James Skaggs, Jr.

Biography

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Skaggs-42

James was born about 1734 to James Skaggs and Rachel, and passed away about 1816.

Some modern family trees refer to him as James Thomas Skaggs or James Longman Skaggs. However, these middle names are not found in any records during his lifetime. Moreover, Longman may refer to a different man with the same name.

Research Notes

Two children of James Skaggs were named in the equity suit for the estate of Moses Skaggs:[2]

1. William Skaggs
2. Rachel Etherton

Do you have information about James Skaggs? Please contribute to his biography.

Unsourced Info from Ancestry.com

James Skaggs was born Abt. 1728 in Virginia, and died October 09, 1820 in Green County, Kentucky. He married (1) Mary Abt. 1751. She was born 1735.

1. Children of James Skaggs and Mary are:
2. James Thomas Skaggs, b. abt. 1752.
3. Mary Skaggs, b. abt. 1753.
4. Loveliss Skaggs, b. abt. 1756.
5. William (Squire) Skaggs, b. 20 Dec 1757.
6. Stephen Skaggs, b. bet. 1757 - 1764.
7. Jennie Skaggs, b. abt. 1758.
8. Jeremiah Skaggs, b. abt. 1759, Virginia; d. 1841, Missouri.
9. Henry Skaggs, b. abt. 1760.

Conflicting Unsourced Information

James Skaggs , Jr was born ABT 1730 in Virginia, and died 9 Oct 1820 in Green County Kentucky or St Louis District, MO. He was the son of James Skaggs and Rachel Moredock. [3]
James was born about 1737 and passed away about 1816.
James was born in 1724 and passed away in 1820.

U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900[3]
Name: Susannah Moredock
Gender: Female
Spouse Name: James Skaggs
Spouse Birth Year: 1735
Number Pages: 1 [4][5]

Susannah and Rachel Moredock are often recorded as the same person. They are not, Susannah Moredock married James Skaggs born abt. 1735. Rachel Moredock married James Skaggs born abt. 1700. It is unclear if James Skaggs in this record is the son of James Skaggs Sr. and Rachel Moredock. The birth dating and familiarity with the Moredock family make it very possible. [6]

U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 [3] at Ancestry.com have been taken from family trees at the LDS and are a notoriously unreliable source of information. There are no sources for Rachel's name being either Susannah or Moredock other than a myriad of family trees without any other supporting sources. These names are modern myths. She is found in only a few records and simply as Rachel. If anyone has legitimate sources, I challenge them to bring those forward.[7

Notes

James Thomas Skaggs II, Was an Indian fighter and in the Revolutionary War. (As given in 8th Virginia Report on Revolutionary soldiers now in the file under Illinois Papers in Richmond, VA. Library.) Forts & Stations in Green County For the early settlers, defense against the Indians was only achieved by the construction of forts and stations. The "fort" was a complex of log structures including houses and outbuildings. They were usually arranged in a square or rectangle and connected by stockades or palisades of upright logs. A "station" was generally a single family's log home that was at least one and one-half stories high and had "gun ports" constructed in the walls. It had heavy, thick wooden doors and shutters that could be barred from the inside for protection. Neighbors living in less sturdy cabins would often gather into a station for protection when hostile Indians were in the area. The Shawnee Indians, led by the British, attacked at least once, if not several times, the earliest settlers living within central Kentucky. The worst attacks occurred in the early spring of 1780 and again in 1781. The forts, then located in what is now Green County, had to be abandoned, and the settlers moved to other eastern, better fortified forts. Glover's Fort The earliest settlements recorded in Green County were "Glover's Fort," established in the fall of 1779 by John Glover, accompanied by his immediate family, several related families, and their slaves. The fort was abandoned after several Indian attacks in 1781. Pitman Station Pitman Station was first settled by William Pitman in early spring of 1780. The station (possibly fortified) was located above a stream of water then called Sinking Creek, later to be renamed Pitman Creek. Pitman Station was situated upon a bluff top overlooking a place then called "The Narrows of Sinking Creek" (a horseshoe bend in the creek). Some 20+ individuals lived near or at Pitman Station prior to March 1781. The Shawnee attacked the settlers at Pitman Station, and they were forced from the area of Green River Country for almost two years. No white man lived here from March 1781 until October 1784. Once the Indian threat was over, Pitman Station was re-settled in late 1784. The Cumberland Trace was the only trail that led to and from Pitman Station. James Skaggs Station James Skaggs Station was the third to be established within the modern day Green County. It was located near a tributary of Big Brush Creek, situated in the northern portion of the County. James Skaggs and his wife, three sons, and one daughter settled on land after April 1780. His "station" was located where today's Jones Cemetery is located, near Highway Route 61. In the fall of 1781, James Skaggs had decided that they did not have enough provisions to get them through the oncoming winter months and that it would be necessary to return to Brian's Station (Lexington, Kentucky) to spend the winter. James Skaggs's daughter took their iron cooking pot and dutch oven to a small cave (Indian Hollow), to hide until their return the following spring. While at the cave she was surprised by a small band of hostile Indians, who killed and scalped the young girl. Her family found her remains and brought her body back to the cabin where she was buried under the cabin floor. This was the first burial at the Jones Cemetery. The exact grave site is unknown. In the following spring, James Skaggs and his family, with other settlers, returned to their land and found that the Indians had burned their original cabin. They built a larger structure, two stories high, 22x24 feet in size, with a fireplace on each floor. This structure stood until it was torn down in 1951. The Treasury Warrant Number for James Skaggs's 450 acres of land located on Brush Creek was issued on the first day of April, 1780. Fort Blevins Colonel James Skaggs had established Fort Blevins (possibly a station) on Big Brush Creek near Gum Springs about 1780. The exact location of this fort is unknown today. Indians had attacked the fort when all the men were gone for the day. Several women and Colonel Skaggs's small infant were horribly murdered. The Indians were tracked by Colonel Skaggs and other settlers, and several Indians were killed. Graham's Station Graham's Station was established near the water's edge of Big Brush Creek about 1787. The station was located in the northeastern part of Green County. It was built by William Graham and his brothers. The station soon grew into a small community having its own spinning factory, training mill, church, and cemetery. There were never any reports of Indian attacks at this station. Natural Kentucky iron ore was abundant along Big Brush Creek, and by 1818, Graham's Station had a furnace used in processing the ore into "pig-iron." Gray's Station Gray's Station was located on Caney Fork, a tributary of Russell's Creek. Jesse Gray had built the station before 1792. At 24 settlers were living around Gray's Station in 1792. After 1794, Gray's Station quietly disappeared. James SKAGGS' Station

The 3rd station to be established within the present area of Green Co.,KY was SKAGGS' Station, which was located on Brush 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 original source a letter written 3 July,1974 by Albert JONES of Scottsburg, IN to James SCOTT of Louisville, KY.

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., it was decided that provisions for winter were insignificant & it would be necessary to return to BRIANs Station to spend the winter. James & his wife had their dau. take a cooking pot & dutch oven to Indian Hollow to a small cave [now destroyed by construction of Hwy.#61] to hide them for their return the next spring. While the dau. was there a small party of Indians [4 or 5] came upon her, killed & scalped her @ Indian Hollow. When she failed to return, her father & bros. sought & found her & brought her body back to the fort/cabin & buried her inside it. This was 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 a party of others returned & built a Fort @ the site of the house where my sister lives. On their return they found the 1st structure burned to the ground. The new Fort was 22 & 24 ft., 2 stories high, built of large hewed yellow popular logs w/port holes in the upper story, an inside stairway & a large stone chimney @ the south end. There was a fireplace on the 1st floor w/a smaller fireplace on the 2nd. floor. This site was selected because of a large spring nearby, 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. to a site on the south west part of land owned by my sister where there was a seam of highly colored clay that the Indians used for war paint. When a boy I have obtained the clay from this seam in bright red, white, purple & lt. green, there was also a small amount of blue. The seam has been covered by a landslide. This farm where my sister now lives & Jones Cem., Joe"Paddy" WARREN & John "Fox" WARREN farms are the area I'm speaking of.

One of James's sons died & my g-grandfather bought the farm from the survivors.

The exact date of the founding of SKAGGS' Station is unknown, however treas. warrent # 11533 for 450acs. of land on Brush Ck. was issued to James SKAGGS on the 1st day of Apr,1780. This probably corresponds closely to the date of actual settlement. The tract of land in question was originally located in Jefferson Co but had been thrown into Nelson Co by the date it was formally granted by Gov. Patrick HENRY on 8 May,1786. [This land grant is listed in the Master Index, Va. Surveys & Grants, 1774-1791,Kentucky History Soc., Vol.16, Original Survey #3841, to James SKAGGS, survey date 7 July,1784 original bk. #5,pgs.2-3,grantee James SKAGGS & heirs, grant date 8 May,1786, original 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 PITMAN'S Station in the month of Oct.[1780] & left in the March following. There was only one other station on Green River at that time [GLOVER's Station having been broken up by Indians prior to his arrival], this was SKAGG'S Station by Brush Ck. Although Henry SKAGGS' home was @ PITMAN's Station he used to hunt from PITMAN's to James SKAGGS' Station.

In a deposition given on 30 Jly,1810 to be read as evidence in a suit then pending in the Green Circuit Ct. between Smith TANDY & James SMITH, William SKAGGS stated that PITMAN's & SKAGGS' Stations were broken up by Indians in Mar, 1781 & that the settlers moved to POTTENGERs. LYNNs, DAVIS' & LOGAN's Stations. Settlements in Green Co. were not reestablished until the fall of 1784.

Another deposition, perhaps by a different William SKAGGS, was given on 4 May, 1821, to be read as evidence in the suit of RHEA vs. ABNEY, in the Green Co. Cir. Ct. William SKAGGS stated that he had been a resident of PITMAN's Station & that he was a young man at the time, having been 17 yrs old on 2nd of Sep. [1779], before the settlement of the station the following spring [1780]. He gave the distance from PITMAN's Station to SKAGG' Station as 7 miles. He thought that PITMAN's Station was broken up in Feb,1781 [another depositions gave the month of March]. He deposes that when the station was broken up, "We moved near Bardstown & PITMAN & the rest went into what is 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 by Joseph BARNETT, which included the settlers ""on all the southern waters of Rolling Beach Forks westwardly of the waters of Hardin Ck"", the following tithables. [the 1st figure following the name gives the # of whites, the 2nd figure gives the # of white tithables]. William SKEGGS 4-2 James SKEGGS,jr 3-1 Meshack CARTER 7-1 The forgoing names were given in their original order, they are followed by 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 gives us additional information about James SKAGGS.

Benjamin LYNN, who is supposed to have emigrated from VA., came to KY in 1780. He probably remained a short time in PHILIPS' Fort in what is now LaRue Co., where according to tradition he raised up the church now called South Fork, in 1782. Afterwards he settled on Beech Fork in Nelson Co.,where he raised 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, he was 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 the new country. After a few yrs., he fell under reproach on account of immoral conduct & moved further west. After this nothing more is known of him. A creek or small river in barren Co. bears his name.

[I have additional information on the statement of the last paragraph on James SKAGGS' elopement & where abouts at the end of this work.] Bob VanDYNE

At the close of the yr, 1780 there were one licensed & 5 ordained Baptist 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 not known. There was no preacher of any sect in the new country. The broad field was left, for the present Baptist alone. We know of few Baptist church members & doubtless, there were others whose names we shall not know. But few as they were, at this period, they had brought with them, the seed of discord, some of the bitter fruits of which we shall see in the sequel. Some of them 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 inserted here to give more information on the James SKAGGS & Leah CARTER elopement. 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 petition the Assembly for a divorce from his wife Leah.]

Returning back to James SKAGGS' Station - The nature of James SKAGGS' immoral conduct is revealed in a document recorded in Nelson Co. Deed Bk. 4, pg. 882-883

I do hearby certify that I do forever quit all claim of my right & title to Masheck CARTER as husband & forever quit all claim to any right or title of any part of Sd. CARTER estate either real or personal. Given under my hand this 23rd day of Nov,1793 Leah [her X mark] CARTER Wit: Atkinson HILL James CRAVEN.

At the court held for Nelson Co. on Tuesday the 10th of Dec,1793 the within instrument of writing was proved by Atkinson HILL one of the subscribing witnesses & ordered to record we the under named subscribers mutually chosen by Masheck CARTER & Leah his wife that formerly was to settle & determine the dispute that subsisted between them by reason of her elopement with James SKAGGS from sd. CARTER do give our opinion." "pg.883 in the following manner the parties being 1st sworn to abide by the award given by us which is in the following manner, We award that sd. Leah is no more the wife of sd. CARTER nor to have any claim to any of his estate either real or personal only is given by bond bearing date with this inter- wement, given under our hands this 23rd day of Nov,1793. (signed) John CARNAHAN, John DAVIS, John CAMERON, James BROWN, Samuel McADAMS, Atkinson HILL.

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 filed in the corresponding time period in Green Co, KY.

Deed Bk. 1, pg. 5 Know all men I, James SKAGGS, have bargained & sold unto Henry SKAGGS, Stephen SKAGGS & James SKAGGS all that tract of land situated on Brush Ck. in Green Co. containing 450acs. being the same tract or parcel of land that was granted by patent from the state of VA. to me, served the2nd day of July, 1784 which land I will forever defend from me & all manner of persons claiming under me unto them, their heirs or assigns forever for the sum of 100 pds. to me in hand paid the receipt is hereby acknowledged given under 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, this indenture 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 executing the deed for the Brush Ck. Station tract to his 3 sons. Whether he returned after wagging tongues began to slack or whether he died in self imposed exile is not known; nor has it been established where he went when he left this region.

[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. The appraisement 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 the above list is one Jacob SKAGGS ,I would like to prove this is the Jacob SKAGGS who 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 the following entry: On the motion of William SKAGGS it is ordered that Wm. BARNETT, Nathaniel OWEN & James SCOTT be & they are hereby appointed commissioners to divide a tract o f land on Brush Ck., Green Co. agreeable to quantity 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 the said representatives, 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 it appears that the Brush Ck. station tract descended to the sons of James SKAGGS, by inheritance at his death. We know that this is not the case because the 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 the founder of SKAGGS Station & his 3 sons were all dec'd.

Another entry which appears in Order Bk.6,pg.447 dated 25 Oct,1819 gives 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 & it is ordered that Nathaniel OWENS, James SCOTT & Wm. BARNETT be appointed Commissioners to divide the land o f 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 their father for said land. It is ordered that the said Commissioners convey to the sons & daus. of the said Stephen SKAGGS their proportion of said lands & in like manner convey to the sons & daus. of Henry SKAGGS dec'd their proportion & in like manner to the sons & daus. of James SKAGGS, Jr dec'd their proportion of said land n the above entry James SKAGGS founder of SKAGGS' Station, is obviously referred to as James SKAGGS, Sr, however his is probably the same individual 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 indeed be true. James SKAGGS jr, founder of SKAGGS' Station, we are better able to identify his descendents. The children of his sons, Stephen, Henry & James are named in a deed which is located in Green Co. Deed Bk. 9, pgs. 500-502, dated 9 Oct,1820.

References

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Mar 27 2021, 23:00:25 UTC
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/113628469/james-thomas-skaggs

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GEDCOM Source

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https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/113628469/james-thomas-skaggs

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Scaggs-285

https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/G3KK-686/james-scaggs-sr.-174...