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.

Sergeant Thomas Skinner was born in England in 1617. His three children were born in Chichester, England. My friend Jessie L. Fraser, while touring in England, visited Chichester and found a John Skinner buried there. Evidently some of the line stayed. I have given some thought and speculation to the title Sergeant in Thomas' name and have come to the conclusion that he must have been a sergeant in Cromwell's army as the dates are in order. As he came to this country circa 1650 strengthens this conclusion. Cromwell was out of power then and his followers were in ill favor. Thomas was an innkeeper as was Daniel. It is recorded that he (Thomas) obtained a license to sell strong waters in Malden, Massachusetts.

Daniel Skinner born in Mansfield, MA, in 1743 was a Revolutionary War veteran. After the war he and his cousin once removed Dr. Elisha Skinner came to Orrington, Province of Maine now Brewer. They came by boat and brought considerable impedimenta; even a cow. His grandfathers clock along with some pieces of furniture are still at the old farm house in Corinth. After getting established In Orrington, Daniel built a log cabin Inn at what is now Corinth some twenty miles north up Kenduskeag Stream, This was the logical place for an inn as it was on the direct route to the
Moosehead Lake region. This was being opened up by trappers, etc. One of the first things Daniel did was to bring his grandfathers clock up from Orrington. This he did by dismantling it and making three trips on horseback over what may have been a very poor trail.

Asahel Skinner was born in Mansfield, MA, in 1771 the first of Daniel's children. He grew discontented while living in the Skinner Settlement hearing stories of Ohio. In fact, there was quite a rush to go to Ohio at that time. A group of people in Orrington who were considering going finally located in what is part of Levant near the Skinner Settlement and named it the Ohio Settlement. In 1816 Asahel, Phebe who was pregnant, the children and a cow set out for Ohio. They did arrive finally and Asahel lived out his eighty years in Rutland, Ohio.

Mason Skinner, the seventh and last of Daniel's children, was born in Mansfield also. This was in 1786. He stayed in Maine for the most part in Garland. He was an excellent wood worker and blacksmith. Some of his work (blacksmith) can be seen In Daniel's house today. His house still stands In the outskirts of Garland and the foundation of his shop is across the road. He made everything for the home. Hand hewn rafters can be seen in his house. His wife Rebecca Batchelder is where I get my middle name.

John B. Skinner, the fifth of Mason's children, was born in 1818 at the Skinner Settlement. He married first Joanna Grover Skinner who was Dr. Elisha's granddaughter. They lived in Garland not far from his father.

After the Civil War and Joanna's death, he married Isabella Hathorn McDonald. He lived the rest of his life in Veazie operating a cooper shop.

John B Skinner, III

February 14, 1981