Volume 1 Number 2

Fall 1984

Thank You

The Skinner Family Association

The Skinners

Jonathan Skinner, A Soldier of The

American Revolution, Part II

Orange Skinner Bible

What Kind of Family Records

are Needed?

My Skinner Lineage

Genevieve Skinner Copley

My Skinner Lineage

Katherine Twomey

Where’s Thomas From?

A Continuing Saga

An Attempt to Explain the

Computerized List of C.W. Myers

Question of Issue:

Thomas' Title of Sergeant

Index Page

Thanks to William Weiler for transcription of this article.

There is a long period in the life of Jonathan Skinner through which we have not even faint glimpses of him. From his enlistment, 1779 In Columbia Co., until his first Application, April 16, 1818, "a resident of Hamilton, Madison Co., N.Y." there is no certain trace. He applied for an increase in his pension July 25, 1825 - living then in Frankfort, Herkimer County, New York.

Of these counties, there are practically no records - no vital statistics, and in local histories only the highlights are touched upon. Few names, other than those who were most active in local affairs. Time must reveal this needed data, from privately held manuscripts that are being brought out.

The 1790 Federal Census shows several Jonathan Skinners - the only one of them who could possibly have been ours lived in Harpersfield, Montgomery County, He had a wife and two daughters in 1790. As Charity was born that year, It is at least possible that she had an older sister. We have, however, no confirmation that she had an older sister. We have, however, no confirmation of THE Jonathan Skinner ever living in Harpersfield - which does not, it may be added, prove that he never did! In the 1820 Census, in that part of Onondaga County that in 1790 had been part of Montgomery County, is the record of a Jonathan Skinner who may have been the same man as the 1790 but he probably was not!

Jonathan Skinner, 1820 had:

1 son between 16 & 26

2 daughters between 16 & 26

1 son between 10 & 16

1 daughter between 10 & 16

3 sons under 10

1 daughter under 10 Husband and wife each over 45 years of age.

Note: The census reports before 1850 were not any more definite than these figures indicate.

Nine children and to trace of only one daughter.???

A search of wills of Josiah Skinner: In King's District (see suggestion above (SKU V 1 N 1), Kings' County vs Kings' District), N.Y. March 29, 1778 (Probated)

To Josiah, my son,

Wife Elizabeth, and Hezekiah, her son,

Jonathan, my son, a bedroom during his life.

Anne, my wife's daughter.

The witness of the will Abraham Mudge, Jr., certified that the testator lay sick with the smallpox...dictated the will...dated March 21, 1778...the testator was of sound mind, and was blind...

In Flatbush, Kings' County, in 1768, May 9, one Jonathan Skinner witnessed the will of John Hageman. This is the only trace of this name in that county -- nine years after the birth of our Jonathan. Was this his father??

There are a number of Jonathan Skinners in the Malden Family. As stated, there were several of them who in the 1745 - 1750's removed to New York, their family records being thus lost to that part of the Kindred remaining in New England. The search for them, as far as this line is concerned, has resulted, only, in establishing the fact of "Lost Jonathan Skinner." There seems no doubt of his general ancestry -- of the family to whom he belongs. As an individual, they have no traces as fact of his existing, there seems no doubt.

It is pretty certain that time will clear the lineage.

At present we know:

The line of Rev. Levi Alburn (7)Skinner, of Westfield, New York.

He was the son of Levi (6), 1779-1850, and his wife, Polly Chapin.

He was the son of Gideon (5), b Feb. 15, 1738, died in Oneida Co., N.Y., March 26, 1813.

Gideon (4), b 1712 Sergt.

Ebenezer (3), 1680-1755

Thomas (2), 1645-

Thomas (1), the Emigrant, 1617-1703/4.

In this line no Jonathan has appeared, though the Skinner Genealogist wrote that she thought our Jonathan might be the brother of Levi (6), who also had a brother Josiah. She says that, most positively "he was not the Jonathan of Kings' County; that Jonathan died insane in the house of his brother."

continued next issue