| Notes |
Married:
- MARRIAGE: Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 04:04:47 -0800 From: Bob Vandyne To: skaggs-L@rootsweb.com Subject: James SKAGGS' Station To SKAGGS rooters all; My own notes: This is only portion of the actual article)
From the "Green Co. Review" Vol.4,#1 Oct,1980 [pgs. unknown] James SKAGGS' Station
The 3rd station to be established within the present area of Green Co.,KY was SKAGGS' Station, which was located on Bruch Ck. & settled by James SKAGGS 1780.
References to SKAGGS' Station in court recs. are appallingly scant so we will go to oral tradition for the story of its settlement. The following acct. was furnished us by several different sources but all gave as the origional source a letter written 3 Jly,1974 by Albert JONES of Scottsburg,IN to James SCOTT of Louisville,KY.
My knowledge of James SKAGGS is mostly what my father & Uncle Joe "Paddy" WARREN told me when I was a small boy.
James,his wife & dau. & 3 sons came to Green Co,KY on Brush Ck. where the Jones Cem. is located & built a cabin fort somewhere on the site of the cemetery - This was in the yr 1779/1780 - That fall, in Oct., itwas decided that provisions for winter were insignificant & it wouldbeneces- sary to return to BRIANs Station to spend the winter.
James & his wife had their dau. take a cooking pot & dutch oven toIndian Hollow to a small cave [now destroyed by construction of Hwy.#61] tohide them for their return the next spring. While the dau. was there asmall party of Indians [4 or 5] came upon her,killed & skalped her @ Indian Hollow. When she faid to return her father & bros. sought & found her& brought her body back to the fort/cabin & buried her inside it. Thiswas the 1st burying @ the Jones Cem. & probably the 1st in Green Co. The exact site of the grave is unknown.
The following spring after her burying,James,his wife & sons with aparty of others returned & built a Fort @ the site of the house where mysister lives. On their return they found thw 1st structure burned to theground. The new Fort was 22 & 24 ft., 2 stories high,built of large hewedyellow popular logs w/port holes in the upper story,an inside stairway & alarge stone chimney @ the south end. There was a fireplace on the 1st floorw/a smaller fireplace on the 2nd. floor. This site was selected because ofa large spring neay by,but it went dry several yrs. ago.
James discovered Brush Ck. Valley by following the Indian Trail down Indian Hollow. This trail extended from the eastern part of the US. toa site on rhe south west part of land owned by my sister where there wasa seam of highly colored clay that the Indians used for war paint. Whenaboy I have obtained the clay from this seam in bright red,white,purple <. green, there was also a small amount of blue. The seam has beencovered by a landslide. This farm where my sister now lives & JonesCem.,Joe"Paddy" WARREN & John "Fox" WARREN farms are the area I'm speaking of.
One of Jame's sons died & my g-grandfather bought the farm from thesur- vivors.
The exact date of the founding of SKAGGS' Station is unknown,however treas. warrent # 11533 for 450acs. of land on Brush Ck. was issuedtoJames SKAGGS on the 1st day of Apr,1780. This probably corresponds closelyto the date of actual settlement. The tract of land in questionwasoriginally located in Jefferson Co but had been thrown into Nelson Co by the dateit was formally granted by Gov. Patrick HENRY on 8 May,1786. [Thislandgrant is listed in the Master Index,Va. Surveys & Grants,1774-1791,KentuckyHis. Soc., Vol.16, Original Survey #3841,to James SKAGGS,survey date 7Jly,1784 original bk. #5,pgs.2-3,grantee James SKAGGS & heirs,grant date 8May,1786, orignal bk. #3,pgs. 336-337].
Henry SKAGGS gave a deposition in the case of RHEA vs. ABNEY,from his house in Grayson Co, in 1835. He stated that he came to PITMANsStationin the month of Oct.[1780] & left in the mar. following. There was onlyone other station on Green River at that time [GLOVERs Station havingbeenbroken up by Indians priior to his arrival],this was SKAGG'SStation by BrushCk. Although Henry SKAGGS' home was @ PITMANs Station he used to hunt from PITMANs to James SKAGGS' Station.
In a deposition given on 30 Jly,1810 to be read as evidence in asuitthen pending in the Green Circuit Ct. between Smith TANDY & JamesSMITH,William SKAGGS stated that PITMANs & SKAGGS' Stations were btoken up btyIndiansin Mar, 1781 & that the aettlers moved to POTTENGERs. LYNNs, DAVIS' &LOGANs Stations. Settlements in Green Co. were not restablished until thefallor 1784.
Another deposition,perhaps by a different William SKAGGS, was given on4 may, 1821, to be read as evidence in the suit of RHEA vs. ABNEY, intheGreen Co. Cir. Ct. William SKAGGS stated that he had been a resident ofPITMANs Station & that he was a young man at the time,having been 17 yrs oldon2nd of Sep. [1779],before the settlement of the station the followingspring [1780]. He gave the distance from PITMANs Station to SKAGG' Station as7 miles. He thought that PITMANs Station was broken up in Feb,1781[another depositions gave the month of March]. Hedeposes that when the stationwas broken up, "We moved near Bardstown & PITMAN & the rest went into whatis since called the upper counties.
The 1785 tax list for Nelson Co [as pub. in the Nelson Co. Pioneer,Vol.1, #1,pg.9, summer of '77,a quarterly pub. of the Nelson Co. His. Soc.,P.O. Box 311,bardstown,KY 40004] lists among the entries turned in byJoseph BARNETT,which included the settlers ""on all the southern watersofRolling Beach Forks westwardly of the waters of Hardin Ck"", thefollwoingtithables. [the 1st figure following the name gives the # of whites,the 2ndfiguregives the # of white tithables]. William SKEGGS 4-2 James SKEGGS,jr 3-1 Meshack CARTER 7-1 The forgoing names were given in their origional order,they arefollowedby the names of 40 other tithables & then these names appear: James SKEGGS,sr 9-4 Henry SKEGGS 4-1 "J.H. SPENCER ,in his bk. "A History of KY. Baptist Vol.1,pg.17 givesus additional information about James SKAGGS.
Benjamin LYNN,who is supposed to have emograted from VA.,came to KYin1780. He probably remained a short time in PHILIPS' Fort in what is nowLaRueCo., where accourding to tradition he raised up the church now calledSouthFork, in 1782. Afterwards he settled on Beech Fork in Nelson Co.,whereheraised up Pottenger's church, in 1785. Of these 2 churches & another which he &his co-laborer James SKAGGS,constituted under the style of Level Woods,hewas pastor during about 15yrs.
[pg.18] James SKAGGS came from VA. to KY about the same time Benj. LYNN did, & was associated with that famous pioneer in he early labors in thenew country. After a few yrs.,he fell under reproach on account ofimoralconduct & moved further west. After this nothing more is known of him. A creekor small river in barren Co. bears his name.
[I have additional information on the statement of the last paragraphon James SKAGGS' elopment & where abouts at the end of this work.] Bob VanDYNE
At the close of the yr, 1780 there were one licenced & 5 ordainedBaptist preachers in what is now the large populous state of Kentucky - Wm. MARSHALL, Joseph BARNETT, John WHITAKER, Benj. LYNN, James SKAGGS & licentiate John GERRARD. If there were others it is notknown. There was no preacher of any sect in the new country. The broad fieldwas left ,for the present Baptist alone. We know of few Baptistchurchmembers & doubtless there were others whose names we sall not know. But few as they were,at this period,they had brought with them,the seed ofdiscord, some of the bitter fruits of which we shall see in the sequel. Someofthem were SEPARATE & others were REGULAR Baptist - a distinction almost without a difference. Of the preachers MAESHALL, LYNN, & SKAGGS were Separates, while BARNETT,WHITAKER & GERRARD were Regulars.
[This information incerted here to give more information on theJamesSKAGGS & Leah CARTER elopment. Copied from a book [which I did not get a title from !! - Vol. 8,#3 5 Oct,1793 (a newspaper I think, two separate listings) Mechach CARTER gives public notice that 6 yrs & 4 mos. ago his wife,Leah eloped with James SKAGGS, & they are now back in Nelson Co. Meshech CARTER, Nelson Co, 9 Sep,1793, notice he will petitiontheAssembly for a divorce from his wife Leah.]
Returing back to James SKAGGS' Station - The nature of James SKAGGS' imorial conduct is revealed in a documentre- corded in Nelson Co. Deed Bk. 4, pg. 882-883
I do hearby certify that I do forever quit all claim of my wright &title to Masheck CARTER as husband & forever quit all claim to any wrightortitle of any part of Sd. CARTER estate either real or personal. Given undermy hand this 23rd day of Nov,1793 Leah [her X mark] CARTERWit:AtkinsonHILL James CRAVEN.
At the court heald for Nelson Co. on tuesday the 10th of Dec,1793thewith- in instrument of writing was proved by Atkinson HILL one ofthesubscribing witnesses & ordered to record we the under named subscribersmutuallychosen by Masheck CARTER & Leah his wife that formerly was to settle &determine the dispute that subsisted between them by reason of her elopmentwithJames SKAGGS from sd. CARTER do give our opinion." "pg.883 in the following manner the parties being 1st sworn to abidebythe award given by us which is in the following manner, We award thatsd.Leah is no more the wife of sd. CARTER nor to have any claim to any ofhisestate either real or personal only is given by bond bearing date withthisinter- wement, given under our hands this 23rd day of Nov,1793. (signed) John CARNAHAN,John DAVIS,John CAMERON,James BROWN,SamuelMcADAMS,AtkinsonHILL.
At the court held for Nelson Co on tuesday the 10th day of Dec,1793.This award was produced & ordered to be recorded. Teste Ben GRAYSON.
The foregoing document helps to explain another record which was filedin the corresponding time period in Green Co,KY.
Deed Bk. 1, pg. 5 Know all men I,James SKAGGS,have bargained & soldunto Henry SKAGGS,Stephen SKAGGS & James SKAGGS all that tract oflandsituated on Brush Ck. in Green Co. containing 450acs. being the same tractorparcel of land that was granted by patent from the state of VA. to me, servedthe2nd day of July, 1784 which land I will forever defend from me & all mannerofpersons claiming under me unto them, their heirs or assigns forever for thesumof 100 pds. to me in hand paid the receipt is hereby acknowledgedgivenunder my hand & seal the 15th of Nov, 1793. (signed) James SKAGGS Wit: John EMERSON, Alexander VANCE.
At the County Court held for Green Co the 14th day of Nov,1793,thisinden- ture was acknowledged by said James SKAGGS to be his act & deed &ordered to be recorded. Teste: James ALLEN.
It is evident that James SKAGGS left this area soon after executingthedeed for the Brush Ck. Station tract to his 3 sons. Whether he returnedafter wagging toungs began to slack or whether he died in self imposed exileisnot known;nor has it been established where he went when he left thisregion.
[I must insert new information here & tell where James SKAGGS died. An inventory of all the goods & chatels of the late dec'd James SKAGGS of Indian Cr. Joachim twp. Dist. of St.Louis Nov. 22nd,1811. Theappraisment bill....(list of goods on inventory). pg.2 "Widow SKAGGS [her purchase] Joseph HAWKS,jr [his " ] Benjamin HARMAN ? [his " ] Widow SKAGGS [her " ] Joseph HAWKS,jr [his " ] Widow SKAGGS [her " ] Jacob SKAGGS [his " ] Benjamin SKAGGS [his " ] Charles PATTEN [his " ] Samuel MEGEE ? [his " ] Widow SKAGGS [her " ] William TWITTY? [his " ] John PEARSON?? [his " ] Henry SKAGGS [his " ] George MARR [his " ]"
The total taken in @ the sale $253.37 1/2 dollars. Signed "Benjamin[his X mark] SKAGGS admr." "filed 24th Feb,1812 Samuel BAY". In theabovelist is one Jacob SKAGGS ,I would like to prove this is the Jacob SKAGGSwho md. Mary Jane GORE/FLETCHER/EDWARDS. Joachim twp turned into Jefferson Co, MO. in 1818. So who are Henry & Benjamin SKAGGS ?, brothers ?
We return again to James SKAGGS Station. Green Co. order bk. 6, pg. 196 dated 23 Sep,1816 contains thefollowing entry: On the motion of William SKAGGS it is orderd that Wm. BARNETT, Nathaniel OWEN & James SCOTT be & they are hereby appointedcommissionersto divide a tract of land on Brush Ck.,Green Co.agreeable to quanity which was left by James SKAGGS,sr dec'd. to his 3 sons James SKAGGS, Stephen SKAGGS & Henry SKAGGS all since departed this life & divide the said land unto three parts so as to allot to thesaidrepresentatives, heirs of said James SKAGGS Stephen SKAGGS & Henry SKAGGS their respective parts of said land.
If we view the forgoing court order apart from other records itappears that the Brush Ck. station tract decended to the sons of James SKAGGS,by inheritance at his death. We know that this is not the case becausethe deed recorded in Green Co. Deed Bk. 1, pg. 5 which has previously been quoted, grants the property to his 3 sons Henry, Stephen & James in Nov, 1793 for a purchase price of 100 pds.
This entry does prove,however that by Sep,1816,James SKAGGS thefounder of SKAGGS Station & his 3 sons were all dec'd.
Another entry which appears in Order Bk.6,pg.447 dated 25 Oct,1819gives us additional information:
William SKAGGS is appointed guardian to the infant heirs of Stephen SKAGGS dec'd, & also the infant heirs of James SKAGGS dec'd & itisordered that Nathaniel OWENS,James SCOTT & Wm. BARNETT be appointedCommissionersto divide the land of James SKAGGS,sr, dec'd between the sons & daus. of his 3 sons Stephen,Henry & James SKAGGS which 3 sons have departed this life having recieved a joint deed from theirfatherfor said land. It is ordered that the said Commissioners convey to the sons&daus. of the said Stephen SKAGGS their proportion of said lands & inlikemanner convey to the sons & daus. of Henry SKAGGS dec'd their proportion &inlike manner to the sons & daus. of James SKAGGS, jr dec'd their proportionof said land
In the above entry James SKAGGS founder of SKAGGS' Station, isobviously referred to as James SKAGGS, sr, however his is probably thesameindividual designated as James SKAGGS, jr on the 1785 tax list for Nelson Co.
A James SKAGGS, sr also appears on that tax list. We might assume that James SKAGGS, jr was s/o James SKAGGS, sr & this way may indeed betrue, but many a researcher has learned from bitter experience that this isnot necessarily so.
Although we cannot identify, with certainty, the parents of JamesSKAGGS, founder of SKAGGS' Station, we are better able to identifyhisdecendents. The children of his sons, Stephen, Henry & James are named in adeedwhich is located in Green Co. Deed Bk. 9, pgs. 500-502, dated 9 Oct,1820.
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 97 02:21:23 UT From: "Russell Perkins" To: Skaggs-L@rootsweb.com Subject: SKAGGS line
I have the following line from the Old Long Hunter James Skaggs.Wouldlike to have someone check it out and send comments to me. I need adoublecheck because it has a few differences from my file. Rather than start a large discussion or disagreement, it might be bestto reply to me off the list. If I find that the list is accurate, Iwillrepost it later. Thanks to everone!! Russell fdrmanowar@msn.com
Lineage of Old Long Hunter James Skaggs
James, Sr. b. 1720
His Children: (1) Henry, b. 1750 (2) Stephen b. (3) James, Jr.
Children of (3) James, Jr: Matthew Henry James Stephen Sally Lydia Nancy William John (Father of Benjamin Owen Skaggs) Mary Moses Lettie
Children of (2) Stephen: Henry James Stephen Polly Jane Sally Betsy
Children of (1) Henry b. 1750 James Stephen Joseph Sally Nancy Jeremiah (4)
Children of Jeremiah (4): Jeremiah, Jr Mary Matthew William T. "Bluehead" (5) b. 1797
Children of William T. "Bluehead" (5): William H. Harrison Cynthia Matthew Jeremiah John Lorenzo Leander John R. (may be Cynthia's Son) Daughter Daughter James Thomas, (6) b. 1830
Children of James Thomas, (6): James Thomas "Tom" Lewis Warner Mason Anthony Louanna Loucritia Sarah Cathryn John Will, (7) b. 1852
Children of John Will, (7): Mary Angeline Reuben Erasmus James Ransom Noah Morris, b. 1879 Robert Miller Lucinthia Jane Mason Alonzo
|
Male
Female