Hi Folks
John Duncan is my 6th great grandfather. He died in Aug 1764 and was buried in Sandwich, Kent at St. Peter's church. It is believed that he was born in Stepney Middlesex in 1687 son of Robert a mariner, but this would mean he was 77 when he died.
According to his will it is stated that he was formerly Master of HMS Essex and late of Sandwich in Kent. However his burial record says he was a gunner.
In his will he left his estate to his wife Jane Duncan, but she had died (before the will was proved in Dec 1764) in Oct 1764 so his estate passed to their daughter Jane Duncan.
Jane Duncan their daughter was baptised in 1735 and had married James Miller in 1756 with the permission of her father as she was still a minor. James Miller and his wife Jane Duncan (my 5th great grandparents) were living in Southampton at the time of the death Jane's parents.
Assuming John Duncan was indeed the Master of HMS Essex at some point in his life I believe it would have been the HMS Essex built in 1679 and not the later HMS Essex built in 1760.
Any advice and or help to find a service record for John Duncan and his age when he died would be gratefully appreciated.
Many thanks
