Magdalene Kinagree / Skeen / Allen

An interesting event in the life of Abraham's daughter Magdalene concerns a baseborn child. The term baseborn had two meanings: 1) of humble birth, or 2) of illegitimate birth. The former might refer, for example, to the child of an indentured servant. However, it would appear that the latter is most likely the case, since the Birds would not have been referred to as being of humble birth.

Magdalene Bird married first Moses Skeen (died Nov 1781) son of John and Ingabo and married second Reuben Allen, son of Jackson and Betty. Reuben and Magdalene Bird Allen owned and lived at the White Hall plantation (located on the south side of Hawkinstown) before they moved to Ohio where they are accredited with the founding of the Town of Little Hocking, Ohio.

It appears that the Widow Skeen (Magdalene) was a bit indiscreet with her cousin's husband (widower) Solomon Kingree. Solomon Kingree, married Rebecca Byrd daughter of Mounce and Clara Byrd; and Rebecca Byrd Kingree died by October 1785, without issue, predeceasing her father, she is therefore not listed as an heir to Mounce Byrd's estate.

In looking for consolation, he took up with his wife's cousin Magdalene. Apparently, Abraham Bird just looked the other way until Solomon "up and married" someone other than his daughter. Abraham, apparently disagreeing with this new development and not wanting his grandchild to fall to the charity of the Parish (or his own), in October 1786, hauled Solomon before the court (at which he was a sitting justice) and ordered him arrested and held until he could provide security in sufficient amount to provide for his child's keeping for the next three years. It would appear that said Solomon was at that time a newly wed, having married Elizabeth Jones a month earlier on September 24, 1786. At any rate, Solomon wasted no time at all starting his family with Elizabeth, since their child Phoebe was born nine months to the day after their marriage.

Link:http://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/byrd/1258/