Hanging in the Balance

So, I've always known that my grandmother and her sisters believed that a bible notation from the book of Mary Belcher Duke stating that Thomas J Duke died in 1847 was true and correct. They also believe that Luther A Duke (their son) was born in 1851.

Something does not add up. Did you do the math?

The fate of the descendants of Luther A Duke rests in my hands on finding the true facts. Easier said than done. I can not find one fact or document on Thomas J beyond 1836. There are a Million (ok, maybe only 171) Thomas Duke(s) out there. He went somewhere. He was buried somewhere. He died somewhere. . I just don't understand.

I'm on a mission to figure this out. Can't be that hard right?