Maj. John A. Skidmore

Capt John A Skidmore BIRTH 10 Jun 1736 Kent County, Delaware, USA DEATH 12 Oct 1809 (aged 73) Franklin, Pendleton County, West Virginia, USA BURIAL John Skidmore Cemetery #22 Ruddle, Pendleton County, West Virginia,

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21461038/john-a-skidmore

John Skidmore was 31 years old when he first fought in the French and Indian Wars in 1767 as a captain. His Augusta County Militia was called out for service in 1774, when he was 38 years old. His military service ended in 1778 at the age of 42, when he resigned with the rank of Major. He was the father of 15 children, 13 of whom survived him. We don't know alot about John Skidmore, except we believe that he was at least 6 feet tall (an early day report said all of the men in the Augusta Militia were that tall), possibly auburn-haired (as many Skidmores were reported to be), and that he was a powerfully strong man. One report said John Skidmore once defeated an indian in hand-to-hand combat. He was a quiet and serious man, who was very religious and devoted to his family. He married Mary Magdelena Henckle, who was born in 1748 (also known as Polly), in 1762. Captain Skidmore (later promoted to Major) was wounded twice in the Battle of Point Pleasant, often referred to as the first Battle of the American Revolution. He was one of 11 justices that organized present day Pendleton County, West Virginia.

A Patriot of the American Revolution for VIRGINIA with the rank of Major. DAR Ancestor # A104687

Note: John is the 7th great grandfather of Kassidy, his sister Elizabeth is the 7th great grandmother to Heather...so they both have as their 8th great grandparents, Joseph & Agness Skidmore.

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Info. from Sidmorequest, 27 May 2007..Ancestry.com files:

This is information that I have came across on line..Hope in the future I will find documentation to back it up.

John A. Skidmore, a son of Joseph and Agnes Caldwell Skidmore, was born on the plantation "Fisher's Delight" in Kent County, Delaware, Jue 10, 1736. Soon after his birth, the family moved to that part of Augusta County, Virginia, that is now Pendleton County, West Virginia.

John served in the Augusta County militia during the French and Indian War. He was called out in 1755 and served until the end of the war. John married Mary Magdalena Hinkle in the early 1760's. John Hinkle and his family settled in the section of Virginia known as Germany Valley and were the builders of Hinkle's Fort.

Hinkle's Fort is located in present day Pendleton County, West Virginia. A marker was placed there by the Henckel Family Association in 1936.

In 1767, John Skidmore was appointed Captain of the Augusta Militia and in 1770, he was commissioned as one of His Majesty's Justices for Augusta County. In 1774, John's company of the Augusta Militia was mobilized for service in Dumore's War and took part in the Battle of Point Pleasant. John was wounded twice during the Battle of Point Pleasant, in the leg and in the hip.

In 1778, John was appointed a justice of the newly formed Rockingham County by Patrick Henry. The first Rockingham County Court, in session April 28, 1778, found John A. Skidmore "fit to appointment, but retained his captaincy for several years."

When Pendleton County was formed in 1778, John was elected first president of the new court. John served the new County for several years, including two terms as sheriff. John died in Pendleton County October 12, 1809.

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    John A. Skidmore, a son of Joseph and Agnes Ann (Caldwell)

Skidmore, was born on the plantation "Fisher's Delight" in Kent County,

Delaware, June 10, 1736. Soon after his birth, the family moved to that

part of Augusta County, Virginia that is now Pendleton County WV.

    John served in the Augusta County Militia during the French and

Indian War. He was called out in 1755 and and served until the end of

the War. John married Mary Magdalena Hinkle in the early 1760's. Mary

was a daughter of John Justus and Magdalena (Eschemann) Hinkle. John

Hinkle and his family settled in the section of Virginia known as

Germany Valley and were the builders of Hinkle's fort.

    In 1767, John Skidmore was appointed Captain of the Augusta Militia

and in 1770, he was commissioned as one of His Majesty's Justices for

Augusta County. In 1774, John's company of the Augusta Militia was

mobilized for service in Dunmore's war and took part in the battle of

Point Pleasant. John was wounded twice during the battle of Point

Pleasant, in the leg and in the hip.

    In 1778, John was appointed a justice of the newly formed

Rockingham County by Patrick Henry. The first Rockingham Ccounty

Court, in session April 28, 1778, found John A. Skidmore "fit to

serve as major" of the Augusta Militia. John declined the appointment,

but retained his captaincy for several years.

    When Pendleton County was formed in 1778, John was elected the

first president of the new court. John served the new County for

several years, including two terms as sheriff. John died in Pendleton

County October 12, 1809 and Mary died October 18, 1829.

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http://www.hackerscreek.com/forthenckelmilitia1775.htm

Fort Henckel Militia Muster Rolls

June and September 1775

Fort Henckel, aka Hinkle’s Fort, was located deep in the Allegheny Mountains in West Augusta, western Virginia, when it was built in 1761-62 by Johann Justus Henckel (Hinkle), Sr. (706-1778), other members of his family with perhaps help from neighboring settlers. The location near Riverton, Pendleton County, West Virginia, in what is known as Germany Valley.

The fort was built as a protection for Henckel, his family, and other pioneers against the Native Americans who frequented the valley from time to time.

According to an article on a Hinkle family website, the fort became the only outpost in Pendleton County for the patriot forces during the American Revolutionary War. While it has been generally that John Justus Henckel, Sr. served as commander of the fort and furnished supplies to the troops of the Virginia Militia who were quartered there, solid primary proof of his service and that of the Virginia Militia who were headquatered there including the North Fork Military Company which had been organized by settlers early in the Revolutionary War. Until now!

From time to time, old records turn up. Recently, Stephanie Mitchell, a researcher from the Midwest and a descendants of the Hinkle, Teter, Vandeventer, Cassel, Lambert, Bible and other Pendleton County, West Virginia families, unearthed two OLD record in a 1672 French Bible of another of her ancestors, Joseph Louis Cheuvront (b. France 1757, d. Harrison County, now West Virginia, 1832) . This well- preserved Bible contains the Militia Muster Rolls for John Skidmore’s Company at Fort Henckel (modern spelling Hinkle) for June 6 and September 8, 1775. When you get to the page with several images, be sure to double click on each one to get a larger image and a transcription of the names as recorded from the original by the owner.

The best part of Stephanie’s find is the recognition these listings give to these forty-nine men for their service to our fledgling nations. Of course, the proof these muster rolls provide to the descendants of these men for eligibility in organizations such as DAR is important too. Copies of these pages are now a part of the holdings of the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution.

Before Summer 2007, Stephanie’s story of her “big find” and other explanations as she knows them will be linked to this page. Check back to read it!

Other links which may be helpful in your research:

Henckel/Hinkle Website*

Hinkle Descendants*

• HCPD is not responsible for the accuracy of information on these or any other sites linked to our site.

If you know of other sites that might be helpful to the researchers of the men on these lists, please contact the webmaster. She will add them at her earliest convenience.

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Return to Hacker’s Creek Main Page.

THE WILL OF CAPTAIN JOHN SKIDMORE, 1809.

A life of this John Skidmore will be found in the Westerleigh book (family no. 57) He fathered 15 children, and his descendants now number in the thousands. (WS)

I John Skidmore Senr. of the County of Pendleton and the State of Virginia being weak in body but of sound mind and Memory do make and ordain this Instrument of Writing as my last will and testament and hereby bequeath of my worldly Estate as follows to wit.

First I will and bequeath unto Mary Magdalene my Dearly beloved wife the place I now live on and all my moveable Estate till her Death to use as she may think proper and after her death my moveable Estate to be sold and Equally divided among my sons and Daughters.

Secondly I will and bequeath unto my son James and my Daughter Hannah all my lands on Reeds Creek and Wolf Hollow More or Less.

Thirdly I will and Bequeath unto my two sons John and Levi two hundred and forty acres of land more or less at the thorny meadows.

Fourthly I will and Bequeath unto my son Elijah Ninety two acres on the west side of the town Frankford.

Fifthly I will and bequeath unto my son Andrew and my daughter Susannah the lands I bought off Peterson on Alleghany and Andrew is to have the South End To wit one tract of one hundred and three acres and thence adjoining the same N37 E at 100 Poles to a Sugar and red oak on the top of Alleghany and then thro the tract.

Sixthly I will and bequeath unto my Daughter Phebe the place I bought of Clifton and one hundred and fifty acres adjoining the same.

Seventhly I will and bequeath unto my Daughter Nancy the Ballance of the Folk place be it more or less.

Eighthly I will and bequeath unto my Daughter Rachel the old mill place and all the remainder of my lands adjoining the Same.

Ninthly I will and Bequeath unto my Daughter Mary the Smith place & a tract adjoining the same on the East side More or less.

Tenthly I will and bequeath unto my son Isaac and my daughter Ede the home place and all the lands belonging to me adjoining the same and a tract at the little meadows after the death of my wife by their paying thirty pounds to each of my three daughters namely Phebe & Rachel and Mary and

twenty pounds to my son Levi and ten pounds to my son John one year after the death of my wife. I also bequeath & will unto my son James two hundred acres of land on Seneca Waters known by the same name of Graggs Entry and I do constitute and Confirm this Instrument my Last Will and Testament. In Testimony where of I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal this 16th day of September 1809.

Witness present his

Jacob Coonrad Senr John Skidmore (Seal)

Georg Coil mark

Ulrey Conrod

At a Court held for Pendleton County the 5th day of December 1809. This Last Will and testament of John Skidmore Senr was proved by the Oath of Ulrey Conrad and George Coil two of the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded.

Teste Z Dyer C.P.C.

Recorded in Pendleton County (West Virginia) Will Book 1, pages 70-2.

John served in the Augusta County Militia during the French and Indian War. He was called out in 1755 and served until the end of the War. John married Mary Madgalena Hinkle in the early 1760's. Mary was a daughter of John Justus Hinkle. John Hinkle and his family settled in the section of Virginia known as Germany Valley and were the builders of Hinkle's Fort. Hinkle's Fort is located in present day Pendleton County, West Virginia. A marker was placed there by the Henckel Family Association in 1936.

In 1767, John Skidmore was appointed Captain of the Augusta Militia and in 1770, he was commissioned as one of His Majesty's Justices for Augusta County. In 1774, John's company of the Augusta Militia was mobilized for service in Dumore's War and took part in the Battle of Point Pleasant. John was wounded twice during the Battle of Point Pleasant, in the leg and in the hip.

In 1778, John was appointed a justice of the newly formed Rockingham County by Patrick Henry. The first Rockingham County Court, in session April 28, 1778, found John A. Skidmore "fit to appointment, but retained his captaincy for several years".

When Pendleton County was formed in 1778, John was elected the first president of the new court. John served the new County for several years, including two terms as sheriff. John died in Pendleton County October 12, 1809, and Mary died October 18, 1829.

John A. and Mary Hinkle Skidmore had fifteen children. These children were an unidentified infant that was born and died about 1761, James, Phoebe, John, Ezekiel, Elijah, Nancy, Hannah, Rachel, Andrew, Levi, Isaac, Mary "Polly", Susannah and Edith.