Samuel Duncan
Samuel Duncan was a blacksmith who immigrated to Canada in 1846, narrowly escaping death in a shipwreck on the passage (as related in the biographical sketch of Robert Duncan, cited below). Presumably the ship was the Ida, whose wreck was described in contemporary newspaper accounts. Several of Samuel’s children followed him to Canada some years later, most ending up in the USA.
Events
Date of Birth: 4 September 1800.
Place of Birth: Stirlingshire (?).
The 4 September date comes from the Linlithgow parish register. The date of 10 October 1800 was given in the biography of his son Archibald, cited below, where Archibald was presumably the informant. The age of 87 was given on his 1 January 1886 death registration. The 1841 census of Scotland givens his place of birth as Stirlingshire.
Date of Death: 1 January 1886.
Place of Death: Goderich, Huron County, Ontario, Canada.
The date is given on his death registration.
Relationships
Father: Samuel Duncan.
Mother: Janet Nimmo.
These parents are given in his birth registration. His parents’ names are given as “Samuel and Janet Duncan” in the 1877 marriage registration for his third marriage.
Spouse: Janet Flockhart. Names given for proclamation 19 November 1825 in Dumbarton, Dumbarton, Dunbartonshire, Scotland and married 9 December 1825 in Muiravonside, Stirlingshire, Scotland.
The parish registers record the marriage.
Spouse: Ann (born about 1816 in Ireland).
Ann appears in the 1861 census of Canada West and the 1871 census of Canada.
Spouse: Elizabeth Flukherd (born about 1821 in Ireland - died 4 September 1894 in Huron County, Ontario). Married 27 September 1877 in Goderich, Ontario. The marriage registration records the marriage. Elizabeth was a widow at the time of her marriage to Samuel. Her parents were William and Elizabeth Flukherd.
Children (by Janet Flockhart):
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
Samuel Duncan (born 24 September 1826 in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland; baptized in Laurieston Reformed Presbyterian Church).
Archibald Duncan (born 27 September 1827; baptized in Laurieston Reformed Presbyterian Church in Falkirk; died 13 April 1901) married Agnes Hill 22 January 1861 in Keppel township, Grey County, Canada West.
John Duncan (born 3 July 1829; baptized 8 August in Laurieston Reformed Presbyterian Church).
Helen Duncan (born 13 November 1830; baptized 26 December 1830 in Laurieston Reformed Presbyterian Church, Falkirk) married John Patterson.
Janet Duncan (born 16 October 1832; baptized in Laurieston Reformed Presbyterian Church, Falkirk) married Alexander Hay 22 June 1851 in Falkirk and 30 June 1851 in Laurieston, Falkirk.
Margaret Duncan (born 28 December (or 28 September, or 29 December) 1834 in Laurieston, Falkirk; baptized 18 January 1835 in Laurieston Reformed Presbyterian Chuch in Falkirk; died 24 May 1914 in Dorset, Ontario, Canada) married Adam Crozier 20 January 1860 in Galt, Canada West (United Presbyterian Church).
Robert W Duncan (born 8 or 9 August 1837 in Stanrigg, Stirlingshire - died 22 September 1910 in Beresford, Union, South Dakota) married Mary Wallace Meikle 28 July 1858 in Woodstock, Oxford County, Canada West.
Thomas Duncan (born January 1839; baptized 27 January 1839 in Laurieston Reformed Presbyterian Church, Falkirk).
William Duncan (born 20 July 1840 in Muiravonside, Stirlingshire - died 4 February 1925 in Cannon Falls, Goodhue, Minnesota) married Lucy Dinah Harwood 30 August 1865 in Kane, Illinois.
Children (by Ann):
(presumably) Elizabeth Duncan (born 1854 - died before 1897). The 1861 and 1871 censuses give this presumed daughter of Samuel.
(presumably) Samuel Duncan (born 1856). The 1861 and 1871 censuses give this presumed son of Samuel.
(presumably) Ann Duncan (died before 1897). Ann is listed as a deceased sister of Archibald Duncan in Archibald’s biographical sketch cited below. Presumably, given her place in the list, she was a child of this marriage.
Evidence
Samuel Duncan’s birth registration (Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland)
Samuel Duncan carrier and Janet Nimmo a son named Samuel born Septr 4th 1800
Samuel Duncan - Janet Flockhart marriage (1825, Dumbarton)
Samuel Duncan of the parish of Muiravonside and Janet Flockhart of this parish gave up their names for proclamation. 19 Nov.
Laurieston, Falkirk, Reformed Presbyterian register:
Samuel Duncan Smith Redding had a son named John Baptised at Laurieston on Saturday the Eighth of Augt. 1829 see opposite page
[on the opposite page:]
Samuel Duncan born 24 Sept.r 1826
Arch.d Duncan born 27 Sept.r 1827
Samuel Duncan, Smith Redding had a daughter named Helen Baptised at Laurieston on Sabbath the Twenty sixth December. 1830-
Samuel Duncan Smith Redding had a Daughter named Janet born October 16.th 1832 and baptized Aprile 20.th 1834 For reasons of this see minutes of Session for that period--
Samuel Duncan Smith at Redding had a daughter named Margaret born December 29th 1834 and Baptised January 18nth 1835
Samuel Duncan Smith had a son named Thomas born January 12th and baptized January 27.th 1839
1841 census (Muiravonside, Stirlingshire, Scotland)
Brow-house
-Samuel Duncan, Smith, 40, born Stirlingshire
-Janet Duncan, 40, born Stirlingshire
-Helen Duncan, 10, born Stirlingshire
-Janet Duncan, 8, born Stirlingshire
-Margaret Duncan, 6, born Stirlingshire
-Robert Duncan, 4, born Stirlingshire
-William Duncan, 9 mo, born Stirlingshire
-Alexr Hay, 20, Smith Ap, born Stirlingshire
The shipwreck of the Ida
The Ida was commissioned by government for the conveyance of stores to Canada, and left the Thames on the 18th of last December for Portsmouth, where she took in the stores,and finally sailed for St. John's, New Brunswick, on the 4th of January. There were onboard, besides the crew (eighteen in number, including the master, Capt. William Chamber), thirty-eight passengers, male and female. After her departure, nothing was heard of her until Monday last, when the intelligence of her fate was received. A letter, stated to be written by Mr. Sherwood, the British consul at Portland, thus describes her loss : "On the 20th of January, being in lat. 44'N., long. 52' 30° W., the barque broached to, while scudding before a severe gale from S.S.E., and was thrown on her beam ends. Orders were given to cut away the foremast, but before they had time to do so the barque righted, full of water. The captain then ordered the long-boat to be got under the lee, the other boat having been lost. The passengers immediately rushed into her promiscuously, followed by the captain and crew, to the number of forty-five. The painter parted, and the boat dropped astern. The land bore N.N.E., distant about thirty leagues by observation. The boat got about two cables length from the vessel, when she shipped a sea, filled, and all in her perished. The mate, nine men, and one young woman remained on the wreck, in the tops, from Monday morning until Friday morning, when they were taken off by the schooner Three Sisters, of Eden, when they were landed much frozen, and in destitute circumstances, the mate being the only one able to travel." The Ida was not registered at Lloyd's, and the inquiries made to ascertain who were her owners, and to know the names of the passengers, have not been successful.
1851 census (Barton, Wentworth County, Canada West)
-Samuel Duncan, Black Smith, Scotland, Free Church, age at next birthday 47
1861 census (Wellington County, Canada West)
-Samuel Duncan, Blacksmith, Scotland, U Presbyterian, age at next birthday 59
-Ann Duncan, Ireland, C England, age at next birthday 45
-Elizabeth Duncan, U. Canada, U Presbyterian, age at next birthday 7
-Samuel Duncan, do, do, age at next birthday 5
1871 census (Goderich, Ontario)
-Duncan, Samuel, male, 71, Scotland, C Presby, Scotch, Labourer, married
-[Duncan], Ann, female, 54, Ireland, [C Presby], Irish, married
-[Duncan], Samuel, male, 14, O, [C Presby], Scotch, Labourer
Samuel Duncan - Elizabeth Flukherd marriage registration (Huron County, Goderich township)
His Name: Samuel Duncan
Age: 76 years
Residence when Married: Goderich Township
Place of Birth: Scotland
Bachelor or Widower (S. or W.): W
Rank or Profession:L Blacksmith
Names of Parents: Samuel and Janet Duncan
Her Name: Elizabeth Flukherd
Age: 56 years
Residence when Married: Goderich
Place of Birth: Ireland
Spinster or Widow (S. or W.): W
Names of Parents: William and Elizabeth Flukherd
Names and Residences of Witnesses: Samuel Gibson, Betsy Lamprey, both Goderich Township
Date and Place of Marriage: St Stephens Church, Septr 27 1877 Goderich Ts.
Religious Denomination of Bridegroom: Presbyterian
Religious Denomination of Bridge: Church of England
By whom Married: Rev’d Wm Tibbitt
By License or Banns: License
1881 census (Goderich, Ontario)
-Duncan, Samuel, male, 61, Scotland, [Presbyterian], Scotch, Laborer, married
-[Duncan], Elizabeth, female, 60, [Scotland], [Presbyterian], [Scotch], married
Samuel Duncan’s death registration (Goderich Town, Huron County, Ontario)
Name and Surname of Deceased: Samuel Duncan
When Died: January 1st 1886
Sex - Male or Female: M
Age: 87 years
Rank or Profession: Labourer
Where Born: Scotland
Certified Cause of Death and duration of Illness: old age
Name of Physician, if any: Dr G.C. Shanner
Signature, Description and Residence of Informant: William Dickson Juli(?)
When Registered: February 19th 1886.
Religious Denomination of Deceased: Presbyterian
Signature of Registrar: William Campbell
References
Samuel Duncan birth registration (4 September 1800) Old Parish Registers, Births, 668/0040/0583 Linlithgow. A digital image is accessible for a fee at Scotlandspeople.gov.uk.
Samuel Duncan - Elizabeth Flukherd Ontario marriage registration no. 004426, Huron County, Goderich Township. p. 188, no. 4; digital image Ancestry com, citing Archives of Ontario; Series MS932-24; reel 24. A digital image can be viewed at FamilySearch:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FMNX-YML
Samuel Duncan household, 1841 census of Scotland. Piece 486, folio 5, page 4.
Samuel Duncan household, 1851 census of Canada West, Wentworth (district 41), Barton (sub-district 391), page 59; digital image, Library and Archives Canada, Censuses (accessed 29 March 2014), citing LAC microfilm C-11758
A digital image can be viewed here: http://data2.collectionscanada.gc.ca/e/e095/e002373573.jpg
Samuel Duncan household, 1861 census of Canada West, Wellington, Eramosa, page 23, line 16; digital image, Library and Archives Canada, Censuses (accessed 29 March 2014), citing LAC microfilm C-1082-1083
A digital image can be viewed here: http://data2.collectionscanada.gc.ca/1861/jpg/4108429_00266.jpg
Samuel Duncan household, 1871 census of Canada. Ontario, Huron South (district 25), Goderich (sub-district f), page 45, line 17; digital image, Library and Archives Canada, Censuses (accessed 29 March 2014), citing LAC microfilm C-9929
A digital image can be viewed here: http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/1871/jpg/4396748_00692.jpg
Samuel Duncan household, 1881 census of Canada. Ontario, Huron Centre (district 174), Goderich (sub-district B), Division number 1, family number 123, page 28; digital image, Library and Archives Canada, Censuses (accessed 29 March 2014), citing LAC microfilm C-13273
A digital image can be viewed here:http://data2.collectionscanada.gc.ca/e/e329/e008203062.jpg
“British Extracts. Melancholy Shipwrecks. Over One Hundred Lives Lost.” in The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser (New South Wales), Wednesday 19 August 1846; reprinted from the Britannia, March 21 1846. Digital image: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/683858
“Archibald Duncan, Sr.” in Memorial and Biographical Record of Turner, Lincoln, Union and Clay Counties, South Dakota (Chicago: Geo. A. Ogle & Co., 1897), pp. 90-91.
“Robert Duncan” in Memorial and Biographical Record of Turner, Lincoln, Union and Clay Counties, South Dakota (Chicago: Geo. A. Ogle & Co., 1897), pp. 77-79.
Samuel, Ontario death registration 007181 (1 January 1886); digital image, Ancestry.ca (http://ancestry.ca : accessed 29 March 2014), citing MS 935, reel 43, Archives of Ontario, Toronto. A digital image can be viewed at FamilySearch: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JN7C-ML9
Laurieston Reformed Presbyterian register, digital images on FamilySearch, accessed 16 February 2018.