Leland Lewis Duncan
Encyclopedia
Leland Lewis Duncan was an English public servant, antiquary and author.
Duncan was born in Lewisham
, where he lived throughout his life, was educated at Colfe's Grammar School, and began a career as a public servant. His 40 year service with the War Office, beginning in 1882, was recognised with an M.V.O. and an O.B.E. as he rose in position. He became interested in archaeology early in his life, and began disposing of his spare time by copying wills at Somerset House
. This collection of documents was largely ill-ordered and an untapped source of historical evidence. His work in this field led to his appointment as general editor on Challenor Smith's 1893 Index of wills, published by the British Record Society
. Duncan's transcription and editing of this material, which he carefully produced throughout his life, became an important resource to his contemporaries and later researchers. He made many field trips to note the deteriorating engravings amongst the memorials of churchyards, carefully recorded in an extensive set of notebooks. He was made a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London
in 1890, contributed to the works of the St Paul's Ecclesiological Society and Lewisham Antiquarian Society, and was a life member of the Kent Archaeological Society
(KAS).
Duncan contribution to the history of Kent was between the hours of his regular occupation, and though he had planned to devote greater attention to the field he died on 26 December 1923, the year following his retirement.
Leland L. Duncan assisted in the compilation or editing of several works, and the results of his research and fieldwork were published in the journals and transactions of several societies. His contributions to Archaeologia Cantiana began with a list of historical administrations of the Kent
region. The society later published a special volume for his extracts from wills, Testamenta Cantiana, in 1906.
His few printed works include The Parish Church of St. Mary, Lewisham, and an account of its Vicars and Curates, 1902; The History of the borough of Lewisham, 1908; and The History of Colfe's Grammar School and a life of its founder, 1910.
The journal Archaeologia Cantiana printed his papers 'The Renunciation of Papal Authority in West Kent, 1534', 'The Rectory of Cowden with a list of Rectors', 'The Will of Abp. Courtenay', 'Ecclesiological Notes on Shoreham', 'The Will of Cardinal Bourgehier', and 'Extracts from some lost Parish Registers'.
A major work was interrupted by his death, Kent Records – Index of Wills was completed and issued by the KAS in 1924 with a memoir of the author by F. W. Cock.
Duncan was born in Lewisham
Lewisham
Lewisham is a district in South London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
, where he lived throughout his life, was educated at Colfe's Grammar School, and began a career as a public servant. His 40 year service with the War Office, beginning in 1882, was recognised with an M.V.O. and an O.B.E. as he rose in position. He became interested in archaeology early in his life, and began disposing of his spare time by copying wills at Somerset House
Somerset House
Somerset House is a large building situated on the south side of the Strand in central London, England, overlooking the River Thames, just east of Waterloo Bridge. The central block of the Neoclassical building, the outstanding project of the architect Sir William Chambers, dates from 1776–96. It...
. This collection of documents was largely ill-ordered and an untapped source of historical evidence. His work in this field led to his appointment as general editor on Challenor Smith's 1893 Index of wills, published by the British Record Society
British Record Society
The British Record Society is a British learned society that focuses on publishing historic records, or, more specifically, indexes to such records...
. Duncan's transcription and editing of this material, which he carefully produced throughout his life, became an important resource to his contemporaries and later researchers. He made many field trips to note the deteriorating engravings amongst the memorials of churchyards, carefully recorded in an extensive set of notebooks. He was made a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
in 1890, contributed to the works of the St Paul's Ecclesiological Society and Lewisham Antiquarian Society, and was a life member of the Kent Archaeological Society
Kent Archaeological Society
The Kent Archaeological Society was founded in 1857 to promote the study and publication of archaeology and history, especially that pertaining to the ancient county of Kent in England...
(KAS).
Duncan contribution to the history of Kent was between the hours of his regular occupation, and though he had planned to devote greater attention to the field he died on 26 December 1923, the year following his retirement.
Leland L. Duncan assisted in the compilation or editing of several works, and the results of his research and fieldwork were published in the journals and transactions of several societies. His contributions to Archaeologia Cantiana began with a list of historical administrations of the Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
region. The society later published a special volume for his extracts from wills, Testamenta Cantiana, in 1906.
His few printed works include The Parish Church of St. Mary, Lewisham, and an account of its Vicars and Curates, 1902; The History of the borough of Lewisham, 1908; and The History of Colfe's Grammar School and a life of its founder, 1910.
The journal Archaeologia Cantiana printed his papers 'The Renunciation of Papal Authority in West Kent, 1534', 'The Rectory of Cowden with a list of Rectors', 'The Will of Abp. Courtenay', 'Ecclesiological Notes on Shoreham', 'The Will of Cardinal Bourgehier', and 'Extracts from some lost Parish Registers'.
A major work was interrupted by his death, Kent Records – Index of Wills was completed and issued by the KAS in 1924 with a memoir of the author by F. W. Cock.