Born circa 1667/1668. (speculation by Monnette-2)
Wife - Ann. (will-8)
Wife - Ann Wright, the daughter of Robert Wright, Sr., of Woodbridge. (mistaken speculation by Monnette-2)
1691 and 1692 - John Skinner is mentioned in unnamed records in the Woodbridge Town Records and Richard Skinner is mentioned in 1687. I can not locate the 1692 reference. (Monnette-2, pp531-533)
1691 - John Skinner and Jonathan Bishop witnessed the sale of land from Josiah Winter (sic) to John Conger on the Rahaway River, Woodbridge. John Conger had many landholdings at Woodbridge and later appears in the 1730's as a neighbor of Cornelius, Nathaniel and Wright Skinner in Somerset Co., NJ. (exhibit-5)
1694 - John Skinner is mentioned in unnamed records associated with the town of Woodbridge. Richard Skinner is mentioned in the year 1693. (Monnette-2, pp89-93)
1695 - The Town of Woodbridge granted 40 acres of land to John Skinner, bordering land of Peter Elstone and John Jones (Exhibit-2b). Both John Jones and John Skinner were likely sons of first-generation indentured servants, who came to America with Philip Carteret in 1665. John Jones previously appears in 1687 as a tenant on lands that were then leased by Richard Skinner.
August 20, 1708 - recorded as being one of the twenty-thirty members of the First Presbyterian Church of Woodbridge, along with Ann Skinner. [KDS note - undoubtedly his wife, not a sister]. Richard and Francis Skinner, likely his brothers, were also members. Richard Skinner was made a deacon of the church in 1710 (church-4).
May 20, 1709 - John Skinner's land mentioned in the Woodbridge Town Records as being next to both Peter Elstone's farm and a second plot of land laid out for Mr. Elstone. (Woodbridge-5)
November 19, 1709 - A deed of land at Woodbridge from John Jaques to Joseph Grey was "Sealed, Signed & Delivered in the presence of John Skinner and John Bishop", similar to 1692, above (Woodbridge-5). Judging from the various land records as described in (exhibits-5, 5a, 5b), all lived close to one another.
1714 - John Skinner served as Woodbridge Overseer. (Monnette-2, pp543-545)
July 12, 1715 - a decision was made to keep a plot of land between that of Peter Elston, John Skinner, Joseph Grey and Benjamin Rolph as common land, rather than being distributed to freeholders. (Woodbridge-5, Daly-5a)
January 10, 1717 - John Skinner inventoried the estate of Edward Jones, whose administrator was Benjamin Force. (will-7).
This and other deed transactions involving members of the Skinner and Force families, prompted Monnette to conclude (reference Monnette, p630, in Family Record of Deacon Skinner) that there was an interrelationship between the two families.
1719 - Henry Freeman versus John Skinner, Middlesex County court records. (Monnette-2, pp540-541)
July 12, 1725 - Will dated. (will-8)
His Will mentions his land holding at Woodbridge.
1729 - John Skinner served as Woodbridge Constable. (Monnette-2).
This is likely John Skinner Jr.
August 26, 1741 - named as an Executor of the Will of James Frazee of the Borough of Elizabeth.
This could relate to either John Skinner Sr. or Jr.
May 12, 1746 - identified as a friend and Executor in the Will of Peter Elstone of Woodbridge.
This could relate to either John Skinner Sr. or Jr., but John Sr. had lands that adjoined Peter Elstone's Woodbridge farm.
August 19, 1749 - Will probated, five months after John Skinner Jr.'s Will was probated. (will-8)
November 29, 1749 - mentioned as being deceased in the Will of Philip Dodridge, whose land adjoined that of John Skinner. (will-7).
This most likely refers to John Skinner, Sr. John Sr.'s Will indicates he was a landowner, while John Jr.'s Will indicates no land ownership.
John Skinner, Senior, would likely have been born by 1670, five years after Richard and Susannah disembarked from the ship 'Philip'. He probably would have had to be born by that time to have appeared in town records beginning in 1691. His two eldest children would likely have been born in the 1690's or the first few years of the 1700's. That is line with his Will which says they were "of age" by 1725. John, Junior, was named as co-executor of his father's Will in that year. The five younger children, who were identified as being underage in 1725, would have been born in the early 1700's.
Monnette incorrectly speculated that the children of John Skinner, Sr. could have included a Wright Skinner, an issue that is discussed in detail elsewhere. As a result of Monnette's speculation, Wright Skinner appears as a child of John Skinner in the notes of some later genealogists. There is no evidence that Wright was a child of John.
The name Daniel Skinner appears in three successive generations of Skinners. Reference the Family Record for the Daniel Skinners.
Monnette-2, p1586 mentions Margaret as being the last of John Skinner's children. John's Will abstract, which Monnette used as his reference, lists the name Mary.
The John Skinner Jr. and David Donham Jr. had a close relationship. David Donham Jr. witnessed the 1746 Will of Peter Elstone, Elstone being a neighbor to both Richard Skinner Sr. and John Skinner Sr. Elstone's Will also mentions John Skinner Sr. or Jr. as being a friend. Donham witnessed the Will of Robert Hude in 1748, a document that mentions John Skinner Jr. as being a Presbyterian Minister at Woodbridge. And Donham is named as Friend and Executor in the 1749 Will of John Skinner Jr. and as a Witness to the 1750 Will of John Skinner Jr.'s wife, Elizabeth.
The Donham and Skinner families are linked by their church service. The two families were members of the Woodbridge Presbyterian Church, going back to 1708 (as were the Freemans and Elstones). Richard Skinner Sr. was a Deacon there in 1710. John Skinner Jr. was said to be a Minister there in 1748, a document that was witnessed by David Donham Jr. And David Donham Jr. was made a Church Trustee in 1754.
The appearance of the Skinners and Donhams in (exhibit-13) is intriguing. That exhibit is the1752 Will of John Freeman that was witnessed by Mary Donham, Anne Skinner, and David Donham, Jr. The Donhams witnessed Freeman's Will because Mary Donham was nee Mary Freeman, sister of John Freeman. It is not clear who Anne Skinner was, why she witnessed the Will and why her name is listed between that of Mary and David Donham. Anne Skinner could not be Ann, the wife of John Skinner Sr., as she was deceased by this time. If Anne was Ann, a daughter of John Skinner Sr. listed in his Will, then she would have been a minimum of 29 years of age at the time she Witnessed Freeman's Will and still using her maiden name of Skinner. The names of females in the Donham family are not known, leaving open the possiblity that Anne Skinner was born Anne Donham.
KDS COMMENTARY - BENJAMIN SKINNER:
Benjamin Skinner was recorded at Woodbridge in 1750 and 1760. A later Will of Catherine Skinner, of Rahway, mentions a house and lot received from her father, Benjamin Skinner.
This information concerning the existence of a Benjamin Skinner undoubtedly relates to the son of John Skinner, Sr. In fact, many of the names that appear in the 1750 and 1760 records with Benjamin have close ties to the Skinner family.
Franklin Skinner (Franklin-12c) provides information, which is likely correct, concerning the offspring of Benjamin. However, Franklin incorrectly identifies Benjamin as being Colonel Benjamin G. Skinner of the unrelated, Loyalist, Perth Amboy Skinner family. Franklin made this same mistake with other members of the family of John Skinner Sr., Benjamin's actual father, as discussed in other files.
The 1815 Will of Catherine Skinner makes mention of her father - Benjamin Skinner. Her Will also makes mention of a David S. Craig. This is undoubtedly the same David Craig who was captured during the Revolutionary War in the same incident in which Captain Richard Skinner was killed. Her Will also makes mention of John Marsh and Marsh Noe Marsh. The Marsh family had an affilitation with the Woodbridge/Rahway Skinners, and a John Noe served in the First Regiment, Middlesex Co. militia, the same militia that Captain Richard Skinner served in.
FURTHER RESEARCH:
Obtain actual copy of
John Skinner's Will to locate land holdings.
Research Woodbridge Town
Records to understand why persons were granted land by the town. Was
that simply the result of the person previously purchasing a right to
such land?
Exhibit 1 - letter from George Stevens (GRS) to his family, Sep 18, 1957
"First-generation Richard Skinner moved to Woodbridge and "became the first sheriff." Richard's son, "John, the eldest (born 1666 and died 1725) was constable of Woodbridge for many years. His brother Richard (known as "Deacon") was a Presbyterian minister. John, the one Granny is descended from, had seven children - Cattie, John, Daniel, Richard, Wright, Benjamin, Ann, and Margaret. His wife's name was Ann Wright."
[KDS note - GRS mentions that John had seven children, but goes on to list eight, counting Wright.]
Exhibit 1b - unsourced notes of DSW/VEM
Their notes make a reference to Monnette's conclusion (see Monnette below) that Wright Skinner was a child of John Skinner. Elsewhere in their notes, they include a family tree, which does not appear to be of their own creation, which shows Wright as being child #5, positioned between Richard and Benjamin. GRS, above, shows the same arrangement. I do not know the source of this information - Monnette simply makes mention of Wright as being a child but does not say anything more specific.
DSW/VEM concluded in their notes that "there has been nothing found that proves Wright Skinner a son of the above John Skinner," discounting Monnette's conclusion. I agree.
GRS also copied Monnette's use of the name Margaret as being the 8th child of John Skinner.
Exhibit 2 - "First Settlers of Ye Plantations of Piscataway and Woodbridge of Olde East New Jersey", by Ora Eugene Monnette, 10/9/1995/KDS
pp89-93, List constructed by Monnette of the first time each person appears in any of the public records associated with Woodbridge and Piscataway [KDS note - evidently does not include oaths, land deeds, etc. listed elsewhere by Monnette and that show much earlier dates; also note that Monnette did not indicate in what record and in what context he found these references; also note his list in the next section of the date of the first mention of people in the Woodbridge Town Records]. The list includes:
Richard Skinner (1693)
John Skinner (1694)
pp531-533, List constructed by Monnette of the first settlers of Woodbridge and Piscataway based upon the date of their first mention in the Woodbridge Town Records The list includes:
Richard Skinner, 1687
John Skinner, 1691
John Skinner, 1692
pp114-115, List of Militia Regiments, under command of Col. Thos. Ffarmar in 1715, NJ (per Report of the State Historian, State of New York, 1898, Colonial Series, Vol. 1, pp529 et seq.):
Third Company, Woodbridge - Richard Skinner, Jr., Wright Skinner, John Skinner, Jr.; also John Moore, Captain, Matthew Force, Ezekial Bloomfield, William Allston, Peter Allston, Jr., Samuel Moore, William Crichfield
Fourth Company, Piscataway - Joseph, James, and John Manning, Jonathan, Joseph, Alza, Samuel, David, and Ffran Drake
pp413, 414 - Matthew Moore should be included in 4th Co.; Alza Drake should be Abra or Abraham Drake.
KDS note - Monnette reported on this document twice in his series. On pp114-115, he copied from a listing of Ffamer's troops from a document on file at the Office of the State Historian, New York, a document which had been transcribed from the original source material. On pp413-414, due to his concern about transcribing errors and the correct spelling of family names, he presented the list again based upon a review of a photograph of the original source material,. In both cases, Richard Skinner's name includes the suffix 'Jr.', a suffix one might ordinarily question since there was no known Richard Skinner, Jr. alive at that time.
pp540-541, Court Records, Middlesex County 1683-1712 (per Abstract on deposit with Middlesex County Clerk):
1717 - John Parker, Executor of Elisha Parker, dec'd versus Richard Skinner
(KDS note - Elisha Parker was a Middlesex County Judge, 1711 to 1714)
1719 - Henry Freeman versus John Skinner
pp543-545, Civil and Military Commissions - I have included only names of interest:
Middlesex County
Woodbridge
pp1513,1514 - Woodbridge Church Affairs, Comments of Monnette on church member genealogies (KDS note - everything listed after the highlighted names are the genealogical assumptions of Monnette]:
"Feb. 28, 1707-8 - Richard Skinner, (Jr.), "Deacon" (Confused with John as to wife).
Robert Wright, in deed, 1700, calls him, "son-in-law," (vide, ante, part five, p878; and part four, p630). He m. (2), Sarah (nee Moore, dau. of Matthew Moore)."
"June 6, 1708 - Francis Skiner, (Skinner).
This may be ""Frances," then a widow of first Richard Skinner. - O.E.M."
"Aug. 20, 1708 - John Skiner, (Skinner), "Senior."
Wife, Ann, (or Hannah), (nee Wright, dau. of Robert Wright, Sr.)"
"Aug. 20, 1708 - Ann Skiner, (Skinner)
Wife of John Skinner, (supra), (nee Wright)"
"June 6, 1708 - Matthew Fors, (Force)
Wife, Sarah, (nee Morris, dau. of George Morris, of W., (ARCH., Vol. XXIII, p. 330))."
"Aug. 15, 1708 - Sarah Fors, (Force).
Wife of Matthew Force, (nee Morris), as see (supra)."
"Jan. 1, 1710 - Hannah Right, (Wright), (Joannah)
Wife of Robert of W., (nee Bishop, dau. of John Bishop, Sr., of W.)"
"Oct. 3, 1710 - Wife of Benj. Fors, (Force)
Elizabeth, (nee Bunn); (vide, ante, PART FIVE, p. 824)."
"Oct. 3, 1710 - David Dunham and Wife, (vide, ante, PART FIVE, p. 820). (Sr. and Jr. confused in recs.)
She was Mary Dunn. She may have been (1) or sec. Mary Freeman."
p1586, Genealogical Treatment, as constructed/speculated by Monnette - "John Skinner, First, of Woodbridge"
"He was called "Senior' hence two of the name were contemporaneous.
Son of the first Richard Skinner, b. prob. 1667-8 d. 1725, leaving a will dated July 12, 1725, proved Aug. 19, 1749. Wife, Ann, and children: Catte (Catherine), John, Daniel, Richard, Benjamin, Ann and Margaret, "last five under age." Son, John Skinner, with wife, Executors. Land in Woodbridge (Arch., Vol. XXX, p435).
His wife, Ann, was the daughter of Robert Wright, Sr., of Woodbridge (vide, ante, part five, p878). She was living at Woodbridge, 1752, and witnessed the will of John Freeman (Arch., Vol. XXXIII, p152).
In addition to foregoing he had a son, Wright Skinner, 1738 (Hatfield, p318).
[KDS note - Hatfield mentions the existence of a Wright Skinner on page 318, but never indicates a family relationship with John Skinner.]
The son, Benjamin Skinner, was of Woodbridge in 1750 (Arch., Vol. XXX, p261) and over in Elizabethtown in 1761, when associate with Thomas Scudder, dec., who had bought land of "Richard Skinner." (Arch., Vol. XXXIII, p377) The latter was at Rahway, "on Robinson's branch."
Exhibit 3 - Copy of Un-dated Letter From Mrs. Natalie R. Fernauld, Genealogist, To John R. Downer, per files of DSW/VEM:
"From: Mrs. Natalie R. Fernald, Genealogist
To: Mr. John R. Downer
.....
John Skinner (1) of Woodbridge, N. J. Joined Presbyterian Church August 20, 1708, married Anna, died 1749. His will was probated August 19, 1749.
[KDS note - wife's name should be Ann, not Anna]
Children:
1. Catte
2. John (2) married
Elizabeth Cutler or Cutter, at Woodbridge, March 20 1736. (I will say
here that the date of John (1) death may be wrong, but, either his
will was probated on that date or it was this John's.)
3. Daniel (2) perhaps
moved too Orange Co., N.Y.
4. Richard (2) born 1707,
died Dec. 7, 1771.
5. Benjamin (2)
6. Ann (2) not of age 1725.
7. Mary (2)
Reference: Early Germans in N. J.
Data was sent me by Miss Henton, c/o Peru Republican, Peru, Ind., who is a descendant of Richard.
Deacon Richard (2), John (1), born 1707, died Elizabethtown, N.J., Dec. 7, 1771. Will probated Dec. 31, 1771-72.
[KDS note - should not say Deacon.]
Children:
1. John (3)
2. Capt. Richard (3) ...
3. Mary (3) probably
married Samuel Kempton
4. Katherine (3)
5. Daniel (3) probably
married Elizabeth Todd, June 27, 1789.
6. Amos (3) probably of
Essex Co.
7. Rebecca (3)
Mr. Charles S. Myers, 704
Wells Fargo Bldg., Portland, Oregon, sent me some of this data.
Mr. Frank Sewell Skinner,
62 Seaman Ave., Inwood on Hudson, N.Y.C. is also a descendant of
Capt. Richard, born 1740, killed by the British.
I am going to subscribe to your paper, (Glassboro Enterprise). Dr. Iszard sent me a copy, which I received this morning and I have set right down to send what I have collected, which at least puts a question mark after the date of Franklin.
He, no doubt, has valuable material but he has arranged it to please himself and when facts throw out his way, he ignores facts.
In one of the latest N.
J. Hist. Col. there are facts that prove some of my statements.
Very Truly Yours,
Natalie R. Fernald"
Exhibit 4 - "Session and Trustee Records of the First Presbyterian Church of Woodbridge, NJ", Presbyterian Church Library, Phila, PA, Vault BX9211.N57095 F51, Vol I., 9/14/1995/KDS:
[KDS note - Volume I is deteriorated, though I had no problem reading the following names; Volume II is a handwritten copy of Vol I which was done in the 1890's and is much more legible, but which may contain transcribing errors. Both versions are also available on microfilm at this library and via the LDS library system. Beware, there are numerous copies that have been made of this church list that show
"The names of the Church are as follows:"
[KDS note - there were 20-30 names listed in total, spanning the years 1708-1710; husbands and wives were not always listed side-by-side and many wives do not appear to be listed at all.)
Feb 28, 1707/8
Richard Skiner
June 8, 1708
Francis Skiner
August 20, 1708
"October 3, 1710
David Donham and his wife"
"March 28, 1710
Chosen by ye Church that Richard
Skinner and Moses Rolph for
deacon in lieu of Elder Ford and Elder Pike."
Exhibit 5 - Woodbridge Town Records per typewritten copy made in the 1930's, on microfilm, film #944857, LDS library system, 4/4/1996/KDS:
a) Indenture made Oct 9,
1691 between Josiah Winter [KDS - sic] and John
Conger, both of Woodbridge,
in province of East New Jersey confirming to Conger land 30 acres in
Woodbridge on Rahaway River. Signed in presence of: Jonathan
Bishop, John Skinner.
per Woodbridge Town
Records, p?, typewritten copy made in the 1930's, LDS film #944857, 2002/KDS.
b) " July yee 2nd
1695. we under written by virtue of a Town grant, have Laid out to John
Skinner forty acres of Land;
Leying within yee said Bounds of Woodbridge Beginning at a white oake
Standing in Peter
Elstone's Line, Being yee westerly Corner of John Jones
his Land, mentioned in Said Jones his Line and Running upon yee Same
Cours 26 1/2 chains to a walnut tree marked on all four sides, and
three Nocches: thence Running N:e by East Easterly 15 chains to a
white oake marked on all four Sides and Three Noches: thence Running
East and by South a Little Southerly 26 1/2 chains to a Black oake
marked an all four Sides with three Noches: thence Runnng S: and by
W: Westerly to yee first white oake where it first began. .....
Sam.l Denis
Ephraim Andres
Sam.l Hale "
per Woodbridge Town
Records, p64, typewritten copy made in the 1930's, LDS film #944857, 2002/KDS.
c) November 19, 1709. A
deed of land at Woodbridge from John Jaques to Joseph Grey was
"Sealed, Signed & Delivered in the presence of John
Skinner and John Bishop".
per Woodbridge Town
Records, p313, typewritten copy made in the 1930's, LDS film #944857, 11/5/1995/KDS.
d) May 20, 1709.
"Then laid out by as undernamed for Peter Elstone a second
division lot in Woodbridge commons containing twenty two acres and a
half; beginning at a white oak tree marker on four sides, which is
the South-west corner of his allowance for highways; from thence
running West and by North, five chains to a white oak tree marked on
four sides with the letters P.E., thence North & by East a
quarter of a point Easterly, twenty four chains to the South-west
corner of Mr. Courtland's allowance for a highway; which is a
white oak tree marked on four sides with the letters P.E. on the
South side of the said tree thence East and by South as the line of
the said allowance runs and part on the line of John
Skinners land, seventeen
chains to the North-west corner of the said Peter Elstones farm,
thence South and by west on the line of the said farm to a maple tree
marked on four sides, which is the North-east corner of his said
allowance, bounded South & West by land in common, on the North
part by Cortland & part of John
Skinners and on the East by
his own land."
per Woodbridge Town
Records, pp31-32, typewritten copy made in the 1930's, LDS film
#944857, 11/5/1995/KDS.
The above is recorded again on folio 16, pp64-65.
e) p98 - Freeholder
Meeting of July 12, 1715. "It first passed by a major vote that
there should be a third
division made in the Commons.
In the first place of ten acres to each Freeholder and where the land
is not so good as other, to make it up in quantity..."
Several plots of land,
including "a piece of land lying between Peter Elston's, John
Skinners, Joseph Grey and
Benjamin Rolph, are excepted and none of the said ten acres division
to be laid out in either of them; ..."
per Woodbridge Town
Records, p98, typewritten copy made in the 1930's, LDS film #944857, 11/5/1995/KDS.
f) 1717, Apr 3. "Then
laid out by us undernamed for Peter
Elston, a third
division lot in Woodbridge Commons,
containing ten acres with allowance for bad land. lying in several
pieces: the first piece containing five acres beginning at the
North-west corner of Richard Skinner's farm
at a birch tree marked on four sides, thence running West and by
North; thirty eight rods to the South-west corner of said Elston's
farm; from thence South and by West on the said Elston's allowance
for a highway twenty four rods to his South corner to a stake
planted; thence extending on the same course one chain to another
stake planted and marked in four sides thence South-east and by East,
sixteen rods to a white oak tree marked on four sides, standing by
the road that goes by the Widow Jones house; thence Easterly
as the road runs, nine chains to a large white oak standing in Richard
Skinner's line and from
thence on a straight line to the place where it began. ..."
per Woodbridge Town
Records, p91, typewritten copy made in the 1930's, LDS film #944857, 11/5/1995/KDS.
g) Richard Skinner from
John Jaques -
1720, May 21. "To
all people to whom this presents [document] shall ___, Know ye that I
John Jaquesh of Woodbridge in the county of Middlesex ___ by province
of East New Jersey in America, for and in consideration of the sum of
one hundred pounds .....
.....
Situated & Lying &
Being in the township ofWoodbridge ..... Containing by Estimate ...
fourty acres be it more or less Butted & Bounded as follows on
the East beginning at the South west Corner of Ezekiel Bloomfield's
land ..... northeast ..... a point northerly ..... chaines to Mr.
Courtland's land thence South east and by East down the line partly
upon Cortland's land & partly upon land that was ... to
Highway thence Southerly as the way runs to my own land thence north
west and by west upon the line between that that I bought of my
brother Jotham and his ... to the place shere it begins To Have and
To Hold ..."
per Woodbridge Town
Records, Liber C-2 (original deed), p95, LDS film #944857, 2002/KDS
h) Richard Skinner from
Samuel Moore -
1721, Feb 13. "This
indenture made the thirteenth day of Feb. in the seventh year of the
reign of our Sovereign Lord, George, by the Grace of God, of Great
Brittain & etc. Amo Dom. one thousand seven hundred and twenty
one by and between Samuel Moore of Woodbridge in the County of
Middlesex and Province of New Jersey, Inholder, of the one part and Richard
Skinner of the same place, Planter,
of the other part.
Witness that for and in
consideration of the sum of twenty pounds of good an current money of
the Province above said to the said Samuel Moore in hand paid by the
said Richard
at and before the ensealing and delivery of these presents, ... he
the said Samuel Moore has given granted, bargained, sold, ___,
secured and confirmed and by these presents does ... confirm unto the
said Richard Skinner
... one certain tract or parcel of land, containing thirty acres,
situate, lying and being in Woodbridge aforesaid; the one moiety or
half of the said land being allowed to the said Moore by the
Freeholders of Woodbridge as an addition to his first division lot in
said Woodbridge Common to make up in quantity as it wanted in quality
the other moiety or half part being allowed and laid out to the said
Moore in his right of Freeholder in part of his sixth division lot in
said Common the whole together being bounded as follows. Beginning at
a beech tree marked on four sides, being the north-east corner of an
addition laid out to a first division lot that was drawn in the right
of Abraham Tappen, and from thence running East ten chains to a stake
and from thence South thirty chains to a stake planted and from
thence West ten chains to the south-east corner of the said additions
and from thence North on the line thereof thirty chains to the place
where it began, together with all trees, woods, and underwoods, now
growing and standing theron."
per Woodbridge Town
Records, pp118-120, typewritten copy made in the 1930's, LDS film
#944857, 11/5/1995/KDS.
Exhibit 5a - "Woodbridge and Vicinity", by Rev. Joseph W. Daly, 1873, p157, 10/25/1995/KDS:
"On the 8th of March, 1715, Papiak Neck and Strawberry Hill were decided to be no longer common land, but eligible for division lots to be distributed among the Freeholders. This action, however, was not popular, however; and on the 12th of July the town order in regard to it was formally repealed. After voting for a third division of common land to comprise ten acres in each plot, the citizens proceeded to exempt the following pieces of ground: ... and a plot between Peter Elston's, John Skinner's, Joseph Gray's, and Benjamin Rolph's lands."
Exhibit 5b - Background from Monnette:
a) Per Monnette (refers to the Woodbridge Town Records) - "From Mr. Shotwell of Rahway, 1865: This book was originally much thicker but when it came into the possession of the society, vandal hands had destroyed about one half of it ..."
g) Per Monnette, p521 -
[The quotations are in
Monnette's work to indicate where he was quoting Dally.]
Woodbridge Highways
(Dally, p366)
"Two Highways Laid
Out 174 Years Ago.
February ye 9th 1699:
Then Laid out by us under named a Highway Six Rod in Breadth:
beginning at the Highway which Runs by JONATHAN BISHOPS Now
Dwelling House about ten Rod Eastward from the North East Corner of
the Said Bishops Orchard; from thence Running over the Mill Brook,
and So Extending on the Southerly Side of JOHN ROLPHS Dwelling House
to the House of JOHN JAQUIS; from thece Running through the
Said JAQUIS his land four Rod in Breadth, by the Bank Side and
through the land belonging to JONATHAN JAQUIS; from thence upon a
Direct Line to JOHN STEWARDS Dwelling House; the whole way between
the House of the above Said JOHN JAQUIS and JOHN STEWARDS House being
but four Rod broad. Also a Highway from the Landing on the River;
about fifty Rod below the Said Stewards House, beginning at a Black
Oak tree marked on three Sides; thence Running by the River Six Rod
broad to MR. CORTLANDS Saw-mill: from thence to a Black oak
tree Standing Near the Bank of the Said River; the way Running
between the Said tree and the bank; thence Extending along by the
bank to town Line; from thence by the Town Line and through a Corner
of JOHN JAQUIS his Land on the South Side of a Rowe of marked trees
into the Common; the Said way from CORTLANDS Mill being four Rod broad;
Ezekiel Bloomfield
Samuel Hale
Ephraim Andrews
Thomas Pike
Taken from F. Randolph's
copy, p.111."
h) Per Monnette, p732 -
[Thw quotations are
in Monnette's work indicating where he was quoting from Hatfield.]
"..... the townships
of Elizabethtown and Woodbridge, whose geographical boundaries
originally met on the marshy stream known as "Robinson's
Branch," now in the heart of the city. ....."
.....
"A settlement of
equal antiquity, no doubt, was made on the Woodbridge side of the
river, known later as Bridge Town or Lower Rahway. ....."
"A highway was laid out on the 8th of January, 1687, for the Rahway settlers, beginning at Robert Wright's Landing, and extending thence easterly down to "John Coddington's Point," into the meadows." This road connected the point and the meadows with Wright's Landing at Lower Rahway.
"Cortlandt's Saw Mill was the old Marsh Mill," of 1683, which was conveyed to Stephen Van Cortlandt, in 1695 ....."
Exhibit 6 - removed.
Exhibit 7 - Will Abstracts:
"1746, May 12. Elstone, Peter, of Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., yeoman; will of. Wife, Ruth. Five daughters, no names given. Son, Peter, his wife Elizabeth and their children, viz., Peter, James, Benjamin and Daniel; lands in Woodbridge and Rahway. Grandson, Samuel, son of John. Son, Benjamin, and his five sons, meadow on west side of William Spencer's meadow that was formerly Jonathan Dillies; salt marsh bought of John Jaques (sic). Executors - son Benjamin, and friends, John Skinner and William Britten. Witnesses - Richard Walker, John Jaquess, David Donham, Jun'r. Proved June 6, 1746. Lib. E, p394.
Exhibit 8 - Will of John Skinner, Senior:
"1725, July 12. Skinner,
John, Sen'r, of Woodbridge,
Middlesex Co., yeoman; will of. Children - Catte (sic), John, Daniel,
Richard, Benjamin, Ann, and Mary, last five under age. Land at
Woodbridge. Executors - wife, Ann, and son John Skinner. Witnesses -
Ezekiel Bloomfield, Esther Bloomfield, William Hidor. Proved Aug 19,
1749. (Affidavit by William Hidor, only surviving witness to above
will). Lib. E, p. 320."
"Abstracts of Wills,
1730-1750," Vol. XXX, NJ Archives, First Series, 1918, p435, 9/14/1995/KDS.
Exhibit 9 - Wills of John, Junior and wife, Elizabeth:
Exhibit 10 - Will Abstracts
Exhibit 11 - removed.
Exhibit 12 - "First Settlers of Ye Plantations of Piscataway and Woodbridge of Olde East New Jersey", by Ora Eugene Monnette, per notes of DSW/VEM:
Exhibit 12b - "First Settlers of Ye Plantations of Piscataway and Woodbridge of Olde East New Jersey", by Ora Eugene Monnette, 10/9/1995/KDS:
Exhibit 12c - Newspaper Articles written by Franklin Skinner, appearing in a column called "Our History Club, Compiled by John R. Downer", The Glassboro Enterprise, 1921:
ANNE SKINNER
Exhibit 13 - Will Abstract::
"1752, June 8.
Freeman, John, of Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., yeoman; will of. Eldest
son, Henry, the several tracts of land which I had in that deed of
sale from Obadiah Ayers, dated 28 May, 1732; also 1/2 of 5 acres of
salt marsh in the Raritan Meadows, which I had of my father, Henry,
which is described in a deed of sale to Thomas Smith from Anna
Thornell. Son, Alexander, land I bought of my brother, Joseph, of 67
acres, being the place where my son now lives; also the rest of the
salt marsh. Son, Isaac, land on east side of my house and on the
north of the highway, of 90 acres; also the east part of the land on
the south side of the road, of 9 acres. Son, James, the rest of my
home place. Sons, Henry and Alexander, the land where my brother
lives, called Horseneck. Wife, Martha, provided for. Eldest daughter,
Sarah, the wife of John Smith, the bill of L80 which I have against
her. Daughter, Mary, wife of Samuel Force, L80. Daughter, Elizabeth,
L80. Wife, Martha, L80. Daughter, Martha, L80. Daughter, Charity,
L80. Wife, Martha, L80. Executors - eldest son, Henry, and my wife.
Witnesses - Mary Donham, Anne Skinner,
David Donham.
Proved April 1, 1761."
per "Calendar of
Wills, 1761-1770", NJ Archives, Vol. XXXIII, First Series, 1918,
p152, 9/24/1995/KDS