After the success of RCSI Heritage Collections last appeal for help with an unsolved mystery, we are again asking for you, the virtual community, to help locate a relative of
James Duncan, College Porter in 1916.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
While researching for the College's 2016 exhibition Surgeons & Insurgents: RCSI and the Easter Rising we stumbled across the eye-witness account of how the insurgents gained entry into the College. What a discovery! But unfortunately the discovery was soon tinged with sadness.
 |
| Letter accompanying James Duncan's petition |
The College Porter at the time, James Duncan wrote this eye-witness account, had it signed and witnessed by a solicitor then sent it to the President and Council of the College. The reason being that after the dust had settled on the 1916 Easter Rising, Duncan was fired from his job of 27 years.
James Duncan, who had served in the British Army, was hired as College Bedell or Porter by RCSI in 1890. He had a salary of £30 per annum and was given apartments in the College building, 123 St Stephens Green. From the 1911 census online we can see that Duncan was 59 years of age. He was married to Catherine Lucy who was 20 years his junior and they had one child, a son named George Henry Alexander who was 8 years old.
On Monday 24th April 1916 Duncan, Catherine and George's lives changed forever. Read how in Duncan's own words below
James Duncan, who had served in the British Army, was hired as College Bedell or Porter by RCSI in 1890. He had a salary of £30 per annum and was given apartments in the College building, 123 St Stephens Green. From the 1911 census online we can see that Duncan was 59 years of age. He was married to Catherine Lucy who was 20 years his junior and they had one child, a son named George Henry Alexander who was 8 years old.
On Monday 24th April 1916 Duncan, Catherine and George's lives changed forever. Read how in Duncan's own words below
 |
| James Duncan's petition pg. 1 |
 |
| James Duncan's petition pg.2 |
 |
| James Duncan's petition pg.3 |
 |
| James Duncan's petition pg.4 |
 |
| James Duncan's petition pg.5 |
 |
| James Duncan's petition pg.6 |
Unfortunately Duncan was not reinstated as College Porter and both he and his family disappear from the College records after the summer of 1916.
What became of the Duncan's?
Despite in depth research we were unable to shed any more light on to the fate of the Duncan's, that was up until a couple of weeks ago. The National Archives of Ireland recently released the records of the Property Losses of Ireland Committee (PLIC). The committee was established in June 1916 to assess claims for damages to building and property as a result of the destruction caused by the 1916 Rising. In these records we found a submission by James Duncan dated 12th November 1916 and he has given his address as 1 Temple Street North, Dublin. To read Duncan's submission click here.
But again the trail goes cold.
Can you help?
Are you a distant relative of James, Catherine Lucy and/or George Henry Alexander Duncan?
If so or if you have any information about the Duncan family please contact the RCSI Heritage Collections at archivist@rcsi.ie
- Researched and written by Meadhbh Murphy