Contributed by: Diane Siniard

John T Duff was born November 11, 1846 in Cypress Creek, Wallace, Duplin Co., NC to William Enoch Duff and Elizabeth Ann Fussell. He had 6 brothers and 2 sisters. John worked in turpentine most of his life. He met and married on October 31, 1867 Lucy Jane Norris born March 1847 died February 6, 1929. They are both buried at Little Creek Cemetery which is also known as the Hanchey Cemetery. John T Duff has a marker, but Lucy does not. She is buried to the right of John.

During the Civil War John joined the Duplin Turpentine Boys to fight. He was not wounded during his time spent fighting for the Civil War and I do have a copy of his records for anyone that is a descendant of this family. John enlisted as a Private on 19 March 1864 at the age of 17 Enlisted in Company E, 30th Infantry Regiment North Carolina on 19 March 1864. The following is information from his records:

Name: John T Duff ,
Residence: Duplin County, North Carolina
Enlistment Date: 19 March 1864
Distinguished Service: DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
Side Served: Confederacy
State Served: North Carolina
Unit Numbers: 140 140
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 19 March 1864 at the age of 17 Enlisted in Company E, 30th Infantry Regiment North Carolina on 19 March 1864. Surrendered Company E, 30th Infantry Regiment North Carolina on 09 April 1865 in Appomattox Court House, VA


J.T. Duff (First_Last)
Regiment Name 30 North Carolina Infantry
Side Confederate
Company E
Soldier`s Rank_In Private
Soldier`s Rank_Out Private
Film Number M230 roll 11
30th Infantry Regiment completed its organization at Camp Mangum, near Raleigh, North Carolina, in October, 1861. The men were raised in the following counties: Sampson, Warren, Brunswick, Wake, Nash, Granville, Duplin, Edgecombe, Moore, and Mecklenburg. It served in the Department of North Carolina, then was assigned to General G.B. Anderson`s, Ramseur`s, and Cox`s Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. The 30th saw action from Seven Pines to Cold Harbor, marched with Early to the Shenandoah Valley, and was involved in the Appomattox operations. The unit reported 30 killed and 137 wounded during the Seven Days` Battles, lost thirty-six percent of the 250 in the Maryland Campaign, and had 9 wounded at Fredericksburg. It sustained 125 casualties at Chancellorsville, lost sixteen percent of the 278 engaged at Gettysburg, and had 3 killed and 42 wounded on the Rappahannock River. On April 9, 1865, it surrendered 6 officers and 147 men. The field officers wre Colonel Francis M. Parker; Lieutenant Colonels Walter Draughan, James T. Kell, and William W. Sillers; and Major James C. Holmes.


John and Lucy had 11 children:
Minnie Ann Duff
William "Billy" Everett Duff
John James "JJ" Duff
Caldonia "Donie" Duff - my Great Grandmother
Luella "Ella" Duff
George Kin Duff
Leona Duff
D Katherine "Cattie" Duff
Molly Duff
Neil C Duff
May S Duff


In the 1880 census records Nancy, John's stepmother is living with the family.
In 1900 census Grandaughter Pearl and cousin W B Street b Jan 1825 lives with them.



If you have ties to this family, please get in touch with me, I have pictures, documents, and other proofs for them, as well as a complete genealogy on the family!

Headstone for my Great, Great Grandfather, John T Duff.

Photo of John T Duff and Lucy Jane Norris.