ENG-WESTMORLAND-L Archives

From: "Sarah" <>
Subject: Sir Nathaniel Dukenfield
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 2004 08:03:59 -0600

Can anyone help me solve the mystery of why Mrs. Williamson was at Stanlake?

I found this:
Besides the royal residence of Windsor Castle, Berkshire contains a great
number of seats of the nobility and gentry. Among the principal of them are
the following ........Stanlake, of Dukinfield, Bart........
http://www.brazell.net/genuki/BRK/Gaz1868.html

I found this letter on Ancestry.com:
Submitter:Thomas Duckenfield

Subject:Re: DUCKENFIELD, DUCKINGFIELD, PHELPS
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/message/an/localities.northam.usa.states.northcarolina.counties.bertie/191.1
Message:I hope this information about Nathaniel Duckenfield is useful:


On 15th May 1768, young NATHANIEL became the fifth DUCKENFIELD baronet when
his uncle SIR SAMUEL DUKINFIELD died without issue. The following year he
decided to visit his mother and his North Carolina holdings. He soon
informed GOVERNOR WILLIAM TYRON that he intended to settle in the province
permanently. Several years later SIR NATHANIEL wrote to his friend JAMES
IREDELL that he had hoped to find a wealthy wife in the colony who could
help support the financial strain of a baronetcy. In January 1771, GOVERNOR
TYRON nominated SIR NATHANIEL to a place on the royal council. Although he
was not seated until November, SIR NATHANIEL had created a considerable stir
in the council the previous April by claiming the senior position in that
body by virtue of his baronetcy. He was firmly resisted in this ploy by his
fellow councillors and in November took his place as a junior member.
During 1771, the baronet courted HANNAH JOHNSTON, the daughter of SAMUEL
JOHNSTON. Early in 1772 he proposed marriage to her but was rejected.
Although HANNAH would later marry JAMES IREDELL, SIR NATHANIEL and IREDELL
remained friends and corresponded until 1791. By the spring of 1772,
convinced that he was not suited to managing a plantation (he owned over
3,600 acres of land) and that he would not make a "good match" in North
Carolina, SIR NATHANIEL decided to return to England . In England he was
induced to purchase a coronet's commission in the Queen's Dragoons. In 1773,
he resigned his council seat in North Carolina, stating that he would not
serve happily in revolutionary America, and he never did. When the
Revolutionary War began, he refused to serve against the Americans, and on
his regiment's being ordered to America, he contrived to be left behind.
This exhibition of American patriotism did not avail him, however, as in
1778, his North Carolina lands were confiscated by the state. He had
managed, however, to deed all of his slaves to his mother after his
departure from the colony. Whereas other loyalists, especially HENRY EUSTACE
MCCULLOH, owned more land than SIR NATHANIEL, SIR NATHANIEL'S properties
brought in more money from state sales than those of any other person except
LORD GRANVILLE. His friend JAMES IREDELL attempted to prevent confiscation
but was unsuccessful.

In 1783, SIR NATHANIEL married KATHERINE WARDE, with whom he sired four sons
and a daughter. The following year he went on half-pay as a captain in the
Eighty-second Regiment of Foot -- effectively retiring from active duty.
Before his mother died at DUCKENFIELD Plantation, she directed that most of
her property be sold and the proceeds sent to her son. The next year Sir
Nathaniel was awarded ?3,000 by the Loyalist Claims Commission in London for
his North Carolina losses -- considerably less that the ?8,762 at which he
had valued his holdings. Nevertheless, with this money and his wife's
wealth, SIR NATHANIEL DUCKENFIELD appears to have lived comfortably in
England for the remainder of his life. The following is the claim that SIR
NATHANIEL DUCKENFIELD submitted to the Loyalist Claims Commission:

THE MEMORIAL OF SIR NATHANIEL DUKINFIELD
BARR OF SULHAM NEAR READING IN THE COUNTY OF BERKS,
A CAPTAIN IN HIS MAJESTY'S 82 REGIMENT OF FOOT

MEMORIAL OF NATHANIEL DUCKENFIELD

To JOHN WILMOT ESQ., DANIEL PARKER COKE, ESQ., COLONEL ROBERT KINGSTON,
COLONEL DUNDAS, and ROBERT MARSH ESQ, the Commissioners appointed by act of
parliament for inquiry into the loss and services of the American Loyalists

The memorial of SIR NATHANIEL DUKINFIELD Barr of Sulham near Reading in the
County of Berks, a Captain in his Majesty's 82 Regiment of Foot

HEREWITH

That your Memorialist left the County of Bertie in the province of North
Carolina in America in the year 1772 and on the 30th of March 1773 purchased
a Cornetcy in the 7th (or Queen's) Regiment of Dragoons and served in the
several Ranks of Cornet lieutenant and Captain in the said Regiment of
Dragoons until the 6th of August 1783 at which time your Memorialist
exchanged into the 82d Regiment of Foot in which last mentioned Regiment he
is now Captain of a Company.

That your memorialist on his Father's Death which happened in the year 1749
became seized of and entitled to diverse Tracts of Lands Woods and Woody
Grounds situate lying and being in the County of Bertie in the province of
North Carolina in America commonly called or known by the name of DUKINFIELD
Plantation containing in the whole about 1005 acres of land and also another
tract of land wood and woody grounds situate lying and being near to the
said plantation called DUKINFIELD plantation commonly called and known by
the name of MORGANs plantation containing by his measurement about 1258
acres of land both which estates were surveyed in the year 1767 as by a plan
and map thereof in your Memorialist's Custody will appear land which said
several Plantations and lands were held by your Memorialist's ancestors
under divers patents which your Memorialist left at his house in the said
County of Bertie in the said province of North Carolina when he quitted that
province and came to reside in Great Britain in the said year 1772 where he
has now since remained - And your Memorialist became seized of and entitled
unto several other tracts of land and woods and woody ground on his said
Father's decease in the said County of Bertie and province of North Carolina
held also under cross patents granted your Memorialist's Ancestors which
were also left by him in this House in the County of Bertie aforesaid when
he left the same in the said year 1772
containing in the whole about 3610 acres of land but the Memorialist has no
map of the same but has entered as particular and accurate account of all
the said tracts of land and woods and woody grounds as your memorialist is
able to do in a Schedule at the Foot of this Memorial.

That your Memorialist has been frequently informed by scores of his friends
in North Carolina aforesaid that his said plantations would be confiscated
unless your Memorialist resigned his commission in the British Forces and
took an active and decided part with the Americans against the British
Government Which your Memorialist absolutely refused to do - That in
particular in Aug, 1778, your memorialist received a letter from one MR.
JAMES IREDELL of Edington, North Carolina Dated 7th January in the said year
1778 during the time your memorialist was upon duty in the 7th (or Queens')
Dragoons at the Camp near BURY J EDMUNDS in the county of Suffolk in which
Letter MR. JAMES IREDELL informed your Memorialist that a law had been then
lately passed in the provinces of North Carolina against absentees whose
Estates the said IREDELL informed your Memorialist would be forfeited unless
they took possession thereof in person by the first of October in the year
1778.

That your Memorialist received another Letter on the 3' Dec 1783 from MR.
SAMUEL JOHNSTON of Hayes in North Carolina Dated 6 Aug 1783 by which the
said SAMUEL JOHNSTON informed your memorialist that an act had then lately
been passed at the General Assembly of the State or provinces of North
Carolina for confiscating and forfeiting the Estates of several British
subjects in which Act the said SAMUEL JOHNSTON said your Memorialist was by
Name included and particularized - That your Memorialist is by the above Act
deprived of his said Estates and plantations in the County of Bertie
aforesaid and that the same was by that Act confiscated and your Memorialist
having rendered himself obnoxious to the Americans by his Services in the
British Army and his professions of his Loyalty to the British Government he
has not any prospect of recovery back any part of his said Lands by which
your memorialist has sustained a loss of Eight Thousand Pounds Sterling and
upwards.

Your Memorialist therefore prays that his loss may be taken into your
consideration in order that he may be enabled under your report to receive
such aid and relief as his losses and services may be found to deserve.

The Schedule
[Annotated valuations of the scheduled property have been removed].

The Land at the Mouth of Salmon Creek chiefly rich land and very pleasantly
situated called Dukinfield plantation of which in the year 1767 -- 200 Acres
part thereof was then set for the plough and the same has since been greatly
improved.

The Land called Morgans Swamp on the South side of black Walnut Swamp.

There is a good house on DUKINFIELD Plantation worth 200 pounds Sterling and
the Memorialist has a map of these lands.

In the fork between Duckin Run and Salmon Creek.
Between Reedy Branch and Duckin Run, joining to the present Tract.
Joining to the last mentioned and Plowman's Land.
Joining to the last on the other side of Duckin Run.
Beginning at a water oak on the Hickory Thicket Branch
Another plot of ground joining on the last.



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• Sir Nathaniel Dukenfield by "Sarah" <>