ALLEGHENY CO. PA
REFERENCES FROM OTHER SOURCES
 

"MEMOIR OF CAPTAIN THOMAS J. DUNCAN," by Alexander C. Duncan, his son. (Typed 4-page document, sent by Gladys Duncan Jackson to "Jack" April 8, 1996, from John S. James 3/2006)
      John S. James comments: Gladys Duncan Jackson (Harry Duncan's daughter) was a first cousin to my grandmother Roberta Jane Stewart and her brother John Thomas Duncan Stewart (Jack). Their mother was the Lillian D. (Duncan) Stewart who is mentioned in the letter. I don't know who originally typed Alexander's letter. Mrs. Jackson's comments: "Captain Thomas J. Duncan is buried in the Sewickley Cemetary. Samuel Duncan would have been our grandfather."
      MAD comments: 1889 "History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania" by Warner, Vol.2, pg.324-325, Alexander Christy Duncan, b. Pittsburgh, PA, April 19, 1845, son of Capt. Thomas John Duncan (son of a John Duncan) who died in Pittsburgh in 1882 aged 80 years, and Clarinda Dingwall who died in 1888 aged 73. Perhaps 1880 census, Pittsburg, pg.364A, "J.J." Duncan 76 IRE, Clara 64 SCT, son Jackson H. Duncan 24 PA.
      [Page #1] MEMOIR OF CAPTAIN THOMAS J. DUNCAN, by Alexander C. Duncan, his son.
      The brothers and sister of father were - (MAD: two columns)
      William Duncan, Baltimore, Md.
      Jackson H. Duncan, Pittsburgh, Pa.
      Thos. John Duncan, " "
      James Duncan, " "
      Robert Duncan, " "
      Alexander C. Duncan, " "
      Samuel Duncan, " "
      Eliza Jane Duncan, " "
      When 16 years of age, ran away from school and "took the shilling", i.e., entered as a private in the British Army. At the time he enlisted he was attending a Latin School in Ireland, Tubermore, Co. Derry, (where he was born), kept by "two Priests." His father endeavored to procure his discharge, but he persisted that he be a soldier and succeeded in having his way.
      Left England with his Regiment, "Royal Scotts" and embarked for the East Indies. The Duke of Kent (father of the then Princess Victoria of Kent and afterward Queen Victoria), addressed the officers and men before embarkation. Served in India for several years, and in West Indies and Australia. Arose from rank to rank until he was a Sergeant and quartered at Edinburgh Castle, Scotland.
      Colonel Alexander Dingwall, mother's father, was a Scotchman (his wife an English Lady) fought in the "Royal Scotts" in Compaign, ending in the battle of Waterloo, as Major. At the end of the war, for distinguished service to Lt. Colonelay, [JSJ: Colonel, he] was promoted and as a mark of honor, appointed as the Keeper of the Crown of Scotland until his death, and was the last keeper ever appointed to the office. The crown of jewels was taken to England after his death.
      A sister of mother, Mrs. Baxter, married and went to Kingston, Canada. Her daughter married a man by the name of Kerr and still lives in Kingston. Her son visited us at Franklin Ave. Wilkinsburg, four years ago.
      Father, attending the Episcopal Church at Edinburgh, saw and fell in love with Miss Clarinda Dingwall, daughter of Col. Dingwall, by bribing her maid to carry a letter to her, expressing his admiration and love, and thru the same medium met her and induced her to run away and marry him. When the Colonel discovered the marriage had taken place, he insisted on a repeated ceremony in [Page #2] his Quarters in the Castle. (Harriet D. Crittenden has the marriage certificate.) Father was at the time of his marriage aged 30 years and mother 16 years. Within a year he was promoted to a Lieutenancy in the Expeditionary Army, raused (MAD: raised) under the command of Sir Delacy Evans to go to Spain to put Donna Isabella upon the Throne. Afterwards was commissioned a Captain and Adjutant of two Regiments. At the battle of St. Sebastian was wounded in the left arm and invalided home to Edinburgh. The surgeons in Edinburgh decided to cut off his arm. He had his orderly place his pistols upon the table at his bedside and when they came to operate, threatened to shoot them if they did not decide to not amputate. He suffered a long illness, but finally recovered, but was never able to use his arm as before.
      Previous to this, while in Spain, he was appointed to command of a port at Portugal. For insubordination he punished several of the soldiers severely in order to control them. Charges were brought against him and he was relieved of his command and court-martialed. The court, after hearing the evidence reinstated him in command and dismissed proceedings. The soldiers, who loved him, gathered together, procured a platform and the Regiment band and carried him around the parade ground. As father often told me, "They loved me because I saw they were well fed."
      Mother, having left her home in Edinburgh to join him in Portugal with her child, John, (Tilda's and Alven's father, who was born in the Castle of Edinburgh) happened to arrive at the fort just as father was being honored as above stated. He brought home with him his two servants and the stallion he rode at the above battle. The stallion he named "Segastabella", a wild devil that no one could ride but himself. Mother often told me about him. He killed one man and nearly killed others, but when father was convalescing he had him brought out to see him, and the horse knew him and rubbed his nose against him and expressed joy to see him. This grand horse was later given to John Hessen, a cousin in Ireland, to keep for father and was put to the plow and ruined, to his regret.
      Some time in the 1830's he and mother took ship for America to visit father's mother and father who resided in Pittsburgh. Took ship at Liverpool, England, were shipwrecked and put back into Cork, Irleand (MAD: Ireland). Again took ship and were again shipwrecked and put back into Liverpool. Finally arrived safe in the United States, were several months in getting to this Country. Stopped to visit his brother William at Baltimore, Md. After his visit there, took Canal boat and came to Pittsburgh. When in Baltimore, thru entreaty of his brother William, and many influential friends there, he was induced to apply for Commission in the U.S. Armu (MAD: Army). Finally he was offered a Lieutenancy by the United States, which he declined, stating a Captain in the British Army would not accept an inferior rank and considered it an insult to his country - England. He could say such things. No doubt it was a "Roosevelt from the shoulder thrust", the Secretary of War got from T.J. as he was called.
      [Page #3] After a long visit in Pittsburgh, started to return to Europe, starting on a Canal boat, and to their surprise when they arrived at Johnstown, Pa., Uncle Robert came galloping up to the Hotel and informed them that their mother was in a dreadful state and insisted that they come back to Pittsburgh. Finally they were persuaded to return. In so doing, father told me he gave up the offer of Commander of a Fort on the Mediterranean, and a possible Knighthood, also the blood money he could get from Spain. Afterwards he sold his Commission, but lost his "blood money" that was due him from Spain for the lost use of his arm, thru the neglect and bad management of a Pittsburgh attorney, who was making a visit to Europe and had agreed to collect same; got all of father's papers, Commission, etc., and when he returned reported he had lost them. This attorney was named Keenan, father of the man who owns the Keenan Building, Liberty Ave. Afterwards father went to England to get his pension, called at the residence of his old Commander, Sir Delacy Evans, in London, and found crape (MAD: crepe) on the door; his only friend was dead and gave it up. He often told me he had dined with the General frequently. Father was an excellent swordsman, taught the officers of the Regiment and was very popular; had the entree to the Best Clubs in London. Had frequently acted as Second in duels and had a pair of fine dueling pistols that had been in service. They disappeared -- no doubt given away to someone who had the cheek to ask for them, like a lot of other things. His gold epaulets he loaned to a friend and never could get him to return them. Gave his nephew, Alex. Dingwall two Holster pistols to carry in the Civil War in the United States, that he used in Spain, with a promise to return them, but they were never returned. Sword and all papers, letters and Regiment papers, etc. were in the hands of J.H. Duncan's wife in Cincinnati. Harriet D. Crittenden has his dress Red Coat and father's and mother's marriage certificate. J.H. Duncan also has father's miniature portrait in oil; copy also held by Harried (MAD: Harriet) D. Crittenden, also S.J. Duncan, Pittsburg, Pa. and Lillian D. Stewart, Chicago, Ill. Lillian D. Stewart of Chicago, his grand-daughter, has the clock that he brought from England on his first trip. S.J. Duncan, his son, has the gun that he carried in the Burmese War. This gun was carried in all the wars in which he participated. S.J. Duncan also has the buckle that was worn on his sword belt. J.H. Duncan, Cincinnati, O., has also a sword Knot worn by Major Alexander Dingwall of the "Royal Scotts" in Waterloo.
      After father sold his Commission he entered into partnership with John Knox, the firm being named Knox & Duncan; carried on the wholesale grocery business - one door from Garrison Alley on Liberty Ave. This lot and the corner is now occupied by the fine granite building of A. Ewert & Co., also wholesale grocers. Afterwards father bought out Knox's interest and he carried on the business alone until in 1852 he discontinued the business, bought a farm five miles from Kittanning, Armstrong Co. Pa., lived there about eight years, when he traded the farm for a house and lot on [Page #4] Clark St., Pittsburgh, where he lived until the early 80's, and died in Sewickley at the residence of A.C. Duncan, his son. Mother died in 1889, at the residence of her son, A.C. Duncan, 436 Franklin Ave., Wilinsburg. The names of their children are as follows: Thos. John Duncan, Robert D. Duncan, Alexander C. Duncan, Clara Duncan, Samuel H. Duncan and Jackson H. Duncan, leaving in 1919 alive only A.C. Duncan, Samuel H. Duncan and Clara Graham.
      Alexander C. Duncan. 1-27-19 (MAD: 1919)
 

Return to the Allegheny Co. PA Research File

END

Return to Index to Duncan Research Files in Pennsylvania

Return to The Genealogy Bug's Home Page