncan was a member of the North British Society, and was elected its president in 1796. He was appointed by Parr a member of the Council in 1788 but rarely attended, resigning in 1801. Duncan was also associated in a business way with a fellow Scot, Alexander Brymer, deputy paymaster of the forces.
Brymer is reputed to have made £250,000 from his position. There is very
little evidence about Duncan's ability to profit similarly from his post, but he can hardly have amassed such a large amount. At the same time, however, he more than likely made some profit; he had a good deal of freedom in the awarding of local contracts and in such matters as the disposal of ships
not worth repairing; moreover, his access to government hard cash must have been an advantage in a society which was often short of species. In 1796 Lieutenant Governer Sir John Wentworth described him as "very rich", and his occupation as "the best employment in this county or these provinces." Duncan's will gives evidence of comfortable if not great wealth, including a house and land at Dartmouth, N. S., and a "plantation" in St John's, Nfld.
In the spring of 1797 Duncan returned to London for treatment of "a complaint in his head, which breaks through the upper part of his eye." He was replaced as commissioner in 1799 by Isaac Coffin. During his time in England Duncan, still paid as commissioner, was appointed to Coffin's position at Sherrness, Kent.Duncan returned to Halifax on 19 Aug. 1800, sold his land, and left again for London on 11 November. On 21 Jan. 1801 he was appointed deputy controller of the Navy Board, and resigned on 20 June 1806. The evidence for Duncan's tenure as commissioner suggests that he was a tough and experienced officer, efficient by the standards of the age and not devoid of imagination. He enjoyed good relations with Parr and probably Wentworth as well; moreover, he took the part of his men in the dockyard and was not cantankerous or hot-headed, as he demonstrated by maintaining his calm during the Douglas-Thomas quarrel of 1783-84. Relations between naval officers and the commissioner were, however, likely to be troublesome whatever the personalities involved because sea-going officers looked down on the administration, even in the person of formerly active officers such as Duncan.
In this difficulty Duncan's position was strengthened by his being on good terms with Charles Middleton, controller of the Navy Board during the 1780s.
Duncan's elder son, Henry, entered the navy in 1781 but was lost at sea off
Newfoundland in 1801. His daughter, Isabella, married Lieutenant Thomas Twisden in Halifax on 14 Dec. 1790. Nothing is known of his son Arthur.
Notes for Henry & Mary (Family)
Their marriage index:
First name(s) Henry
Last name Duncan
Banns year 1761
Banns date ? ? 1761
Marriage year 1761
Marriage date 27 Nov 1761
Parish Dartmouth, St Saviour
Spouse's first name Mary
Spouse's last name French
Residence Scotland
Spouse's residence Dartmouth St Saviour
Denomination Anglican
County Devon
Country England
Archive reference 2992A/PR/1/8
Archive South West Heritage Trust
Record set Devon Marriages And Banns
__________________
The register reads as follows:
Henry Duncan of Scotland Lieutenant of his Majesty’s Navy and Mary French of this parish Spinster were Married in this Church by Licence this 27th Day of Novr in the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred and sixty one by me [T Tinny]
This Marriages was solemnised between Us ,
In the Prescence of ,
_______________
First name(s) Henry
Last name Duncan
Banns year 1761
Banns date ? ? 1761
Marriage year 1761
Marriage date 27 Nov 1761
Parish Dartmouth, St Saviour
Spouse's first name Mary
Spouse's last name French
Residence Scotland
Spouse's residence Dartmouth St Saviour
Denomination Anglican
County Devon
Country England
Archive reference 2992A/PR/1/8
Archive South West Heritage Trust
Record set Devon Marriages And Banns
__________________
The register reads as follows:
Henry Duncan of Scotland Lieutenant of his Majesty’s Navy and Mary French of this parish Spinster were Married in this Church by Licence this 27th Day of Novr in the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred and sixty one by me [T Tinny]
This Marriages was solemnised between Us ,
In the Prescence of ,
_______________