Family:Marston Duke and Unknown Duke (1)

Marston Duke's parents, Thomas and Elizabeth Duke, lived on property adjacent Webb's Run in the part of James City County that became Charles City County. His father Thomas Duke appeared in the 1704 Quit Rent Roll there as a resident.[1]

Marston's identity as a son of Thomas Duke is established in the will of Elizabeth Marston Duke, widow of Thomas Duke. The will was presented at court in 1729. She 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 witnessed by Robert Hickman, Joseph Hix, and Joseph Day.[2] Marston was given six enslaved persons, household stuff, stock at Rockcastle, and her gun.

As a young adult, Marston lived in James City County, as had his parents. From the will of Elizabeth Marston Duke, we know that at the time it was written she referred to her son Marston as "Marston Duke of James City County."

However, he acquired land to the north. His grandfather Col. Henry Duke had owned property there. In 1719/20 Marston Duke's land in Hanover County was represented in the processing of land (checking boundary markers) in St. Paul's Vestry Book[3]

And, on the same day the will of his mother was presented at court, Marston Duke "of Hanover County" sold to Charles Henry Cox 200 acres of land in Charles City County where "my father Mr. Thomas Duke lived and died" bounded by Webb's Run, line of Joseph Hix, David Gwyn, Wickaway Run with all houses.[4] He did not intend to live on his father's home property.

The area where Marston Duke settled was Louisa County at the time of his death, was Hanover County when he first established residence there, and was originally part of New Kent County. Marston's grandfather Col. Henry Duke, Esq., had owned property in New Kent County, but did not reside there. He was listed as still resident in James City County in the 1704 Rolls.[5]

This points toward the period between Elizabeth Marston Duke writing her will and filing it as the time when Marston Duke officially changed his primary residence.

   01 The 1704 Virginia Quit Rent Rolls. The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography , Jul., 1920, Vol. 28, No. 3 (Jul., 1920), pp. 207-218. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4243771
   02 Charles City Co VA Wills and Deeds 1725-1731, p. 271-272.
   03 The Vestry Book of St. Paul's Parish, Hanover County, Virginia, 1706-1786. P. 265. Ancestry.
   04 Charles City Co VA Wills and Deeds 1725-1731, p 277
   05 The 1704 Virginia Quit Rent Rolls. The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography , Jul., 1920, Vol. 28, No. 3 (Jul., 1920), pp. 207-218. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4243771