James Duck was born February 19th, 1802 in South Carolina according to census and family bible records. The first legal document found mentioning what can be assumed him is from Orphan Court Records, 1812-1859, Marion County, Mississippi. "James Berry for the love & affection for his children my daughter Kesiah Berry, my two sons Batson Morgan Berry & George Washington Berry, My stepson James Duck-personal property, September 8, 1815". Previously, on February 10 (18?) 1809, Mary Duck is married to James Berry in Wilkinson County, Mississippi. It seems James Duck was a young child when his family migrated to Mississippi and his father may have died on this perilous trip or shortly after arriving in Mississippi. James Duck also shows in an 1817 Marion County deed index with the next line listing a William White, Sr.
The marriage certificate for James Duck and Mary Peoples is issued in Amite County on October 4th, 1825. It appears they first applied on the 27th day of September 1825 with their witness Lewis Harrell. The James Duck family is found in 1830 Feliciana Parish, Louisiana census. This census only lists the name of the head of household and the approximate ages and sex of those in the household. The ages on this census match those of James Duck, Mary Peoples Duck, Elizabeth Peoples, and the children born up until this point. During this time period it was very common for people to move back and forth between the Feliciana's of Louisiana and Southwestern Mississippi. On December 30, 1837, William Coleman Callender sells land to James Duck in Amite County. On July 16, 1838 James Duck then sells land to Wiley Morgan, brother of Fielding Bradford Morgan, Sr. There are several more BLM land records where James Duck buys property along with his sons. Additional early land records also exist with Jacob Harrell, and R.H. Lowry. The James Duck family shows up in Amite County census records 1840, 1850, 1853 state census, 1860, 1870 and 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920. In the 1850 census James Duck is listed as one of four carpenters, out of nineteen, that also owned real estate. This is a skill that has been passed down to many of his descendants including my own grandfather.
The Amite school census for the year 1851 has James Duck's sons; David M. Duck, Henry S. Duck, and James M. Duck, as having entered school on 7 July with 31 days attended. Ellen Keen, future wife of David Madison Duck, is also in this same school having entered on 23rd of June with 63 days attended. The three brothers continue to show in school records along with many others that would later marry into the Duck family lines. On March 16th, 1861 James Duck appears before the school commission meeting at Ebenezer Baptist at 1000am. "Mr. James Duck came forward and made oath that he paid on an account for schooling for his two sons, James & Henry for the year 1860 for which he received nothing from the common school fund. Whereupon the clerk was instructed to draw on the County Treasurer for Eight dollars & 12 cents in favor of James Duck". Elisha Morgan Duck sent his son James H. Duck to school in 1861 where he attended for two and half months. On the 1864 school census, Lorenzo Washington Duck is listed apparently as guardian to Elisha's sons, "Jimmie" and "Acy" (attendance 79 days). Fielding Bradford Morgan, Sr., has six of his children in the school at this time including his girls.
James Duck was in his sixties during the Civil War and had at least five of his six sons in the service of the Confederacy. Elisha Morgan, David Madison, and George Asa, all were married men with families of their own. It can be suggested that James Duck must have continued to work hard to support those at home. Information found in THE JOURNAL OF MISSISSIPPI HISTORY, Vol. I, January 1939, Number 1, contain the Mathew Andrew Dunn letters. Dates are September 1863 until he was killed at the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee, November 30, 1864. In these letters Dunn writes to his wife concerning financial affairs "I owe old man Duck 7 or 8 dollars for some work he done on the gin which you might pay if you have money". In a letter dated April 19th, 1864, "I was sorry to hear of Ellen Ducks misfortune-Levi wrote to me that she had lost pretty well all she had-supposed to be stolen by Negroes. But she ought not to leave her house entirely alone these times". With two sons dying in the war, and three of the Duck brothers fighting until the surrender, we can see that James Duck had quite a challenge of his own at home.
James Duck; an early pioneer settler to Mississippi, appears to have been a determined, hardworking, family man, that participated in his church and community. The descendants of James and his wife Mary are numerous, diverse, and can be found throughout the United States.
Note I have an additional record where a James Duck married a Priscilla Davis in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana on January 10, 1821. On November 26, 1825 a Priscilla Duck is married to John Nelson Waid in Wilkinson County, Mississippi. This is a little over a month after our James Duck is married to Mary Peoples. Priscilla may have been the first wife of James Duck; however; this needs further research. My grandfather's research notes have James Duck born in North Carolina and mention his father as being born in the Netherlands. This information has not been verified at this time.
