Birth: 1743
Lancaster County
Pennsylvania, USA
Death: Aug. 6, 1818
Abingdon
Washington County
Virginia, USA
Like his sister, Elizabeth, John led a most unforgettable life. His grave stone and that of his mother attests to the time they were held as prisoners by the British in Quebec, Canada during the Revolutionary War.
John's parents were:
Thomas Duncan/Dunkin 1692 – 1756
Elizabeth Alexander 1710 – 1814
Thomas & Elizabeth immigrated from Scotland by way of Ireland in 1737. John was their only son. His sisters were:
Mary Jane Duncan 1740 – 1787
(married James Laughlin)
Margaret Duncan 1741 – 1821 (married Mr. Robinson)
Ann Duncan 1747 –
Elizabeth Duncan 1750 – 1845 (married Samuel Porter)
Martha Duncan 1756 – 1821 (married Solomon Litton)
John's father died in Lancaster, PA in 1756 when John was 17 years old. He married Eleanor "Nellie" Sharp in Hanover, Lancaster, PA on August 27, 1761.
John and Eleanor's children included:
1. Elizabeth Duncan - July 14, 1762 in VA – 1850
2. John Thomas Duncan - Feb. 25, 1765 in VA - 1832
3. Nancy Duncan 1765 – 1813
4. Margaret Duncan - Feb. 8, 1767 – 1819
5. Agnes Peggy Duncan - 1767 – 1846
6. Joseph Duncan - March 16, 1769 – 1847
7. Mary Duncan - Oct. 15, 1771
8. Sarah Duncan Sept. 3, 1773 – 1843
9. Anne Duncan - Nov. 18, 1775 – 1856
10. Faithful Sharp Duncan - March 18, 1778 – 1845
11. Eleanor Duncan - 1781 born in captivity near Montreal, Quebec Province, Canada – 1845
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On March 1, 1763, John was chosen by the Orphans Court of Lancaster Co, PA to be the guardian of his sister, Ann (an infant over 14).
By 1769 John & his family moved west of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the frontier of southwest Virginia to the Elk Garden, near the present-day Lebanon in Russell county. He was made first a Sergeant, and later a Captain in the frontier militia of Washington Co, and was very active in protecting the frontier against the Indian from 1774 to 1778. When Powell Valley was evacuated in 1776 because of the Cherokee War, he led a party of settlers and militia into the valley and guarded the settlers while they brought out their personal property, which they had been unable to do because of the sudden evacuation of the valley.
In early 1779 John & Eleanor & children, his 70 year old mother, his two sisters, and their husbands, Samuel Porter and Solomon Litton, moved from the Clinch to KY in 1779 to the fertile meadows of central Kentucky. That spring after the men planted their crops, they traveled to KY with several other men from the area. They followed Boone's Road through Cumberland Gap, then north to Stoner Creek 25 miles north of Boonesborough (just west of present-day Paris). There a small fort named Martin's station stood. The men stayed at the fort while they ventured into the countryside scouting possible homestead sites.
That winter was unusually severe. The rivers and the streams were all frozen; cattle and domestic animals died by the hundreds and thousands. Settlers were reduced to the point of starvation.
In June 1780, Colonel Byrd, a British officer, and about 600 Canadians and Indians, attacked Ruddle's and Martin Stations and captured the settlers. The prisoners taken at Martin's were united to the prisoners from Ruddle's. There was understood to be an agreement between the British and Indians, that the prisoners taken at Ruddle's should belong to the Indians, and those at Martin's to the British. The whole of the property of the Americans including their Negroes, were given to the Indians.
John Dunkin, had ten or twelve likely Negroes, and a fine person property in stock and furniture, etc., of which he was altogether plundered.
Colonel Byrd gave his promise that no to harm would come to them if they surrendered; however the Indians savagely ravaged their settlements killing and maiming some and taking their possessions.
All the prisoners were forced on a "death march" down the Licking River to the Ohio River to the mouth of the Great Miami, then up that river as far as navigable, to Detroit, and then to Montreal. It has been claimed that those who couldn't keep up or wouldn't be quiet were killed.
Information compiled by Gill Bergman, gggg-grandson of Elizabeth (Duncan) Porter, in February 2009. John & his family were held by the British at Montreal, which included the following:
John Duncan, age 40
John's wife, Eleanor "Nellie" Sharp Duncan, 38
Elizabeth Duncan, 18
John Duncan, Jr., 16 (escaped in 1781)
Margaret "Peggy" Duncan, 14
Joseph Duncan, 12
Mary "Polly" Duncan, 9
Sarah Duncan, 7
Anne Duncan, 5
Faithful Duncan, 2
Eleanor Duncan, born in 1781, in the early part of 1781
The family was released on November 6, 1782
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Captain John Thomas's eldest son, John Dunkin, Jr., escaped from the British at Montreal. Captain John, an officer of standing, was suspected of having aided his son to escape to carry communications across the wilderness through New York to General Washington's army. John Dunkin, Jr. reported personally to General Washington, by whom he was well provided for until his father and family, including John's elderly mother, were exchanged and met him in Pennsylvania on their return home, through western New York and by Philadelphia, through Pennsylvania and Maryland and to where he had lived in western VA before moving to KY.
Kentucky, and there he continued to live for the rest of his life.
His grandson, Samuel Harvey Laughlin, wrote,
My grandfather Dunkin, ever after I knew him, was a taciturn, serious, and rather melancholy man. He was a large stout man, and in his younger days, and until his spirit was broken and his health impaired by his Canadian captivity, and the loss of his property, had been a man of great vigor of mind and body, and fond of hazardous and arduous adventure"
Upon returning to Kentucky after being help captive in Canada, Captain John Dunkin made the following statement: "June 26, 1780, I was taken from Licking Creek in Kentucky County by Captain Henry Bird of the 8th Regiment of his Majesty's forces in conjunction with about eight hundred Indians of different Nations--Viz. Mingoes, Delawares, Shawnees, Hurons, Ottaways, 'Taways and Chippeways.
We marched from our village the 27th, being in number 129 men, women and children. We marched down Licking about 50 miles to the Ohio
and from thence up ye Big Miami River about 170 miles to the Standing Stone,
and from thence up said river to Larramie's (Lorimer's) Store 14 miles on the head of the Miami;
and from thence across by land 18 miles to the Landing on the River Glaise -
and from thence down said river passing a Taway village and to the mouth of said river about 80 miles at a small village to Miami Indians on the River Miami;
from thence down said river about 40 miles to an Indian village called Rose de Boo -
and from thence down said river about 18 miles to Lake Erie, where we went on board the Hope, mounted six pounders, Captain Graves, Commander;
and so across the said lake to the mouth of Detroit River, and 18 miles up to the same to the fort and town of Detroit, which place we arrived at the 4th of August, 1780 - where we were kept until the 24th when 33 of us were put on board the Gage, Captain Burnit commander, mounted 8 guns,
and from thence to Fort Erie and thence in battles 18 miles down the River Niagara to Fort Slusher, at the head of the great fall -
and from thence in wagons, 9 miles, where we again went in battles down said river to Fort Niagara at the mouth of said river on the 19th;
and on the 5th of September we were again put on board the Ontario, Captain Cowan commander and so across the Lake Ontario to Carlton Island on the 8th, and on the 10th we sent off down the long Sac and into Sandijest Lake, and so down Rapids into Grand River and through a small lake and so the Lasheen.
From thence by land 9 miles to Montreal on the 14th of September, 1780, and on the 17th we were sent into Grant's Island and remained there until the 25th of October, when we were again taken back into Montreal and billeted in St. Lawrence suburbs.
I was put in confinement in the Long Gaol ... September 1st, and remained in close confinement until the 17th day of October, when I was permitted to go and live with my family with the privilege of walking the town and suburbs."
"Destruction of Ruddle's and Martin's Forts in the Revolutionary War" by Maude Ward Lafferty, The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society, Vol. 54, No. 189, Oct. 1956, page 312)
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Washington Co. VA, District Court
Record of Deeds B, Vol.8, pg.418
John Dunken of Washington Co. VA, weak in body, .. executors should sell my personal property all and singular at twelve months credit the product to be disposed of as hereinafter mentioned. .. daughter Sally Laughlin, $100; daughter Elenoar Campbell, $50; balance divided among my nine children, to wit, Betsy Laughlin, John Dunken, Peggy Laughlin, Joseph Dunkin, Polly Hignite, Sally Laughlin, Ann Martin, Faithful Lock and Elenor Campbell.
Executors to convey to John Laughlin the track of land on which I now live in compliance with a bond given by me to the said Laughlin for that purpose. Appoint my beloved friends Stanton Pemberton and Jonathan King executors.
Dated October 2, 1817. /s/ John Dunken.
Wit. Thomas McChesney, John Sharp, Jonathan King.
Recorded 27 October 1817.
Security for executors by Thos. McChesney.
Family links:
Parents:
Elizabeth Alexander Dunkin (1710 - 1814)
Spouse:
Eleanor Sharp Dunkin (1748 - 1816)*
Children:
Elizabeth Duncan Laughlin (1762 - 1850)*
John Thomas Duncan (1765 - 1832)*
Margaret Jane Duncan Laughlin (1767 - 1816)*
Joseph Duncan (1769 - 1847)*
Sarah Duncan Laughlin (1773 - 1843)*
Siblings:
Mary Jane Duncan McLaughlin (1740 - 1787)*
John Thomas Dunkin (1743 - 1818)
Elizabeth Duncan Porter (1750 - 1845)*
Martha Dunkin Litton (1756 - 1821)*
*Calculated relationship
Burial:
Green Spring Cemetery
Green Spring
Washington County
Virginia, USA
GPS (lat/lon): 36.38181, 81.5977
