Daniel Dunagan, ancestor of the family, came from Ireland in 1780, and married Mary Duncan. He was a patriot soldier in the latter years of the Revolution. Most of the children came to Platte, and settled near Waldron.
Respondent is a sixth generation descendant of DANIEL DUNAGAN (aka Donaken, Donecan, Donekin, Dunican, Dunigan, Dunikin and more). The variable spelling of his surname is credited to:
- Daniel was totally illiterate.
- He spoke with an accent (Irish or Scotch) in which the letter "g" was sounded as "k" or "c" as in cat.
- In records his name was written by clerks who determined spelling from how he sounded it.Abbreviated History of Daniel (per records found)
c1752 Born probably in Ireland, parents unknown. (Year of birth calculated from age given in Pension Application of 1819.)
c1774 Probable year of immigration to America; an indentured servant in Virginia after arrival. (from Pension Hearing of 1820).
1776 Enlisted for two years in Militia of Amhearst County, Virginia. His Company drafted into 6th VA Regiment commanded by Col. Buckner. (Pension proceedings.)
1778 Reenlisted for three year term; served in the 7th VA Regiment. (Pension proceedings.)
1780 May 12: Captured and imprisoned by British at Battle of Charleston, SC. (Pension proceedings.)
1781 Mar 4: Released by British in POW exchange. (Pension proceedings.) Term of enlistment expired, was honorably discharged from army in Richmond VA, about end of March. He returned to Amhearst County. Probably married Jane ?West before the end of this year. (Record of marriage not found so far.)
1783 Listed in Tax Rolls of Amhearst County; three "white polls;" surname spelled "DUNNICAN."
1785 Listed in Tax Rolls of Amhearst County; four "white polls;" surname spelled "DUNNIKIN."
1787 Son Nicholas born. (Computed from 1850 Census, Greene County TN.)
1789 Daniel "DUNAKIN" purchased 64 acres on the north branch of Dutch Creek. (Amhearst County VA Deed Book B p. 412.)
1795 Daniel "DUNNICAN" was a witness to land sale from Thomas & Jonathan Becknell to Joseph Smith. (Amhearst County VA Deed Book G p. 588.)
1796 Per court order Daniel's 64 acres on Dutch Creek was delivered to a Martin Dawson. (Amhearst County VA Deed Book B p. 412. Record does not indicate abandonment, foreclosure or other cause.)
1797 Daniel "DUNCAN" purchased 161 acres on south side of Marrowbone Mountain from Pleasant Dawson. (Amherst County VA Deed Book H p. 400.) This land abandoned to Dawson before the end of this year.
1798 Daniel "DUNICAN" purchased 168 acres fronted on the Nolichucky River from a George Leeper. (Greene County TN Deed Book 6, p. 267.) Within four months Daniel conveyed this land to a Thomas Conway. (Deed Book 6, p. 296)
1799 Daniel "DUNNAKEN" purchased 100 acres fronted on the north side of Lick Creek from George Gordon. (Greene County TN Deed Book 4, p. 221) [It was on this land that Daniel lived the rest of his life.]
c1801 First wife of Daniel (and mother of Nicholas) died no later than this year.
1802 Jan 13: Daniel "DONNEKIN" married Mrs. Mary Wright. (Vol. 1 of Marriage Records, of Greene County, TN.) Mary was a young widow, probably twenty to twenty-five years younger than Daniel. She had at least two children by her former husband. She was the mother of Rebekah who married Nicholas. Mary's maiden name is unknown at this time.1808 Daniel "DUNNAGAN" was appointed overseer of road being built between Bird Hill and Warrensburg. (Greene County TN Court Minutes Book 6, p. 115)
1809 Daniel "DUNNAGAN" was named surety for John Loyd who was appointed constable. (Greene County TN Court Minutes Book 6, p. 228)
1809 Daniel "DUNNAGAN" appeared in Court to approve of a discharge of indenture relative to orphan William Wright (son of Mary ?). (Greene County TN Court Minutes Book 6, p. 232.
1811 Aug 7: Daniel's son, Nicholas "DUNKIN" married Rebekah Wright. (Vol. 1 Marriage Records of Greene County, TN.)
1814 Daniel "DUNNAGAN" was fined 6 cents and court costs for assault. Plaintiff: The State and its witness. (Greene County TN Court Minutes Book 8, pp. 215, 221 and 222)
1818 Pensions for certain veterans of the Revolutionary War was enacted by US Congress.
1819 Sep 6: Daniel "DUNIKIN" filed application for Veteran's Pension; his age stated as 67.
1820 Oct 23 Pension Hearing: Daniel claimed he was the father of seventeen children, eight of which were still in his home. [By this time it is probable all children by his first wife (nine) were married and gone from his home.]
1822 Nov 15: Pension Certificate No. 38765 issued by US Government. Amount of pension: $8 per month retroactive to Sep 6, 1819.
1825 Oct 18: Daniel "DUNAGAN" conveyed 50 acres (1/2 his land) fronting Lick Creek to Nicholas Dunagan (his son) for love and other valuable consideration. (Greene County TN Deed Book 13, pp. 502-503)
1828 Apr 8: Daniel "DUNAGAN" conveyed 50 acres fronting Lick Creek (balance of his original 100 acres) to son Nicholas Dunagan. Consideration: $50. (Greene County TN Deed Book 14, p. 369.)
1830 Federal Census of Green County, Tennessee:
Family of "David DUNNIGAN"
1 male age 70-80 (Daniel)
1 female age 50-60 (Mary)
1 male age 10-15 (name ?)
1 female age 10-15 (name ?)
Writing David instead of Daniel may have been error of census taker. Just as likely David may have been Daniel's middle name or a pseudonym like John is sometimes called Jack, etc.
1836 Daniel "DUNEGAN" was included in a list of workers for the building of a road; requested by William Scully, overseer. (Greene County TN Court Minutes Book 17-A, p. 155.)
1838 (before April 1): Daniel died. Since the month and day of his birth is also unknown, he may have been either age 85 or 86. Exact date of his death may be found in pension records at National Archives, Washington D.C.
1838 Apr 2: Nicholas "DUNAGEN" was appointed administrator of estate of Daniel "DUNAGEN" who died intestate. (Greene County TN Court Minutes Book 18, p. 387 and Book 18-A, pp. 3 and 4.)
1838 Nicholas "DUNAGEN" reported to The Court an inventory of property of deceased Daniel "DUNAGEN." (Greene County TN Court Minutes Book 18, p. 403.) Inventory: 1 cutting knife, 1 flade hackle, 1 sickle, 1 chain and 1 razor hone. (Greene County TN Administration Book 1, p. 486.)Note 1: US Census records for Virginia 1790 and Greene County Tennessee 1800, 1810 and 1820 are not available.
Note 2: That Mary, second wife of Daniel, was not mentioned in estate proceedings of 1838 may be indicative she preceded him in death.