THOMAS DUNCAN pgs. 481 - 482 When Thomas Duncan and his young family took their place among other early settlers of Bell County about 1847. He was a seasoned veteran of a decade at the cutting edge of the taming of a wilderness. Reflecting on the events of that decade he must have felt a degree of relief in the knowledge that the constant threat of hostile Indians and the danger of invasion by Mexican armies had been overcome, new arrivals had swelled the ranks of original defenders, and the availability of resources provided the newly acquired statehood. It was then time to devote more of his attention to seizing opportunities that would benefit his family and their future. Born February 21, 1821, he was the second child of Robert and Mahala O'Barr Duncan. His father died October 31, 1828, in Madison County, Tennessee, leaving his wife a widow at age 27 with five children, all sons, the eldest not yet 10. The so-called "years of pleasure" between early childhood and responsibility associated with adulthood had ended for Thomas just prior to his eighth birthday. From this time forward until his marriage, he would bear increasing responsibility for the sustenance and protection of the family. His mother assumed the added role of head of household and would continue to shepherd her family for the remainder of her life. In 1835 when a group of families and individuals gathered and began preparations for a journey to the Mexican state of Coahuila-Texas the Duncan family consisted of Mahala, age 34; Charles, 16; Thomas, 14; Green Berry, 20; Newton C., 9; and William S., 7. Thomas, his mother and his four brothers joined the group. The journey began in fall 1835 at a point near Jackson in Madison County, Tennessee, and by mid-November reached Memphis where the mother was provided a letter of introduction by George P. Shepherd addressed to Thomas J. Chambers requesting him to aid the family. The Mississippi River was crossed by ferry near Memphis with Little Rock, Arkansas, the next major objective. While in the Mississippi bottomlands, the group was passed by a squad of men under Daniel Madden enroute to join the Texas Army. The Arkansas River was crossed at Little Rock and the Red River at Fort Towson. As the group was crossing the Sulphur Fork of the Red River on rafts, David Crockett and two companions joined them and traveled with them as far as Nacogdoches. From there the Duncans traveled to the falls of the Brazos River, a location also referred to as Viesca and Fort Marlin. The family hardly had time to prepare crude shelter and examine their situation before forced to flee from the threat of the Mexican army to which Fannin and the Alamo had fallen and which was to pursue Sam Houston and his small army of defenders. The Duncans retreated as far as present-day Grimes County in what became known as the First Ruaway Scrape. News of Sam Houston's victory at San Jacinto spread rapidly and the family soon began retracing its steps to the falls of the Brazos to resume their struggle to establish a home in this new land. In September 1836 older brother Charles enlisted in the Mounted Rangers and was followed in October by younger brother Green Berry. Thomas and the remaining family members were thus forced to accept additional responsibilities. The situation of these people at this time was desperate and hazardous. The falls was the northernmost outpost of settlement with only six to eight families and a camp of soldiers nearby. Souts, called spies, were sent out daily to watch for signs of Indians and when possible, these scouts met with those sent out from neighboring areas and exchanged news and observations. Provisions, including powder and lead, were scarce and when obtainable had to be transported acrossed unbridged rivers through a wilderness in which hostile Indians were at home. When away from the safety of numbers, children as young as 11 bore arms and at night lay down with a shot-bag around their neck and gun-locks under their blankets to keep the powder dry. Guards were posted to protect workers in the fields planting corn to be made into bread. Wild game and at times wild cattle could be taken for food but done so at great risk to the hunter. The Duncan family account with Z.N. Morrell, Baptist minister, impromtu merchant at the falls and in later years author, covers a period ending with final settlement on July 26, 1837. The most costly charges were a $20 cash advance and $15 for a gun. Food purchases were paid for with corn. In January 1837, a few days before he was 13, Green Berry was honorably discharged from the Mounted Rangers as the result of an act which required members to be at least 17. The following September, Charles completed his enlistment in the Mounted Rangers and returned home. Raids by hostile Indians began increasing toward the close of 1836 and in 1837 became so intense that people in the isolated areas were forced to flee. Settlement on the account with Morrell signaled preparation for the family to join the fight later referred to as the Second Ruaway Scrape. The Duncans found relative safety in the vicinity of Dunn's Fort and the village of Wheelock and there the family seat would remain. In February 1838 the headright certificates for Thomas' mother and brothers Charles and Green Berry were issued at Franklin in the newly-organized Robertson County. Thomas apparently did not apply for his until a later date. One Thomas Duncan is listed as a member of the force of Robertson County men at the Battle of Horn Hill, also known as Bryant's defeat, which took place in January 1939 (I assume this is a typo and they meant 1839.mab), but it is not proven that he was the son of Mahala. Thomas and Charles enlisted together in Capt. J.D. Matthews Mounted Rangers and served from March 8, 1839 to June 8, 1839. Conditional headright certificate No. 73 for 320 acres of land was issued to Thomas Duncan on September 12, 1839 at franklin in Robertson County. The condition was that the individual reside in the Republic and perform all the duties required of a citizen for three years. Following this an unconditional certificate would be issued. His unconditional certificate was No. 1 issued in Bell County, February 17, 1852. The land was surveyed in Ellis County on the waters of Richland Creek about 20 miles southwest of Waxahachie and letter patent No. 158 signed by Governor P.H. Bell was issued March 5, 1853. By about 1840, the Duncans were located just South of the Old San Antonio Road, the southern boundary of Robertson County, within a few miles of Wheelock their nearest source for trade and commerce. At this time the Republic was on the verge of bankruptcy. Members of the army had been placed on furlough and some units such as the Mounted Rangers disbanded because of lack of funds to pay them. The burden for their defense fell upon the citizens and the Minute Men were organized for this purpose. During 1841 Thomas and his brother Green Berry served as such under the command of Captain Eli Chandler. In 1841 the area in which the family resided fell within the bounds of newly formed Navasota County, later renamed Brazos, and for a time family members appear in the records of both counties. Thomas, his mother, and three of his brothers appear on the first tax rolls and are listed as original settlers of the new county. At the same time they are listed on the tax rolls of Robertson County. The Duncan family account with S.W. Kellogg, merchant at Wheelock, covering the period February 3, 1842, to June 9, 1843, indicates the family group is still intact (Thomas, Charles and Newton are involved) and that a much wider selection of merchandise was available (cloth material, starch and medicine for example). Credits to the account included cash, deerskins, port, eggs, etc. Thomas Duncan married Mary Ann Griffin, daughter of Moses and Barzella Curry Griffin, on December 18, 1845, and this marked the dispersal of the Duncan family group. Thomas probably moved to Bell County about 1847, although he appears on tax records of Robertson County as late as 1848. In 1850 Thomas and his family were in the eastern part of the newly-organized Falls County. Those listed in his household were: Mary Ann; Francis C., 4; Mahala, 2; Martha Williams, 14; and brother William S. Duncan. No doubt he returned to Bell County by February 1852 when his unconditional headright certificate was issued there. He and Mary Ann were parents of three daughters: Francis Caroline (b. Dec. 6, 1846) who married W.T.J. Hartrick on February 26, 1866; Mahala (b.abt 1848) who married C.N.J. Paul on April 18, 1867; and Cora C. who married Hugh Smith on September 16, 1869. Thomas Duncan was a victim of the political upheaval and lawlessness spawned by the issues and aftermath of the Civil War. He was murdered in Bell County in 1865. Mary Ann Griffin Duncan died in Bell County on June 28, 1869. William Smith Duncan moved to California about 1850 and died near Lost Angeles on January 11, 1871. Green Berry Duncan married Rebecca Ann Curry and eventually settled in Limestone County where he died January 30, 1881. Charles Duncan moved first to California about 1850 and later to Phoenix, Arizona where he died January 4, 1893. Newton C. Duncan died in Robertson County on November 12, 1916. Mahala O'Barr Duncan (b. Dec. 26, 1801), born in South Carolina, died in Robertson County on June 2, 1874. Submitted by: M. L. Jamison Duncans buried in the Bartlett City Cemetery are: Allen Duncan, Sr. 56 Bryan Duncan 56 John B. Duncan 38 Lorena V. Duncan 38 Mary Lou wife of W.W.56 Narcissa Ann 56 Sarah Duncan 56 Susan wife of A. Duncan 56 William Bryant 56 William Wynne 56 Griffins buried in the Bartlett City Cemetery: Aloise W. Griffin 389 Alvin Leath Griffin 362 James D. Griffin 389 Lorrine Schubert Griffin 274 Rose Christine Griffin 184 Ruth Laughlin Griffin 362 Pages 9, ll, 12 of: CITY OF BARTLETT, TEXAS CEMETERY LOCATOR. Compiled: 1992: Harry Perkins and Pat Goode of Bartlett, Texas Compiled: 1999: (Feb.28) Dock R. (Bud) and Joyce Peschel Cowsert of Austin, Texas. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cowsert were originally from Bartlett, Texas. ============================ Tune in later for the ALLEN Family! MA Bartlett