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Luther Goodman Jr. married Deborah Gillesby.  This is her family line.
Descendants of Walter Oliphant

Generation No. 1

WALTER OLIPHANT was born Abt. 1221 in Aberdalgie, Gask, Perthshire, Scotland.
   
Child of WALTER OLIPHANT is:
 i.    WILLIAM OLIPHANT, b. Abt. 1253, Aberdalgie, Gask, Perthshire, Scotland; d. February 05, 1328/29.  

Generation No. 2

WILLIAM OLIPHANT (WALTER) was born Abt. 1253 in Aberdalgie, Gask, Perthshire, Scotland, and died February 05, 1328/29.  He married ISABEL DOUGLAS.  She was born Abt. 1260 in Scotland.

Notes for WILLIAM OLIPHANT:
Sir William Oliphant, was one of the most distinguished actors in the struggle for Scottish independence in the days of Wallace and Bruce. Although, like many other patriotic barons, forced to submit to Edward I. in 1297, he took the earliest opportunity of throwing off his allegiance to that grasping monarch and of opposing his ambitious schemes against his native country. In 1300 he defended Stirling castle for three months, when Edward besieged it, but at length was obliged to capitulate. In 1303 the Scottish leaders compelled the English to surrender that important fortress, when Sir William Oliphant was again appointed its governor, and under him it was the only fortress in Scotland which defied King Edward’s power. The castle was stormed by the English, and after an offer of capitulation had been refused, it surrendered at discretion, 20th July 1304. Edward sent the brave garrison to different prisons in England, and the governor, Sir William Oliphant, to the Tower of London. He was detained in captivity till the 24th May 1308, when he was set at liberty by Edward II. He was one of the subscribers of the famous letter to the Pope in 1320, asserting the independence of Scotland. He died 5th February 1329.
   
Child of WILLIAM OLIPHANT and ISABEL DOUGLAS is:
 i.    ROBERT WALTER OLIPHANT, b. Abt. 1280, Aberdalgie, Gask, Perthshire, Scotland; d. October 20, 1378.

Generation No. 3

ROBERT WALTER OLIPHANT (WILLIAM, WALTER) was born Abt. 1280 in Aberdalgie, Gask, Perthshire, Scotland, and died October 20, 1378.  He married ELIZABETH DE BRUCE, daughter of ROBERT DE BRUCE, KING OF SCOTLAND and ELIZABETH DE BURGH.  She was born Abt. 1308 in Dumferline, Fifeshire, Scotland.

Notes for ROBERT WALTER OLIPHANT:
Sir Walter Oliphant of Aberdalgy, married the princess Elizabeth, youngest daughter of Robert the Bruce, as appears by a charter of David II., erecting the lands of Gask, in Perthshire, into a free barony, dated 11th January 1364.
   
Child of ROBERT OLIPHANT and ELIZABETH DE BRUCE is:
 i.    WALTER OLIPHANT, b. 1324, Aberdalgie, Gask, Perthshire, Scotland; d. Abt. 1378.

Generation No. 4

WALTER OLIPHANT (ROBERT WALTER, WILLIAM, WALTER) was born 1324 in Aberdalgie, Gask, Perthshire, Scotland, and died Abt. 1378.  He married MARY ERSKINE, daughter of ROBERT ERSKINE and CHRISTIAN DE MENTEITH.  She was born Abt. 1326 in Aberdalgie, Gask, Perthshire, Scotland.
   
Children of WALTER OLIPHANT and MARY ERSKINE are:
 i.    JOHN OLIPHANT, b. Abt. 1350; d. 1420.
ii.    MALCOLM OLIPHANT, b. 1348.

Generation No. 5

JOHN OLIPHANT (WALTER, ROBERT WALTER, WILLIAM, WALTER) was born Abt. 1350, and died 1420.  He married FILIA BORTHWICK, daughter of WILLIAM BORTHWICK.  She was born 1358 in Borthwick, Midlothian, Scotland.
   
Child of JOHN OLIPHANT and FILIA BORTHWICK is:
 i.    WILLIAM OLIPHANT, b. Abt. 1375, Aberdalgie, Gask, Perthshire, Scotland; d. Abt. 1425.  
                                                         
Generation No. 6

WILLIAM OLIPHANT (JOHN, WALTER, ROBERT WALTER, WILLIAM, WALTER) was born Abt. 1375 in Aberdalgie, Gask, Perthshire, Scotland, and died Abt. 1425.  He married ISOBEL STEWART 1394 in Innermeath, Perth, Scotland.  She was born Abt. 1377, and died October 26, 1410.
   
Child of WILLIAM OLIPHANT and ISOBEL STEWART is:
 i.    JOHN OLIPHANT, b. Abt. 1408, Aberdalgie, Gask, Perthshire, Scotland.

Generation No. 7

JOHN OLIPHANT (WILLIAM, JOHN, WALTE, ROBERT WALTER, WILLIAM, WALTER) was born Abt. 1408 in Aberdalgie, Gask, Perthshire, Scotland.  He married ISABEL MARGARET OGILVY.  She was born Abt. 1420 in Auchterhouse, Angusshire, Scotland, and died Abt. 1471.
   
Child of JOHN OLIPHANT and ISABEL OGILVY is:
 i.    LAURENCE OLIPHANT, b. Abt. 1439; d. 1499.

Generation No. 8

LAURENCE OLIPHANT (JOHN, WILLIAM, JOHN, WALTER, ROBERT WALTER, WILLIAM, WALTER) was born Abt. 1439, and died 1499.  He married ISABEL HAY Abt. 1472 in Aberdalgie, Gask, Perthshire, Scotland.  She was born Abt. 1460.
 
Child of LAURENCE OLIPHANT and ISABEL HAY is:
 i.    JOHN OLIPHANT, b. Abt. 1465, Forfar, Angus, Scotland; d. 1516.

Generation No. 9

JOHN OLIPHANT (LAURENCE, JOHN, WILLIAM, JOHN, WALTER, ROBERT WALTER, WILLIAM, WALTER) was born Abt. 1465 in Forfar, Angus, Scotland, and died 1516.  He married ISABEL CAMPBELL, daughter of COLIN CAMPBELL.  She was born December 05, 1458 in Ardkinglass, Lochgodhead, Argylshire, Scotland, and died Abt. 1516.

Notes for JOHN OLIPHANT:
John, second Lord Oliphant, the eldest son, was one of the peers who ratified in parliament the settlements on Margaret, queen of James IV., 13th May 1504. He had two sons, Colin, master of Oliphant, and Laurence, abbot of Inchaffray, both slain on the fatal field of Flodden. The master left a son, Laurence, third Lord Oliphant, who succeeded his grandfather in 1516. He was one of the noblemen taken prisoner at the rout of Solway in November 1542, when his annual revenue was estimated at 100 marks sterling. At first he was ordered to remain with Sir Thomas Lee, an English knight, but was allowed to be ransomed for 800 marks sterling, 1st July 1543. He died 26th March 1566. Besides four daughters, he had three sons. The latter were, 1. Lawrence, fourth Lord Oliphant. 2. Peter, ancestor of the Oliphants of Langton. He got from his father the lands of Turing and Drimmie, part of the dowry lands given by King Robert I., with his daughter, Lady Elizabeth Bruce, to Walter Oliphant. 3. William, mentioned in a remission, dated 5th May 1576, to himself and two others of the name, for being art and part in the slaughter of one James Ross, committed in September 1571.

The shadow of Flodden falls at this time upon the history of Scotland. It was the last enterprise of a king whose sympathies were rather with deeds of ancient chivalry and the days of knighthood than with the intriguing and vehement spirit of the sixteenth century.
Henry VIII. was threatening France with invasion, and France turned to her old ally, Scotland, for help. The Scottish King replied in the old way by at once invading England. It was a wonderful host that arose at his call a mighty feudal army a hundred thousand strong. The great vassals of the Crown called out the lesser vassals, the Highlands and Islands sent their men, every family sent its soldier, all Scotland contributed to swell the host that at the heels of the impetuous James poured over the Border, on a quarrel that was none of theirs. But there was no enthusiasm for the cause, for a war undertaken
at the call of a foreign power, to settle a far-off quarrel between two alien nations. The tragedy of Flodden is that it is a history of life sacrificed in vain ; a great disaster that
leads nowhere and to nothing. The fight lasted three hours, and ten thousand Scotsmen fell on the field. Happy for the knightly spirit of the King that he him- self was among the dead. In every household there was mourning ; over all Scotland clung the dire shadow
of bereavement. The best, the noblest, the strongest had answered to the King's call, and marched away under his standard never to return.

The House of Oliphant was left desolate as the rest. Lord Oliphant had sent forth his son, the Master, and his brother, the Abbot, and both were killed.

Children of JOHN OLIPHANT and ISABEL CAMPBELL are:
 i.    COLIN OLIPHANT, b. Abt. 1487; d. September 09, 1513, Northumberland, England.
ii.    LAURENCE OLIPHANT.

Generation No. 10

COLIN OLIPHANT (JOHN, LAURENCE, JOHN, WILLIAM, JOHN, WALTER, ROBERT WALTER, WILLIAM, WALTER) was born Abt. 1487, and died September 09, 1513 in Northumberland, England.  He married ELIZABETH KEITH 1503, daughter of WILLIAM KEITH and ELIZABETH GORDON.  She was born Abt. 1480.

Notes for COLIN OLIPHANT:
Colin died on 9 Sep 1513 in Battle of Flodden, Flodden Field, Northumberland, England.
   
Children of COLIN OLIPHANT and ELIZABETH KEITH are:
 i.    WILLIAM OLIPHANT, b. Abt. 1505, Newton, England.
ii.    LAURENCE OLIPHANT, b. Abt. 1506; d. March 26, 1566.

Notes for LAURENCE OLIPHANT:
Laurence, third Lord Oliphant, who succeeded his grandfather in 1516. He was one of the noblemen taken prisoner at the rout of Solway in November 1542, when his annual revenue was estimated at 100 marks sterling. At first he was ordered to remain with Sir Thomas Lee, an English knight, but was allowed to be ransomed for 800 marks sterling, 1st July 1543. He died 26th March 1566. Besides four daughters, he had three sons. The latter were, 1. Lawrence, fourth Lord Oliphant. 2. Peter, ancestor of the Oliphants of Langton. He got from his father the lands of Turing and Drimmie, part of the dowry lands given by King Robert I., with his daughter, Lady Elizabeth Bruce, to Walter Oliphant. 3. William, mentioned in a remission, dated 5th May 1576, to himself and two others of the name, for being art and part in the slaughter of one James Ross, committed in September 1571.

Generation No. 11

WILLIAM OLIPHANT (COLIN, JOHN, LAURENCE, JOHN, WILLIAM, JOHN, WALTER, ROBERT WALTER, WILLIAM, WALTER) was born Abt. 1505 in Newton, England.  He married MARGARET OLIPHANT.  She was born Abt. 1510 in Berrydale, England.

Notes for WILLIAM OLIPHANT:
The shadow of Flodden hung darkly over his early years. He and his brother were old enough to know the sad meaning of the name, and to realise that all the happenings of which they heard in childhood the tales of raid, slaughter, burnings, sieges, and retreats,
the cruel violence of the times, the uncertainties and treacheries which shadowed their horizon were traceable to the bitter disaster which had left them fatherless. The boys were probably sent to school, for Scotland, in the midst of her calamities, had part in the general revival of interest in classical learning, the advances of printing, and the onward movement of intellectual life all over Europe. In 1499 an Act was passed decreeing that all barons and freeholders must send their sons to school at eight or nine years, to stay until
they knew Latin. Afterwards they were obliged to study law for three years.

While their education went on, the two boys would soon learn on which side their sympathies were to be thrown, in the vehement disputes which distracted the
country. Brought up to fidelity to the ancient church of their race, they would see with distrust the immense changes of the Reformation beginning to work and to grow. Over the civilised world the agitations of the new thought were changing all political and social life.
The Oliphants were staunchly Catholic ; they served a Catholic King and a Catholic Government, and believed in the possibility of turning back the great tide of national religious thought which was soon to begin to set steadily towards reform.

Child of WILLIAM OLIPHANT and MARGARET OLIPHANT is:
 i.    LAURENCE OLIPHANT, b. Abt. 1530, Scotland.

Generation No. 12

LAURENCE OLIPHANT (WILLIAM, COLIN, JOHN, LAURENCE, JOHN, WILLIAM, JOHN, WALTER, ROBERT WALTER, WILLIAM, WALTER) was born Abt. 1530 in Scotland.  He married MARY ROLLO.  She was born Abt. 1540 in Duncrub, Scotland.
   
Child of LAURENCE OLIPHANT and MARY ROLLO is:
 i.    LAURENCE OLIPHANT., b. Abt. 1565, Scotland.

Generation No. 13

LAURENCE OLIPHANT. (LAURENCE OLIPHANT, WILLIAM, COLIN, JOHN, LAURENCE, JOHN, WILLIAM, JOHN, WALTER, ROBERT WALTER, WILLIAM, WALTER) was born Abt. 1565 in Scotland.  He married LILLIAS GRAHAM INCHRACKIE 1606.  She was born Abt. 1580 in Scotland.
   
Child of LAURENCE OLIPHANT. and LILLIAS INCHRACKIE is:
 i.    LAURENCE OLIPHANT, b. Abt. 1610, Scotland; d. July 20, 1679.

Generation No. 14

LAURENCE OLIPHANT (LAURENCE OLIPHANT., LAURENCE OLIPHANT, WILLIAM, COLIN, JOHN, LAURENCE, JOHN, WILLIAM, JOHN, WALTER, ROBERT WALTER, WILLIAM, WALTER) was born Abt. 1610 in Scotland, and died July 20, 1679.  He married LILIAS OLIPHANT February 19, 1633/34 in Findo-Gask, Perth, Scotland, daughter of PATRICK OLIPHANT and ELIZABETH CHEYNE.  She was born Abt. 1600 in Gask, Perth,  Scotland, and died January 1668/69.
   
Children of LAURENCE OLIPHANT and LILIAS OLIPHANT are:
 i.    DAVID OLIPHANT, d. February 02, 1706/07, Edinburgh , Scotland.
ii.    LILIAS OLIPHANT, m. JAMES GRAEME, November 03, 1668.

Notes for JAMES GRAEME:
In 1668, on the 3rd November, the contract of marriage of James Graeme, fourth laird of Orchill, signed at Williamstoun. The bride is Lilias, daughter of Sir Laurence Oliphant of Gask. Her mother was Lilias, daughter of Lord Oliphant, who is therefore her grandfather, and she bears the name not only of her mother, but of her grandmother Lilias Graeme of Inchbrakie.

The contract is an important document, bearing the names of many neighbouring barons as witness. Probably the marriage had been postponed until after young Graeme of Orchill was safely retoured to his father’s lands (1666)

He and his father-in-law of Gask are on very good terms, and the intercourse between Orchill, Gask and Monzie are frequent. The latter barony has been sold by the Graemes to Colin Campbell, who is another son-in-law of Gask’s, having married Anna Oliphant, and James of Orchill signs an instrument for sasine of lands to his young sister-in-law 1672.

When Sir Laurence dies in 1679 his will contains two handsome bequests of 1000 merks each, to his grandsons, young James of Orchill and young Colin of Monzie, to be employed to assist in defraying their "charges of prentis fies" should they go to any well qualified "wreater" to the signet when they become capable of "learning that Craft".

In 1672, when his brother-in-law Laurence, "fiar" of Gask, died, James Graeme of Orchill is appointed in his will as a governor to his fatherless children.

In 1673 James Graeme of Orchill receives a fresh sasine of Rothearnes from the Maquis of Montrose, probably on account of its being in temporary possession of his father’s son John; he is also served heir to Orchill in the same year in these terms: "James Graeme of Orchill heir of John Graeme of Orchill his father."

Meantime his natural brother John (the only child named in his father’s will) has held the lands of Rothearnes, for in 1684 a John Graham of Rothearnes, within the parish of Dunblane, is dead. His will is given up by William Graham of Rothearnes, his son, proving debts considerably exceeding his assets."

Inquisitione de Tutela No. 1106, 16th March 1688, serves James Graeme of Orchill son and heir of John Graeme of Orchill, who was the son and heir of Sir John Graeme of Orchill, who was son and heir of Quentigern (Mungo) Graeme of Orchill who was son of William Earl of Montrose.

It is difficult to account for this retour unless James his son is dead, and his second son is a minor; everything else except the above entry appears to point to James, husband of Lilias Oliphant, being the only James of Orchill at this period; otherwise it would have been easy to suppose that the young James mentioned in Laurence Oliphant’s will in a previous page had succeeded. As it is, the boy is dead, for a son William succeeds on James, his father’s death, and his name appears as an executor to the will of Sir William Graeme of Braco 1678.

In 1688 the deceased Marquis of Montrose’s heir (third Marquis) is under age; his father had, previous to his death, appointed ten "tutors" to look after his interests. His mother, the Marchioness, has married again, and now offers to entertain her young son at her new home with consent of her husband, Sir John Bruce of Kinross, free of all expense till he is ten years of age, when she will allow him 2000 merks annually from her jointure.

The annulling the tutorie was believed to be a Popish device, but Sir John Lauder says this could not be, as the tutors in law were willing to serve, and though "Graham of Brekoe, his nearest Agnate", is under age, Graeme of Orchill, his next agnate, "will embrace it," and is a Protestant.

Another court on this matter is held 1695, and some amusing incidents occur respecting the admission of ladies to the hearing of the case. The marquis’s mother and some other ladies were rejected by the Lords; not being Duchesses they were not entitled to enter the inner bar.

Mention is made of James in some notes (taken at Methven Castle) being a cousin of Smythe of Methven in 1687. James of Orchill was a Commissioner for Perthshire in 1689 and he lends money to various friends in 1692 to 1694. When he and his son William are both Commissioners, a memorandum in the Montrose Charter Chest dated Isle of Menteith 29, 1694, shows that several gentlemen were taking possession of the last Earl of Menteith’s papers. James Graeme of Orchill, tutor of the Marquis of Montrose, takes duplicates of several.

In 1701 James Graeme and his sons have sasine from Montrose, with royalty to him of lands of Rothearnes.

In 1703 Patrick Maxtone in Ferntower hands over the Isobel Martin, his wife, and their only daughter Catherine, several bonds of money, amongst them 100 pounds owed him by James Graeme of Orchill.

In 1704, his second son David, is called "of Rohallock" when described as Commissioner.

In a discharge amongst the Inchbrakie papers it appears that James of Orchill was still alive in 1707 and sold certain rights on his lands to his son and heir William Graeme, on condition that his just debts are paid by William.

In 1704 James is on the bench and in 1707 we have the last notice of him in his will; he died in June, and it is sworn to by Mr Duncan Comrie, Minister at Buchanan Castle.

His wife Lilias Oliphant survives him and four of their six children are living.

William, who succeeds.David, called "of Rohalloch" in 1704 when CommissionerCristane, married to Patrick Murray of Dollerie

Lilias (namesack in the fourth generation of Lilias Graeme of Inchbrakie her great grandmother) she is wife of John Drummond of Colquhalzie, who endows her with the lands of Blacklans, its house, Milne and Coal yairds in the Parish of Bendochie.Jean, married to John Drummond, the 10th Laird of Pitkellony; they had a large family (see Muthill Register and Malcolm’s "House of Drummond".)

iii.    JOHN OLIPHANT, b. 1648, St. Monance, Perthshire, Scotland; d. July 06, 1734, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Generation No. 15

DAVID OLIPHANT (LAURENCE, LAURENCE OLIPHANT., LAURENCE OLIPHANT, WILLIAM, COLIN, JOHN, LAURENCE, JOHN, WILLIAM, JOHN, WALTER, ROBERT WALTER, WILLIAM, WALTER) died February 02, 1706/07 in Edinburgh , Scotland.  Burial: Greyfriars Abby
   
Child of DAVID OLIPHANT is:
 i.    DUNCAN OLIPHANT, b. Abt. 1682, Perthshire, Scotland; d. August 07, 1734, Amwell Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey; Foster child.

JOHN OLIPHANT (LAURENCE, LAURENCE OLIPHANT., LAURENCE OLIPHANT, WILLIAM, COLIN, JOHN, LAURENCE, JOHN, WILLIAM, JOHN, WALTER, ROBERT WALTER, WILLIAM, WALTER) was born 1648 in St. Monance, Perthshire, Scotland, and died July 06, 1734 in Edinburgh, Scotland.  He married JANET GILCHRIST.  She was born 1648.

Notes for JOHN OLIPHANT:
John Oliphant, born say 1640, was a resident of Pencartland when he signed an indenture of service in Edinburgh, Scotland on 19 August 1685.  He was illiterate, signing documents by mark.  He evidently sailed to America aboard the illfated Henry and Francis, arriving in mid- December 1685.  Accompanying him were his wife, Janet Gilchrist, and children William, Margaret and Janet.  The only record of him so far noted in America is as a witness to a deed dated 22 April 1695, involving the transfer of land to his son-in-law, William Davison.  Oliphant signed the deed with a distinctive mark; he acknowledged the instrument on 26 pril 1695.  He was entitled to 25 acres under the terms of his indenture, but no record of this land has been found.
   
Children of JOHN OLIPHANT and JANET GILCHRIST are:
 i.     WILLIAM OLIPHANT.
ii.     MARGARET OLIPHANT.
iii.    JANET OLIPHANT.

Generation No. 16

DUNCAN OLIPHANT (DAVID, LAUREN, LAURENCE OLIPHANT., LAURENCE OLIPHANT, WILLIAM, COLIN, JOHN, LAURENCE, JOHN, WILLIAM, JOHN, WALTER, ROBERT WALTER, WILLIAM, WALTER) was born Abt. 1682 in Perthshire, Scotland, and died August 07, 1734 in Amwell Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey.  He married MARY GARRISON Abt. 1708 in Staten Island, New York, daughter of LAMBERT GARRISON.  She was born 1686 in Scotland, and died August 07, 1734 in Hunterdon County, New Jersey.

Notes for DUNCAN OLIPHANT:

Descendants of Duncan Oliphant and Mary Garrison
There is some disagreement among researchers as to the identity of Duncan Oliphant's parentage. Many genealogists have him as the son of John Oliphant and Janet Gilchrist, who came to this country in 1685 to escape religious persecution in Scotland. They lost everything they owned for supporting the Presbytarian Church. Their son William was banished to the colonies for same. William died unmarried and his property was divided among his parents and siblings. There was no Duncan mentioned. The children of John and Janet are all listed in the OPR indexes, yet Duncan is not among them. John and Janet indentured themselves and their daughters for passage to this country. They were destitute. On the other hand, Duncan Oliphant was a member of the Anglican Church, and an active supporter of it even after he came to this country. He was well thought of enough to be appointed Constable of Staten Island. This indicates he was not in the same dire straits as John and Janet Gilchrist Oliphant. He had the money to buy the property in New Jersey, though admittedly this could have come from the dowry of his wife.
He named his eldest son David. Naming patterns followed in Scotland in that time period dictated that the eldest son be named after the father's father. This supports the other prevalant theory that he was the son of David Oliphant, born abt 1648 in Perthshire, Scotland, son of Sir Laurence Oliphant and his wife, Lillias Oliphant. Sir Laurence and his cousin, Lillias, married in 1634. She was the daughter of Patrick Oliphant  & his wife, Elizabeth. David died in 02 Feb 1707 in Edinburgh and is buried at Greyfriars Abby. The OPR's are incomplete and there is no record of the birth of Duncan Oliphant in Scotland, so proof of a tie to this family would have to come from family papers or a Bible, neither of which have been found.
 
1706 Colonial Census of Staten Island N.Y.
Olyphant Dunkan (age) 24 pg 6 #5 Man
olyphant David (no age listed) pg 6 #6 Boy
Olyphant Mary (no age listed) pg 6 #7 Woman

Duncan Oliphant (1682-1734), of Staten Isl., NY, and Amwell Twp., Hunterdon Co., NJ,  One of the founders of W. New Jersey and an owner of a large plantation, “Oliphant Mills,” he was, according to most recent researchers, most probably the son of David Oliphant not his brother John and wife Janet Gilchrest, as has long been asserted whose parents, Laurence and Lilias Oliphant, were both part of the Oliphants of Gask, in Scotland. Born in Perthshire, Scotland, in 1682, Duncan reportedly arrived in Staten Isl. around 1695. Sometime during the first decade of the 18th century, he m. Mary Garrison, with whom he had 9 children. His name appears on the Staten Isl. census of 1706 and records indicate that he was appointed constable of North Precinct in 1709. He moved to East Amwell, NJ, sometime between 1721 and 1723, and seems to have spent the remainder of his life in one Hunterdon Co. location or another. In 1726, he was appointed overseer of the poor for Amwell Twp.

Following is a tentative chronology for Duncan Oliphant, one that I hope will grow as other researchers contribute their findings. It was compiled from both on-line and published sources.

Duncan Oliphant: Chronology
(1682-1734)

1682:                   Born, Perthshire, Scotland
About 1695:       Arrived at Staten Island, NY (there, attended Old Dutch Church)
1702:                  Married Mary Garrison, Staten Island, NY (some sources give date as 1707/1708)
1706:                  Census, Staten Island, NY
1709:                  Birth of daughter Margaret, Staten Island, NY (19 Apr.)
1709:                  Appointed Constable of North Precinct, Staten Island, NY (5 Apr.)
1712/1713:        Birth of son David, Staten Island, NY (1 Mar.)
1715:                  Birth of son John, Staten Island, NY; was in the north company of militia
1717:                  Birth of son Ephraim
1721:                  Birth of daughter Mary, Staten Island, NY
1721/1723:       Moved to East Amwell, Hunterdon Co., NJ; reportedly purchased a large tract of land in Hopewell Twp., Burlington Co., NJ
1723:                 Birth of daughter Ann, Hunterdon Co., NJ
1724:                 Birth of son James, Hunterdon Co., NJ
1724:                 Tax List, Hunterdon Co., NJ
1725:                 Tax List, Hunterdon Co., NJ; living in Ringoes, Hunterdon Co., NJ; received in trust, along with Jno Know les, a grant of 11 acres from Wm. Lummox for the construction of an Anglican church
1726:                 Tax List, Hunterdon Co., NJ; with John Holcombe, chosen a Freeholder, Amwell Twp., NJ (14 Mar.)
1726:                 Birth of son Jonathan
1726:                 Overseer of the poor, Amwell, Hunterdon Co., NJ (14 Mar.)
1727:                 Tax List, Hunterdon Co., NJ; witness, will of John Knowles of Amwell, Hunterdon Co., NJ (28 May)
1728:                 Birth of son Samuel
1728:                 Tax List, Hunterdon Co., NJ
1732:                Mention of a Wm. Allen living on his farm in Amwell Twp., NJ; will (12 Feb.; proved 7 Aug. 1734)
1734:                Died, Amwell, Hunterdon Co., NJ (7 Aug.; bur. in St. Andrews Graveyard, NJ)

If this 1717 record does pertain to Duncan Oliphant, then it is the *last*
mention of him that I have found of him in association with Staten Island.
On 22 April 1721, Duncan Oliphant purchased 411 acres of land in Amwell
Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey from the estate of Thomas Stevenson
of Bucks County, Pennsylvania and Duncan was certainly a resident of Amwell
Township by 22 January 1725 when he purchased additional land there.

Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Vol. II 1730-1750, Part II:

Abstract of the Will of Duncan Oliphant - Written 12 Feb 1732 Proved August 7, 1734 -Amwell Township, Hunterdon Co. NJ

Eldest son, David, the long gun,
large Bible, and a book called the Conductor Generalis. Wife, Mary, entire estate to bring up children.
Four sons--David, John, Ephraim and James.
Three daughters--Margaret (wife of Thomas Gordon), Mary and Ann, the plantation where William Allen lived, when youngest daughter is aged 18.
Executors - son, David, brother-in-law John Garrison,and friend Peter Praul. Friend, John Reading, trustee.
Witnesses - Thomas Lake, William Job, Jacob Reeder. 
   
Children of DUNCAN OLIPHANT and MARY GARRISON are:
 i.    JAMES OLIPHANT, b. 1719, Hunterdon County, New Jersey; d. June 17, 1816.
ii.    MARGARET OLIPHANT, b. April 19, 1709, Staten Island, New York; m. THOMAS GORDON, 1731, Hunterdon County, New Jersey.

iii.    DAVID OLIPHANT, b. March 01, 1712/13, Staten Island, New York; d. September 03, 1774, Burlington County, New Jersey; m. HANNAH STOUT.
iv.    JOHN OLIPHANT, b. Abt. 1711, Staten Island, New York; m. JEAN.
v.     MARY OLIPHANT, b. Abt. 1714, Staten Island, New York.
vi.    ANN OLIPHANT, b. Staten Island, New York.
vii.    EPHRAIM OLIPHANT, b. Abt. 1717; d. 1794.

Generation No. 17

JAMES OLIPHANT (DUNCAN, DAVID, LAURENCE, LAURENCE OLIPHANT., LAURENCE OLIPHANT, WILLIAM, COLIN, JOHN, LAURENCE, JOHN, WILLIAM, JOHN, WALTER, ROBERT WALTER, WILLIAM, WALTER) was born 1719 in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, and died June 17, 1816.  He married JANE WORTMAN Abt. 1745.  She was born October 10, 1722, and died May 06, 1820.
   
Children of JAMES OLIPHANT and JANE WORTMAN are:
 i.    DUNCAN OLIPHANT, b. Abt. 1748, New Jersey; d. May 02, 1822, Saratoga County, New York.
ii.    ANDREW OLIPHANT, b. Abt. 1750, Hunterdon County, New Jersey; d. April 16, 1824, Chillisquaque Township, Northamberland, Pennsylvania.
iii.    PETER OLIPHANT.
iv.    JAMES OLIPHANT.

Generation No. 18

DUNCAN OLIPHANT (JAMES, DUNCAN, DAVID, LAURENCE, LAURENCE OLIPHANT., LAURENCE OLIPHANT, WILLIAM, COLIN, JOHN, LAURENCE, JOHN, WILLIAM, JOHN, WALTER, ROBERT WALTER, WILLIAM, WALTER) was born Abt. 1748 in New Jersey, and died May 02, 1822 in Saratoga County, New York.  He married RACHEL WOODRUFF.  She died December 05, 1831 in Saratoga County, New York.

Notes for DUNCAN OLIPHANT:
Duncan Oliphant, of Scotch descent, married Rachel Woodruff, of Waterford, N. Y., and, while their children were small, settled on a farm in Ballston, N. Y., two miles south of the village, where he died 2 May 1822, aged 73 years.
   
Children of DUNCAN OLIPHANT and RACHEL WOODRUFF are:
 i.    SARAH OLIPHANT, b. August 12, 1793, Ballston, Saratoga County, New York; d. August 16, 1848.
ii.    MARY OLIPHANT, b. February 16, 1795, Waterford, New York; d. August 20, 1840, Balston, New York; m. HENRY DOOLITTLE, January 26, 1815, Balston, New York; b. April 29, 1793.

iii.    DAVID OLIPHANT, b. November 09, 1791, Waterford, Saratoga County, New York.

Generation No. 19

SARAH OLIPHANT (DUNCAN, JAMES, DUNCAN, DAVID, LAURENCE, LAURENCE OLIPHANT., LAURENCE OLIPHANT, WILLIAM, COLIN, JOHN, LAURENCE, JOHN, WILLIAM, JOHN, WALTER, ROBERT WALTER, WILLIAM, WALTER) was born August 12, 1793 in Ballston, Saratoga County, New York, and died August 16, 1848.  She married MOSES DUNCOMBE Abt. 1815 in Saratoge County, New York, son of WILLIAM DUNCOMBE and NANCY TAYLOR.  He was born December 08, 1790 in Norwalk, Connecticut, and died December 16, 1858 in Keeler, Van Buren County, Michigan.

More About SARAH OLIPHANT:
Burial: Keeler cemetery Lot 2, Range 5 in Keeler, Michigan, Keeler cemetery

Notes for MOSES DUNCOMBE:
1880 "History of Berrien and Van Buren Counties, Michigan  : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers" ed. by Franklin Ellis & Crisfield Johnson & others, pub. by D.W. Ensign & Co., Philadelphia (HeritageQuest image 2/2007, Local History Reel/Fiche Number 4587; FHL film 908,063 item 1 and 1,000,080 item 3)

      Pg.485-486, Van Buren Co. MI, Township of Keeler: CHARLES DUNCOMBE. Mr. Duncombe's father, Moses Duncombe, was a native of Norwalk [Fairfield Co.], Conn., and married Sarah Oliphant, who was born in Ballston, Saratoga Co. NY. To them were born eight children - three sons and five daughters. Soon after their marriage (about 1816-17, in Saratoga Co. NY), they removed to Ancester, near Hamilton, Ontario. About 1824 they returned to Waterford, Saratoga Co. NY, and in 1833 removed again to Canada, locating at Blenheim. In the fall of 1844 they came to Michigan, and located at what is now Keeler Centre, on a place which Charles Duncombe had purchased, and the same which he now occupies. The family was the first to settle at Keeler Centre. Mr. Duncombe was a tanner, currier, and shoemaker by trade, and after coming here worked at that business winters and made improvements on the farm during the summers. He was a very industrious man, an active politician, and a respected citizen. He was a Whig until the formation of the Republican party, whe he became a member of the latter. He was never an office-seeker. Mrs. Duncombe died in Keeler in 1848; Mr. Duncombe's death occurred in Hartford (Van Buren Co.) in 1858.

Moses Duncombe married Dolly Amanda Havens, daughter of William B[ennet] Havens and Hannah M Hale, sometime between between 29 May 1857 and 14 September 1858 in Michigan. No certificate has been found in the early certificates at Western MI on film 1321501. Try Berrien or Cass county. Since Dolly's husband Marshall died 29 May 1857 and Moses' will is dated 14 Sept 1858 naming Amanda as his wife, they had to have been married in that span of time.1,2

Will     14 Sept 1858     Moses Duncombe left a will dated 14 September 1858.9

Death     16 Dec 1858     Moses died on 16 December 1858 at Keeler, at Van Buren county, at Michigan at age 68.10,11   Moses was buried at Keeler cemetery, Lot 2, Range 5 in Keeler, Michigan.3

Probate     6 January 1859     The probate of the estate of Moses Duncombe was begun on 6 January 1859 at Keeler, Van Buren county, Michigan. In the will of Moses Duncombe he left $1 to each of 4 children: Charles, William, Mary and Caroline. Wife Dolly was to receive all real estate ie: 1/2 SE 1/4 of Sec 17, R16W for forty acres. Daughter Sarah Ann Rice to receive $1. David A or O Woodruff of Niles, Berrien, MI was to recieve $200 for the use of "my grandson, Charles Woodruff". Son Stephen W. Duncombe to receive the residue of the estate. If Stephen has no issue then the residue to oldest living grandson. If Dolly should die, then the real estate to go to her heirs. This is strange, as Dolly was only married to Moses for a few months, at best.9    Dolly was Dolly Amanda Havens, daughter of William B. Havens and Hannah Hale.

More About MOSES DUNCOMBE:
Burial: Keeler cemetery, Lot 2, Range 5 in Keeler, Michigan
Occupation: Tanner, currier and shoemaker
   
Children of SARAH OLIPHANT and MOSES DUNCOMBE are:
 i.    JANE DUNCOMBE, b. December 18, 1817; d. January 08, 1846.
ii.    SARAH ANN DUNCOMBE, b. 1821, 1895.
iii.    CHARLES DUNCOMBE, b. May 30, 1822, Ancaster, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; d. January 03, 1900, Keeler, Van Buren County, Michigan.
iv.     ELIZABETH DUNCOMBE, b. May 15, 1824; d. August 07, 1851.
v.     CAROLINE DUNCOMBE, b. Abt. 1829.
vi.     MARY DUNCOMBE, b. Abt. 1830; d. 1880.
vii.    WILLIAM DUNCOMBE, b. March 27, 1831; d. Abt. 1858.

Notes for WILLIAM DUNCOMBE:
27 March 1831      William was born on 27 March 1831 in New York.1
On 5 September 1853 he married Mary Jane Wells in Niles, Berrien county, Michigan. They were married by Alfred Bryant, a minister. Some say that they had at least 16 children but only 4 lived to adulthood.2,1

1858     In the will of her father he is listed He rec'd $1.00.3
       
William died after 1858. Appears to be buried in Keeler, Lot2 range 8. He may have owned this lot at one time, but there is no record that he was buried there. It is said that he moved to Houston, Texas. He was a carpenter.

Martha (Shrewsbury) Nichols has a photograph of William in Houston as an old man.
        Researchers: David Ladely and Eveline Frank.

Residence 1: 15 Jun 1860, moved to Kansas, first settling in DeSoto a suburb just west of Kansas City, Johnson County, Kansas, according to the Kansas "Memorial", p 392.

Residence 2: 1870, living in St. Louis, Missouri, in Ward 8 of census

Residence 3: Abt. 1880, Farmed in Vinland, Kansas

Residence 4: 1880, age 49, carpenter, Vinland, Palmyra Township, Douglas County, Kansas.

Residence 5: Bet. 1892 - 1893, William Duncombe listed as a carpenter, builder at 2703 Austin St., Houston, Texas. His son, Harry Duncombe, steward, is listed as living with William.1

viii.    STEPHEN WAKEMAN DUNCOMBE, b. September 09, 1837; d. October 09, 1883.

Generation No. 20

JANE DUNCOMBE (SARAH OLIPHANT, DUNCAN, JAMES, DUNCAN, DAVID, LAURENCE, LAURENCE OLIPHANT., LAURENCE OLIPHANT, WILLIAM, COLIN, JOHN, LAURENCE, JOHN, WILLIAM, JOHN, WALTER, ROBERT WALTER, WILLIAM, WALTER) was born December 18, 1817, and died January 08, 1846.  She married DAVID O. WOODRUFF. 
   
Child of JANE DUNCOMBE and DAVID WOODRUFF is:
 i.    CHARLES WOODRUFF, b. 1843.

SARAH ANN DUNCOMBE (SARAH OLIPHANT, DUNCAN, JAMES, DUNCAN, DAVID, LAURENCE, LAURENCE OLIPHANT., LAURENCE OLIPHANT, WILLIAM, COLIN, JOHN, LAURENCE, JOHN, WILLIAM, JOHN, WALTER, ROBERT WALTER, WILLIAM, WALTER) was born 1821 in 1895.  She married (1) SAMUEL SIMPSON.    She married (2) ISAAC T. TICE.  He was born August 02, 1796, and died June 05, 1872.
   
Child of SARAH DUNCOMBE and SAMUEL SIMPSON is:
 i.    GEORGE SIMPSON, b. September 1849; d. April 05, 1926.
 
Child of SARAH DUNCOMBE and ISAAC TICE is:
ii.    TALMADGE TICE, b. 1858; d. 1928.

CHARLES DUNCOMBE (SARAH OLIPHANT, DUNCAN, JAMES, DUNCAN, DAVID, LAURENCE, LAURENCE OLIPHANT., LAURENCE OLIPHANT, WILLIAM, COLIN, JOHN, LAURENCE, JOHN, WILLIAM, JOHN, WALTER, ROBERT WALTER, WILLIAM, WALTER) was born May 30, 1822 in Ancaster, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and died January 03, 1900 in Keeler, Van Buren County, Michigan.  He married FRANCES SUSANNA KNIGHT October 1855 in New York, daughter of AARON KNIGHT and ANN GUILD.  She was born January 30, 1830 in Half Moon,, Saratoga County, Michigan, and died December 02, 1882.

Notes for CHARLES DUNCOMBE:
1881 "The History of Jackson  County, Missouri ... : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches ... history of Missouri, maps of Jackson County" pub. by Union Historical Co. (Los Angeles Public Library book 977.81 J13Hi; FHL book 977.841 H2h and films 962,549 item 1 and 1,000,293 item 2; late references not copied)
      Pg.763: Kansas City. WILLIAM G. DUNCAN was born in Fairfield county, CT, in 1854, and was there principally reared. In 1875 removed to St. Paul, MN, where he resided for two years, and in 1877 came to Kansas City, which has since been his home. ...
 
1880 "History of Berrien and Van Buren Counties, Michigan : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers" ed. by Franklin Ellis & Crisfield Johnson & others, pub. by D.W. Ensign & Co., Philadelphia (HeritageQuest image 2/2007, Local History Reel/Fiche Number 4587; FHL film 908,063 item 1 and 1,000,080 item 3)
   
      Charles Duncombe, the third child in his father's family, was born May 30, 1822, at Ancaster, Canada, and until he was thirty-five years old aided greatly in supporting the family. In 1849 he went to California and engaged as a dealer in stock, dry goods, miners' furnishings, etc., returning to Michigan in 1852. In October, 1855, he was married to Frances S. Knights, of Half Moon, Saratoga Co. NY, where she was born on the 30th of January, 1830. Her father, Aaron N. Knights, came to Keeler a few years later, and is now living in Decatur, Van Buren Co. His wife (Mrs. Duncombe's mother) died in Keeler township. The place on which Mr. Duncombe now resides has been his home since he came to Michigan. For several years he was cashier of the First National Bank at Decatur, but is not now connected with that institution. He is one of the proprietors of the "Decatur Mills," and owns a hotel and several stores at that place. Decatur owes many of its improvements to him, he having taken great interest in their projection. In the summer of 1879 he erected a brick-store building in that village. He at present operates several fine farms. In 1867 he was a member of the State Constitutional Convention, and has been active in political matters. He was supervisor of Keeler township for 12 or 14 years. Mr. and Mrs. Duncombe are the parents of six children, - three sons and three daughters. These are all living except one son, who met a painful death from scalding when quite young. The others reside with their parents, except one daughter, Fannie E., who is now the wife of Seth Taft, and living in the neighborhood.

 Charles was educated in the public schools, and after leaving them became a merchant, a banker, a real estate dealer and a farmer.

About 1850 Charles joined the Gold Rush and went to California looking for GOLD.

He yielded to the excitement that filled the world over the discovery of gold in California and became one of the bold and resolute "Forty-niners," that great band of hardy adventurers which crossed the plains in 1849 to the new Eldorado on the Pacific slope. These modern argonauts used ox teams as their means of transporting their goods, and made the long and wearying journey themselves for the most part on foot. The bones of many of them whitened on the trackless llanos of the wilderness, as it was then, but Mr. Duncombe reached his destination in safety. He made Sacramento the seat of his operations and was successful in his venture. When he had accumulated a considerable sum of the virgin treasure of which he went in search of, he returned to civilization, traveling down the Pacific, across the Isthmus of Panama and up the Atlantic to New York, and thence across the continent to his former Michigan home. He invested his money in land, and kept adding to his holdings by subsequent purchases until, as has been noted, he owned two thousand acres and over. He return to Michigan about 1852.

     Charles Duncombe appears on the 1860 census of Keeler, Van Buren county, Michigan.   p.136, ?/?,
 DUNCOMBE, Charles 37, 20000/1500 Can,
Frances 29 NY,
Fanny E. 3 MI,
Mary 30 NY,(Sister of Charles)
Caroline 28 (Another sister) NY,
Stephen W. 32 (brother of Charles) 15000/0 Can,
TOWNSEND, Peter 35 NY,
 OTTO, Mary 15 (dom) Ger.5,6

     Charles Duncombe appears on the 1870 census taken on 1870 in Keeler, Van Buren county, Michigan res 20/fam 20.
 Charles, 55400/25000 Can,
 Frances S. 40 NY,
Fanny E. 13 MI,
Albert O. 6 MI,
Hattie 4 MI,
Charles 2 MI, (This is Charles II, 1st died in 1864)
Sila 3/12 MI,
HURLBUT, Albert 24 NY (The relationship of this man is not indicated. May be a brother of the wife of Stephen Duncombe).

     For several years he was cashier of the First National Bank at Decatur, but is not now connected with that institution. He is one of the proprietors of the "Decatur Mills," and owns a hotel and several stores at that place. Decatur owes many of its improvements to him, he having taken great interest in their projection. In the summer of 1879 he erected a brick-store building in that village.

He at present (this was written about 1881) he operates several fine farms. In 1867 he was a member of the State Constitutional Convention, and has been active in political matters. He was supervisor of Keeler township for twelve or fourteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Duncombe are the parents of six children--three sons, and three daughters.7

Hst of Berrien & Van Buren Co., MI" (Ensign & Co., 1880) p. 485-6, states: ". . . Charles Duncombe, the third child in his father's family, was born May 30, 1822, at Ancaster, Canada, and until he was
thirty-five years old aided greatly in supporting the family. In 1849 he went to California and engaged as a dealer in stock, dry goods, miners' furnishings, etc., returning to Michigan in 1852. In October
1855, he was married to Frances S. Knights, of Half Moon, Saratoga Co., NY, where she was born on the 30th of January 1830. . . The place on which Mr. Duncombe now resides has been his home since he came to Michigan. For several years he was cashier of the First National Bank at Decatur, but is not now connected with that institution. he is one of the proprietors of the "Decatur Mills," and
owns a hotel and several stores at that place. Decatur owes many of its improvements to him, he having taken great interest in their projection. In the summer of 1879 he erected a brick-store building in that village. He at present operates several fine farms. In 1867 he was a member of the State Constitutional Convention, and has been active in political matters. He was supervisor of Keeler township for twelve or fourteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Duncombe are the parents of six children--three sons, and three daughters. These are all living except one son, who met a painful death from scalding when quite young. The others reside with their parents, except one daughter,
Fannie E., who is now the wife of Seth Taft (sic), and living in the neighborhood. . ."
NOTE: While the book states Fannie md. Seth Taft, County records reveal that she actually md. Seth FELT.

In his political faith Mr. Duncombe was first a Whig and after the birth of the Republican party a member of that organization. He adhered to this political party to the end of his days, and found his heroes of state craft among the leaders its critical times developed. Its first candidate for the presidency, General John C. Fremont, received his ardent support, and to his last hour of life he was a warm admirer of Lincoln and Blaine. On the large field of political activity he was a member of the state constitutional convention, and locally he served for a number of years as supervisor of his township. Fraternally he was connected for many years with the Masonic order, and became a charter member of the lodge at Keeler when it was organized.

Died of "Parabletic shock"
   
Children of CHARLES DUNCOMBE and FRANCES KNIGHT are:
 i.     HARRIET "HATTIE" ADELL DUNCOMBE, b. 1867, Keeler, Michigan; d. 1945.
ii.     FRANCES "FANNIE" ELIZABETH DUNCOMBE, b. February 27, 1857; d. May 1930.
iii.    CHARLES EDWARD DUNCOMBE, b. January 06, 1862, Keeler, Van Buren, Michigan; d. June 16, 1864.

Notes for CHARLES EDWARD DUNCOMBE:
Charles E died on 16 June 1864 at Keeler, at Van Buren county, at Michigan at age 2. He was scalded...how not known, as died as a result.

iv.    ALBERT OLIPHANT DUNCOMBE, b. September 16, 1863, Keeler, Van Buren, Michigan; d. June 1945.
v.     CHARLES DUNCOMBE, b. September 06, 1868; d. November 1949.

Notes for CHARLES DUNCOMBE:
 Reared as a farmer and following that occupation until he was nearly forty years of age, then turning his attention to merchandising with as much deftness and capacity as if the had long been trained to the business, Charles Duncombe, of Keeler, has shown his adaptability to circumstances to be of an extent and character that would win him success and credit in almost any line of endeavor that he might choose to turn his hand to. His is rather an unusual case, as farmers are not generally well adapted to general merchandising, their usual pursuit not involving the fine points of this line of trade and unfitting them for its more graceful requirements. But Mr. Duncombe is as much at home behind the counter as he ever was behind the plow, and he can turn a mercantile transaction as neatly and as cleverly as he ever did a furrow. This shows his versatile and readiness for any station or duty, and he has given many proofs of them in his mercantile career in other ways.

Of the six children born to his parents Charles Duncombe was the fourth in order of birth. He is a son of Charles and Frances S. (Knight) Duncombe.

Charles was born in Van Buren county, Michigan, and reared and largely educated on his native heath. He attended the district school near his home until he completed its courses, then engaged in farming on shares for this father. This he continued until the death of the father, when he inherited one hundred and sixty acres of fine land in Hamilton township, and began cultivating it entirely on his own account. He remained on this farm and devoted himself wholly to its development and improvement until 1907. And he has ever since superintended it cultivation and kept it up to the standard of excellence to which he raised it. It is devoted to general farming.

In 1907, Mr. Duncombe entered the employ of his older brother Albert as a clerk and assistant manager of the large department store the brother owns and carries on in Keeler. He has been a potent factor in helping to win wide popularity the emporium enjoys and build it up to the high place it has in the confidence and regard of the business world and the general public. He is what the old Romans called the suaviter in modo, fortiter in re-- genial and courteous in manner but strong or resolute in deed--and the two qualifications for business combined in him have given him great influence with the purchasing public, and pronounced success as a business man in the department of trade with which he is connected.

Mr. Duncombe is a Republican of the most devoted loyalty to his party. He cast his first presidential vote for President Benjamin Harrison, and has kept himself steadfastly under the Republican banner ever since. He served several years as school director while living in Hamilton township and is now township treasurer of Keeler township. He is deeply and intelligently interested in the cause of public education, regarding it as a bulwark of American liberty, a valuable means of preparation for the duties of citizenship and a great force in democratizing our people and helping to make them homogeneous in their social and political activities.1 ("Biographies of Van Buren Co., Michigan Residents in 1912", from "A History of Van Buren Co., Michigan" by Capt.O.W. Rowland, V. II, Lewis Pub.Co.1912.)

Birth     6 Sept 1868     Charles was born on 6 September 1868 at Keeler, Van Buren county, Michigan. On the 1900 census he claims to have been born in Sept 1869.2,3

Cen1880     1880     Charles Duncombe Jr. shows in the household of  his father, Charles Duncombe on the 1880 census of Keeler, Van Buren county, Michigan.   Charles and Frances are living in Keeler  with 4 children at home: Charles 11, Alfred, Lila and Hattie. He census can not be read so ages are not available.

Marriage     2 April 1891     Charles Duncombe Jr., 22 years old, married Maria McMillian, who was 18 years old, daughter of John McMillian and Salome Reece/Reese, 2 April 1891 in Van Buren county, Michigan.  Per the History of Van Buren county published in 1912, Maria and Charles had 3 sons and 1 daughter, but only Charles survived by 1912.3,4,1

Cen1900

    5 June 1900     Charles Duncombe Jr. shows on the 1900 U.S. census in Keeler, Van Buren county, Michigan.  Charles Jr, the father is 31 years old, born in Sept 1869. He is a carpenter and has been married for 9 years to Maria, who is 27, born in Feb 1873. Maria has had 4 children only 1 of whom is living and that is CHARLES M. born Mary 1894 and is 6 years old on this census.
Cen1910     1910
    Charles Duncombe Jr. shows on the U.S. Census for 1910 at Keeler, Van Buren county, Michigan.  Charles appears as 40 years old on this census. He is employed as a Salesperson in the general store. Wife of 19 years is Maria who is 37 years old. Now, she claims to have had only 3 children and that one is living. That living son is Charles M. who is 15 years old.

Cen1920     1920     Charles Duncombe Jr. shows on the 1920 U.S. census in Keeler, Van Buren county, Michigan. Charles is 51 years old the his census, born in Michigan,  father born in Canada. He is a clerk in a store. Wife is Maria, who is 46 years old. Son appears as Maxe on this census. He is 25 and also a clerk in a store.

Cen 1930     1930     Charles Duncombe Jr. and Maria McMillian were found on the 1930 US census taken on in 1930 in at Keeler, Van Buren county, Michigan. Charles is 61 years old, a merchant operating a general store. They live in a house valued at $2500 and have a radio. Wife is Maria who is 57.

Obituary        
The Obituary for Charles, is as follows:

Charles Duncombe, Prominent Keeler Resident, Is Dead
Keeler, Nov 14

Charles Duncombe, 81, prominent Keeler resident Keeler resident and former business man, died at 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon in his home following a long illness.

He was born Sept. 7, 1868 in Keeler across the street from the home in which he died. He was the last of five children of Charles and Mary Duncombe, pioneer Keeler residents. His father was one of the famous "Forty Niners" who left in 1859 to join the gold rush.

His marriage to Marie McMillan took place April 2, 1892, and they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with a family gathering in 1942.

In 1908 he began work for his brother, Bert, (This is Albert) in the latter's store in Keeler and in 1910 purchased his brother's interest. In 1918 he sold the store to the Simpson Acres company, and in 1923 the store burned to the ground. In 1921 he purchased the store across the street which he operated with his only son, Mac, until 1946. when he retired.

He is survived by his wife, his son, Mac, and two grandsons, a half sister, Miss Nell Duncombe of Cleveland, Ohio. Funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Calvin funeral home with the Rev. James Rogers, pastor of the Keeler Methodist church officiating. Interment will be in the Keeler cemetery. Pallbearers will include Dean Foster, Ed Hagen, Ted Rosevelt, Hal Carlson, Leon Robinson and Stanley Putney.

DAILY NEWS.

There are some problems with the information in this obituary.

1.  His mother was not Mary, but rather Frances Susanna Knight
2.  He was the last living of the children of his parents, but he was not the youngest.
3.  Nell Duncombe is NOT his half sister but rather his step sister, being the daughter of the second wife of his father, but not a daughter of his father.

Death     November 1949     Charles died in November 1949 at Keeler,  Van Buren county, Michigan at age 81

vi.    LILA DUNCOMBE, b. April 17, 1870; d. June 28, 1908.

Generation No. 21

GEORGE SIMPSON (SARAH ANN DUNCOMBE, SARAH OLIPHANT, DUNCAN, JAMES, DUNCAN, DAVID, LAURENCE, LAURENCE OLIPHANT., LAURENCE OLIPHANT, WILLIAM, COLIN, JOHN, LAURENCE, JOHN, WILLIAM, JOHN, WALTER, ROBERT WALTER, WILLIAM, WALTER) was born September 1849, and died April 05, 1926.  He married ISABELLA.  She was born 1856.
   
Children of GEORGE SIMPSON and ISABELLA are:
 i.     SAMUEL SIMPSON, b. 1876.
ii.     TALMADGE SIMPSON, b. 1877.
iii.    WILLIAM SIMPSON, b. 1879.

TALMADGE TICE (SARAH ANN DUNCOMBE, SARAH OLIPHANT, DUNCAN, JAMES, DUNCAN, DAVID, LAURENCE, LAURENCE OLIPHANT., LAURENCE OLIPHANT, WILLIAM, COLIN, JOHN, LAURENCE, JOHN, WILLIAM, JOHN, WALTER, ROBERT WALTER, WILLIAM, WALTER) was born 1858, and died 1928.  He married SARAH I. MCOMBER.  She was born March 1860, and died 1930.
   
Children of TALMADGE TICE and SARAH MCOMBER are:
 i.    RALPH W. TICE, b. August 1883; d. 1951.
ii.    LEON W. TICE, b. February 1886; d. 1933.

HARRIET "HATTIE" ADELL DUNCOMBE (CHARLES, SARAH OLIPHANT, DUNCAN, JAMES, DUNCAN, DAVID, LAURENCE, LAURENCE OLIPHANT., LAURENCE OLIPHANT, WILLIAM, COLIN, JOHN, LAURENCE, JOHN, WILLIAM, JOHN, WALTER, ROBERT WALTER, WILLIAM, WALTER) was born 1867 in Keeler, Michigan, and died 1945.  She married NATHAN FISH SIMPSON April 13, 1886, son of EMORY SIMPSON and MARY TOMSON.  He was born October 12, 1862 in Carlton, New York, and died April 25, 1925.

Notes for NATHAN FISH SIMPSON:
From 1905 Michigan Manual, Page 768

NATHAN F. SIMPSON, Representative from Van Buren county, was born at Canton, Orleans county, New York, October 12, 1862, and while an infant moved to Michigan with his parents, spending his early life on the old homestead in Hartford, Van Buren county. He was educated in the rural schools, supplemented by a short term at the Brockport State Normal of New York. He followed teaching for a few years, and was married to Harriet Duncombe, of Keeler, Michigan, April 13, 1886, and settled on the plains of western Nebraska. He assisted in organizing Box Butte county, Nebraska, and was elected county superintendent of public instruction. He returned to Michigan in 1888 and located on a farm near his former home in Van Buren county. Mr. Simpson was captain of the 35th Michigan volunteer infantry, commanding company 0, in the Spanish-American war, and was later captain and quartermaster of the 45th U. S. volunteers, serving nearly two years in the Philippines; was detailed chief quartermaster third district department of South Luzon on Gen. Bell's staff during an active campaign. He was mustered out of the service in June, 1901, and returned to his home to engage in fruit culture and general farming. He is a Republican, and was elected to the legislature of 1905-6 by a vote of 5,130 to 1,824 for Orley M. Vaughn.
   
Child of HARRIET DUNCOMBE and NATHAN SIMPSON is:
 i.    FRANCIS FAE SIMPSON, b. July 28, 1887; d. 1977

FRANCES "FANNIE" ELIZABETH DUNCOMBE (CHARLES, SARAH OLIPHANT, DUNCAN, JAMES, DUNCAN, DAVID, LAURENCE, LAURENCE OLIPHANT., LAURENCE OLIPHANT, WILLIAM, COLIN, JOHN, LAURENCE, JOHN, WILLIAM, JOHN, WALTER, ROBERT WALTER, WILLIAM, WALTER) was born February 27, 1857, and died May 1930.  She married SETH HAWES FELT.  He was born March 1850, and died April 1917.
   
Children of FRANCES DUNCOMBE and SETH FELT are:
 i.     LILA GERTRUDE FELT, b. January 08, 1880.
ii.     JESSIE H. FELT, b. November 20, 1881.
iii.    ZOLA FRANCES FELT, b. April 09, 1885; m. ALBERT RUSSELL; b. 1881.

ALBERT OLIPHANT DUNCOMBE (CHARLES, SARAH OLIPHANT, DUNCAN, JAMES, DUNCAN, DAVID, LAURENCE, LAURENCE OLIPHANT., LAURENCE OLIPHANT, WILLIAM, COLIN, JOHN, LAURENCE, JOHN, WILLIAM, JOHN, WALTER, ROBERT WALTER, WILLIAM, WALTER) was born September 16, 1863 in Keeler, Van Buren, Michigan, and died June 1945.  He married ALICE G. PETERS.  She was born June 03, 1869, and died May 1963.

Cen1880     1880     Albert Oliphant Duncombe shows in the household of his father Charles Duncombe on the 1880 census of Keeler, Michigan. Charles and Frances are living in Keeler on the 1880 census with 4 children at home: Charles 11, Alfred, Lila and Hattie. He census can not be read so ages are not available.

        He began his scholastic instruction in the lower grades of the common schools, continued it at high school in Decatur, and completed it at the Northern Indiana State University. His whole life since leaving school has been passed in merchandising. In 1884 he and his father began business in this line in Keeler with a stock of goods valued at about two thousand, five hundred dollars, and since 1900 he has carried on the business alone.3    It appears that he sold this business to brother Charles about 1910. 
        He married Alice G. Peters about 1886. They had one child, their daughter Frances P. They also had one son who died in infancy.  This family appears on the 1900 census in Keeler.  Albert is 36 years old, a dry goods merchant.  Wife is Alice.  She is 30 years old and has had one child:  Francis who is 11 years old, born in June of 1889.  Alice says that she has had only 1 child.

In 1910 they are still in Keeler and he is still operating his own drygoods store.  Alice claims that she has only had 1 child, but that child is not in this household. 

By 1920 he has sold his part of the store in Keeler and has moved to Paw Paw where he is employed as an auditor for a seed company.  Daughter Frances is married and is named as Francis P Riley on this census, but her husband is NOT in this household.

On the 1930 census they are living at 213 Elm street in Paw Paw.  Albert is employed as a broker in stocks and bonds. Alice is 60, Albert is 66 and daughter Francis is now listed as Francis Duncombe and is 40 years old and divorced.  They own a house valued at $5000 and have a radio.
 
Child of ALBERT DUNCOMBE and ALICE PETERS is:
 i.    FRANCES P. DUNCOMBE, b. June 1889; d. September 1968.

Generation No. 22

FRANCIS FAE SIMPSON (HARRIET "HATTIE" ADELL DUNCOMBE, CHARLES, SARAH OLIPHANT, DUNCAN, JAMES, DUNCAN, DAVID, LAURENCE, LAURENCE OLIPHANT., LAURENCE OLIPHANT, WILLIAM, COLIN, JOHN, LAURENCE, JOHN, WILLIAM, JOHN, WALTER, ROBERT WALTER, WILLIAM, WALTER) was born July 28, 1887, and died 1977.  She married RALPH ZEBLIN HOPKINS June 17, 1911.  He was born 1889, and died 1948.
   
Child of FRANCIS SIMPSON and RALPH HOPKINS is:
 i.    HARRIET BARBARA HOPKINS, b. 1915.

Generation No. 23

HARRIET BARBARA HOPKINS (FRANCIS FAE SIMPSON, HARRIET "HATTIE" ADELL DUNCOMBE, CHARLES, SARAH OLIPHANT, DUNCAN, JAMES, DUNCAN, DAVID, LAURENCE, LAURENCE OLIPHANT., LAURENCE OLIPHANT, WILLIAM, COLIN, JOHN, LAURENCE, JOHN, WILLIAM, JOHN, WALTER, ROBERT WALTER, WILLIAM, WALTER) was born 1915.  She married JOHN E. GILLESBY 1936.  He was born 1904, and died 1997.
  
Child of HARRIET HOPKINS and JOHN GILLESBY is:
 i.    DAVID KEITH GILLESBY, b. 1941; d. 1998.

Generation No. 24

DAVID KEITH GILLESBY (HARRIET BARBARA HOPKINS, FRANCIS FAE SIMPSON, HARRIET "HATTIE" ADELL DUNOMBE, CHARLES, SARAH OLIPHANT, DUNCAN, JAMES, DUNCAN, DAVID, LAURENCE, LAURENCE OLIPHANT., LAURENCE OLIPHANT, WILLIAM, COLIN, JOHN, LAURENCE, JOHN, WILLIAM, JOHN, WALTER, ROBERT WALTER, WILLIAM, WALTER)
was born 1941, and died 1998.  He married MARY ELLEN TOY, daughter of EARL EUGENE TOY and LOUISE  PROULX.  She was born 1942.
   
Children of DAVID GILLESBY and MARY TOY are:
 i.     DEBORAH GILLESBY, born in Michigan. Married LUTHER HAROLD GOODMAN, October 12, 1985, Michigan.
ii.     DAVID GILLESBY.
iii.    TODD GILLESBY.
 Links to other sites about the Oliphant family:
  • Andrew Faraday Giles: Dead Close to Nature 3: Newton of Condie
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