Dear Gregg:

Re: Volume 2, Number 3, Summer 1985, page 4. An article was printed which had been submitted by Linda Lee Stevens. It was titled, SKINNER FAMILY, from HISTORY OF MILL RUN, PA., FAYETTE CO, pp. 141, 142. In this article the submitter states, "In a history of New Jersey, according to Harry S. Rush, who is a descendant of Nathaniel Skinner, the following statement was found:

A Rev. William Skinner who lived at or near Woodbridge had come from Scotland. (the original name was MacGregor). (He must have been of our (George Skinner) family because there are many Cortland Skinners hanging on the family tree,) He had a son, James, who we believe was the father of Nathaniel of the Jersey settlement.) (Note: I only extracted portions of the two paragraphs for brevity).

I have seen this postulate several times before this. I considered them to just be incomplete research as documented sources were not cited or included. The some theory was also outlined in a book, "Monqst the Hills of Somerset", about the SKINNER FAMILY by Marilyn Skinner Wines. If this lineage can be proven with reliable documentation, I would like to see it printed in the SKINNER KINSMEN UPDATE. The location of the documents is also important for any family member to personally inspect.

As a descendant of "NATHANIEL", it is important for me to accurately trace the ancestral lines. I consider myself to be on amateur genealogist with only about nine years experience. I have, however, been in contact with many other genealogists of this SKINNER line and other allied lines. The majority, follow the "probability" that NATHANIEL is the son of RICHARD, DEACON OF WOODBRIDGE, son of RICHARD, FIRST SETTLER OF WOODBRIDGE.

At this opportunity, I would like to quote some of my info which I have accumulated during my years of searching libraries, churches, cemeteries, archives, etc., in an attempt to dispel the Rev. William Skinner theory to all readers, post, present, or future.

"WILLIAM SKINNER, b. Scotland, ca. 1687; Ord. London, Autumn of 1722; fought in the bottle of Preston-Pans, Scotland, 1715; K.B. to Philadelphia, Pa., 10 June 1718; schoolmaster at Philadelphia, 1716-1722; occasional preacher at Freehold (Mercer) N.J., St. Peter's Chh., 1718-1733; sett. Perth Amboy (Middlesex) N.J., St. Peter's Chh., 22 Nov. 1722-1758; S.P.G. missionary; Piscataway (Middlesex) N.J., St James's Chh. 1722-1758; Shrewsbury (Monmouth) N.J., Christ Chh. 1722-1725; Woodbridge (Middlesex) N.J., Trinity Chh. 1722-1752; New Brunswick (Middlesex) N.J., Christ Chh., 1742-1749; Spotswood (Middlesex) N.J., St. Peter's Chh. at East Brunswick, 1756-1758; Mr. Skinner built the Chh. at Spotswood; a Rev. William Macgregor Skinner, perhaps a descendant, was matriculated tn the Lyon Register of Arms, 1810; Ep.; d. Perth Amboy, N.J., 1758, a. 70." (1)

"WILLIAM SKINNER (Rev.) was sent by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel to Woodbridge (having arrived at Perth Amboy 1722), where he preached for thirty-six years; he was b. 1688, d. 1758, at 70; left five children, of whom GERTRUDE, the only daughter, m. James Parker; and Cortland, the eldest son, was attorney-general of the Colony at least from 1756 to 1769, and became a British general during the Revolutionary War. The names of the other three sons are unknown". (2)

"The Rev. Mr. Skinner, born in 1687, married first, Mrs. Mary Brooks, widow of the former Rector and daughter of Christopher Billop, of Staten Island. She died about 1725. Married second, Elizabeth Van Cortlandt, youngest daughter of Stephen Van Cortlandt, of New York. Children of the Rev. Mr. Skinner, all by his second wife, 1a to 5a:". (3) (Note: In July 1980, my wife and I visited St. Peter's Church in Perth Amboy, N.J. We met the Rev. J. Rodney Croes, Rector, of St. Peter's Episcopal Church. While there, he showed us the history book of the church which is apparently so rare that it is kept in the Rectory safe. Father Croes would not let it out of his sight but was kind enough to photocopy the Skinner pages and mail to me.)

"SKINNER, CORTLANDT. of New Jersey. Last Royal Attorney-General. SKINNER, STEPHEN. Brother of Cortlandt, Senior. Treasurer of Eastern New Jersey, and a member of the Council. SKINNER, WILLIAM. of New Jersey. Lieutenant-Colonel in the British Army. Brother of Cortlandt, Senior. SKINNER, ELISHA. Brother of the senior Cortlandt. Lieutenant-Colonel in the New Jersey Volunteers." (4) (Note: This lists all four Sons of the Rev. William).

" THE REFORMATION- The idea spread that the ruler of the country should determine the religion of his subjects. If the king and parliament shared ruling power, they would both decide. Their disagreement in England in the 1600s resulted in civil war. But, with minor exceptions, the principle continued until the American and French revolutions.

After the 1700's, many democratic notions maintained the separation of church & state. This principle of religious freedom is embodied in Amendment I of the United States constitution, and in many other constitutions.

"CHURCH OF ENGLAND- Also called the Established Church, is established by law as the national church of the English people. It is also the mother church of the Anglican Communion, an international commonwealth of 15 self-governing churches." (5)

"ORGANIZATION- England is divided into two religious provinces, Canterbury and York, each governed by an Archbishop. The archbishop of Canterbury also bears the title "Primate of ALL England." The provinces ore divided into dioceses under the authority of bishops." (5)

"The situation in New Jersey was different from that in Scotland or England, or even "New" England. The original proprietors of the colony were Anglican, but as Landlords they needed settlers to make the colony prosper. So all the early agreements and charters provided that no one would be persecuted for his religious belief as long as there was no civil disturbance. The colony of New Jersey was not to have an established church -- there were Baptists at Middletown and Piscataway; Quakers at Shrewsbury; Reformed at Bergan; Puritans at Elizabethtown, Newark, and Woodbridge; and Presbyterians at Freehold. Although each settlement had its own church supported by public taxation, the passage of time brought the founding of different churches within the same community, and the financial support for the ministry came to be based not on public taxation but on subscription of the members." (6) -

"Presbyterians were second to none in their patriotic devotion to the cause of American independence. This was true in the Woodbridge church. "Religious as well as economic and political causes underlay the American Revolution. Many non-Anglicans, especially the Presbyterians, were alarmed at the desire of the English Church to send a resident bishop to the American colonies . . . Presbyterians could not forget that many of their immediate ancestors had come to America to escape persecution from government supported prelates in England, Scotland and Ireland. They had no desire to see similar calamities overtake them in their new home, and were ready to resist with sword, if necessary. On the other hand, most Episcopalians outside of the South favored the 'loyalist' or British side, in the Revolution against the 'patriot' or American side". Woodbridge was a typical example. Woodbridge was occupied by the British, December 2, 1776 to June 22, 1777. According to tradition, the episcopal Church, situated in a portion of the original kirk green just beyond the Presbyterian burying ground was used as an English barracks and the Rectory as the English Fort. At this time a long list of Presbyterian men were volunteers in the American Army." (6)

"WOODBRIDGE, NEW JERSEY PRESBYTERIAN CEMETERY:
a. DEACON RICHARD SKINNER d. OCT 12, 1727 age 63 yrs.
b. JOHN SKINNER d. FEB 14, 1748." (7)

"RICHARD SKINNER, SR. FIRST SETTLER of WOODBRIDGE. He come in 1665, as a servant to Gov. PHILLIP CARTERET, (vide, ante, PART ONE, p. 103), said to belong jointle in the service of Sir George Carteret., (Hatfield, p. 58). (ARCH., vol. XXI, pp. 46-59.) He was a "joiner" by trade, and become a citizen of Elizabethtown, where he acquired a house-lot, (orig, from Richard Painter) 1672, from Balthazar De Hart, whom he had served. (Idem, p.88). In 1673, he took the oath of allegiance as a citizen of E. (do. p. 159). Removed to WOODBRIDGE, 1672-3. (Idem, pp. 168 and 256), where biog. sketch.

He m. May 1, 1666, Susannah Poulain, one of the French maidens, who come over with Carteret, and they had several.. Children at W., among whom, JOHN SKINNER, RICHARD SKINNER, JR., FRANCIS SKINNER, et. al. (Note: I obtained a Copy of this document from the N.J. Archives)

RICHARD SKINNER,JR., and JOHN SKINNER were recorded at W., as early as 1696, when the father was prob. d. These two sons, with an ANN SKINNER, and brother, Francis, were mems., of the W. Church 1707-8, (vide. ante. PART ONE, pp. 111-2). RICHARD SKINNER, JR., was called "son-in-law," by ROBERT WRIGHT, and as "DEACON RICHARD SKINNER, d. May 12, 1727, age 63." i.e. b. 1664, showing father's gen. (Vide, ante, PART THREE, p. 377.)

In a deed, dated, 1700, Aug. 29, with reference to land near Rahway, (E), was probably m. to ANN WRIGHT, (ARCH., Vol. XXI, p. 311)" (8)
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DEACON RICHARD SKINNER OF W. He was so called and d. May 12, 1727, age 63. i.e. b. 1664, (vide, ante, PART THREE, p. 377). He was son of the first RICHARD SKINNER. (Vide, ante, PART FOUR, p. 630.)

In 1712, he had land near that accepted for schoolhouse at Rahway. (DALLY, p. 155). He was in W. church, 1707-8, with Francis Skinner, John Skinner and Ann Skinner, prob. latter's wife.

He had m. Sarah Moore, dau. of Matthew Moore of W., and had, at least, two chil., Matthew and Sarah Skinner. (ARCH., VOL. XXX, P. 343). (Vide, ante, PART FOUR, p. 618.)

He prob. had two sons, Jonathan and Nathaniel Skinner appearing later at W.

Rev. Nathaniel Skinner, b. 1706, d. 1801, Somerset Co., Pa. (Jer, Gen. No. 3908, Apr. 20, 1912.)
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JOHN SKINNER, FIRST, OF W. He was called "Senior" hence two of the same name were contemporaneous.

Son of the first RICHARD SKINNER, b. prob. 1667-8 d. 1725, leaving a will dated July 12, 1725, prov. Aug. 19, 1749. wife, Ann, and chil.: Catte (Catherine), John, Daniel, Richard, Benjamin, Ann and Marg., "Last five under age." Son, John Skinner, with wife, Exctrs. Land In W. (ARCH., VOL. XXX, p. 435)

In addition to foregoing he had a son, Wright Skinner. 1738. (HATFIELD, p. 318).
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JOHN SKINNER, second, OF W.

Son of first JOHN SKINNER of W., m. Elizabeth Cutter, dau. of William Cutter, Mar. or Nov., 1736, (vide, ante, PART TWO, p. 251) , d. leaving will dated Feb. 14, 1748-9, prov. Mar. 9, 1748-9,
(continued next issue)