Bertie COUNTY NC Biography DUCKENFIELD File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by tadrax@aol.com Thomas Duckenfield http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/bertie.htm BIOGRAPHY Surnames: DUCKENFIELD,DUCKINGFIELD,DUKINFIELD,DUKENFIELD On 15th May 1768, young NATHANIEL became the fifth DUCKENFIELD baronet when his uncle SIR SAMUEL DUKINFIELD died without issue. The following year he decided to visit his mother and his North Carolina holdings. He soon informed GOVERNOR WILLIAM TYRON that he intended to settle in the province permanently. Several years later SIR NATHANIEL wrote to his friend JAMES IREDELL that he had hoped to find a wealthy wife in the colony who could help support the financial strain of a baronetcy. In January 1771, GOVERNOR TYRON nominated SIR NATHANIEL to a place on the royal council. Although he was not seated until November, SIR NATHANIEL had created a considerable stir in the council the previous April by claiming the senior position in that body by virtue of his baronetcy. He was firmly resisted in this ploy by his fellow councillors and in November took his place as a junior member. During 1771, the baronet courted HANNAH JOHNSTON, the daughter of SAMUEL JOHNSTON. Early in 1772 he proposed marriage to her but was rejected. Although HANNAH would later marry JAMES IREDELL, SIR NATHANIEL and IREDELL remained friends and corresponded until 1791. By the spring of 1772, convinced that he was not suited to managing a plantation (he owned over 3,600 acres of land) and that he would not make a "good match" in North Carolina, SIR NATHANIEL decided to return to England . In England he was induced to purchase a coronet's commission in the Queen's Dragoons. In 1773, he resigned his council seat in North Carolina, stating that he would not serve happily in revolutionary America, and he never did. When the Revolutionary War began, he refused to serve against the Americans, and on his regiment's being ordered to America, he contrived to be left behind. This exhibition of American patriotism did not avail him, however, as in 1778, his North Carolina lands were co! nfiscated by the state. He had managed, however, to deed all of his slaves to his mother after his departure from the colony. Whereas other loyalists, especially HENRY EUSTACE MCCULLOH, owned more land than SIR NATHANIEL, SIR NATHANIEL'S properties brought in more money from state sales than those of any other person except LORD GRANVILLE. His friend JAMES IREDELL attempted to prevent confiscation but was unsuccessful. In 1783, SIR NATHANIEL married KATHERINE WARDE, with whom he sired four sons and a daughter. The following year he went on half-pay as a captain in the Eighty-second Regiment of Foot -- effectively retiring from active duty. Before his mother died at DUCKENFIELD Plantation, she directed that most of her property be sold and the proceeds sent to her son. The next year Sir Nathaniel was awarded 3,000 by the Loyalist Claims Commission in London for his North Carolina losses -- considerably less that the 8,762 at which he had valued his holdings. Nevertheless, with this money and his wife's wealth, SIR NATHANIEL DUCKENFIELD appears to have lived comfortably in England for the remainder of his life. The following is the claim that SIR NATHANIEL DUCKENFIELD submitted to the Loyalist Claims Commission: THE MEMORIAL OF SIR NATHANIEL DUKINFIELD BARR OF SULHAM NEAR READING IN THE COUNTY OF BERKS, A CAPTAIN IN HIS MAJESTY'S 82 REGIMENT OF FOOT MEMORIAL OF NATHANIEL DUCKENFIELD To JOHN WILMOT ESQ., DANIEL PARKER COKE, ESQ., COLONEL ROBERT KINGSTON, COLONEL DUNDAS, and ROBERT MARSH ESQ, the Commissioners appointed by act of parliament for inquiry into the loss and services of the American Loyalists The memorial of SIR NATHANIEL DUKINFIELD Barr of Sulham near Reading in the County of Berks, a Captain in his Majesty's 82 Regiment of Foot HEREWITH That your Memorialist left the County of Bertie in the province of North Carolina in America in the year 1772 and on the 30th of March 1773 purchased a Cornetcy in the 7th (or Queen's) Regiment of Dragoons and served in the several Ranks of Cornet lieutenant and Captain in the said Regiment of Dragoons until the 6th of August 1783 at which time your Memorialist exchanged into the 82d Regiment of Foot in which last mentioned Regiment he is now Captain of a Company. That your memorialist on his Father's Death which happened in the year 1749 became seized of and entitled to diverse Tracts of Lands Woods and Woody Grounds situate lying and being in the County of Bertie in the province of North Carolina in America commonly called or known by the name of DUKINFIELD Plantation containing in the whole about 1005 acres of land and also another tract of land wood and woody grounds situate lying and being near to the said plantation called DUKINFIELD plantation commonly called and known by the name of MORGANs plantation containing by his measurement about 1258 acres of land both which estates were surveyed in the year 1767 as by a plan and map thereof in your Memorialist's Custody will appear land which said several Plantations and lands were held by your Memorialist's ancestors under divers patents which your Memorialist left at his house in the said County of Bertie in the said province of North Carolina when he quitted that province and came! to reside in Great Britain in the said year 1772 where he has now since remained - And your Memorialist became seized of and entitled unto several other tracts of land and woods and woody ground on his said Father's decease in the said County of Bertie and province of North Carolina held also under cross patents granted your Memorialist's Ancestors which were also left by him in this House in the County of Bertie aforesaid when he left the same in the said year 1772 containing in the whole about 3610 acres of land but the Memorialist has no map of the same but has entered as particular and accurate account of all the said tracts of land and woods and woody grounds as your memorialist is able to do in a Schedule at the Foot of this Memorial. That your Memorialist has been frequently informed by scores of his friends in North Carolina aforesaid that his said plantations would be confiscated unless your Memorialist resigned his commission in the British Forces and took an active and decided part with the Americans against the British Government Which your Memorialist absolutely refused to do - That in particular in Aug, 1778, your memorialist received a letter from one MR. JAMES IREDELL of Edington, North Carolina Dated 7th January in the said year 1778 during the time your memorialist was upon duty in the 7th (or Queens') Dragoons at the Camp near BURY J EDMUNDS in the county of Suffolk in which Letter MR. JAMES IREDELL informed your Memorialist that a law had been then lately passed in the provinces of North Carolina against absentees whose Estates the said IREDELL informed your Memorialist would be forfeited unless they took possession thereof in person by the first of October in the year 1778. That your Memorialist received another Letter on the 3' Dec 1783 from MR. SAMUEL JOHNSTON of Hayes in North Carolina Dated 6 Aug 1783 by which the said SAMUEL JOHNSTON informed your memorialist that an act had then lately been passed at the General Assembly of the State or provinces of North Carolina for confiscating and forfeiting the Estates of several British subjects in which Act the said SAMUEL JOHNSTON said your Memorialist was by Name included and particularized - That your Memorialist is by the above Act deprived of his said Estates and plantations in the County of Bertie aforesaid and that the same was by that Act confiscated and your Memorialist having rendered himself obnoxious to the Americans by his Services in the British Army and his professions of his Loyalty to the British Government he has not any prospect of recovery back any part of his said Lands by which your memorialist has sustained a loss of Eight Thousand Pounds Sterling and upwards. Your Memorialist therefore prays that his loss may be taken into your consideration in order that he may be enabled under your report to receive such aid and relief as his losses and services may be found to deserve. The Schedule [Annotated valuations of the scheduled property have been removed]. The Land at the Mouth of Salmon Creek chiefly rich land and very pleasantly situated called Dukinfield plantation of which in the year 1767 -- 200 Acres part thereof was then set for the plough and the same has since been greatly improved. The Land called Morgans Swamp on the South side of black Walnut Swamp. There is a good house on DUKINFIELD Plantation worth 200 pounds Sterling and the Memorialist has a map of these lands. In the fork between Duckin Run and Salmon Creek. Between Reedy Branch and Duckin Run, joining to the present Tract. Joining to the last mentioned and Plowman's Land. Joining to the last on the other side of Duckin Run. Beginning at a water oak on the Hickory Thicket Branch Another plot of ground joining on the last. ======================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for FREE access. ==============