Person:Thomas Duke (11)

It is estimated that this Thomas Duke was born in about 1665. Some estimates place his birth later, on the assumption that Henry Duke, Jr., was the oldest son of Col. Henry Duke, born in about 1640. However, Thomas Duke was very likely the oldest son, and therefore under primogeniture the principle heir, of Col. Henry Duke. This is evidenced both by his history as a major landowner in the same location as Col. Henry Duke and by the likelihood that Col. Henry Duke named his first son for his father, Thomas Duke.

Several patents place the location of the land and residence of Henry Duke, Esq. and serve to show that the property of Thomas Duke II was in the same location as that of Henry Duke, Esq.

"To John Hicks, Land Patent in James City County, 183 acres of land on the south side of the S. Swamp against the mouth of Preston's Spring Branch, to Capt. Duke's near the Quarter Swamp, September 9, 1682.[1]

"October 10, 1686, to Mr. William Peawde, Land Patent, 400 acres in upper part of County of James City; west side of Chickahominy River from Capt. Duke's corner in Gwin's line to a branch of Webb's Run, to Walter's Branch on Wormsley's line.[2]

"October 23, 1690, Land Patent to Capt. Henry Duke in James City Co., 1000 acres of land on the south side of the Chickahomoiny River, touching Webb's Run Mattatuck neck, formerly granted to Thomas Towner, form it was escheated.[3]

Together these patents demonstrate that the land of Henry Duke, Esq., was on Webb's Creek and that some of it bounded near John Hicks.

The location of Thomas Duke's home residence in the same area is confirmed in this transaction by his son, Marston Duke: 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]

In 1704 Thomas Duke was listed in the Virginia Quit Rent Rolls with 750 acres of land in James City County adjacent his father Henry Duke, Esq., with 2986 acres and Henry Duke Jr. with 1000 acres.[5]

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 witnessed by Robert Hickman, Joseph Hix, and Joseph Day.[6]

The existence of half siblings (Peterson) for this individual rests on unproven connections of between Elizabeth Soane and both Col. Henry Duke and a presumed Peterson husband. Neither association rests on sound primary documents. Sources

  1. Virginia Land Patents, Book 7, p. 183.
  2. Virginia Land Patent Book 7, p. 515.
  3. Virginia Land Patents Book 7, p. 123.
  4. Charles City Co VA Wills and Deeds 1725-1731, p 277
  5. Smith, Annie Laurie Wright. The Quit Rents of Virginia, 1704. Baltimore, 1977.
  3. Charles City Co VA Wills and Deeds 1725-1731, p. 271-272.