Joseph Skinner, Sr.

Joseph SKINNER , Sr.

• Birth: 17 Jan 1707/08, Colchester, New London, CT
• Death: ABT 1755, near Damascus, Wayne, PA Age 50?
• Father: Ebenezer Skinner , Sgt.
• Mother: Sarah Lord
• Wife: Martha Kinne
• do not confuse with Joseph Skinner, of Colchester

Biography

From https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26146888/joseph-skinner

Joseph Skinner, Susquehanna Company and Delaware Company Proprietor.

Joseph was the son of Ebeneezar Skinner, Massachusetts Bay Colony, who had migrated to Preston, Connecticut Colony. His mother was Sarah Lord of Hartford, Connecticut. On April 30, 1729 in Connecticut, he married Martha Kinne (bap Jan 1711 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony - many spelling variations), descendant of the Salem Witch Trial accuser, Henry Kenney. 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.]

This corroborating newspaper item, found in several 1756 newspapers, apparently was not available to the book's authors:

"Extract of a Letter from Blooming-Grove [currently Town of Blooming Grove, Orange County, New York], dated the 5th Instant

We have certain Intelligence that the remaining Inhabitants of Cushecton, in the Great Patent, are all destroyed. The Indians have killed Skinner, and shot another man thro the Body, who, it's thought, will recover. We are now about to send a Petition to the Govenor, for a supply of Men to Guard from Minisink to Mumbaccus; we do not think we have quarter Men enough for our Safety. There is yet, at or near Cushecton, a Number of Indians with their Families. The people of Ulster and Goshen Counties[*], talk of immediately raising Men to go out and cut them off."

Family

http://skinnerkinsmen.org/glendinning/D0001/I326.html

Family

1. Married Martha KINNE Marriage: 30 Apr 1729, Preston, New London, CT

Children

• Joseph SKINNER , Jr.
• Joseph SKINNER , 1\2
• Daniel SKINNER
• Abner SKINNER
• Benjamin SKINNER
• Huldah SKINNER
• Calvin SKINNER
• Hagga SKINNER
• Lydia SKINNER
• Timothy SKINNER
• William SKINNER
• John SKINNER
• Martha SKINNER

————-

http://longislandsurnames.com/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I463... Birth 17 Jan 1707/08 Colechester, Ct Find all individuals with events at this location Gender Male Died Abt 1759 Wayne, Pa Find all individuals with events at this location Person ID I4639 Decker Last Modified 10 Oct 2011

Father Ebenezer Skinner, d. UNKNOWN Mother Sarah Lord, d. UNKNOWN Family ID F1738 Group Sheet

Family 1 Elizabeth Skinner, b. Abt 1709, d. UNKNOWN Children

	1. Joseph Skinner,   b. Abt 1734,   d. UNKNOWN

	2. Dorothy Skinner,   b. Abt 1738,   d. UNKNOWN Family ID  	F1737  	Group Sheet

Family 2 Martha Kinne, d. UNKNOWN Married 30 Apr 1729 Children

	1. Benjamin Skinner,   d. UNKNOWN

	2. Timothy Skinner,   d. UNKNOWN

	3. Abner Skinner,   d. 4 Sep 1806, Deerpark, Orange Co, Ny Find all individuals with events at this location

	4. Huldah Skinner,   d. 1806

	5. Marcey Skinner,   d. UNKNOWN

	6. Sarah Skinner,   d. UNKNOWN

	7. Kesiah Skinner,   d. UNKNOWN

	8. Daniel Skinner,   b. 22 Mar 1732/33, Preston, Windham, Ct Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 23 Feb 1813, Wayne, Pa Find all individuals with events at this location

	9. Martha Skinner,   b. Abt 1741,   d. UNKNOWN

	10. Calvin Skinner,   b. 9 Apr 1743,   d. 30 Mar 1835

	11. Lydia Skinner,   b. Abt 1745,   d. UNKNOWN

	12. Joseph Skinner,   b. Abt 1749,   d. 11 May 1779

	13. Haggi Skinner,   b. 5 Mar 1749/50,   d. UNKNOWN

	14. William Skinner,   b. Abt 1752,   d. UNKNOWN

	15. John Skinner,   b. Abt 1754,   d. UNKNOWN

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=26146888Birth: Jan. 17, 1707 Death: Dec., 1755

Joseph Skinner, Susquehanna Company and Delaware Company Proprietor

Joseph Skinner was an original proprietor in the Susquehanna Company, whose purpose was to expand Connecticut Colony's borders eastward right through the Pennsylvania Colony by occupying the Wyoming Valley along the Susquehanna River. The Company, formed in 1753, clung to the belief that the Wyoming Valley was rightfully Connecticut territory in spite of the anger this belief caused in Philadelphia and in the Iroquois Confederacy (who claimed a long-standing dominion over the indigenous Delawares, or Lenni Lenape as they named themselves). The Company's tenaciously stubborn attitude led directly to the Pennamite Wars and the Wyoming Massacre. Its actions resulted in the warnings and arrest warrants issued from the Governor of Pennsylvania Colony to the Skinner sons, and the intervention of and negotiations by Sir William Johnson to resolve. Pennsylvania retained sovereignty over the area and Company members were forced to re-purchase their lands. Skinner also became interested in the Cushetunk area of the Delaware Valley that straddled the Delaware River in what is now Sullivan County, New York on the east bank and Wayne County, Pennsylvania on the west bank. The Delaware Company was created in order to pursue a patent from Connecticut for this land, in which he was a founding proprietor. In about 1753, he was appointed by the Susquehanna Company to join a small party sent to evaluate the Wyoming Valley, begin surveying, and approach Indians about its purchase. The resulting purchase deed is signed by minor, otherwise unknown Sachems. Daniel Claus, one of Sir William Johnson's Indian agents and future son-in-law, claimed the sale was made even more fraudulently under the influence of alcohol. Neither the Delawares nor the Iroquois Confederacy were pleased about the confiscation of their lands. Sometime between 16 Dec 1755 and 26 Dec 1755, while carrying documents relating to Company business back to Connecticut, Skinner, in company with a Mr. Hooss or Hoos, was shot and killed in Cushetunk, it is theorized, by Indians. It is known that Teedyuscung, Chief of the Delawares, had become weary of waiting for the European governments to deal with the Connecticut Yankee intruders and was conducting raids in that general area in an effort to dislodge them. It's possible that this raiding party encountered Skinner and his companion. Mr Hooss or Hoos was also shot, but possibly not killed outright, it's unclear. Skinner's body was found washed up on an island in the Delaware River in January of 1756, recognized by the prayerbook he carried in his pocket. He was buried in the Cushetunk area, but knowledge of the exact location has been lost. As Cushetunk was still frontier wilderness at this time, there were no organized cemeteries. Joseph was the son of Ebeneezar Skinner, Massachusetts Bay Colony, who had migrated to Preston, Connecticut Colony. His mother was Sarah Lord of Hartford, Connecticut. On April 30, 1729 in Connecticut, he married Martha Kinne (bap Jan 1711 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony - many spelling variations), descendant of the Salem Witch Trial accuser, Henry Kenney. 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 only contemporary report of Joseph Skinner's death is found in the Rev. Gideon Hawley's diary, kept while the missionary resided at Onaquga, New York. It says:

"Wednesday, 16 December, 1755. I sent large accounts of affairs here to Mr. Oliver which I enclosed to Lt. Pitkin Esquire of Hartford by Mr. Skinner and Hooss.

Saturday, 26 December, 1755. This week had news that Conshethton[*] is destroyed and that Skinner and Hoos, who left us on Thursday last week, are both killed, but hardly believe it. Hope it is not true. (Microfilm of Hawley diary from Broome Cty., N.Y., Historical Association.)"

The Legend of Cushetunk: The Nathan Skinner Manuscript and the Early History of Coshecton Barbara J Sivertsen and Barbara L Covey Heritage Books, Inc., 1993 Page 37, Endnote #6.

[*] Cushetunk

This corroborating newspaper item, found in several 1756 newspapers, apparently was not available to the book's authors:

"Extract of a Letter from Blooming-Grove, dated the 5th Instant

We have certain Intelligence that the remaining Inhabitants of Cushecton, in the Great Patent, are all destroyed. The Indians have killed Skinner, and shot another man thro the Body, who, it's thought, will recover. We are now about to send a Petition to the Govenor, for a supply of Men to Guard from Minisink to Mumbaccus; we do not think we have quarter Men enough for our Safety. There is yet, at or near Cushecton, a Number of Indians with their Families. The people of Ulster and Goshen Counties[*], talk of immediately raising Men to go out and cut them off."

1. Headline: "Extract of a Letter from Blooming Grove, Dated the 5th Instant" Article Type: News/Opinion Paper: Pennsylvania Gazette, published as The Pennsylvania Gazette Date: 01-15-1756 Issue: 1412 Page: 2 Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

2. Headline: "Extract of a Letter from Blooming-Grove, Dated the 5th Instant" Article Type: News/Opinion Paper: Boston News-Letter, published as The Boston Weekly News-Letter Date: 01-22-1756 Issue: 2794 Page: 1 Location: Boston, Massachusetts.

[*]Goshen in Orange County, New York.

Burial: Non-Cemetery Burial Specifically: No cemeteries were organized at the time as this was the frontier; the knowledge of his burial place has been lost.

• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Aug 18 2016, 17:12:06 UTC

  ---

GEDCOM Note

per Beverly Branning Greens research 1996 olsalte@aol.com

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 ).: Joseph Skinner, who came from Preston, Conn. in 1754, was the pioneer and forbear of all the Skinners peopling the Delaware Valley, and Nathan was his grandson. Nathan married Sarah Calkin. They had 14 children. The tasks of Joseph Skinner & Moses Thomas was to look the country over and make their report which they did-& the report was good. Some reports say 1,200 came over various routes. Getting to the Hudson River was fairly easy. However, the unmarked trails did not lend themselves to cart or wagon traffic. Horseback was the only means. Needless to say, this influx of the Yankees caused great concern to Willilam Penn's Colonists who also had been granted colonization rights in Pennsylvania. The result was the Pennamite War. However, this was resolved as the settlers from CT soon overcame their difficulties. They organized in two companies. One, the Delaware company at Cushetunk, encompassed a territory loosely described as going from Callicoon to Lackawaxen on the Penna. side of the Delaware River. The Susquehanna Company went to the Wyoming Valley near Wilkes-Barre. The rafts used to float logs to Phila & Trenton were strictly "downriver" craft, the need for an "upriver" craft to bring in supplies and machinery brought about the creation of the Durham boat. These boats were built for shallow drafts and used sails and poles. they had to be dragged up the rapids. Joseph Skinner left his home for what was thought to be a short business journey. He never came back. His widow waited for a long time. Eventually, her husbands body was found about two miles from his home where he was shot by persons unknown. Joseph Skinner, the father of "Admiral" David Skinner, sold to the latter the St. Tammany Flats. Soon after this transaction Joseph was shot and killed at Taylor's Eddy, about a mile above the Cochecton Bridge (now State Bridge) by some lurking foe in ambush as he was returning from attending a treaty with the Indians. Other men came with this contingent of path blazers but time and space forbids us going too much into detail.

per Arthur N. Meyers: The tasks of Joseph Skinner and Moses Thomas was to look the country over and make their report, which they did - and the report was good. Some reports say 1.200 came over various routes. Getting to the Hudson River was fairly easy. However, the unmarked trails did not lend themselves to cart or wagon traffic. Horseback was the only means. Needless to say, this influx of the Yankees caused great concern to William Penn's colonists who also had been granted colonization rights in Pennsylvania. The result was the Pennamite War. However, this was resolved as the settlers from Connecticut soon overcame their difficulties.

per Calklins Consolidated: Skinner & Thomas first came to the area as fur traders.

[per LDS" name on 1st & 2nd Indian deeds, or Gr. son? with Moses Thomas ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From the Mail Box by Arthur N. Meyers Many great ideas and inventions emanate from simple observations. James Watt had a vision of the steam engine from watching the cover on the tea kettle. The rifle projectile gave the idea for the internal combustion engine tht menas so much in our present day transportation. 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 gettings 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 tired 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 hyears. Fortunes were 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 shoe. 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 thoujsand 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 "Jersey" of "Pennsylvaniy". The steersmen knew the rocks and the obstructions like the Mississippi pilot knew his river and the oarsmen were taught to quickly respond to his orders. The Connecticut Yankees During the middle of the 1700's the Connecticut colony became crowded. King Charles II of England granted this colony a charter to reach from sea to sea. All the inhabitants were entitled to the rights, provided they did not trespass on another Christian king of prince. Indians did not matter. Some of the settlers thought they would exercise their rights, but before they moved westward, they sent out spies to look the country over. Alsup Vaill Tyler, in his book, "Damascus Manor." called it a tour of investigation. When Moses wanted to know more about the land of Canaan, he too sent out spies; he too said, "see the land, what it is, and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they are strong or weak, few or many- and what the land is- fat or lean." [Number 13-18, King James] The tasks of Joseph Skinner and Moses Thomas was to look the county over and make their report, which they did- and the report was good. Some reports say 1,200 came over various routes. Getting to the Hudson River was fairly easy. However, the unmarked trails did not lend themselves to cart or wagon traffic. Horseback was the only means. Needless to say, this influx of the Yankees caused great concern to William Penn's colonists who also had been granted colonization rights in Pennsylvania. The result was the Pennamite War. However, this was resolved as the settlers from Connecticut soon overcame their difficulties. They organized in two companies. One, the Delaware company at Cushetunk encompassed a territory loosely described as going from Callicoon to Lackawaxen on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River. The Susquehanna Company went to the Wyoming Valley near Wilkes-Barre. The rafts used to float logs to Philadelphia and Trenton were strictly "downriver" craft. The need for an "upriver" craft to bring in supplies and machinery brought about the creation of the Durham boat. These boats were built for shallow drafts and used sails and poles. They had to be dragged up the rapids. Joseph Skinner left his home for what was thought to be a short business journey. He never came back. His widow waited for a long time. Eventually, her husband's body was found about two miles from his home where he was shot by persons unknown. 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 flats 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 this area. It was disbanded in about 1845, but other lodges sprung 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,m and one of the granddaughters of Dr. John Calkins who was one of the original settlers of Connecticut. Nathan, besides being a famer, lumberman 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 ot the upper reaches of the Delaware River and it tributaries, such as the Willowemoc, East Branch and farther down to the Lackawaxen, River, which entered at Lackawaxen. Inasmuch as these streams 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 go down, but returning was another mattter. 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 minimim 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 whbo 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 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 steersmen 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, thus making an aqueduct. Filled with water, it floated the canal boats serenely to theother 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 curcular 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 somtimes 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 rail up the Delaware Valley, this form of transportation proved more practical. Rafting gradually declined and in 1924 a small raft was delivered to Martin Hermann, Callicoon lumberman. It was the last raft seen. Volney, Milton and Weston, sons of Col. Calvin Skinner, followed in their father's footsteps as raftsmen. Milton, born on August 31, 1847, died December 16, 1936. Eeston D., born March 17, 1838, served in the Civil War and died at an advanced age. Volney, born July 6, 1832, died March 5, 1923. They each left a daughter: Miss Bessie L. Skinner of Milanville, PA, daughter of Milton; and Mis Mabel Skinner, daughter of Weston of Milanville, Pa. All these ladies are still living. References: Milanville, the Center of Cushetunk, Arthur N. Meyers 1964 Rafting on the Delaware, Charles T. Curtis, original 1921, revised 1956, last printing 1957, Dewitt, Historical Society, Ithaca, N.Y., all edited by William Heidt, Jr. Holt! T'other Way! Leslie C. Wood 1950 History of Rafting on the Delaware. William Heidt Jr. 1921, Minisink Valley Historical Society

also read notes under Moses Thomas on Minisink

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

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26146888/joseph-skinner

Joseph Skinner, Susquehanna Company and Delaware Company Proprietor.

Joseph Skinner was an original proprietor in the Susquehanna Company, whose purpose was to expand Connecticut Colony's borders eastward right through the Pennsylvania Colony by occupying the Wyoming Valley along the Susquehanna River. The Company, formed in 1753, clung to the belief that the Wyoming Valley was rightfully Connecticut territory in spite of the anger this belief caused in Philadelphia and in the Iroquois Confederacy (who claimed a long-standing dominion over the indigenous Delawares, or Lenni Lenape as they named themselves). The Company's tenaciously stubborn attitude led directly to the Pennamite Wars and the Wyoming Massacre. Its actions resulted in the warnings and arrest warrants issued from the Governor of Pennsylvania Colony to the Skinner sons, and the intervention of and negotiations by Sir William Johnson to resolve. Pennsylvania retained sovereignty over the area and Company members were forced to re-purchase their lands. Skinner also became interested in the Cushetunk area of the Delaware Valley that straddled the Delaware River in what is now Sullivan County, New York on the east bank and Wayne County, Pennsylvania on the west bank. The Delaware Company was created in order to pursue a patent from Connecticut for this land, in which he was a founding proprietor. In about 1753, he was appointed by the Susquehanna Company to join a small party sent to evaluate the Wyoming Valley, begin surveying, and approach Indians about its purchase. The resulting purchase deed is signed by minor, otherwise unknown Sachems. Daniel Claus, one of Sir William Johnson's Indian agents and future son-in-law, claimed the sale was made even more fraudulently under the influence of alcohol. Neither the Delawares nor the Iroquois Confederacy were pleased about the confiscation of their lands. Sometime between 16 Dec 1755 and 26 Dec 1755, while carrying documents relating to Company business back to Connecticut, Skinner, in company with a Mr. Hooss or Hoos, was shot and killed in Cushetunk, it is theorized, by Indians. It is known that Teedyuscung, Chief of the Delawares, had become weary of waiting for the European governments to deal with the Connecticut Yankee intruders and was conducting raids in that general area in an effort to dislodge them. It's possible that this raiding party encountered Skinner and his companion. Mr Hooss or Hoos was also shot, but possibly not killed outright, it's unclear. Skinner's body was found washed up on an island in the Delaware River in January of 1756, recognized by the prayerbook he carried in his pocket. He was buried in the Cushetunk area, but knowledge of the exact location has been lost. As Cushetunk was still frontier wilderness at this time, there were no organized cemeteries. Joseph was the son of Ebeneezar Skinner, Massachusetts Bay Colony, who had migrated to Preston, Connecticut Colony. His mother was Sarah Lord of Hartford, Connecticut. On April 30, 1729 in Connecticut, he married Martha Kinne (bap Jan 1711 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony - many spelling variations), descendant of the Salem Witch Trial accuser, Henry Kenney. 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 only contemporary report of Joseph Skinner's death is found in the Rev. Gideon Hawley's diary, kept while the missionary resided at Onaquga, New York. It says:

"Wednesday, 16 December, 1755. I sent large accounts of affairs here to Mr. Oliver which I enclosed to Lt. Pitkin Esquire of Hartford by Mr. Skinner and Hooss.

Saturday, 26 December, 1755. This week had news that Conshethton[*] is destroyed and that Skinner and Hoos, who left us on Thursday last week, are both killed, but hardly believe it. Hope it is not true. (Microfilm of Hawley diary from Broome Cty., N.Y., Historical Association.)"

The Legend of Cushetunk: The Nathan Skinner Manuscript and the Early History of Coshecton
Barbara J Sivertsen and Barbara L Covey
Heritage Books, Inc., 1993
Page 37, Endnote #6.

[*] Cushetunk

This corroborating newspaper item, found in several 1756 newspapers, apparently was not available to the book's authors:

"Extract of a Letter from Blooming-Grove [currently Town of Blooming Grove, Orange County, New York], dated the 5th Instant

We have certain Intelligence that the remaining Inhabitants of Cushecton, in the Great Patent, are all destroyed. The Indians have killed Skinner, and shot another man thro the Body, who, it's thought, will recover. We are now about to send a Petition to the Govenor, for a supply of Men to Guard from Minisink to Mumbaccus; we do not think we have quarter Men enough for our Safety. There is yet, at or near Cushecton, a Number of Indians with their Families. The people of Ulster and Goshen Counties[*], talk of immediately raising Men to go out and cut them off."

1. Headline: "Extract of a Letter from Blooming Grove, Dated the 5th Instant"
Article Type: News/Opinion
Paper: Pennsylvania Gazette County, published as The Pennsylvania Gazette
Date: 01-15-1756
Issue: 1412
Page: 2
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

2. Headline: "Extract of a Letter from Blooming-Grove, Dated the 5th Instant"
Article Type: News/Opinion
Paper: Boston News-Letter, published as The Boston Weekly News-Letter
Date: 01-22-1756
Issue: 2794
Page: 1
Location: Boston, Massachusetts.

[*] Goshen in Orange County, New York.

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