Walter Lee Duggins son of Sarah Duggins father unknown married Hattie Mae Duggins daughter of Wm Duggins and Minerva Jane Hicks. Hattie died young of Tuberculosis after her daughter Carrie Lee was born. Walter Lee then married Prudy Bowman. There are different variations of the Duggins surname being Duggin, Duggan and Dugan.
A Brief History of the Duggins of Stokes County
An analysis of the family name “Duggins” has failed to indicate a valid reason for the huge increase of individuals by that name in 1880 and a subsequent decrease in later years. One possible explanation may be that there was a baby boom after the Civil War such as was experienced after World War II. Another related theory is that out of 106 Duggins individuals on the Stokes County census in 1880, 54 individuals were female. Thus, the Duggins name would not have carried on after these female Duggins were married. Another fact to be considered is that 1880 was the first year that all individuals in all households were enumerated where in previous years only the head of household was listed.
I have examined census list for other states and I do not find evidence of mass migration to other states by the Stokes County Duggins. For example, in 1900 there were 220 people named Duggins in the entire United States, with 49 in North Carolina and 24 in Stokes County. There were only 3 Duggins people in the Indian Territory. None of these were born in N.C. The state with the next highest number after North Carolina was Kentucky. Only 1 person in that state was born in North Carolina.
I found a few cases in which the same individuals were listed twice. An example is John and Harriett Duggins and son Bud are found twice in the same year.
I followed some families beginning in 1860. I found them still in Stokes County in 1870 and 1880. A few were still there in 1900. Again this would not indicate a mass migration from Stokes County. It was only after 1900 that a migration from Stokes County to Rockingham, Forsyth, and Guilford Counties was noted. This would coincide with the building of the textile mills in those areas.
I still agree that this is an unusual and interesting statistic. It is just another thing that makes our hobby so fascinating. Thanks for bringing it to my attention
Don Stowe
Huggerwoggle and the Family Reserve 