Admiral Daniel Skinner

https://youtu.be/qngzFamQkxk

• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Oct 6 2018, 18:26:19 UTC

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GEDCOM Note

"It is your responsibility to verify dates, places, and relationships, plus document sources." per Beverly Branning Greens research olsalte@aol.com

A CT Yankee and a coastwise sailor, buried in the cemetery established by himself on the flats near the bank of the river, where one son had been interred as early as 1790, and his wife in 1808. A simple stone, quarried along the hillside, with his name, age and date of death marks the grave of this pioneer raftsman and "Admiral of the Delaware". Inscribed upon which were the name, date of birth and of death, was set to mark the resting place of this famous pioneer who came there with his parents at the age of 22 and toiled there three score years.

from EARLY HISTORICAL EVENTS IN THE DELAWARE VALLEY, by John T. Bradley ; ( A series of historical articles of interest to everyone who resides in the Delaware section of the county ).: (Writer's Note.- This interesting and valuable historical account of the female battle on the north end of the St Tammany Flats nearly two hundred years ago is from the archives of the late Ezra F. Calkin of Cochecton and was graciously sent to us by his daughter Mrs. Etta Calkin-Burr, of Cochecton, who was a school mate and friend of ours at the Damascus Union Academy). In the spring of 1774 Nat Evans, Abraham Ross and Phineas Clark lived in a house on the ground where Judge Moses Tyler later built a house for one of his sons. One of the Skinners lived on the Flats about 80 rods from where George Bush resided later. Evans Ross and Clark had proposed to each other to combine force and drive Skinner out of the country that they might have the whole flats to themselves and the cutting and rafting of the timber on the Flats. But as Skinner had his brother Haggia living with him and both were resolute men who would not give up without a fierce struggle they hesitated in the undertaking nevertheless they had a strong desire for the coveted Flats yet they dreaded to make the attack upon the Skinners and thus the matter stood without any conclusion. The women had heard their husbands talk of the proposed attack and when alone they laid plans of their own. If the men folks had the courage to attack two men they would make the attack upon Mrs. Skinner. The helligerants were aunt Sara (Mrs. Evans), aunt Hulda (Mrs. Ross), and Mrs. Clark. At length rafting time came and the men were all busy at the river. The women left to themselves, thought it time to strike a decisive blow. Accordingly one pleasant afternoon in May the three women held another council meeting and decided finally to make the attack if their husbands lacked the courage to do so. Aunt Hulda said to her associates that if Skinner can be driven off we could move into his house and Ross and Evans would help Clark and they would soon put up a house on the clearing on the lower end of the flat for you and Clark. Mrs. Clark acquiesced saying all very good, we are fretting about the inactivity of our husbands when we have the power to put ourselves in possession without their assistance. We are stout women and Skinner's wife, you know is a little bit of a thing and her daughter Phoebe is but a child and if I am not mistaken they are very cowardly. Then all we have to do is to put their things out doors and ours in and if they resist I'll hold Mrs. Skinner while Hulda will throw their things out and put ours in and then you will have full possession. This sounded like good logic in the two listening women and all felt assured that the conquest would be an easy one and they sallied forth to execute their plan so easily formulated. However, they soon found out to their dismay that the battle is not always to the strong. When they arrived at Skinner's house they found only Phoebe (13), Reuben (5), Daniel (3) and Lillie about 2 months old. Skinner's wife had gone a short distance on some errand and had left Phoebe to care for the house and children. Finding the house as it was practically deserted, they fancied themselves already in possession of the coveted prize. But alas! Little did they think they were about to catch a Tartar. It is fair to presume that preliminaries were brief. Aunt Hulda proceeded to carry the household effects into the street, but Phoebe, who possessed a fair share of her mothers grit, carried them back in again. Aunt Hulda continued to carry the goods out doors and when Phoebe attempted to carry them back Mrs. Clark caught hold of her to prevent it. Phoebe by the trip of her foot, that she had learned from the Yankee boys, brought her heavily to the floor, and at the same time clinched her by the hair (it was not bobbed in those days) And as she had often seen the necks of chickens wrung, she endeavored to do the same thing with Mrs. Clark. This act of Phoebe together with the impact of the fall upon the hard floor so badly disabled her that she lay apparently lifeless. At this stage in the melee Mrs. Skinner appeared upon the scene and seeing Phoebe mauling the prostrate form of Mrs. Clark went to pull her away, not comprehending the true nature of affairs. Aunt Hulda supposing Mrs. Skinner was in a fighting mood too, knocked her down with a stone the blow inflicting an ugly gash in her head from which the blood flowed freely, then caught her by the hair and called lustily for Aunt Sarah to help her. Phoebe, who by this time had rendered her opponent horse decombat sprang to assist her mother. Aunt Sarah sprang upon Phoebe and then the battle raged fiercely, each having an opponent to deal with. Although the battle had only begun each party in the affray was minus both cap and hair. The quartet of fighting females surged to and fro each inflicting upon the other all the punishment she could. Neither tradition nor the date from which we write states whether foul language nor anathema was used as it was their privilege to use discretion when recounting the account. How long this equal and yet unequal fight might have continued is a matter of conjecture had it not been for a pail of ashes that stood near Mrs. Skinner. She caught up a handful intending to apply them to the wound upon her head to stop the flow of blood but this she never did as the demon of war whispered to her to cram it into the mouth and eyes of aunt Hulda. This she did and seeing the good effect followed it with another handful. This gave the desired effect and she was given the solarplexis blow that put her out of the fight also. Mrs. Skinner though badly wounded and nearly exhausted, with a mother's instinct turned to her daughter. But by that time both Phoebe and aunt Sarah had become pretty nearly exhausted and had called an armistice until they could get their second breath. Before this branch of the army were ready to resume hostilities, two against one now, Mrs. Clark had recovered sufficiently to come forward and ask for peace. In the meantime Aunt Hulda had gone to the Delaware river to wash the ashes from her mouth and eyes and returned as Mrs. Clark begged for mercy. With one accord all sat down to talk the matter over and formulate plans of peace. Each lamented that they had lost their caps. (Matrons wore caps of light material, with ruffled fronts in those days), and hair but each consoled herself that all had lost equally. The passion or revenge and further prospect of getting possession of the coveted Flats with its immense growth of virgin pine trees had somewhat cooled off and reason began to appear in the blurred vision and muddled brains. All had found out that there was no pleasure in having their hair pulled out and their head adornments ruined. But it was a case of "with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again" and "all that take the sword shall perish with the sword." Under their consideration none were anxious to resume the fight, all were losing precious blood and the wound on Mrs. Skinner's head was serious. What a subject for a skilled artist of the brush, or one with a camera, this quintette would have been as they squatted in this log cabin near the Delaware at he head of the Flats named in honor of the great Indian chief Tamanend - St. Tammany! Five respectable women, capless, hairless, clothes in tatters (homespun goods at that) and covered with dust and gore! What a sight for those women to gaze upon! In this posture they remained only a few minutes and then all repaired to the river not to wash away the sins they had just committed, and repaired, but to wash the filth from their bodies and to stanch the flow of blood that was oozing from their nose, head and other lacerations on their body. While thus engaged the three besieging women explained their motive for this attack, acknowledging their wrong, prayed for forgiveness and solemnly promised to refrain from their evil and machinatious ways in the future. When she had heard this confession Mrs. Skinner showed true Christianity by sending Phoebe (who had suffered least of all in the affray) to the house telling her to put over teakettle, bake a johnny cake, boil some potatoes and roast some dried eels. As all needed refreshments after what they had been through. Phoebe carried out the order to the letter and soon the steaming dainties were spread upon the table around which the three amiable ladies, their hostess and her daughter surrounded. It is said the meal was eaten with a cheerful and harmonious spirit. The guests exonerated themselves from being the principals in the shameful act throwing the blame upon others. At this feast they entered into a covenant of friendship and peace which was never violated, and Aunt Sarah and Mrs. Skinner near neighbors many years in peaceful harmony. The last direct information the writer has had in regard to this family plot and the headstone of the Admiral was that the stone has been broken off and no longer marks the spot of burial but was set against the body of an apple tree at some distance away by some thoughtful visitor who may have thought it a sacrilege to tread there. This left the flats occupied only by George Bush who married Annie daughter of Reuben Skinner, and Judge Moses Tyler the only occupants of the historic flats.

per Arthur N. Meyers:

• The many ship masts in the Philadelphia harbor led to the thought of rafting on the swift flowing Delaware river. Daniel Skinner, a Connecticut Yankee and a coastwise sailor, had been in the Delaware Valley in the Cushetunk region. He remembered the tall stately pines as well as the abundance of other timber that grew on the hillsides of the valley. The problem of getting the masts and the timber to tidewater posed a question. There were no railroads in 1763-64, so why not float them down the Delaware. Skinner came back to his beloved valley, cut a tall pine for a mast and tried to float it to tidewater at Trenton or Philadelphia. He followed in a canoe, but it was a dismal failure. But then, Daniel Skinner's yankee ingenuity came to his aid and he tried binding the logs and spars into a raft. When the river was high during the spring freshets, he floated them to the timber markets downstream. This marked the founding of an industry that existed for over two hundred years. Fortunes were made and adventure was provided for the sturdy men and boys of the region. The logs were cut in the winter and "skidded" with oxen to the rafting banks on the shore. Then, at the right time, they were bound together with hardwood poles, making rafts 70 ft. wide and 150 foot long or more. There were some records of these rafts containing 230 thousand feet of timber. Oars were placed in the front and back to steer these clumsy rafts. The rafting industry created a brand new vocabulary. The traditional right or left was supplemented by "Jersy" or "Pennsylvany." The steersman knew the rocks and the obstruction like the Mississippi pilot knew his river and the oarsmen were taught to quickly respond to his orders.

Daniel Skinner - Lord High Admiral of the Delaware Daniel Skinner, the son of Joseph, was born in Salem, Conn. and came with others to the Cushetunk area, and was very active in the early days of rafting. He died at the age of 80 years in 1813 and was buried at St. Tammany's flat below Callicoon, N.Y. There is a story told without foundation that every raft that passed Skinner's place had to stop and deliver a bottle of whiskey to the "Lord High Admiral of the Delaware." In 1800, Skinner helped organize St. Tammany's Lodge No. 83 F&AM, the first Masonic Lodge in the area. It was disbanded in about 1845, but other lodges spring from its membership. His children were Ruben, Daniel, Jr., Joseph, William and Nathan. It was Nathan who was a prominent raftsman and an early Delaware Valley historian. None of his works, however, were published. He married Sarah, the daughter of Oliver Calkins, and one of the granddaughters of Dr. John Calkins who was one of the original setlers of Connecticut. Nathan, besides being a farmer, lumbernam and raftsman, was Justice of the Peace and county surveyor. He was a captain of the Pennsylvania State Militia. He died Nov 15, 1856. Col. Calvin Skinner, another raftsman, was his son. The rafting industry soon spread to the upper reaches of the Delaware River and its tributaries, such as the Willowemoc, East Branch and farther down to the Lackawaxen, River, which entered at Lackawaxen. Inasmuch as these steams were smaller, of necessity, the rafts had to be smaller. They were then called "colts" or "cribs". When they reached the main stream, they were combined into larger rafts and proceeded downstream to market at tidewater. Getting Back

• Before the D&H canal was built (1828) and the Erie Railroad was constructed in the early 1850's, there was just one way to return from a rafting trip and that was by walking over well-marked trails. The Newburgh and Cochecton turnpike at Newburgh and the D&H Canal at Kingston both had to be reached by traveling up. The Hudson and both ways were expensive when one considers the raftsmen only received from $6-$15 for acting as steersman for a trip. It was similar to "riding down hill' or coasting. It did not take long to do down, but turning was another matter. It was cheaper to hike back than pay stagecoach fares or canal boat passage. It was a responsibility of the raft owner to pay the keep and even with whiskey at 6 cents a glass and meals and lodging at a minimum it was still expensive. The raft timber had to be sold and sometimes there was much bargaining. A story is told of a raft owner who had considerable discussion over the timber price. This same man liked free drinks for his men and crew. He could not read or write and he took some time in figuring on a piece of paper. Finally a price was reached and the drinks consumed. The lumber dealer noticed the crumbled paper. He was curious how the raft owner arrived at the price so he examined it and was startled to find all it had on it was a series of X's. There were many hazards, in navigating these unwieldy crafts but the good steersman knew how to overcome them. There was Skinners Falls, the Foul rifts and the man made obstacles like the Lackawaxen Dam. This was used to propel the canal boats over the Delaware River. Sometimes they encountered a canal boat loaded with coal. When this happened, needless to say, there was great difficulty. The Pennsylvania Coal Co., operators of the D&H Canal, called in John H. Roebling the famous German engineer who had invented wire cable and the suspension bridge. He solved the problem by building a suspension bridge and putting heavy planks on the side and bottom. This making an aqueduct. Filled with water, it floated the canal boats serenely to the other side. Incidentally, this bridge proved to Roebling the practicality of the suspension bridge which culminated in the Brooklyn Bridge and other famous structures. This bridge, built in 1849, is still used as a vehicular bridge. The up and down saw that predated the presently used circular saw came into use and the lumber was bound into rafts and floated down the Delaware. These rafts, however, were more difficult to construct and sometimes came apart causing great loss to the river men. Cities and towns began using the famous Delaware Valley bluestone for sidewalks and curbing. Jeremiah Partridge, quarryman of Narrowsburg, tried to use the rafting methods to get his product to market, but it did not prove too successful and when the Erie Railroad pushed its rails up the Delaware Valley, this form of transportation proved more practical. Rafting gradually declined and in 1924 a small raft was deliver to Martin Hermann, Calicoon lumberman. It was the last raft seen. The denuding of Big Island and Pine Island changed very materially the aspect of St. Tammany Flats. But the removal of St. Tammany Lodge No 83, the death of Daniel Skinner and his two sons, and the failure of the turnpike to come thru that section made the Tammany village desolate. At one time besides the Frenchman, their were the Admiral and his two sons, Reuben was a Justice of the Peace, John Simmons, John Conklin, who married a Skinner, James Sonley. There were a blacksmith and carpenter shop and a store was opened after the departure of Bronteret. The little village had begun to put on airs; but, also pride goeth before a fall. "Admiral" Skinner died in 1813 and his two sons followed in a year or two. The Admiral was buried in a spot of his own selection on the farm upon which he had experienced joys and sorrows of a pioneer life. A simple sand stone split from a near by rock, Inscribed upon which were the name, date of birth and of death, was set to mark the resting place of this famous pioneer who came there with his parents at the age of 22 and toiled there three score years. The remains of Reuben Skinner were buried in the Shields cemetery, Damascus, but was later exhumed and re-interred in the new Baptist cemetery. The remains of another son, in 1790, and of his wife in 1808 were laid in the family plot on St. Tammany Flats. The last direct information the writer has had in regard to this family plot and the headstone of the Admiral was that the stone has been broken off and no longer marks the spot of burial but was set against the body of an apple tree at some distance away by some thoughtful visitor who may have thought it a sacrilege to tread there. This left the Flats occupied only by George Bush, who married Annie, daughter of Reuben Skinner, and Judge Moses Tyler the only occupants of the historic Flats.

per Calkins Consolidated: p.18 Daniel Skinner while in Phila noticed the tall ship masts Will Vo. 2 #23 Penna Archives Daniel Skinner Sr. wife Rosabela, Newburg Orange Co., NY; Sarah wife of John Conklin, Susannah child of son Joseph deceased, son Daniel, son William H. wife of John Conklin, Nathan 50 ac. back to saw mill, dau. Lilly & Sarah & Mary Wilcox.

from EARLY HISTORICAL EVENTS IN THE DELAWARE VALLEY, by John T. Bradley ; ( A series of historical articles of interest to everyone who resides in the Delaware section of the county ).: Daniel Skinner and his neighbors opened a road from Big Island to connect with the Turnpike road some three or 4 miles east of Cochecton. This was known as The Wild Turnpike. At the time the survey for the turnpike was made Daniel used his utmost endeavor to have the company follow his road and cross the Delaware at the head of St. Tammany Flats. But the people at Cochecton seemed to have the stronger pull and the road was made up and down the long hills to Rileyville. Had they listened to Skinners pleading the road could have been made up Hollister Creek via Duck Harbor to Rileyville. But the surveyors no doubt had the thought of that drink of gin on top of every hill. Had the turnpike not gone where it now is the general topography of the county would have been different.

p.27- SKETCH OF PARKS: We deem this chapter a suitable place to speak of Josiah Parks, the forehand of "Admiral" Daniel Skinner's second raft run down the Delaware. Parks was born in New London, Conn. in 1745 and was the first white man to settle at Equinunk. At an early age he served on a British man-of-war, where he distinguished himself for bravery and was made a boatswain. Upon leaving the navy he settled in Ulster county, N.Y., where he remained until the beginning of the Revolutionary War. He entered the continental army as a scout his field of action being the country lying between the Hudson and the Delaware rivers; a region infested by loyalists and their savage allies, the Indians. At one time he went to the Wyoming valley and warned the settlers of the impending massacre. Few heeded the warning and these he brought back with him to the Cochecton Valley. At some time before the Revolutionary War, Parks migrated with his family to Equinunk, reaching it by the open gateway to this action, the Delaware river, pushing a canoe, with all his earthly possessions and his family, against its strong current. He and his family lived for some time in a cave at Equinunk where was born to them soon after 1776 a daughter the first white child born in that locality. Because of his occupation as scout, he became the especial object of hatred by the Tories. On one occasion they took him prisoner, but while they made preparation to roast him he escaped. Finally being warned by a friendly Indian of a plot to absolutely destroy him he again put his family in the canoe and when the Delaware was in flood and filled with floating ice, pushed down stream until he reached the protection of the little block-house, or fort at Cochecton. Parks returned to Equinunk but was again obliged to leave. Undaunted, he again returned to enjoy the peace that had come to the country at the successful ending of the long siege of war, and no longer a scout he went unmolested. He built a house on Equinunk Island which then belonged to Pennsylvania. It is reasonable to suppose that the intrepid path-finder cleared the land and got the peace and quiet of life that he so ardently worked to bring about. At one time it is said he owned Stockport Flats, but sold them for a mere pittance; was always poor in purse and died that way. Mrs. Prudence Lakin was one of his daughters. Along the Delaware is given precedence for its first clearing by white men; the first Masonic Lodge; the first Delaware river Bridge. The first saw and grist mills; the first fort; the first Justice of the Peace; the first town meeting, called by Moses Thomas; the first church; the first frame house erected in 1796, by John Land, a two-story structure that stands in good condition today; the first store started; the first raft constructed; the first turnpike built across and the largest township in Wayne county. End ~~~~~~~~ 29Oct1912 -Along the Delaware - Narrowsburg The first raft of this year passed by here last Saturday morning. William Skinner of Milanville was the steersman. He told your correspondent about a year ago that his great grand father, John Skinner, ran the first raft down the Delaware over a hundred years ago and he, William, was going to ty and run the last one - start with a Skinner and end with a Skinner. 14Nov1912 That Fatal Raft The raft which hit a ferry boat in the Delaware River above Belvidere, NJ, recently and caused the drowning of four of an auto party that was crossing the river was owned by and in charge of Arthur Mitchell, of Callicoon, and was steered by William Skinner of Milanville, one of the best rartsmen on the river. It was the largest raft that has gone down the Delaware in years and caused considerable comment all along the line. Mr. Mitchell says that the raft was being hauled up to the shore for the night when the accident occurred and that it was almost stopped, and that the ferry man apparently did not see the raft in time to prevent his boat from running into it. After the collision, instead of holding his boat to the raft so that the people could get off, he started his boat right back for the Jersey shore and ran the end of the boat upon the bank, causing the autos to slide off into the water. The people in the cars were carried with them and drowned. The ferry man has been held to await the action of the grand jury. 28Apr1913 Wm. Skinner of Milanville run a raft for Albert and Arthur Mitchell down the Delaware April 12. This undoubtedly will be the last raft, and the end of what was once almost the greatest industry through the section of country, where the beautuful Delaware flows. For years one could scarcely view the river in times of freshet with out seing several rafts, and many remember when Big Eddy, Narrowsburg, which was a difficult place to get through when the wind was unfavorable, was packed full so that a man could walk across the river on the rafts.

per Along the Delaware: 1May1913 Last Raft on the Delaware: Albert and Arthur Mitchell of Callicoon, sons of the late Elias Mitchell, who was a pioneer raftsman on the Delaware, ran what will probably be the last raft run down the Delaware river about two weeks ago. The raft was 210 feet long, 54 feet wide and worth $1,000. Wm. Skinner of Milanville, a decendant of Daniel Skinner, who ran the first raft down the Delaware, in 1764, was the steersman. Thus this family bears the distinction of having run the first and the last rafts floated to tidewater on the Delaware. In the old days, rafts were floated down the river by the hundreds.

per Wayne Independent: In May of 1775, Daniel Skinner, Sr., son of Joseph, doubting the probability of holding land under the Connecticut title, obtained a patent of Richard Penn for 140 acres on which he built a house. In September, 1775, Joseph Skinner gave his son Daniel a deed for 25 acres of his original 100. Daniel paid five pounds for the land. Skinner named his settlement Ackhake and the area later became known as St. Tammany Flats, because the Delaware chief Tammanend was said to have once resided near there, or across the river in New York State. This has, however, been convincingly disputed. In 1763-64, Daniel Skinner experimented with floating pine logs down the Delaware to Philadelphia. In 1764 he ran the first raft ever constructed down the Delaware. Shortly after, he made a larger raft on which Josiah Parks, of Stockport and Equinunk, went as a forehand. Skinner was called "Lord High Admiral" of all the later raftsmen on the Delaware, and Parks was termed "Boatswain." Dec.25, 1771, many inhabitants of the area collected at the house of Nicholas Conklin, where they met a number of Indians, among them a Tuscarora chief, Capt. John. Capt. John was drunk and started to flourish a knife, gashing one man in the arm. He ordered Haggai Skinner to give him another drink, Haggai refused, and Daniel Skinner told him he'd had too much. At this, John stepped forward and struck Daniel. Skinner knocked him down and tied him up until he sobered up, at which time John thanked Skinner for keeping him in control and they parted friends. But someone was once again against Skinner as in May, 1772, he received a letter from James Welsh, and in it was enclosed a letter from Lewis Gordon. It was as follows: In May of 1775 , Daniel Skinner received a Pennsylvania patent for his lands, and returned from Cochecton to Wayne, He united with Bezaleel Tyler (or Ross) and bought the Hollister place. They built a sawmill on Hollister Creek, named for the Hollister brothers who were killed in the Wyoming battle. per LDS: b. Pomfret, Windham, CT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Daniel & Timothy Skinner arrested in 1760

Delawares first Raft By whom the first raft was run and when where it started from, one man drowned, His body never recovered. from the Binghamton Republican A few weeks ago the item made the rounds of the press in this state, that Daniel Skinner ran the first raft down the Delaware River, but did not give the date of the event. Thursday a representative of the Republican had a pleasant chat with Mrs. Sarah A. Bush, an aged lady of this city, who was brought up along the Delaware, and distinctly remembers the facts as told to her by her parents, related to the running of the first raft. She states that it was rafted about the year 1800 in the spring at Cochecton Falls, a rocky schute midway between Narrowsburg and Cochecton, on the line of the Erie railway, by Daniel Skinner, Cornelius Lachley, and a man whose name she cannot remember. The raft was composed of the longest and finest pine timber in the vicinity and was much longer and narrower than the rafts of the present day. The three men set off on what was then a truly perilous trip, for the river bed was filled with boulders and the river was fully 20 feet narrower than it now is. Lashly fell into the river in atempting to jump from the raft to the shore, near the Narrowsburg whirlpool and was drowned. His body was never recovered. The two remaining adventurers continued on to Philadelphia, which city they reached, not however without meeting with many narrow escapes, sold the raft and returned home. After the pioneer raft went down the river many others followed until rafting became a stupendous industry. At that time the river was bordered along most of its upper course with a solid wall of trees and the Indians roamed in a savage state along its banks.Many desparate encounters, thrilling and hair-breadth escapes were experienced by early settlers of that vicinity. Later Aaron Baird, of Narrowsburg, brother of Mrs. Bush, was celebrated as being the champion raft steersman on the river. 1/20/2010 State closes Skinners Falls Bridge By Peter Becker Wayne Independent Jan 19, 2010, Milanville, Pa. - The truss bridge spanning the Delaware River at Skinners Falls, has been shut down. PennDOT reported that the Route 1002 bridge was closing by the end of the day, Tuesday. No plan for repair has been determined. The bridge is located at Milanville, Damascus Township, connecting River Road with New York Route 97 on the other side. The bridge, which dates to 1902, has steel spans and a timber deck. Karen Dussinger, PennDOT spokesperson, said that there is damage to a truss member which is difficult to repair. Closure was recommended following bridge inspection and a computer analysis of measurements taken. “It’s an inconvenience to the community but if its unsafe it has to be done,” said Venessa Degori,an owner of the nearby Milanville General Store. She said it would hurt business and hopes it can be fixed by the summer. They receive a lot of business from Lander’s Campgrounds across the river, she added. On May 28, 2009, The New York-Pennsylvania Joint Interstate Bridge Commission approved capital construction and maintenance plans for 10 Upper Delaware River bridges. At that time, major rehabilitation was expected to be phased in, for the Skinners Falls Bridge. Repair of truss members and abutments at the Skinners Falls Bridge was to get underway in 2010 under an estimated $200,000 contract. A second phase of full rehabilitation and painting was to take place in 2015 for $8 million. A detour has been put in place on the Pennsylvania side,sending motorists north on Route 1004 (Damascus Road) to the village of Damascus at Route 371, and then over the Damascus Bridge to reach Route 97 at Cochecton, NY. One may also travel south on River Road to Route 652 and head over the bridge to Narrowsburg, NY. The bridge is 470 feet long and carries a single lane of traffic. According to the Wayne County Historical Society, the bridge was constructed by the American Bridge Company and funded by the Milanville Bridge Company. The bridge replaced a ferry run by raftsman Daniel Skinner and his family. It is one of several bridges in Sullivan County that are on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Roebling Aqueduct and Pond Eddy Bridge. The span was a toll bridge until 1928.

Penna Archives- State Records Land Research - Daiel Skinner 422-40 to Daniel Skinner 13Jul1784 P 18-410 Mar 14,1792

GEDCOM Note

Bev: Thanks for the photos! This is actually a certificate from when the church was re-dedicated in 1874. I wonder if a similar certificate was recorded when the church was dedicated in 1832? The Wayne County Historical Society has informed me that they do not possess any further records of the First Baptist Church of Damascus and referred me directly to the church (who I have already contacted). I hope the current pastor is cooperative and finds something! Perry Karlyn:Thank you for your recent messages. I have inserted some responses below…Perry Dear Perry and Bev, I had visited the Pastor of this church on my quest for Lassley information. At that time, he told me the original church, that stood before the present 1832 church had burned down. That may well be true but Parks and Sarah (Lassley) Baird were still both alive and well in 1832 so I am hopeful that there will be something to prove that they were members of the congregation. I am certain that I have read in "History of Wayne, Pike and Monroe Counties," by Matthews, that a Baptist minister came with the first Connecticut settlers, but do you think I can locate that now? I will continue to look tonight when I have more time. However, on the website for the church, we have the following: Damascus holds the distinction of being the first township to have a house built exclusively for church purposes. It was erected in 1800 by Deacon Thomas Shields, just a few yards from where the present church now stands. Although not formally organized until 1821, the present building was dedicated in 1832 We do know from this information that there was a Baptist Church here in 1800, and since Deacon Thomas Shields (an old Wayne Co. name), was most likely here prior to that, we can assume he held services in someone's home or barn. Yes-there's no doubt that there was a Baptist Congregation at Damascus by the time Parks Baird arrived about 1813. Hopefully, we can prove that he joined and/or Sarah rejoined/joined. The earliest record we have of John Lassly being here is from Matthew's History: 1772 - The earliest documented record we have of John Lassley's presence in Cushetunk, Damascus, Northampton Co, PA (now Wayne County, PA) was in May 10, 1772, when four men signed a statement about Daniel Skinner. These were Nicholas Conklin, John Lassley, Elizabeth Conklin and William Conklin (History of Wayne, Pike and Monroe Counties, Matthews, 1886, page 450). This event is also recorded in the History of Sullivan County, Quinlan, 1873, page 189, where the statement about Daniel Skinner is signed Nicholas Conklin, John LESSLEY, Elizabeth Conklin and William Conklin The last information I have about the "Lassley Place" (see below) is in 1799. 1799 Damascus Township Lists: Martin Fribitt one log house adjacent $40 adjacent to Lany Lasley. David Quick owner Joseph Thomas 1 log house 15 x 10, $30. The area on both sides of Spruce Swamp Road in Damascus Twp. was formerly known as the "Lassley Place," and to this day, is still called the "Lassley Place" on some older Wayne County, PA maps. This area would be the area where warrant tract #176 owned by John Lassley was surveyed and plotted out. See area Warrant Maps for Damascus Township, Plat #176, John Lasly. Neighbors directly South were Solomon Decker and Aaron Thomas. Per JH Bradley, John Young and Catherine Lassley, granddaughter of John Lassley, lived on John Lassley's land. There is no record of John Lassley having sold his land prior to moving to Greene Co., Prior to his death so perhaps this couple lived on it, passed onto their family and then it may have been sold to members outside of the family.

1799 Damascus Township Lists: Martin Fribitt one log house adjacent $40 adjacent to Lany Lasley. David Quick owner Joseph Thomas 1 log house 15 x 10, $30. The area on both sides of Spruce Swamp Road in Damascus Twp. was formerly known as the "Lassley Place," and to this day, is still called the "Lassley Place" on some older Wayne County, PA maps. This area would be the area where warrant tract #176 owned by John Lassley was surveyed and plotted out. See area Warrant Maps for Damascus Township, Plat #176, John Lasly. Neighbors directly South were Solomon Decker and Aaron Thomas. By 1800, we know that John and Sarah Lassley were in Greene Co., NY and then he moved back to Wayne County, at some point prior to making his Rev. War Pension Application: Date Unknown, Deed to John Lassley, from Luthier Carter, Mentioned within DB C: 339, Deed below April 9, 1807 to Parks Bard, from John Lassley, both from Greene Co., Catskill Court Administration Bldg., Greene Co., NY. 1800 - In 1800, John appears on the census in Freehold Township, Greene County, NY age 45 or older, with 2 females age 10 - 16 and 1 female, over the age of 45 (Sarah, his wife). I have no proof that John Lassley was a Baptist, but we can make some deductions: His parents were married in a Congregational Church (Calvinist). There was a Baptist church (Calvinist) built here in 1800, with worship surely going on before that date. John's daughter, Sarah married Parks Baird in Greenville Presbyterian Church (Also Calvinisht) in 1801. From Cornelius Lassley, who contributed the glass "Lassley" memorial window in the Baptist church built in 1832 through my Grandfather, Ralph Lassley, the family was Baptist. So, what we can say is that the Lassly/Lassley family followed the Calvinist beliefs and worshipped in whatever Calvinist-type church was around. John was most likely worshipping in the early Baptist services here. We know that the Baptist church formed from the Congregationalist church. I haven't studied Greenville to see if there was a Baptist and a Presbyterian church. Since the Lasslys were Scots-Irish, the Calvinist believe system makes sense. They probably originated as Presbyterians, then were Congregationists, then Baptist, and those that moved away, Presbyterian. Some around here are still Baptist, and some are Methodist. A long answer, to a short question. Karlyn Thanks for your sharing your thoughts on all of the indirect evidence available. I agree with all of your analysis. I am quite confident that Parks and Sarah (Lassley) Baird were Baptists (like Parks Jr.) but the Editor has been pushing for direct evidence. By the way, recent research shows that Parks Baird descends from some of the first Baptists in New England J

Joseph and Martha had 13 known children, including Daniel Skinner, born March 22, 1732, who became the most colorful and locally famous of the Delaware River Valley residents.

[Sources: documents from the Pennsylvania Archives and Connecticut Archives.]

The son of JOSEPH & MARTHA (KINNE) SKINNER, he married LILLIE HEALY on March 11, 1761 at Pomfret, Windham Co., Connecticut. He was baptized on May 13, 1733 at the Second Church in Preston, Conn.

Daniel came with his father, Joseph, from Connecticut to settle the area along the Delaware River known as Cushtunk Territory around 1754. On Sept. 4, 1755 for £5 New York currency Daniel purchased 25 acres from his father near Cochecton (part of the Susquehanna purchase) that was called Ackhake. During this time, he sailed to the West Indies & discoverd the importance of good timber in the masts of ships. In 1759, he left Cochecton and lived in Newtown, Sussex Co., NJ, but returned to Cochecton in 1763 when he began rafting timber down the Delaware River to Philadelphia. Harrassment by the Indians was common. On one occassion, Daniel Skinner's wife had been "put to bed", and he was required to bring her to Fort Delaware in her bed due to an Indian uprising. They left Cochecton again for Shawngunk, New York and returned in 1777. His house in Cochecton had been plundered & burned. Daniel settled again in Cochecton naming his farm St. Tammany Flats which is in Callicoon, Sullivan Co., New York and lived there for the remainder of his years.

Daniel Skinner of Cochecton, New York built the first raft to carry timber down the river since floating loose timber would go aground and proved to be an unsuccessful method of moving timber down the river. He was recognized as the founder of the lumber industy in the history of the upper Delaware Valley. His fellow rafters called him the "Lord High Admiral", being Admiral of all the waters of the river, and he alone could give full permission to navigate the river.

The above information from "The Skinner Manuscript" by Nathan Skinner, "Skinner Kinsman" online, "Wayne Co. Tombstone Inscriptions", "Rafting on the Delaware", "History of Sullivan County by James Quinlan, and "The History of Wayne County" by Phinneas Goodrich.

The children of Daniel & Lillie (Healy) Skinner:
Reuben Skinner (1761-1812) m. MARY POLLY (CHASE) CLARK
Daniel Skinner b: 17 NOV 1763
Lillie (Skinner) Land (1767-1845), m. John Land
Mercy Skinner b: 12 MAR 1769
Joseph Skinner b: 10 MAR 1771
William H. Skinner b: 22 MAR 1773
Sarah Skinner b: 15 FEB 1775
Nathan Skinner (1777-1856) m. Sarah Caulkins
Cortlandt Skinner b: 26 AUG 1779

• Reference: WikiTree Genealogy - SmartCopy: Dec 22 2023, 4:27:22 UTC