Michael Dukes

Census

• 1790 Orangeburg, SC

See wikitree. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Dukes-1185

Daughter Elizabeth Catherine Dukes Patrick?

• She is likely daughter of Michael Dukes. Unlikely to be Thomas Dukes daughter, as he had another daughter named Elizabeth Syphrett. Though not impossible to have two daughters named Elizabeth. George is not father of E C Patrick as he is not listed in the area in 1790 census. E C Patrick is known to have mtDNA group T2b. So whoever is her mother (wife of Michael?) should also have T2b.

Michael was born before 1748. He was the son of Joseph Dukes. He passed away before 1811.

On 29 and 30 Aug 1768 there was a "lease and release" transaction between Michael and Barbara Dukes that was recorded only in 1774, the year of her death:

"Lease & release. 29 & 30 Aug 1768, Michael Dukes of St. Georges Parish, Berkley County, SC, planter to Barbary Dukes his mother of same place, gentlewoman, for £50 SC money, 100 acres in Berkley County adj. land of John Faree, land granted to William Aldridge, it being one half or moiety of 200 acres granted to Joseph Dukes the father of said Michael Dukes 3 Sept 1758, recorded in Book SS, page 428 [plat included in deed]. Michael Dukes (LS), Wit.: Ronald M'Donald, William M'Kenzie, George Andally. Proved 25 June 1774 before Christopher Rowe, J.P. in Orangeburgh District by the oath of George Andally. Recorded 10 Oct. 1774." [1]

The late filing of this document, recorded only in 10 Oct 1774, accounts for the payment of quitrents on this 200-acre property in Joseph’s name in the 1773-1774 period. Quitrent on Joseph’s 300 acre grant was paid by John Henry Felder, who owned the land in 1772.[2]

The transaction establishes that Michael was the heir of Joseph’s land, and therefore the oldest son under primogeniture. It also establishes that Joseph died between 1760 and 1768. Although the transactions were recorded in 1774, the year of Barbara's death, they originated in 1768. Joseph Dukes was dead by that year, since he had no part in these transactions involving land originally granted to him.

More often Michael would have referred to Barbara as his “mother-in-law” rather than “mother” or “step-mother” but the use of “mother” isn’t out of the question for Michael as the son of a first, otherwise undocumented, marriage.

On 23 Nov 1772, Henry Felder registered a memorial for property bounding that of Michael Dukes: "A plantation or tract of 271 Acres Situate in Berkley County on the waters of the N. fork of Edistoe river bounding NW on Abraham Hiselwoods SE & SW on George Strathen [Strothers] SE on Peter Leighs SE & SW on Paul Johnston SE on William Aldridge and NE on Michael Dukes and all other Sides on said Felders Land."[3]

On 10 Feb 1773 a plat was registered for Andrew Frederick, showing a plat in Berkeley County on the NE side of the Pon Pon (Edisto) River, bounded NW on Joseph Hasfort's land and land held by Andrew Frederick, NE on land held by William Farrie (Fairey), and Alexander Syfrets and Michael Dukes, all other sides vacant.[4]

On 10 Aug 1784 Michael Dukes was granted "a Plantation or Tract of Land, containing Two hundred and fifty Acres Situate in the District of Orangeburgh, Waters of North Edisto on Cat Fish Bay."[5] The plat for this land shows, in addition to Cat Fish Bay, only cypress and pine tree markers; no adjacent landowners are shown. Catfish Bay is the large bay in the V formed by Hwy. 21 north of Branchville and Hwy. 210 toward Bowman. It is just to the east and then to the south of Hunting Road as you follow it northward. Looking to the sides of the Branchville North topo, it is the largest bay on the bottom half of the map and is at the intersection of 17'30" & 47'30". [6]

Michael Dukes was granted, in consideration of fourteen shillings, "a Plantation or Tract of Land, containing Thirty Acres Situate in the District of Orangeburgh." The 27 May 1785 plat for this property shows that it is bounded by Dukes', Felder's, Fairy's, and Frederick's lands. [7][8]

Michael Dukes appears in the1790 federal census in Orangeburg District, North, with 3 sons under the age of 16 and 4 females, presumably a wife and 3 daughters but possibly 4 daughters. There were also 3 “other free” persons and 11 enslaved persons.[9]

On 11 Dec 1793 Michael Dukes was granted "a plantation or tract of land, containing Two Hundred & two Acres. Surveyed for him the 10th of Nov 1793. Situate in the District of Orangeburgh on Waters of N Edisto. Bounded NW by Thomas Dukes. SE. & NE. by Lewis Ratcliffe. SE by Michael Dukes. SW by Samuel Ratcliff's.”[10] The plat for this property shows the adjacent properties, including both Lewis and Samuel Ratcliff.[11] (In 1772 William Ayler of Dobbs Co NC was security, with Gershom Wiggins, for the estate of John Ratcliff, administered by Joseph Ratcliff (An Account of Letters of Administration Granted for Dobbs County in the Year 1772).)

On 14 Jan 1797 Isaac Griggs, attorney for Michael Dukes, filed suit in the Court of Common Pleas on behalf of Michael Dukes, alleging failure of John Miller of Charleston to pay for Michael’s indigo in 1796. Michael was awarded £20 for the indigo and £24 12s 9p expenses.[12]

In 1800 the federal census shows that Michael Dukes is listed with a household that included 1 male between 11 and 16 years old, two males 17 to 26 years old, and a male more than 45 years old. There was also a female more than 45 years old, presumably his wife, and a female 16-26 years old. Neighbors in the census included Metz, Ratcliff, Fairey, Henry Felder, John Zorn, Thomas Edwards, Manning, Harley, and Bird.[13]

The Michael Dukes of later federal censuses is the son of Michael Dukes I, as listed ages demonstrate, placing his death between 1800 and 1810.