Fact or Fiction
Over the years, families have stories that are handed down from generation to generation. With time, the become skewed out of proportion, facts become missing or remembered incorrectly, or forgotten all together. Much of the time things were just generally not talked about so trying to remember what the real facts were becomes a difficult task for elders who try to piece together conversations from different family members to form the story.
I will address some of these issues on this page for the Duke family. Many researchers of this family still struggle with them. Hopefully, I can shed some light on a few that are still hanging about out there that have already been resolved.
I will address some of these issues on this page for the Duke family. Many researchers of this family still struggle with them. Hopefully, I can shed some light on a few that are still hanging about out there that have already been resolved.
Mistaken Identity
According to family legend, twin Newton Duke was at the courthouse and was shot by angry man who mistakenly took him to be his twin brother Jasper. The identities of the shooter(s) is unknown. The date of death or burial of Newton is also unknown. The county courthouse is presumed to be Dallas County, Alabama.
This mystery still remains unsolved. There have not been any newspaper articles, documents or other items pertaining to Newton's death. However, Jasper did move his family to Arkansas where his brother John was living around the same reported time. He and his family remained in Arkansas for about 11 years then migrated to Louisiana where his family remains today.
Possible theory #1: The children were in a land dispute over the estate of James. Lizzie, their mother, had possession of the estate and had died around 1866. There were several documents showing a split - several siding with Newton and several siding with Jasper. The sale of the land was to be divided equally, but would put part of the family without their property and homes that they had been living on for years.
Possible theory #2: While the estate situation is intriguing, it's possible this could have been over a dispute about the war or other land issues. Until documents appear, it's hard to tell.
Siblings Marry
It's a fact that years ago, long before you and I, siblings quite often married the siblings of their siblings spouse..... wait...let me read that over again- yes, that's what I mean. Woooh... keep up with me!
Brothers Henry T and Thomas J Duke married sisters Mary and Elizabeth Ann Belcher.
Henry's son James Duke married two sisters consecutively, Sallie and Olive Wallace.
These are just two examples in my Duke tree. Time and time again we have the branches of this tree intertwine and reconnect in different places. This causes quite a bit of confusion when sorting through documents. It also causes a problem when you add in the DNA connections.
What's in a name?
Often you find the same name used over and over again in a family. This can cause confusion on which person belonged to which parents. This family is no different for sure. Thomas, James, Robert, Henry, John, Elizabeth, Mary, Nancy...... it's really quite overwhelming.
According to family legend, twin Newton Duke was at the courthouse and was shot by angry man who mistakenly took him to be his twin brother Jasper. The identities of the shooter(s) is unknown. The date of death or burial of Newton is also unknown. The county courthouse is presumed to be Dallas County, Alabama.
This mystery still remains unsolved. There have not been any newspaper articles, documents or other items pertaining to Newton's death. However, Jasper did move his family to Arkansas where his brother John was living around the same reported time. He and his family remained in Arkansas for about 11 years then migrated to Louisiana where his family remains today.
Possible theory #1: The children were in a land dispute over the estate of James. Lizzie, their mother, had possession of the estate and had died around 1866. There were several documents showing a split - several siding with Newton and several siding with Jasper. The sale of the land was to be divided equally, but would put part of the family without their property and homes that they had been living on for years.
Possible theory #2: While the estate situation is intriguing, it's possible this could have been over a dispute about the war or other land issues. Until documents appear, it's hard to tell.
Siblings Marry
It's a fact that years ago, long before you and I, siblings quite often married the siblings of their siblings spouse..... wait...let me read that over again- yes, that's what I mean. Woooh... keep up with me!
Brothers Henry T and Thomas J Duke married sisters Mary and Elizabeth Ann Belcher.
Henry's son James Duke married two sisters consecutively, Sallie and Olive Wallace.
These are just two examples in my Duke tree. Time and time again we have the branches of this tree intertwine and reconnect in different places. This causes quite a bit of confusion when sorting through documents. It also causes a problem when you add in the DNA connections.
What's in a name?
Often you find the same name used over and over again in a family. This can cause confusion on which person belonged to which parents. This family is no different for sure. Thomas, James, Robert, Henry, John, Elizabeth, Mary, Nancy...... it's really quite overwhelming.