Dukes of Virginia, a Reassessment by Lynn Teague
This document is copyright (c) 2002 by Tony Cox.  All rights reserved. The copyright must appear on all copies
Send Comments to Lynn Teague or Tony Cox

Duke Reassessment

On the North Side of the James River
Thomas Duke of James County, VA

Thomas Duke apparently arrived in James City County Virginia by 1651. 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"¹

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 Charle City County justice in 1755, 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.² Thomas Dew's son, John Dew, died in Isle of Wight County, where his will was proved in 1678.³

In 1672 Thomas Dew and other prominent citizens were publically converted to the Society of Friends by George Fox at a meeting at Nansemond.⁴ This was one year after 1671, when 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."⁵ 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: ⁶

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. The relationship between these individuals with the same name is said to be unknown.⁷

These are the relevant grant documents that are frequently cited as evidence of Thomas Duke's presence in Nansemond County:

25 Jan 1634 Tho. 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.⁸

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.⁹ 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 1679.¹⁰ 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.¹¹ 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.¹² Rachel Porter Goodwin, mother of Susanna Goodwin, left bequests to grandchildren James and Elizabeth in her 1701 will.¹³

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 an 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).

On 25 Jul 1690 Henry Duke was appointed a commissioner for taking subscriptions toward the establishment of William and Mary College.¹⁴ He led a militia troup in 1698. By 1694 he was a member of the House of Burgesses. In 1702 he was appointed to the Royal Council of Virginia.

Henry Duke Jr. of James City County VA

Henry Duke Jr. held 1000 acres of land, apparently acquired from his father since no patents in his own name have been found, in the 1704 quit rent rolls of James City County VA. Many equate him with Capt. Henry Duke of Prince George Co VA, of which more later. No further clear references to this Henry Duke have been found on the north side of the James River.

James Duke of James City County VA

James Duke was the son of Col. Henry Duke. William Byrd, in his diaries, makes it clear that James Duke married Byrd's sister Mary Byrd. They lived in James City County and were frequently visited by Byrd. Mary Byrd died young, and was last mentioned in Byrd's diary on 6 Apr 1721. Brandenberger provides a reconstruction of the history of James Duke that appears badly flawed, perhaps in part because she conflates the son of Col. Henry Duke with James Duke, the son of the older John Duke of York County VA. Further, Brandenberger identified James and Mary Duke as parents of William Duke of Brunswick Co VA and Warren Co NC. It will be shown that this is very unlikely. There is actually no evidence supporting her hypothesis, and a great deal of circumstantial evidence placing William elsewhere in the Duke family.

Thomas Duke of James City County VA

In 1704 Thomas Duke was listed with 750 acres of land in James City County adajcent his father with 2986 acres and Henry Duke Jr. with 1000 acres. The 1729 will of his wife, Elizabeth Marston Duke, provides for her son Marston Duke, her daughter Susanna Sherman, her granddaughter Elizabeth Sherman, daughter Sarah Lide, and daughter Mary Duke. Marston Duke and William Brown of James City County were executors, and the will was witnessedf by Robert Hickman, Joseph Hix, and Joseph Day.¹⁵

Edmund Duke of William and Mary College

Edmund Duke gave testimony on 17 Jul1705 as a subscriber to the grammar school at William and Mary, saying that the barring of the masters from the school in a raucous incident was not accompanied by violence. Edmund Duke's oath was taken before John Smith and John Lewis, but Henry Duke took many of the students' oaths.¹⁶ Edmund Duke may be a son of Col. Henry Duke. Duke's role in establishing the school only a short time before lends credibility to this interpretation. Brandenberger asserts that Edmund Duke may have died young. This is possible, or he might have gone elsewhere in adulthood.

Footnotes