Mary Lillian Duke

Mary Lillian Duke, our third cousin twice removed*, was born to Benjamin Newton Duke and Sarah Pearson Angier on 16 Nov 1887 in Durham County, North Carolina. The Duke family line originates in Kent, England.

In 1900, the Census recorded the family of Benjamin and Sarah Duke as the residents of Durham Township, Durham City, Durham, North Carolina (1).

Household
Benjamin W Duke, Head, Male, age 44, born North Carolina
Sarah Duke, Wife, Female, age 39, born North Carolina
Angier Duke, Son, Male, age 16, born North Carolina
Mary Duke, Daughter, Female, age 13, born North Carolina
Mary Shartman, Servant, Female, age 51, born North Carolina
Mary Lunsford, Servant, Female, age 20, born North Carolina

In 1907 Mary graduated from Durham's Trinity College (with a degree in English). She was keen on arts and music. Eight years later on 16 June 1915, Mary Lillian married Mr. Anthony Joseph Drexel Briddle, Jr. (b. 17 Dec. 1897, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania), son of a millionaire Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle, Sr.

Mary's husband was a businessman and a politician. Among others, Anthony Joseph Drexel Briddle, Jr. was 5th US Ambassador to Poland (from 2 June 1937 to 1 Dec. 1943).

The couple had two children Mary Duke (born 21 Feb. 1920, New York, New York, New York) and Nicholas Benjamin Duke (b. 1 Sept. 1921). The daughter became an art lover and supporter like her mom, and a social and civil rights activist as well. She was also involved in politics and philanthropy.

Benjamin Duke House, Fifth Ave., New York

Mary Lillian Durham Biddle started a charity foundation in 1956, she supported various non-profit organizations.

In 1935, Mary bought an estate in Durham where she lived until the day of her death (14 June 1960).

Mary Duke Biddle Durham estate in Durham, the house  was built in 1927

Mary's body found an eternal resting place at the Duke Mausoleum, Maplewood Cemetery in Durham, NC (2).


Family line:

Mary Lillian Duke

⇒ her father Benjamin Newton Duke (b. 25 April 1855, Orange County, NC/d. 8 Jan. 1929, New York City) an industrialist, politician and philanthropist married Sarah Pearson Angier on 21 Feb. 1877 in Durham, Orange County, North Carolina (3). Sally was born on 19 Feb. 1856, her parents were Maulborne Addison Angier, an industrialist, businessman, politician, co-founder of Durham, and Mary Jane Pearson

⇒ his mother Artelia (Roney) Duke (b. 28 June 1829, Haw River, Alamance, North Carolina/d. 20 August 1858, Haw River, Alamance, North Carolina), daughter of John Roney, a farmer, and Mary Trollinger

In 1850, Artelia lived with her parents and siblings in the North District of Alamance County, NC (4).

Household

John Roney, Male, age 58
Mary Roney, Female, age 50
Polly Roney, Female, age 29
Elizabeth Roney, Female, age 23
Artelia Roney, Female, age 21
Calvin Roney, Male, age 18
Armecia Roney, Female, age 16
Joseph Roney, Male, age 14
Barbara Roney, Female, age 11
Amos Roney, Male, age 8

Artelia married Mr. Washington Duke on 9 Dec. 1852.

Her parents John Roney and Mary Trollinger married on 12 Dec. 1815 in Orange, NC (5,6).

⇒ her mother Mary (Trollinger) Roney - (b. 25 March 1800, Orange, NC/d. 11 August 1879, Haw River, Alamance, NC), a daughter of Jacob Henry Trollinger and Mary Thomas

⇒ her sister Mary Elizabeth (Trollinger) Gant - our great-great-great-grandmother (born Dec 1791, Orange, North Carolina)

In some family trees there is confusion - the two Marys, Trollinger sisters, are taken as one person Mary Elizabeth Trollinger Roney Gant and two husbands are assigned to her - both John Roney (the younger sister's man) and Jonathan Kerr Gant. However, when you look at the years of their children birth, one can notice that it is a mix up - Mary Elizabeth would have had two husbands at the same time. At least I find it as a research error.

Mary Elizabeth Trollinger married our direct ancestor Jonathan Kerr Gant in 1808.

⇒ her son Jacob Rippy Gant - our great-great-grandfather

⇒ his son Henry A Gant (b. about 1838, Orange, NC/d. about 1880, Sumner, Tennessee) married Miss Hellen Jane Shanklin on 11 Dec. 1859 in Sumner, TN. Hellen (Ellen) was a daughter of James John and Jane Shanklin. In 1880, Henry, his wife and their eight children lived in 7th District of Sumner County, Tennessee. Henry was a farmer (7).

Household

Henry Gant, Self, Male, age 42, born North Carolina, United States
Ellen Gant, Wife, Female, age 35, born Tennessee, United States
James Gant, Son, Male, age 20, Tennessee, United States
Jane Gant, Daughter, Female, age 17, born Tennessee, United States
John Gant, Son, Male, age 15, born Tennessee, United States
Lee Gant, Son, Male, age 13, born Tennessee, United States
Georgia Gant, Daughter, Female, age 9, born Tennessee, United States
Luella Gant, Daughter, Female, age 7, born Tennessee, United States
Brody Gant, Son, Male, age 5, born Tennessee, United States
Charles Gant, Son, Male, age 3, born Tennessee, United States

⇒ his son John Lee Gant - our grandfather

Resources:
*based on my MyHeritage research

1. "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSYZ-LKM : accessed 24 June 2019), Mary Duke in household of Benjamin W Duke, Durham Township Durham city, Durham, North Carolina, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 30, sheet 14A, family 264, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,193.
2. "North Carolina Deaths, 1931-1994," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FGTK-2XV : 17 July 2017), Benjamin Newton Duke in entry for Mary Duke Biddle, 14 Jun 1960; citing Durham, Durham, North Carolina, v 17A cn 17487, State Department of Archives and History, Raleigh; FHL microfilm 1,953,032.
3."North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 ," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F87N-SLS : 22 December 2016), Benjamin N. Duke and Sallie P. Angier, 21 Feb 1877; citing Durham, Orange, North Carolina, United States, p. vol 3 page 51, North Carolina State Archives Division of Archives and History; FHL microfilm 306,037.
4. "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4B3-VKW : 12 April 2016), Artelia Roney in household of John Roney, Alamance county, Alamance, North Carolina, United States; citing family 109, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
5. "North Carolina Marriages, 1759-1979," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F8YT-XT5 : 10 February 2018), John Roney and Mary Trolinger, 12 Dec 1815; citing Orange,North Carolina, reference ; FHL microfilm 6,330,318.
6. "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 ," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP9K-DG13 : 28 November 2018), John Roney and Mary Trolinger, 12 Dec 1815; citing Orange, North Carolina, United States, p. , North Carolina State Archives Division of Archives and History; FHL microfilm.
7. "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDWX-178 : 15 July 2017), Henry Gant, 1880; citing enumeration district ED 220, sheet 224B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d), roll 1282; FHL microfilm 1,255,282.


Photos: By Gryffindor; cropped by Beyond My Ken (talk) 20:28, 31 March 2015 (UTC) - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39324132
Mary Lillian Briddle Estate By Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28249972

McCoys

In one of my previous posts, I promised to tell you why Mary Elizabeth Trollinger was the person mentioned in the article. The answer is: she connects us to the McCoy family branch.

No, do not get me wrong. I do not claim McCoys are our direct relatives. They are only a sideline in our family tree but, still, I find that connection quite interesting.

I learned the story about McCoys and Hatfields when I came to Texas and watched the mini-series about them. At that time, nothing did we know regarding any family relations, though.

The McCoy family lived in Pike County, Kentucky. Tons have been written about that family feud so I will make it all short, just in case if you have never heard about it.

Breaks Interstate Park situated on the Kentucky and Virginia border.

The conflict between the two families - McCoys and Hatfields  - lasted for a few decades. It got worse and more intense after the Civil War when Asa Harmon McCoy was shot. Asa was coming back home from the war, he was killed not far from his house on 7 January 1865. The alleged killer was Jim Vance, a relative of the Hatfields.

Then, there was a land dispute between Devil Anse Hatfield and Perry Cline. The latter one was related to McCoys. Hatfield took P. Cline to court with a lawsuit against him and won the case and the land both of them claimed. McCoys found the court judgment unfair.

1878 - a hog was stolen from McCoys. The family members saw the animal among the ones which belonged to William Anderson Hatfield (Devil Anse). Randall McCoy - the head of the McCoy family - sued Devil Anse, accusing him of stealing the hog.

William Anderson Hatfield was favored by the court after the testimony of Bill Staton (related to McCoys and Hatfields as well). Devil Anse - the accused - was found innocent. The McCoy family found it as severe injustice.

What was more, Roseanna McCoy (daughter of Randall and Sarah McCoy) charmed by Devil Anse's son Johnse Hatfield, fell in love with him. Johnse was a ladies' man but Roseanna believed he would marry her. Johnse impregnated the girl, and she (being still single) lived with the Hatfield family for some time. However, both Randall and Devil Anse were against the marriage of the two young ones.

All in all, Roseanna had to leave the house of the Hatfields' and stayed at her aunt's. Johnse married Roseanna's cousin. At the final period of her pregnancy, Roseanna got measles. The girl whom she bore was sick as well. The baby girl, Sarah Elizabeth, died in 1881, not long after she was born.

On 7 August 1882, three of Randall McCoy's sons - Randall "Bud" (15 years old), Pharmer (19) and Tolbert (21)  - got drunk and had a fight with Ellison Hatfield, Devil Anse's brother. Ellison was stabbed and shot by the McCoy brothers. The boys were to be arrested but before it happened, they were caught by Devil Anse Hatfield and imprisoned by him at an old school house in Logan County, Virginia. Ellison died two days after the fight. Subsequently, the Hatfields took the three ones to Kentucky, across the River Tug. They strung the brothers to the bushes and shot them multiple times.

 The feud site along The Tug River

1 January 1888 - the Hatfields assaulted the McCoys' farm in the night. They burned the house of McCoys when the family were asleep. Calvin McCoy, Randall's son, was shot at once when he ran out of the burning house. Alifair McCoy, Randall's daughter, was shot when she attempted to get the water to extinguish the fire. Sarah, Randall's wife, was attacked as well. Her skull was crashed and ribs broken. Randall McCoy and his other kids managed to get out of the house and hide in the woods. The children got frostbites as they all left their home in a hurry and had no time to get dressed. Sarah McCoy never recovered and passed not long after the assault.


How does Mary Elizabeth Trollinger connect us to the McCoy family?

Mary Elizabeth was our great-great-great-grandmother.

⇒ Her father (our g-g-g-g-grandfather) Jacob Henry Trollinger (b. Mar 10 1762, Haw River, NC/d. Feb 29 1844, Haw River, NC) ⇒
⇒ his sister Barbara Trollinger (b. ≈ 1768, Dublan, Frederick County, Province of Maryland/d. ≈ 1825, Gallatin County, Illinois) ⇒
⇒ her husband William McCoy (b. ≈ 1773, Frederick County, Province of Maryland/ d. ≈ 1839, Gallatin County, Illinois) ⇒
⇒ his brother Daniel McCoy (b. Apr 24 1788, Montgomery, Virginia/d. Jul 10 1885, Logan, Logan County, West Virginia) ⇒
⇒ his son Randolph "Randall" McCoy (b. Oct 30 1825, Pike Co., Kentucky/d. Mar 28 1914, Pikeville, Pike County, Kentucky).

Sometime after we learned about that relation, we re-watched the mini-series about the two families. You look at things differently when you know they happened to a relative, even if a distant one.

📺

Credits:
Pictures

• Breaks Interstate Park - By Dan Grogan - Flickr, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33480667
• The map - By Kmusser - Own work. City and county data source: National Atlas [1]. Hydrology data source: National Hydrography Dataset [2]., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11784236

Mary Elizabeth Trollinger and Trollinger Family

Mary Elizabeth Trollinger was the wife of our great-great-great-grandfather, Jonathan Kerr Gant.
She was born in December 1791 in Orange County, North Carolina. Mary's parents were Jacob Henry Trollinger and Mary (Polly) Thomas. She was the couples' first daughter and second child.

The Trollinger ancestors came to America from Germany. The one who immigrated first was Mary's great-grandfather Adam Drollinger born on 4 April 1708 in Ellmendingen, Baden, Germany (he is/was our 6 times great-grandfather).

Vines, Ellmendingen, Baden, Germany

Adam left Germany when he was 30 years old. He traveled on the same ship together with his wife Margaretha Valencia Beck (b.1710) and their children. They were accompanied by Adam's cousin Johann Eberhard Drollinger (b. 1706) and cousin's wife Anna Maria Fuess (b. 1708). In 1738 they all arrived in Philadelphia on the ship "Nancy and Friendship".

Later, Adam Drollinger moved with his family to North Carolina. In 1743, Adam's father Hans Michael Drollinger emigrated to North Carolina as well. He arrived in Philadelphia on the ship "Rosanna".

Mary Elizabeth Trollinger Gant died on 24 June 1883 in Graham, Alamance County, North Carolina.

Mary's husband and our ancestor Jonathan Kerr Gant departed on 8 September 1858. The couple found their eternal resting place at Providence Cemetery in Graham, Alamance, NC.

In America, the surname Drollinger got changed into Trollinger (and Trolinger). An interesting thing is that Trollinger is the name of the wine vine variety. That particular type of dark grapes was originally grown in South Tyrol but these days it is mostly cultivated in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany.

Why I have chosen to tell you about Mary Elizabeth Trollinger and her (and our) ancestors, I will explain later, in one of my May posts.

Credits:

• Photo - Vines in Ellmendingen: Von Augenstein, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46589064
• Photos of gravestones by Jason & Mitzie 

Jacob Rippy Gant - from North Carolina to Tennessee

Five generations of our ancestors lived/were born in North Carolina.

John Gant's great-great-grandson Jacob Rippy Gant (our great-great-grandfather) was born ≈1816 in Orange (later Alamance) County, NC. His parents were Jonathan Kerr Gant and Mary Elizabeth Trollinger.

On 26 March 1838, Jacob married Miss Doxley (Dorsey) Isley who was born around 1818 in North Carolina. The couple still lived in Orange County, NC then. Five of their children: Henry A - b. about 1838, Mary Elizabeth, Sarah C, Martha F, and John were born in North Carolina as well.

The family moved to Tennessee by 1859 - Jacob and Doxley's oldest son Henry A (our great-grandfather) got married on 11 December 1859 in Sumner County, Tennessee.
Jacob's youngest son was born around 1858/59 in Tennessee too.

The 1870 Census records inform about the family. On 6 August 1870, Jacob, his wife and children lived in the Civil District No.17 of the Sumner County, Tennessee.

Name: Jacob Gant
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1870
Event Place: Tennessee, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 53
Race: White
Race: (Original) W
Birth Year: (Estimated) 1816-1817
Birthplace: North Carolina
Page Number 30

Household
Jacob Gant, a. 53, b. North Carolina
Rodosky Gant, a. 50, b. North Carolina
Mary Gant, a. 25, b. North Carolina
M F Gant, a. 24, b. North Carolina
John Gant, a. 14, b. North Carolina
Woodson Gant, a. 11, b. Tennessee

Record Source:
"United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD84-RDS : 12 April 2016), Jacob Gant, Tennessee, United States; citing p. 30, family 231, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 553,065.

The above records also mention that Jacob was a farmer and the family estate was worth $500. Besides, Jacob's wife Doxley was illiterate and the children, except Woodson, could not read.

Our direct ancestor Jacob Rippy Gant passed in June 1893 in Sumner County, Tennessee.

Recently, our cousin Mrs. Rachel B. has provided us with the information that Jacob's brothers Henry Rippy (b. 8 Nov. 1809, NC) and Benjamin Newton (born 1812, NC) were the family members who moved to Tennesse the earliest. Henry came to the state before 1850, Benjamin a few years later, in the 1850s.

Who moved our family line from Tennessee (and where to), I will tell you some other time.

Credits:
Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4303264