Henry SKAGGS

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• _UID: 6CBDC6C0486240E99E1D65548D4973246384

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Notes:

Indian spy

William married Polly PIERCE 2 Sep 1802, Green Co. KY. [Group Sheet]

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• _UID: 1446E82EC7DB4F018B03264039398B67BAD9

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Notes:

Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia Extracted from the Original Court Records of Augusta County 1745-1800, Deed Book No. 16, page 49.

Page 49.--26th April, 1769. JAMES ( ) SCAGGS (SKEGGS), Sr., and RACHEL ( ) to JAMES SCAGGS, Jr., £100, 104 acres patented to Samuel Ratlive 22d August, 1753, and conveyed to JAMES, Sr., on Meadow Creek, a branch of New River. Teste: William Preston, Richard Whitt, James ( ) Skggs,* John ( ) Skggs,** Is. Christian, James Buchanan, W. Ingles. *Note that James Sr. conveyed to James Jr., and a third James signed as witness. **This John may a grandson rather than the son of James and Rachel.

1773: The first permanent settlers [in Tazewell Co., VA] came from Augusta and Rockbridge counties, New River and its tributaries. . . . In 1773 there were settled [among others] JAMES and CHARLES SCAGGS in Baptist Valley, five miles from site of Tazewell. --Robert Bell Woodworth, The Captives of Abb's Valley: A Legend of Frontier Life (Staunton, VA: McClure Co., Inc., Publishers, 1942), xi

Deposition of WILLIAM RATLIFF (27 April 1836 at the home of WILLIAM SKAGGS, Aleck Fork of Pitman Creek). I was acquainted with MOSES SKAGGS of Green County, KY. He had 4 sisters, to wit: SUSANNAH, wife of RICHARD WHIT; LYDIA, wife of MATTHIAS HARMON, ELIZABETH "Betsy," wife of JOHN HANKINS; and NANCY, wife of WILLIAM MERIDY. I was quite intimate with them in Virginia. I knew them before they married. MOSES had a brother named JOHN SKAGGS. . . I knew the brothers of MOSES SKAGGS. They were HENRY, JAMES, CHARLES, JOHN, RICHARD and JACOB SKAGGS. I knew them in Kentucky and they all raised large families.

Deposition of FRANCES SAMPLES (27 April 1836). I was familiar with MOSES SKAGGS who died in Green County about 40 years ago. He had 4 sisters, to wit: SUSANNAH, wife of RICHARD WHIT; LYDIA, wife of MATTHIAS HARMAN; ELIZABETH, wife of JOHN HANKINS, and NANCY, wife of WILLIAM MERIDY. They lived in Virginia. When I knew them, MOSES had 6 brothers: HENRY, JOHN, JAMES, CHARLES, RICHARD and JACOB.

http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ky/green/estates/skaggs1.txt

http://www.getnet.com/~cingram/f614.htm

Kegley, Early Adventurers, p. 367: "James SKAGGS, Jr. first appeared in the records in 1769 when he received lands from his father and mother, James and Rachel SKAGGS. He may be the one designated as "Little James SKAGGS" who reported in 1774 that he had seen Indians between Ninian CLOYD's and Peter POOR's (Chalkley, Chronicles, III, 490; Preston Papers, Draper Mss., 3 QQ 54).

"In 1779 he purchased the 100 acres which had been selected by John BUCHANAN in 1748 from his son, William BUCHANAN (August County Surveys; Montgomery Deed Book A, p.190). Here SKAGGS operated a ferry across New River, and once in legal possession of the lands, SKAGGS petitioned the Montgomery County court to view the possibility of a 'nearer and better Road which may be had either by SKAGG's place commonly called the old ferry, or by Dunker Bottom, rather than the one presently occupied by William INGLES.' Three months later in March 1779 no report had been forthcoming and men were chosen to meet and view the road by . . . [to be continued]

SKAGGS' STATION, on Brush Creek, in Green County; about 1781. --William Elsey Connelley and E. M. Coulter, History of Kentucky, Charles Kerr, ed. (Chicgo: American Historical Society, 1922), 209.

Another station, called Shank Painter, or SKAGG'S STATION, was situated where the small village of Summersville now stands, six miles northwest of Greensburg. --William B. Allen, A History of Kentucky (Louisville: Bradley & Gilbert, 1872), 126; actual page image at Ancestry.com

"South Fork Church was possibly the first church organized within the boundary of the territory which is now LaRue County. Spencer, in his 'History of Kentucky Baptists,' Volume 1, page 194, says: 'It was originally a Separate Baptist Church, and, according to tradition, was gathered by Benjamin Lynn and JAMES SKAGGS in the summer of 1782.' If any organization was in existence on Nolynn at that early date, it could have been nowhere except in Phillips' fort." --Otis M. Mather, Six Generations of LaRues And Allied Families (Hodgenville, KY: by the compiler, 1921), 150.

This is the James Skaggs that had an early well documented Station in the Green Co., KY, area. James deserted his family about 1787 and ran off to Missouri with neighbor Mrs. Leah Carter, wife of Meshack Carter. James and Leah returned Kentucky in 1793 and Leah's husband filed for, and was awarded, a divorce from her, Nov. 23, 1793, Nelson Co., KY. Leah outlived James and is referred to as Widow Skaggs in his estate file in Jefferson Co., MO (formerly Joachim Twp.), but a marriage record has not been located for them.

JAMES HENRY SKAGGS was born on the 2d of August, 1840, near Danby, Jefferson County, Mo., and is the son of HENRY SKAGGS, the grandson of STEPHEN SKAGGS, and the great-grandson of JAMES SKAGGS, who was a native of Virginia, a man of great physical strength and activity, and of whom it is said that he settled in Kentucky before Daniel Boone. --excerpt from Randolph County in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas (Chicago, IL: Goodspeed Publishers, 1889), 431;

Bob VanDyne to Skaggs-L, Nov. 15, 1998: The inventory of James SKAGGS of Indian Ck. Joachim twp. Dist. of St. Louis [MO] 22 Nov, 1811. 2 pgs.; 1st page inventory of goods, 2nd pg. named people who purchased items at the sale -- "Widow SKAGGS", Joseph HAWKS, Benjamin HORNE, Jacob SKAGGS, Benjamin SKAGGS, Charles PATTEN, Samuel SKAGGS, William TWITTY, John [DIXON?], Henry SKAGGS & George MARR. Bemjamin SKAGGS Admr.

Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 04:04:47 -0800
From: Bob Vandyne
To: skaggs-L@rootsweb.com
Subject: James SKAGGS' Station
To SKAGGS rooters all;
My own notes: This is only portion of the actual article) \

From the "Green Co. Review" Vol.4,#1 Oct,1980 [pgs. unknown]
James SKAGGS' Station

The 3rd station to be established within the present area of Green Co.,KY was SKAGGS' Station, which was located on Bruch 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 Jly,1974 by Albert
JONES of Scottsburg, IN to James SCOTT of Louisville, KY.

My knowledge of James SKAGGS is mostly what my father & Uncle Joe "Paddy" WARREN told me when I was a small boy.

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 & skalped her @ Indian Hollow. 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 in the area I'm speaking of.

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

The exact date of the founding of SKAGGS' Station is unknown, however treas. warrant # 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 His. Soc., Vol.16, Original Survey #3841,to James SKAGGS survey date 7 Jly, 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 PITMANs Station in the month of Oct.[1780] & left in the mar. following. There was only one other station on Green River at that time [GLOVERs Station having been broken up by Indians prior to his arrival],this was SKAGGS' Station by Brush Ck. Although Henry SKAGGS' home was @ PITMANs Station he used to hunt from PITMANs 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 PITMANs & SKAGGS' Stations were broken up by Indians in Mar, 1781 & that the settlers moved to POTTENGERs. LYNNs, DAVIS' & LOGANs Stations. Settlements in Green Co. were not reestablished until the fall or 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 PITMANs 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 PITMANs Station to SKAGG' Station as 7 miles. He thought that PITMANs 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, "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 in1780. He probably remained a short time in PHILIPS' Fort in what is now LaRueCo., 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' elopment & whereabouts at the end of this work.] Bob VanDYNE

At the close of the yr, 1780 there were one licenced & 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 MARSHALL, 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.]

Returing 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 wright & title to Masheck CARTER as husband & forever quit all claim to any wright 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 heald for Nelson Co. on Tuesday the 10th of Dec,1793 the with-in 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 elopment 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 interwement, 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 450 acs. 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 toungs 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 Township Dist. of St.Louis Nov. 22nd,1811. The appraisment 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 Township 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 orderd that Wm. BARNETT, Nathaniel OWEN & James SCOTT be & they are hereby appointed commissioners to divide a tract of land on Brush Ck., Green Co. agreeable to quanity 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 of 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"

In 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 may indeed be true, but many a researcher has learned from bitter experience that this is not necessarily so.

Although we cannot identify, with certainty, the parents of James SKAGGS, founder of SKAGGS' Station, we are better able to identify his decendents. 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.

Date: Thu, 16 Oct 97 02:21:23 UT
From: "Russell Perkins"
To: Skaggs-L@rootsweb.com
Subject: SKAGGS line

I have the following line from the Old Long Hunter James Skaggs. Would like to have someone check it out and send comments to me. I need a double check because it has a few differences from my file. Rather than start a large discussion or disagreement, it might be best to reply to me off the list. If I find that the list is accurate, I will repost it later. Thanks to everone!!
Russell fdrmanowar@msn.com

Lineage of Old Long Hunter James Skaggs

James, Sr. b. 1720

His Children: (1) Henry, b. 1750
(2) Stephen b.
(3) James, Jr.

Children of (3) James, Jr:
Matthew
Henry
James
Stephen
Sally
Lydia
Nancy
William
John (Father of Benjamin Owen Skaggs)
Mary
Moses
Lettie

Children of (2) Stephen:
Henry
James
Stephen
Polly
Jane
Sally
Betsy

Children of (1) Henry b. 1750
James
Stephen
Joseph
Sally
Nancy
Jeremiah (4)

Children of Jeremiah (4):
Jeremiah, Jr
Mary
Matthew
William T. "Bluehead" (5) b. 1797

Children of William T. "Bluehead" (5):
William H. Harrison
Cynthia
Matthew
Jeremiah
John
Lorenzo
Leander
John R. (may be Cynthia's Son)
Daughter
Daughter
James Thomas, (6) b. 1830

Children of James Thomas, (6):
James Thomas "Tom"
Lewis Warner
Mason
Anthony
Louanna
Loucritia
Sarah Cathryn
John Will, (7) b. 1852

Children of John Will, (7):
Mary Angeline
Reuben Erasmus
James Ransom
Noah Morris, b. 1879
Robert Miller
Lucinthia Jane
Mason Alonzo Children were: James Skaggs, William Skaggs, Henry Skaggs, Stephen Skaggs, Rachel Skaggs, Jeremiah Skaggs, Jenny Skaggs, Loveless Skaggs, Mary Skaggs.

He was married to Leah ??? in 1776 in Nelson County, Kentucky.

James married Mary THOMPSON. [Group Sheet]

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• _UID: 1152D8195B2D467D83DC2C59BFFED5CADF92

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• _UID: C844C84B3B6C4627B47BE9C8F7497FBA8C88

Notes:

James was born on the ship from Ireland to America. Soource: The Ragles of Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky and Kansas, Author: Compiled and Published by Dr. Harold E. Ragle in 1971.

Alternate DOD 1798, Green Co. KY Green county Court House: File #387l

The name of James SKAGGS, believed to be the patriarch of the SKAGGS clan in southwest VA and west-central KY, first appears in the records in August 1746 when he and other local residents were appointed to build a new road from Adam HARMAN's to the North Branch of the Roanoke River. Sources: Mary B. and F.B. Kegley, Early Adventurers on the Western Waters, v.1 (Orange, VA: Green Publishers, 1980), 367.

F.B. Kegley, Kegley's Virginia Frontier, v. (Roanoke, VA: Southwest Virginia Historical Society, 1938), 117; Ulysses S.A. Heavener, German New River Settlement--Virginia (by the author, 1928; 1961 printing), p. 12.

not sure of date, but probably 1746 or 1747:
Lyman Chalkley, Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia Extracted from the Original Court Records of Augusta County 1745-1800, Volume 1 Augusta County Court Records. Order Book No. XXIV. page 431

"Humberstone Lyon deposeth that James Conoly said Humberstone Lyon stole fifteen red deer skins and also twenty-eight red deer skins which Conoly had left at the house of JAMES SCAGGS. Also deposition by Samuel Stolucher, the same. Also deposition by Erwin Patterson."

Lyman Chalkley, Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia Extracted from the Original Court Records of Augusta County 1745-1800, Volume 3 Abstracts of Wills of Augusta County, Virginia. Augusta County Court. Will Book No. 1. page 18 Page 276.

Chalkley, Vol. 1, page -130
"November 19, 1746. Road ordered from Adam Harmon's to the River and No. Branch of Roan Oak--Adam Harmon, overseer, with these workers: Geo. Draper, Israel Lorton and son, George Hermon, Thos. Looney, Jacob Hermon and three sons, Jacob Castle, John Lane, Valentine Harmon, Adren Moser, Humberston Lyon, James Shaggs, Humphrey Baker, John Davis, Fredk. Stering and two sons and all other persons settling in the precincts."

"11th July, 1749. John Elswick's appraisement, by Thomas Ingliss, JAMES SCAGGS, Ebenezer Westcoat." (Can find the extracts on Ancestry.com)

Chalkley, Page 226.
28th May, 1751. Francis Reiley to James Skeegs, farmer, 100 acres on Little River of Wood's River.

Lyman Chalkley, Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia Extracted from the Original Court Records of Augusta County 1745-1800, Volume 3 Abstracts of Wills of Augusta County, Virginia. Augusta County Court. Will Book No. 3. page 75 Page 202.

Page 100. 11th January, 1754. Daniel Ratcliff to James Scags, 104 acres patented to Samuel 22d August, 1753, on Meadow Creek of New River.

Page 103. 11th January, 1754. William Pellum to James Scags, 134 acres patented to William 22d August, 1753, on Meadow Creek of New River.

Page 203 "17th February, 1758. Colonel James Patton's estate; appraised by Thomas Stewart, John Ramsey, Edward Hall. List of bonds, bills, &c., due the estate: [includes from a lengthy list] JAMES SCAGGS, 12th February, 1753." (Can find the extracts on Ancestry.com)

Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia Extracted from the Original Court Records of Augusta County 1745-1800 Deed Book No. 16. page 490 Page 49.

"26th April, 1769. JAMES ( ) SCAGGS (SKEGGS), Sr., and RACHEL ( ) to JAMES SCAGGS, Jr., £100, 104 acres patented to Samuel Ratlive 22d August, 1753, and conveyed to JAMES, Sr., on Meadow Creek, a branch of New River. Teste: William Preston, Richard Whitt, James ( ) Skggs,* John ( ) Skggs,** Is. Christian, James Buchanan, W. Ingles."

*Note that James Sr. conveyed to James Jr., and a third James signed as witness.

**This John may a grandson rather than the son of James and Rachel.

Lyman Chalkley, Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia Extracted from the Original Court Records of Augusta County 1745-1800, Volume 3 Deed Book No. 16. page 490 Page 51.

"25th April, 1769. Same to HENRY SCAGGS, £100, 100 acres by deeds from Francis Rieley to JAMES, 29th May, 1751, on Little River, a branch of Woods' River." (Can find the extracts on Ancestry.com)

Source: Kentucky Ancestors, Volume 6, page 80, October, 1970

2 March 1773, X 36, James and Rachel Skaggs, Fincastle County sold to John Plickinsarver, 82 acres, (Monetary terms mentioned), on New River, Botetourt County, Virginia on Meadow Creek. Witnessed by William Christian, Stephen
Trigg, Jonathan Elswick, and William Lesley.

Harwell, Committee of Safety, 76, in Kegley, Early Adventurers, p. 367.

1776. Fincastle Co., VA. "In 1776 the Committee of Safety for Fincastle County recorded that Captain JAMES SKAGGS was unable to serve any longer because of his infirm state of health, and Thomas INGLES was appointed to succeed him. Presumbaly this is James SKAGGS, Sr."

Kegley, Early Adventurers, p. 367.

1781. Montgomery Co., VA. According to a certificate from the Commissioners dated 1781, RACHEL SKAGGS had a tract of 150 acres surveyed in her name. (Although no will or estate settlement has been found in the records, this survey indicates that Rachel's husband, James, had probably died because only widows and single women, but not married women, were allowed to conduct business in their own names.)

Kegley, Early Adventurers, p. 367: "JAMES SKAGGS (also SCAGGS, SKEGGS) was one of the earliest residents on Meadow Creek, appearing first in 1749 when he served as one of the appraisers of John ELSWICK's estate. He had lands surveyed as early as 1751 and added other tracts on Meadow Creek and Little River by deed (Chalkley, Chronicles, III, 18, 293, 321; Augusta County surveys). In 1769 James SKAGGS and his wife, Rachel, sold part of their lands to Henry SKAGGS and James SKAGGS, Jr. probably their sons (Chalkley, Chronicles, III, 490). Other tracts were disposed of to Thomas MASTIN and John PLICKINSTARVOR (Summers, Annals, pp.668, 1671).

"In 1776 the Committee of Safety for Fincastle County recorded that Captain James SKAGGS was unable to serve any longer because of his infirm state of health, and Thomas INGLES was appointed to succeed him. Presumably this is James SKAGGS, Sr. (Harwell, Committee of Safety . . . p.76).

"There is no record of a will or settlement of James SKAGGS' estate in Montgomery County and so no list of children can be established. Other SKAGGS mentioned include James, Henry, Charles, Richard, Moses, and Aaron. In the militia records and tithable lists additional names appear including William, Archibald, John Jr., John (Goard Head), Zachariah, Henry (son of Aaron), James (Longman) and Jacob. The D.A.R. lists Charles, James, John, and William. The 1810 Montgomery County census only lists Joseph. Marriages for Isaac in 1787, Jeremiah and Peter in 1788, and William in 1825 are recorded in Montgomery County (Montgomery County marriages; 1810 census; Kegley, Tithables; Kegley, Militia; Kegley, Tax List; D.A.R. Patriot Index).

See Combs &c. Families of Green Co., KY, http://www.combs-families.org/~combs/records/ky-green.htm

The booklet, "The Ragles of Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, and Kansas" by Dr. Harold E. Ragle, written in 1971 and published by the Casey Co., KY, Historical Society, is listed "over and over" as the source of background information on the Skaggs. This booklet details the descendants of Jacob Ragle of Bucks Co., PA, one of whom was Peter Ragle who married Margaret "Peggy" Wadsworth, daughter of Thomas Wadsworth and Nancy Skaggs. Nancy Skaggs father was Solomon Skaggs, son of Henry Skaggs, the Longhunter. --Kaye in OK (lkcopelanier@hotmail.com), Jan. 20, 2007

Another source for early Skaggs info is Longhunters Kin House by Burdette and Berley. --Ginny Keen (keen02@insightbb.com), Feb. 10, 2007

JAMES SKAGGS SR had settled sometime abt 1750 (likely earlier) in the neighborhood of Draper's Meadows. In 1751 he was buying additional land from Col. James Patton on Meadow Creek. [Kegley.]

Dale Van Every's "Forth to the Wilderness, The First American Frontier 1754-1774"
Van Every describes James Patton as a remarkable man. He had been an English sea captain who made many transatlantic crossings with shiploads of hopeful immigrants and redemptioners. At some point he took it into his mind to do more than transport settlers-- he would get a large tract of Virginia land and supervise the settlement of it himself. Governor Gooch granted him 120,000 acres of land beyond Virginia's then western frontier. By 1748 he had a station at the New River-- the first English settlement on the western slope of the Allegheny Divide.

James Patton died at the onset of the French and Indian War. According to Dale Van Every, "Draper's Meadows was overwhelmed by the first Indian attack of the French War to strike the Virginia frontier. On July 8, 1755, the day before Braddock's disaster on the far-off Monongahela, a Shawnee war party swept in upon the little settlement. James Patton himself was present, being engaged with the help of young William Preston in distributing a fresh supply of ammunition to the more outlying stations. He was then 63 but the old sea captain was as freshly vigorous as ever. He cut down two Indians with his broadsword before being borne down by numbers." His companion, William Preston, escaped-- and was Henry Skaggs' colonel during the Revolutionary War. Many others in the settlements were killed or captured, including Mary Ingles and her children.

During the War (1755- 1762), the Virginia frontier suffered both from repeated attacks and from the perpetual threat of attack. Many people fled, some southwards to the Carolinas, where the Cherokee and the Catawbas were (at that time) peaceful. In fact, the Virginia governor was pleading with the SC governor to send up troops of Cherokee and Catawba to fight the Shawnee. In a meeting in March 1756, the Cherokee agreed to go to Va to help IF, in return, the Governor of SC would erect an English fort to protect the Cherokee women and children while the warriors were away fighting. The SC Governor agreed, and several Virginians came down in the summer of 1756 to assist in the building of a fort.

It was in this period that at least two SKAGGS-- Charles and Aaron, and a possible third (William's father-- if he is not Aaron's son)-- ventured themselves down into the Carolinas. Were they-- perhaps at the prompting of the Mrs. Skaggses-- escaping the misery of the Virginia frontier? Did they move to SC to assist in building a fort for the Cherokee? We may never know their exact motivation. But we can agree that after mid -1755, the ambience of North and South Carolina was much more salubrious than Virginia's.

Sons of James and Rachel listed in the Pioneer Baptist Church Records of South-Central Kentucky and the Upper Cumberland of Tennessee 1799-1899 by C. P. Cawthorn & N. L. Warnell copyright 1985. Portions received from Brenda Harper 3-15-97.

"When the gospel was first sent to the Green River section of Kentucky, the land was wild and uncultivated. Alas! for the poor Baptists, death at the hands of lawless savage was an ever present chill on the hearts of the living, and who could tell whether it would continue to advance with the quiet of a blight, or vet burst upon them with the fury of a tempest?

"A great number of these first Baptists were among the 'Long Hunters' who came from the "Baptist Valley" area of SouthWest Virginia. These families were the forerunners of the 'foot-washing' [Primitive] Baptists which subsequently moved into Kentucky and established many of the Baptist Churches of the frontier land. Among the leaders was the Skaggs family consisting of Rev. James Skaggs and his brothers Henry, Richard, Jacob, Charles, Moses and William. These were the early 'Long Hunters' of 1761-1755 of which the Kentucky historians have recorded much about. Henry and Richard were particularly prominent. henry Skaggs was at the present site of Bowling Green, Kentucky in 1775. A brother Moses was killed by Indians on his second trip into Kentucky. Richard Skaggs had 3 sons named Shadrach, Mashack and Abendnego. It was Mashack who was killed by Indians on the creek named after him in present Monroe County, Kentucky.

"The men who lived on the frontier took protracted hunting trips into Kentucky, hence the name 'Long Hunters' later when Daniel Boone led a group of Yadkin farmers into Kentucky, they used a wilderness track referred to as the 'Skaggs Trace.' This track became a part of the Boone Trace and Wilderness Road that led the pioneers into Kentucky from Virginia.

"The first settlement of the Green River Baptists was in Green County in 1780, and was known as Skaggs station. It was established by Rev. James Skaggs and was the third station in what is now Green county, Kentucky. Glovers station having been established in the Fall of 1779 and Pitman's Station in March of 1780. In March of 1780, James Skaggs Station was broken up and burned by the Indians. Rev. James Skaggs daughter was killed and scalped."


SKAGGS FRONTIERSMAN
From 1658 to 1761 very little has been found about the migrations of the Various Skaggs families. However, near the end of that period records of their living in southwestern Virginia begin to appear. After 1761 they are found in the vanguard of the slow but steady stream of pioneers into Tennessee and Kentucky.

Robert L. Kincaid, in his book, The Wilderness Road, tells about the Long Hunters who pushed farther and farther west after 1761, traveling long distances in unexplored country for months at a time in their quest for pelts which could be sold or traded at home. In the meantime it was up to their wives and children to do the farming and gardening.

One of the early leaders in these hunting expeditions was a man by the name of Walden. On one of his first trips he was accompanied by his father-in-law, William Blevins, his brother-in-law, Jack Blevins, HENRY SKAGGS, Walter Newman, Charles Cox and about a dozen other trained woodsmen. The party spent about eighteen months on the trip and ranged as far as the vicinity of Cumberland Gap. The area was a hunter's paradise abounding in deer, buffalo, beaver, otter and mink and small game for their daily food supply. They brought home a large supply of pelts and hides.

In 1763, Walden and his party again went on a Long Hunt, passing through Cumberland Gap this time and going as far as the present town of Crab orchard, Kentucky. The news of their successful hunts soon spread and led others to venture on similar trips. In June, 1769, a party of hunters gathered at Fort Chiswell as the starting point for their hunt. Among the leaders was RICHARD SKAGGS. They went as far as present Nashville, Tennessee. In the following year, 1770, a large party passed through Cumberland Gap, ranging as far as Green River and the Barrens in Kentucky where many Skaggs later settled.

In May, 1769, Daniel Boone and his party followed the Wilderness Road through Cumberland Gap into Kentucky but at Hazel Patch turned northward to the site of Boonesborough which he would later establish as a settlement. By the year 1775 the branch of the Wilderness Road that pointed toward Louisville, Kentucky was known as the SKAGGS TRACE and was named for three Irish brothers, HENRY, CHARLES AND RICHARD SKAGGS. Long Hunters who had spent much time in the region according to Kincaid, page 113. There is also a stream known as SKAGGS CREEK.

During the Revolutionary War, the Indian allies of the British waged war against the Kentucky settlers. Beginning in 1777 the fighting was bitter bringing much loss of life and hardships to the people. Several Skaggs were in the war, at least three of them being killed. Virginia and Kentucky Skaggs in the war included JAMES, JOHN, RICHARD, WILLIAM, ARCHIBALD, HENRY, CHARLES, MOSES, JACOB, JORRE AND AARON [SKAGGS] and a few with the same names as some of the above. MOSES and AARON [SKAGGS] are said to have been killed and also a PETER SKAGGS. Several of them received pensions later according to the records.

The Draper Manuscripts include a statement that "A number of Skaggs brother came to Green County, Kentucky, most of them very early, long before any settlement, and then they became the earliest settlers. JAMES, HENRY, JOHN, CHARLES AND RICHARD SKAGGS left records in Green County, while MOSES AND AARON [SKAGGS] were said to have been killed there." Note: In 1798 Barren County was split off Green County.

The Skaggs brothers, sons of JAMES AND RACHEL SKAGGS are believed to have been HENRY, CHARLES, RICHARD, JAMES, JR., AARON, MOSES and possibly JOHN SKAGGS. Many of their descendants still live in Kentucky but as early as 1820 there were three Skaggs in Indiana and at least one is known definitely to be from Kentucky.

The name of James SKAGGS, believed to be the patriarch of the SKAGGS clan in southwest VA and west-central KY, first appears in the records in August 1746 when he and other local residents were appointed to build a new road from Adam HARMAN's to the North Branch of the Roanoke River. --Mary B. and F.B. Kegley, Early Adventurers on the Western Waters, v.1 (Orange, VA: Green Publishers, 1980), 367; F.B. Kegley, Kegley's Virginia Frontier, v.? (Roanoke, VA: Southwest Virginia Historical Society, 1938), 117; Ulysses S.A. Heavener, German New River Settlement--Virginia (by the author, 1928; 1961 printing), 12.

Kegley, Early Adventurers, 367: "James SKAGGS (also SCAGGS, SKEGGS) was one of the earliest residents on Meadow Creek, appearing first in 1749 when he served as one of the appraisers of John ELSWICK's estate. He had lands surveyed as early as 1751 and added other tracts on Meadow Creek and Little River by deed (Chalkley, Chronicles, III, 18, 293, 321; Augusta County surveys). In 1769 James SKAGGS and his wife, Rachel, sold part of their lands to Henry SKAGGS and James SKAGGS, Jr. probably their sons (Chalkley, Chronicles, III, 490). Other tracts were disposed of to Thomas MASTIN and John PLICKINSTARVOR (Summers, Annals, pp.668, 1671).

"In 1776 the Committee of Safety for Fincastle County recorded that Captain James SKAGGS was unable to serve any longer because of his infirm state of health, and Thomas INGLES was appointed to succeed him. Presumably this is James SKAGGS, Sr. (Harwell, Committee of Safety . . . p.76).

"There is no record of a will or settlement of James SKAGGS' estate in Montgomery County and so no list of children can be established. Other SKAGGS mentioned include James, Henry, Charles, Richard, Moses, and Aaron. In the militia records and tithable lists additional names appear including William, Archibald, John Jr., John (Goard Head), Zachariah, Henry (son of Aaron), James (longman) and Jacob. The D.A.R. lists Charles, James, John, and William. The 1810 Montgomery County census only lists Joseph. Marriages for Isaac in 1787, Jeremiah and Peter in 1788, and William in 1825 are recorded in Montgomery County (Montgomery County marriages; 1810 census; Kegley, Tithables; Kegley, Militia; Kegley, Tax List; D.A.R. Patriot Index).

James married Rachel Bef 1723, Maryland. Rachel was born Abt 1705, Fincastle, VA; died 1789, Montgomery Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• _UID: 7AE7CEF1D07749B19C9E4155873203E8D59B

Notes:

DOB source: The Ragles of Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky and Kansas, Author: Compiled and Published by Dr. Harold E. Ragle in 1971

CONFUSION

More than likely, Rachel's maiden name was not Moredock. There were two James Skaggs living in the New River Valley at the same time. The James married to Rachel were the parents of the famous Long Hunters. The other James was married to Susanna and eventually ended up in Warren Co. KY. Her maiden name may have been Moredock. Many researchers have combined the two women into Rachel Susannah Moredock, but in reality they are two separate women who married two different James Skaggs and lived side by side at one time.

For a good explanation and sources for research:
http://oldpeterskaggs.blogspot.ca/2015/06/will-real-james-skaggs-please-stand-up_16.html

FAMILY INFORMATION

177? Sept. 13. A list of persons sworn to the States in Capt. McCORKLE's Company of Montgomery Co., VA, includes HENRY SCAGGS, son of AARON; James (longman); John (Gourd Head); John, Jr.; John Zachariah; and Moses SCAGGS.

Another researcher interpreted the preceding list as:
Sworn of Capt. Daniel Triggs Company: 9th September 1777
Sept. 13, 1777, includes John Scaggs, Junr.; Archibald Scaggs; Charles Skaggs; John Skaggs (Goard Head); Moses Skaggs; John Hankins [md. Elizabeth "Betsy" Skaggs]; John Skaggs; HENRY SKAGGS (son to AARON); Zachariah Skaggs.
Sept. 15: Richard Whitt [md. Susannah Skaggs]; James Skaggs (Longman).

Ruby Altizer Roberts, Cambria, Va., in Virginia Vital Records (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1984), 214-15; actual page images at Family Tree Maker's GenealogyLibrary.com

Deposition of WILLIAM RATLIFF (27 April 1836 at the home of WILLIAM SKAGGS, Aleck Fork of Pitman Creek). I was acquainted with MOSES SKAGGS of Green County, KY. He had 4 sisters, to wit: SUSANNAH, wife of RICHARD WHIT; LYDIA, wife of MATTHIAS HARMON, ELIZABETH "Betsy," wife of JOHN HANKINS; and NANCY, wife of WILLIAM MERIDY. I was quite intimate with them in Virginia. I knew them before they married. MOSES had a brother named JOHN SKAGGS. I knew the brothers of MOSES SKAGGS. They were HENRY, JAMES, CHARLES, JOHN, RICHARD and JACOB SKAGGS. I knew them in Kentucky and they all raised large families.

Deposition of FRANCES SAMPLES (27 April 1836). I was familiar with MOSES SKAGGS who died in Green County about 40 years ago. He had 4 sisters, to wit: SUSANNAH, wife of RICHARD WHIT; LYDIA, wife of MATTHIAS HARMAN; ELIZABETH, wife of JOHN HANKINS, and NANCY, wife of WILLIAM MERIDY. They lived in Virginia. When I knew them, MOSES had 6 brothers: HENRY, JOHN, JAMES, CHARLES, RICHARD and JACOB.