Jesse Emanuel "Jess" Duncan was born in Whitley Co., Kentucky about 1828. He was the son of Joshua L. Duncan II (1898-1890) and Rosa "Rosey" Sartin (1802-bet 1880/90), the third of their eleven known children. Both of Jess' parents died in Scott Co., TN and are buried in the Walter Duncan Cemetery there in Winfield.

Emanuel's father, Joshua, was born in Virginia, possibly Culpepper County. He was the son of Samuel Duncan III (1764-1834) and Rutha Embre (1753-1830). Emanuel's paternal grandfather, Samuel Duncan II (1700-1760), was born in Dundee, Angus, Scotland and is thought to have immigrated to America in the early 1700s, prior to 1736.

Emanuel's mother Rosey, was born in Tennessee, probably Campbell County. She was the daughter of David Sartin (1778-1806) and Henrietta Stanley (1780-1806).

Emanuel married Tabitha Elizabeth "Tabby" Daugherty (1834-aft 1900) about 1852. They were married for about 42 years and had at least seven children. Their known children were Franklin Asberry "As" Duncan (1853-1920), Rosa Rebecca "Rosie" Duncan (1855-1915), Joshua "Josh" Duncan (1857-1915), Burl Duncan (1865-1944), Jesse Emanuel "Jess" Duncan Jr. (1866-1923), Oliver Arthur Duncan (1870-1918) and Emby Duncan (1874-1938).

Emanuel died on Aug. 10, 1895 in Scott Co. TN at the age of about 67. He is buried in the Duncan Cemetery in Whitley Co. (now McCreary Co.), KY. Emanuel's wife, Rosey, died sometime between 1900-1910. She too, is buried in the Duncan cemetery.

In an interview in September of 1980, Jefferson "Jeff" Duncan of Winfield, Scott Co., Tennessee told genealogist Ron Rader that Jeff's grandparents, Emanuel and Tabitha Duncan, were buried in the Duncan Cemetery with unmarked field stones for markers. Also, buried in the Duncan Cemetery are two sons of Emanuel and Rosey, "As" Duncan and Burl Duncan, both with readable grave markers.

The information contained in this memorial for Jesse Emanuel Duncan, his wife, family members, ancestors and descendants, is thought to be correct. This memorial is revised/corrected, however, as new information becomes available.