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An American Family History

Jeremiah Dungan

  also spelled Dugeon, Dugen, Dunkin, Duncan  

Pennsylvania is one of the 13 original states and was originally founded in 1681 as a result of a royal land grant to William Penn, the son of the state's namesake.

Slavery is an immoral system of forced labor where people are treated as property to be bought and sold. It was legal in the American Colonies and the United States until the Civil War.

A tithable was a person for whom a head tax was to be paid. The definition varies over time and place, but generally included members of the potentially productive labor force.
A poll tax is a tax levied on every poll. The definition of a poll also varied, but was generally a man of legal age.

Jeremiah Dungan was born about 1731 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. His father was George Dungan. He was a miller.

Some reseachers believe he married Rebecca Hendry. Rebecca was the daughter of George Hendry and Deborah Borden. However, there is a problem with the dates. Rebecca was born about 1754 and was too young to be the mother of his children.

His children probably included:
Mary Dungan (married John Houston),
Orpha Dungan (married John Love),
Margaret Dungan (1755, married James Pierce),
Rebecca Dungan (1757, married Jeremiah Gibson), and
Sarah Dungan (1759, married Zebulon Smith).

In 1778, patents 887 and 888 for 800 acres in Washington County, Tennessee were issued to Jeremiah. He built a mill with a large stone waterwheel that ground corn and wheat for the surrounding settlements.

On August 27, 1778, Valentine Sevier, Abraham Sevier, Julius Robinson, Zachriah White, Dempsey Ward, Andrew Thompson, Gideon Morris, Robert Sevier, and Jermiah Duncan, came into court and took the Oath of Allegiance.

In 1782, George Hendry's will said

That Jery Dunkin shall have the place where he now lives four years rent free and after that four years more at 3 pounds five shillings in silver money for each year and that money to be given to Maryan Hennary and the said Jeremiah Dunkin is not allowed to clear more than 25 acres of land and to return the place in good repair

In 1797 and 1798 Jeremiah Dungan was taxed for 140 acres in Carter County, Tennessee. He was exempt from the poll tax because of age.

In 1801 he bought a 15 year old girl named Diannah and her two children. (Diannah was 27 in 1813.)

In 1807 he sold two enslaved people named Peter and Bet to his son-in-law, John Love.

Jeremiah died in Washington County in 1812.

In 1813, after his death, Diane and at least one of her children, Ruth age 8 were auctioned off to the highest bidder.

Jeremiah's wife, Mary had died by 1823.

 



East Tennessee is part of Appalachia. At the end of the French and Indian War, colonists began drifting into the area. In 1769, they first settled along the Watauga River. During the Revolution, the Overmountain Men defeated British loyalists at the Battle of Kings Mountain. The State of Franklin was formed in the 1780s, but never admitted to the Union.
 
Watauga Pioneer Neighbors
map
 
 

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Know ye that we for and in consideration of the sum of fifty shillings for every hundred acres hereby granted paid into the treasury by Jeremiah Dungeon have given and granted and by these presents do give and grant unto the said Jeremiah Dungeon a tract of land containing two hundred acres lying and being in our county of Washington on Caney river and Brush creek and bounded as follows viz:

  • Beginning at a corner ? on the survey of said Dugins line
  • thence south on ? line between said Dugin and Thomas Frine [?] south forty two degs east twelve poles to a white oak thence along said Dungin line south thirty seven degs west one hundred and forty eight poles to a white oak
  • thence on a dividing line betwene Dugeon and Wm Ward north fifty six degs west one hundred and twenty poles crossing said branch to a post oak
  • thence on the said dividing line south eighty degs west eighy six poles to a pine tree thence along said dividing line north fifty seven degs west forty six poles crossing said Cany river to a white oak
  • thence north one hundred and six poles to a whilte oak
  • thence east one hundred and seventy eight poles crossing said river to a stake on the survery of said Dugeon
  • thence along said line south fifty eight poles to a stake
  • thence along said survey east one hundred and eighty two poles crossing the said branch to the beginning as by the plot hereto annexed doth appear

togather with all wood water mines minerals hereditaments and appurtinants to the said land belonging or appertaining to hold to the said land belonging or appertaining to hold to the said Jeremiah Dungen his heirs and assigns forever yeilding and paying to us such sums of money yearly or otherwise as our general assembly from time to time may direct provided always that the said J Dugen shall cause this grant to be registered in the recorders office of our said county of Washington withing twelve months from the date hereof otherwise the same shall be void and of no effect in testimony whereof we have caused our letters to be made pattent and our great seal to become affixed

witness Richd Casswell Esq our Govener Capt General commander-in chief at Kingston the 26 day of Oct 1786.

 
     
     
 
 
 

May 1801
Jesse Whitson
to Jeremiah Dungans
Washington Co. TN
for $250,
a Negra, Dian & her two children.

 
 
 
 

Jan 1807.
Jeremiah Dungan,
Washington Co.TN
to John Love
for $400.50
2 Negroes, Peter and Bet.
2 cows and calves & a year old heifer, formerly owned by Joseph Love and sold to satisfy a note against John Love,
security for Joseph Love decd.

 
 
 
 

B-57: 17
Feb. 1807.
Sheriffs sale,
Jeremiah Dungan bought goods and chattel of John Lane.

 
 
 
 

Oct 1809
James Chambers, Ashe Co., NC
to Jeremiah Dungan, Washington Co. TN
for $166.66,
100 A on Sinking Creek,
granted to Fellix Walker, who sold to James Chamber

bounded by survey of Felix Walker, and from Walker to James Chambers.
Wit. Andrew Taylor, Jonathan Buck. Reg. 13 June 1810.

 
 
 
 

John Love & John Houston
Adm of Estate of Jeremiah Dungan, Decd.
Letters of Adm. Washington Co. Court, 1813
to Nathaniel Taylor,
highest bidder,
a Negro girl Ruth 8 years old.
Jas. P. Tayor Jurat, Moses Humphries, Abraham Hendrix, Jurat & Andrew Taylor, Jurat.
Prvd. Feb Court 1814.

 
     
 

March 19, 1813.
John Love & Hohn Huston, Adms. of Jeremiah Dungan Est.
to Nathaniel Taylor, for $353.25,
highest bid,
Diannah, a 27 year old Negro woman,
James Taylor, Jurat, Andrew Taylor, Jurat, Francis McFall Jr and A. Henry.
Prvd. bef. Court 1814.

 
 
 
 

May 1813.
John Houston & Mary his wf.
Ziblon Smith and Sarah his wf.
James Pierce & Margaret his wf,
Jeremiah D. Gibson,
Thom. Gibson &
Orpha Gibson,
Heirs of Jeremiah Dungins, Decd.
to John Love & Orpha, his wif. (also heirs) of sd Dungins, their rights as heirs to two tracts:
one, 100 on Sinking Creek, incl place where sd Love lives &
second, 40 A adj Humphreys & McFall.
James Thorp & Francis W. Richhold exhibited &
prvd deed in Aug Court 1814.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Washington County, Tennessee Settlements 1790-1840, Vol 00, p. 36-40

Whereas the worshipfull Court of pleas & quarter sessions of Washington County at the July term 1823 appointed and ordered James W Young and Henry King two of the acting Justices of the peace for said County of Washington to be a committee to settle with John Love & John Houston administrators of Jeremiah Dungan decd.

In persuance there of we the said James W Young & Henry King attended at the house of John Houston in said County on Thursday the ninth day of October AD 1823 and then and there made the following settlement with John Love & John Houston the aforesaid administrators and

we find the goods and chattles sold by the said administrators at public sale in the year 1813 amounted to $2103.73 3/4

And the amount of the estate of Mary Dungan Decd to be $2025.12 1/2

And the administrators have disbursed the following sums to different persons as per vouchers &c.

8.00 To Joseph Bowman for making Jera Dungans coffin
12.00 To Richard Kelley
30.00 To Nathan Shipley
10.00 To Seth Thompson
30.00 To Jeremiah D Gibson
301.00 To James Pearce
60.00 To Jeremiah D Gibson
6.00 To Henry King (clerk at sale)
12.00 To Moses Humphreys
2.50 To James Servier Clerk of the County Court
7.21 To Andrew Taylor
13.50 To Abraham Hendry
10.00 To Jonathan Caruthers
2.13 To Zebulon Smith
1.33 1/3 To Zebulon Smith
18.00 To Zebulon Smith
14.00 To Zebulon Smith
26.22 1/2 To Zebulon Smith
3.75 To James Pearce
10.00 To James Pearce
90.65 To Zebulon Smith
330.96 The amount of what John Houston bought at sale
74.31 1/2 The amount of the property that John Love bought at sale
3.74 1/2 The amount of property sold on fifth day of sale for which there was no notes given to Mary Dungan
4.56 To Zebulon Smith
2.00 To Jeremiah D Gibson
2.00 To Seth Thompson per voucher
15.00 To Charles Rennoe per ditto
4.00 To Thomas Gibson
3.00 To James Harvey
1.00 To George William Clerk of Carter Cty Court
10.00 To Nathan Shipley for deviding Dungans land
134.00 To Seth Thompson
6.00 To Seth Thompson
35.00 To Seth Thompson
2.00 To Seth Thompson
2.00 To Seth Thompson
5.00 To Seth Thompson
12.00 To Seth Thompson
20.00 To Jeremiah D Gibson
65.00 To Thomas Gibson
10.00 To Thomas Gibson
20.00 To Thomas Gibson
2.66 1/2 To Thomas Gibson
4.00 To Thomas Gibson
5.00 To Thomas Gibson
15.00 To Zebulon Smith
38.00 To Zebulon Smith
100.00 To Zebulon Smith
333.00 To Zebulon Smith (note for)
20.00 To James Pearce
52.40 To Mary Dungan to cash by John Love
24.25 To John Loves expence as admr
93.00 To John Love on business as admr 93 at 1 dollar per day
2.66 To Andrew Taylor per order in full for his services
5.00 To Mary Dungan
87.89 To Jeremiah D Gibson (note for)
40.00 To Jeremiah D Gibson (note for)
52.26 1/2 To Mary Dungans (note for)
38.98 To Zebulon Smith note for
19.25 To Orpha Gibson her note for
7.01 To Orpha Gibson her note for
84.57 To Mary Dungan her note for
2.27 To James Pearce his note for
12.00 To Seth Thompson
2.92 1/2 To Saml Hunt Shff tax for the year 1818
1.00 To Saml Hunt Shff tax for the year 1819
1.06 To Saml Hunt Shff for the heirs of Jery Dungan
2.95 To Saml Hunt Shff tax for the year 1820
1.00 To James Pearce for the use of Wm Bayles per order
8.00 To George Smith for making Mrs Dungans coffin
3.96 To Henry King esqrs for taking depositions
3.66 To John Hoss his note for
4.37 1/2 To Wm Carter for taking depositions Dungans heirs vs J Gibson
216.92 To Saml Hunt Shff on the exo Jero D Gibson agt Mary Dungans & others
135.42 1/2 To Peter Parson clerk of the Court of errors & appeals of the first Circuit of the State of Tennessee in a suit where in John Love & John Houston admr of Jera Dungan Decd were plff & Jeremiah D Gibson & others Defts
12.50 To John Blair attorney at law his fees in a suit in equity where in John Love & John Houston were plaintiff & Jeremiah D Gibson and others defendants
116.00 To John Houston adm of Jeremiah Dungan Decd for his services
as admr 116 days at $1 per day
40.83 To John Houston proven acct against Mary Dungan Decd
26.75 To John Houston for cutting 25 acres of grain at 50 cents per acre
22.72 To Joseph Brown sheff for taxes for the years 1811 & 1812
.50 To Thomas Stevens constable for summoning witness
22.50 To James Pearce his note
55.00 To John Kennedy his fees in the suit against Jery D Gibson

The services & expences of John Houston & John Love administrators of Jera Dungan Decd of a law suit with Jera D Gibson and drew off by the commissioners at settlement to be deducted from the amount of the estate.

24.25 John Loves expences as administrator
93.00 John Love 93 days on business as admn at $1 per day
3.96 Henry King esqr for taking depositions in said suit
4.37 1/2 Wm Carter for ditto in Carter County
216.92 Saml Hunt Shff on an execution Jerey D Gibson vs Mary Dungan & others
135.42 1/2 P Parsons Clerk Court errors & appeals Costs
12.50 John Blair attorney at law his fees in said suit
116.00 John Houston admr for services 116 day at $1 per day
55.00 John Kennedys fees & other advice about said suit
5.00 John Houstons to the said committe 5 days 6.00 Mary Browns bill for expences when deviding the Jonesboro land
3.00 Henry King services 4 day
1.10 To the clerk of the Court of pleas &c
----------
676.53

435.25 And it appears that John Houston has disbursed to several persons the sum of
434.21 And received of money due the said estate
--------
1.04 Remains due Houston

290.14 And paid out of his own money the sum of, which is to come out of the estate

-----------
4128.86 3/4 And the amount of the estate is
676.53 The costs of the law suit fe
-----------
3452.33 3/4
290.14 The amount that John Houston has paid his cash
-----------
3162.19 3/4

632.43 4/5 Each person share

A true settlement agreeable to the vouchers and other documents presented to us certified the day and date first above written.

James W Young
Hy King
commissioners

 
 

 


 
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©Roberta Tuller 2020
tuller.roberta@gmail.com
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