John was born around 1667 in England and immigrated as a teenager with his parents William and Jane. They settled in Bensalem and were members of Byberry meeting. In 1698 John married Margaret Crighton at Falls Meeting.1 John owned 209 acres in Bensalem on Poquessing Creek, adjoining land of his father William and brother Edmond.2 A memorial to him after his death said that, “he was appointed an elder for Byberry meeting in 1725 and continued such to his decease, which was about the 61^st year of his age and was a useful member in the society.”3

John and Margaret had four sons. The oldest, William, was active in Byberry Meeting and served as its Clerk for many years. He worked as a weaver and lived in Bensalem. Two of his brothers, Edmond and John, were probably unmarried and died infirm and blind.4 The youngest of the four was Patrick, who married out of meeting and probably moved to Maryland.

In 1728 John wrote his will.5 He left land to his son William, and left the remainder of his estate to his wife Margaret. He intended for Margaret and William to care for the two sons who needed it. The executors were Margaret, William, and John’s brother Edmond. John died on 31^st of 12^th mo 1728/29.6 In April 1732 Margaret conveyed the land to her son William and the next day he conveyed it back to her, to be for the benefit of his brothers Edmund and John.7 Margaret did not leave a will and the date of her death is not known.

Children of John and Margaret:8

William, b. 1699, m. in 1722 Rachel Carver, daughter of William and Jane. William was a weaver and they lived in Bensalem.9 William and Rachel had nine children: Mary, Margaret, William, John, Sarah, Joseph, Rachel, Esther and Isaac. William died in 1781, an elder of Byberry meeting.10

Edmund, b. ab. 1701, in 1754 he was infirm and blind, and died in 3^rd mo 1757 blind.11

John, b. ab. 1703, in 1754 he was infirm.12 In 7^th month 1757 he wrote a will leaving the land in Bensalem to his brother Patrick, “granted by my deceased mother Margaret Dunkan to me and my late decd brother Edund Dunkan.” John died in 1760.13

Patrick, b. ab. 1705. He married Rebecca Pritchard at Christ Church in June 1730, and was testified against by Abington Monthly Meeting on 12^th month 1730/31 after a complaint by Byberry Meeting.14 In In 1758 Patrick and his brother John, both of Bensalem, deeded land to William Groom on Poquessing Creek, 209 acres, deeded to Patrick’s father William Duncan in 1697. In 1763 Patrick Duncan requested a certificate for himself and four children to Gunpowder Meeting in Maryland.15 It was probably this Patrick.16