Previous posts show William Duke, baptized in 1796, and his wife, Elizabeth Cockayne, were the couple who established the American Duke line which was centered in Scio and Wellsville, Allegany, New York. Finding their origin in England was the next step toward expanding the family tree across the Atlantic.
Family tradition and the notorious “scraps of paper” passed down through multiple descendants of William and Elizabeth (Cockayne) Duke all stated the same origin for 1796 William and Elizabeth. They came from Derbyshire and most likely the town of Derby. In addition, William’s birth year (1796) and Elizabeth’s birthdate (1 March 1808) were also retained in family records as were the names of William’s siblings, John, Mary, and Ann along with some of their spouses. William’s parents’ names were also passed down as William Duke and Anne Barnes.
Printed county histories backed up family tradition. Their specific statements included:
- William Duke was a native of England[1]
- William and Elizabeth (Cokayne) Duke were of Derbyshire[2]
- William Duke was born in Derbyshire, England in August 1796[3]
- William Duke’s siblings were John, Mary (who married Joseph Parker), Ann (who married Charles Brentnall), all of Derby.[4]
Since family traditions agreed with printed sources and there were no conflicts in US records (such as census or probate), research on William’s birth family began with Derby sources. Only one family with the surname of Duke was found in Derby baptizing children in the Church of England in the late 1700s. The following entries were found for Mary, John, Ann, and two sons named William.
St. Peter’s Derby entries for William Duke’s family
Aug 1786 Bapd. Mary Daughter of William & Ann Duke 27 [5]
Sep 1788 Baptd John Son of William & Anne Duke 28th [6]
Aug 1790 Baptd Anne daughter of William & Anne Duke 7th [7]
Nov 1792 Baptd William Son of William & Anne Duke 5th [8]
Oct 1793 Buried William Son of William & Anne Duke 28th [9]
Aug 1796 Baptd William Son of William & Anne Duke 28th [10]
A death in the family
The William Duke baptized in 1796 had no burial record anywhere in the Derby area. However, William’s father died in 1803, and for many years some researchers thought that event applied to 1796 William. It is clear from the burial entry and the administration granted to Anne Duke that the 1803 burial is for 1762 William Duke. The William Duke born in 1796 survived into adulthood, married Elizabeth Cockayne and immigrated to New York.
Feb 1803 Buried William Duke 5th [11]
Administration of William Duke dated 26 April 1803[12]
More family data
Further corroborating family tradition and printed details on William’s birth family, the marriages of his three siblings who survived to adulthood were also found where family tradition stated they occurred.
Marriage of Mary Duke and Joseph Parker in Allesley Warwickshre.[13]
“Joseph Parker of the Parish of Osmaston, Derbyshire, Bachelor and Mary Duke of this Parish, Spinster were Married in this Church by License the Tenth Day of March in the Year One Thousand eight Hundred and Twelve”… The couple signed the register, and the marriage was witnessed by Ann Parker and Joseph Bailey.
Mary & Joseph’s marriage bond agreed with the marriage data.[14] Mary Duke likely went to live in Allesley for a few weeks prior to her marriage there which is why she was identified as being of that parish. Her actual origin was more likely the Osmaston by Derby area and she and Joseph would have met in or near there. They also lived in that same area after their marriage as their six children were all christened in Osmaston by Derby.
Marriage of John Duke and Sarah Merry in All Saints, Derby[15]
“John Duke, Bachelor of this Parish & Sarah Merry of this Parish also Spinster were Married in this Church by License this fifteenth Day of September in the Year One Thousand Eight Hundred and eleven”… The register was signed by John Duke and S. Merry and witnessed by Joseph Merry and An (or possibly Jn) Merry.
The marriage license, taken out the month before, also named John Duke as being of All Saints.[16]
Marriage of Anne Duke & Charles Brentnall in St. Peter, Derby[17]
“Charles Brentnal of the parish of all saints & Anne Duke of this parish of St. Peter were Married in this Church by License this Sixth Day of June One Thousand Eight Hundred and Nine”… The register was signed by Charles Brentnall and Ann Duke and the marriage was witnessed by Joseph Jones and Mary Duke.
Like others in their family, Charles and Anne married by license, which was taken out the day before their wedding.[18]
What does it all mean?
Corroborating everything in both family and printed sources with original records meant the information passed down on 1796 William’s birth family was correct and research could proceed with confidence that the right Duke family had been found in Derby. The next step was to find the marriage record of 1762 William Duke and Anne Barnes. Though their names were known and it was clear they married around 1785, finding the original record was not easy.
[1] Multiple contributors, History of Allegany County New York (New York, NY: F. W. Beers Co, 1879), 338.
William Adams, editor, Historical Gazetteer and Biographical Memorial of Cattaraugus County, NY (Syracuse, NY, Lyman, Horton & Co, LTD, 1893), 906.
[2] Multiple contributors, History of the Counties of McKean, Elk, Forest, and Potter, Pennsylvania (Chicago, Illinois: J. H. Beers & Co., 1890), 507-508.
[3] John S. Minard, author: Georgia Drew Merrill: editor, Allegany County and its People (Alfred, NY: W. A. Ferguson & Company, 1896), 403-405.
[4] Minard, author, Allegany County and its People, 403-405.
[5] “England, Derbyshire, Church of England Parish Registers 1537-1918,” database with images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 4 November 2024), search term: “William Duke,” (father) 1785-1800, baptism of Mary Duke; citing Derbyshire County Council.
[6] “England, Derbyshire, Church of England Parish Registers 1537-1918,” database with images, FamilySearch search term: “William Duke,” (father) 1785-1800, baptism of John Duke.
[7] “England, Derbyshire, Church of England Parish Registers 1537-1918,” database with images, FamilySearch search term: “William Duke,” (father) 1785-1800, baptism of Anne Duke.
[8] “England, Derbyshire, Church of England Parish Registers 1537-1918,” database with images, FamilySearch search term: “William Duke,” (father) 1785-1800, baptism of 1792 William Duke.
[9] “England, Derbyshire, Church of England Parish Registers 1537-1918,” database with images, FamilySearch search term: “William Duke,” (father) 1785-1800, burial of William Duke.
[10] “England, Derbyshire, Church of England Parish Registers 1537-1918,” database with images, FamilySearch search term: “William Duke,” (father) 1785-1800, baptism of 1796 William Duke.
[11] Derby-St. Peter Parish (Derbyshire, England), parish register, baptisms and burials 1802-1812, unnumbered page 4, burial of William Duke (1803); imaged, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 12 June 2024) > image group number (IGN) 004453481 image 532 of 875; citing Derbyshire County Council.
[12] Prerogative Court for the Bishop’s Court of Lichfield, B/C/11, Administration of William Duke, 1803 ; Staffordshire Record Office, Stafford, England.
[13] “Warwickshire Marriages,” database with images, Find My Past (www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 4 November 2024), search terms: Mary Duke & Joseph Parker, Allesley; citing Warwickshire County Record Office.
[14] “Diocese of Lichfield & Coventry Marriage Allegations & Bonds 1636-1893,” database with images, Find My Past (www.findmypast.co.uk: accessed 5 November 2024), search terms : Joseph Parker & Mary Duke; citing Staffordshire Record Office.
[15] “England, Derbyshire, Church of England Parish Registers, 1537-1918,” collection with images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 28 August 2024) search term: John Duke & Sarah Merry, 1811; citing Derbyshire County Council.
[16] “Diocese of Lichfield & Coventry Marriage Allegations & Bonds 1636-1893,” database with images, Find My Past (www.findmypast.co.uk: accessed 5 November 2024), search terms : John Duke & Sarah Merry; citing Staffordshire Record Office.
[17] “England, Derbyshire, Church of England Parish Registers 1537-1918,” database with images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 4 November 2024), search term: “Ann Duke,” & “Charles Brentnall,” 1809 citing Derbyshire County Council.
[18] “Diocese of Lichfield & Coventry Marriage Allegations & Bonds 1636-1893,” database with images, Find My Past (www.findmypast.co.uk: accessed 7 November 2024), search terms : Charles Brentnall; citing Staffordshire Record Office.
