JONATHAN SKINNER - APPHIA BALL
file updated 3/2009
Family Record Summary
Biography
KDS Commentary
Source References
Map - Springfield, NJ Overview
Map - Springfield, Chatham, New Providence and Union, NJ
Return to Family Tree

 
 
 
JONATHAN SKINNER
Ancestry Unknown.
MILITARY SERVICE, Revolutionary War - Sergeant, Essex County Militia serving at Springfield (war-6)
RESIDENCE - Springfield, Essex County, NJ (Monnette-1, tax-8)
OCCUPATION - possibly a blacksmith (news-5)
LAND OWNERSHIP - included 15 acres of land, near Springfield, on road to Elizabethtown (news-5, tax-8)
b. 1740 (Monnette-1)
d. 1813 (Monnette-1)
d. Mar 11, 1813 age 73, buried Presbyterian Churchyard, Springfield, NJ (Charlou-1a)
buried Old Presby. Church cemetery, Springfield, Union Co., NJ (Monnette-1)

m.
w. APPHIA _____ (Monnette-1); APPHIA BALL (VEM-7b)
b. 1741 (Monnette-1, VEM-7b)
d. 1824 (Monnette-1, VEM-7b)
Mar 2, 1824 age 83, buried Presbyterian Churchyard, Springfield, NJ (Charlou-1a)
buried Old Presbyterian Church cemetery, Springfield, NJ (Monnette-1)

 
CHILDREN:
proof of linkage of children to parents - none; time and place only
 
LECTA SKINNER
proof of linkage to parents (NYGEN-2)
b. Jan 31, 1768 (NYGEN-2)
d.
m.
 
MAGER SKINNER (tax-8)
 
AARON SKINNER (tax-8)
 
ABRAHAM SKINNER (tax-8, news-11; )
 
SUSANNAH SKINNER (LDS-10) or SUSAN SKINNER (pension list-12)

probably also ELIJAH SKINNER (tax-8)
 
 

BIOGRAPHY:

Born 1740 (Monnette-1)

Married Apphia Ball, born 1741; died 1824, buried at same church as Jonathan. (Monnette-1; unsourced DSW/VEM-7b)

Daughter, Lecta, born Jan 31, 1768. (NJGEN-2)

Named as Executor in the Will of Joannah Ball of Rahway, 1776. (will-3)

Advertised for return of a stray or stolen horse, Springfield, 1782. (news-5)

Advertisement was placed for the sale of one acre of land, 1782, in Springfield, late the property of James Reed, and taken at the suit of Daniel Agnew against James Reed and Jonathan Skinner, located along the road from Chatham to Elizabeth. (news-5)

Transfer of title of land, 1783, formerly owned by Jonathan Skinner and sold at sheriff's sale; land located at Springfield on SW side of the road from Elizabeth. (CCG-4)

Advertised for the sale of 15 acres of land, 1783, near Springfield, on road to Elizabeth Town. (news-5)

Executor of the estate of John Stites, Springfield, 1784. (CCG-4)

Advertised for the return of a runaway apprentice blacksmith, Springfield, 1786. (news-5)

War record - Sergeant, Essex County Militia, commanding 13 men at Springfield, 1778. (war-6)

Jonathan Skinner appears on tax lists for Springfield, Essex Co., NJ for the years 1781, 1783, 1789, 1795, 1796 and 1811. (tax-8)

Potential children of Jonathan - Mager, Aaron and Abraham appear on tax lists for Springfield, Essex County, NJ. There are other potential children of Jonathan appearing on the tax lists for Essex Co., NJ, though for locales other than Springfield. (tax-8)

Apphia Skinner appears on tax lists for Springfield, Essex Co., NJ in 1813. That year coincides with the death of Jonathan, indicating that his property had been transferred to his wife. (tax-8)

Died 1813, age 73, buried Old Presbyterian Church cemetery, Springfield, Union Co., NJ. (Monnette-1)

1813 - Apphia Ball was a plaintiff in suits filed with the State Supreme Court against Henry R. Tilles (Stiles?), case #38706; against Daniel Sutfin, case #38146; and as widow Apphia Ball against Usual and William Crossman for 'dower', case #34337. (http://www.state.nj.us/state/darm/links/databases.html, 2009/KDS)

1839 - The trustees of the Springfield Presbyterian Church petitioned the US Congress for compensation for the destruction of the Springfield Presbyterian Church and the home of Jonathan Springfield that had occured 59 years earlier on the day of 23 June, 1780, by the retreating British following the famed Battle of Springfield. The petition included the sworn statements of witnesses who were still alive documenting the assets (church and home) that had been burned. The petition indicates that the church, a building 57' long, 47' wide and 24' tall and covered by cedar shingles, had been used as a commissarry (storehouse) under the command of Samuel Woodruff at the time and that Skinner's home had been used as a guardhouse and had been under Skinner's command in his capacity as Sergeant of the Guard. (Exhibit-26)

Presumably, Skinner's home had been next to the Church and had been used to guard the supplies at the church and was thus included in the 1839 petition by the church.

 

 KDS COMMENTARY:

Jonathan Skinner and family of Springfield, Essex Co., NJ are of unknown ancestry.

Jonathan's wife, Apphia Ball, was of the same generation as Stephen and Ezekiel Ball (see dates in exhibit-13). She was likely a sibling and probably the reason Jonathan was one of the Executors of Joanna Ball, mother to Stephen and Ezekiel. Per (exhibit-13a) - Apphia, Stephen and Ezekiel Ball are indeed siblings, but do not share the same Mother.

----------

There is circumstantial evidence linking Jonathan Skinner to the Woodbridge/Rahway descendents of Richard and Susannah Skinner. Jonathan and family were Presbyterians, his wife was from Rahway and Jonathan served for the American side during the War - all consistent with the Woodbridge/Rahway Skinners. Jonathan would have been of the same generation as Captain Richard Skinner of that line. A son of Captain Richard - Richard III, lived close to Jonathan at Westfield. And a cousin, Hannah Skinner, was married at nearby Plainfield.

Elisha Dunham Jr. witnessed the Will of the step-mother of Jonathan's wife - Joannah Ball. Elisha Dunham, probably Senior, was connected with the Woodbridge/Rahway Skinners. Elisha served as Executor of the Will of John Marsh, along with John's brother, Henry Marsh. That Will was witnessed by a brother of Captain Richard Skinner - Daniel Skinner.

There are more direct connections to the Woodbridge/Rahway Skinners. In 1779, Stephen Ball was captured in the same incident in which Captain Skinner was killed (exhibit-14). And Thomas Bloomfield, close friend of Captain Richard Skinner, was one of the Administrators of the estate of Stephen Ball (exhibit-13). Note that Stephen Ball was hung in 1781 under mysterious circumstances by persons who were likely Loyalists, while Stephen was delivering supplies to the British at Staten Island (exhibit-13).

The Will of the father of Captain Richard Skinner does not list Jonathan Skinner as being an offspring, but Jonathan could certainly be a cousin to Captain Richard.

----------

There is other information linking Jonathan Skinner to the Loyalist Perth Amboy Skinners, particularly to Thomas Skinner Sr. of that family line.

First some information about Thomas Skinner Sr. (exhibits-16 & 16a). Thomas Skinner Sr. was of unknown parentage, but was clearly related to the Perth Amboy Skinners. He is mentioned in one of their Wills and lived at Perth Amboy in a home that adjoined one of the Perth Amboy Skinner relatives. He was a Perth Amboy baker until 1775, when he was banished by the Patriots to Cranbury (South Brunswick). He was later compensated by the British government for the loss of his property.

The interesting thing about Thomas is that he was said to have had two sons who served on the American side during the War, one of whom quit the service under his father's threats. The names of his two Patriot sons are unknown.

That brings us to a discussion of Thomas Skinner Junior. Thomas Junior appears in the records several times (exhibits 16b, 16c, 16d). His War service is unknown, but it is likely this Thomas Skinner who was captured by the Loyalists in 1780 (exhibit-16c). Evidently, Thomas Junior may have been one of the two sons of Thomas Senior who were said to be Patriots.

It is possible that Jonathan Skinner, who also served in the War as a Patriot, could be the second unnamed son of Thomas Skinner Sr. The Ball family is closely connected to Thomas Skinner Jr. Two members of the Ball family - Timothy and Samuel, were captured in the same incident in 1780 in which Thomas Skinner of the Perth Amboy Skinners was captured (exhibit-16c). And later in that same year, Thomas served as a Witness to Hannah and Ezekiel Ball, Adminstrators of the estate of Samuel Jones Ball of Essex Co. (exhibit-16d)

Note also that Jonathan Skinner served as Executor of the estate of John Stites of Springfield (exhibit-4). John Stites (1706-1782) lived near Scudders' Mills in the Connecticut Farms section of Springfield (exhibit-17). Reference (exhbit-24) for 'The Battle of Connecticut Farms'. Per a comparison of (exhibit-4) with (exhibit-5b), Jonathan Skinner lived in the same vicinity as Stites. John Stites is closely connected with the Perth Amboy Skinners. Stites served as Administrator ot the estate of Elizabeth Skinner of the Perth Amboy Skinners (reference file entitled 'Perth Amboy Skinners'). And note that Elizabeth's estate was inventoried by Jonathan Clawson. Thomas Skinner Jr., of the Perth Amboy Skinners, had previously posted bond for the marriage of Jonathan Clawson (exhibit-16b).

The Stites family came to New Jersey from Long Island. They were a well-known family of Springfield, as were the Woodruffs (exhibits-17, 19, 20, 24) and the Townleys (17,20,21,24).

The Stiles family (StiLes), not related to the StiTes family, came to New Jersey from Connecticut (exhibit-18). They also had many interrelationships with the Springfield families. For example, Daniel Stiles married Phebe Woodruff (exhibit-18). Moses Ball, brother of Stephen Ball, had a son who married Sarah Stiles (exhibit-19). And John Stiles witnessed the Will of William Townley of Springfield (exhibit-20).

The Will of William Townley was not only witnessed by John Stiles, but also by Jonathan D. Skinner, of unknown ancestry. This is extraordinary for a variety of reasons:

 A review of the other appearances of Jonathan D. Skinner in the records, which I have not reviewed in a decade, might either confirm this, or confirm the existence of two differing Jonathan Skinners.

----------

The siblings and children of Jonathan Skinner of Springfield would have included the numerous other Skinners recorded at Springfield, NJ, including possibly a Susan and Susannah Skinner. Sussanah Skinner was married at New Providence, NJ, just down the road from Springfield (reference the map) and the same place where Jonathan's daughter - Lecta, was christened. Susannah was married there in 1786 and could be a daughter of Jonathan (born 1740). There was also a Susan Skinner. Susan married Caleb Meeker, who was born in 1760 at Springfield (exhibits-12 and 12a). Note that Stephen Ball, brother to Jonathan Skinners' wife, also married into the Meeker family (exhibit-13). And Jonathan Skinner had land next to that of Matthias Meeker (exhibit-5).

One of the Skinners appearing at Springfield is Abraham Skinner. This could be the same Abraham who later appears at Butler Co., OH (reference the Family Record of Abraham Skinner).

Monnette mentions that Jonathan and Nathaniel Skinner appear at Woodbridge and may be children of Deacon Richard Skinner. Though Monnette may have been correct in the case of Nathaniel, Jonathan never appears at Woodbridge and is also several generations too late to be a child of the Deacon. In fact, Monnette had no information pointing to Jonathan's ancestry.

 

FURTHER RESEARCH:

Map the Ball, Brookfield and Meeker Families.

 

EXHIBITS/REFERENCES:

 Exhibit 1 - "First Settlers of Ye Plantations of Piscataway and Woodbridge of Olde East New Jersey", by Ora Eugene Monnette, 10/9/1995/KDS:

Exhbit 1a - Per email from Cahrlou Dolan dated 12/5/2001:

Exhibit 2 - "The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey"

Exhibit 3 - Will Abstract:

Exhibit 4 - "Genealogical Card File", Charles Carroll Gardner Collection, Rutgers University Library, 10/25/1995/KDS:

Exhibit 5 - "Notices from New Jersey Newspapers, 1781-1790", Thomas B. Wilson, 1988, Trenton State Library archives, 1/5/1996/KDS:

Exhibit 6 - "Revolutionary War Index", microfilm #568724/1592/roll 27, Trenton State library, 12/7/1995/KDS:

Exhibit 6b - per www.virtualnewarknj.com/military/revwar/enlistedmen.htm, 2003:

Exhibit 7 - "Revolutionary Census of New Jersey", by Kenn Stryker-Rodda, 1972, 10/2/1995/KDS:

Exhibit 7b - comments of DSW/VEM on Stryker Revolutionary War Lists:

Exhibit 8 - "New Jersey Tax Lists, 1772 - 1822", Vol. 5, edited by Ronald Vern Jackson, computer print-out, Trenton State Library, 10/27/1995/KDS:

Exhibit 9 - removed

Exhibit 10 - LDS IGI records, 5/2/1998/KDS:

MISC SKINNERS AT OR NEAR SPRINGFIELD

Exhibit 11 - "Notices from New Jersey Newspapers, 1781-1790", Thomas B. Wilson, 1988, p172, Trenton State Library Archives, 1/5/1996/KDS:

Exhibit 12 - "Pension List of Widows of Revolutionary Soldiers", The Geneaolgical Magazine of New Jersey, Vol. ?, p43, 3/11/00/KDS:

Exhibit 12a - Geneaology of Caleb Meeker per Genealogy.com Genforum:

Exhibit-12b - Pension List of Widows of Revolutionary Soldiers per http://www.rootsweb.com/%7Enjmorris/military/widows.htm, 2003:

Exhibit 13 - Genealogy of Stephen Ball per www.altlaw.com/edball/ , 2003:

Stephen Ball

MALE

BIRTH: 17 Mar 1750/51, South Orange Township, Essex County, New Jersey, America [Ref#15,#21,#54]
DEATH: 29 Jan 1781, Bergen Point, Bergen County, New Jersey, America [Ref#54]

NOTE : Was hung by loyalists in "the times that tried men's souls;" [Ref#15]

NOTE : "PS" in New Jersey Militia. [Ref#54]

BAPTISM: 6 Feb 1781, Ezekiel Ball Jr. & Thomas Bloomfield were adm'rs. of est. of Stephen Ball. [Ref#51]
[KDS note - sic]

NOTE : Resided near Rahway, NJ [Ref#124]

Notes

Father: David Ball ....(1720 ~ 19 Apr 1789 )

Mother: Joanna Watkins ....(? ~ 18 Feb 1776 )

Family 1: Elizabeth Ford ....(? ~ ? )

    Nancy Ball ....(18 Jan 1779 ~ 15 Oct 1815) S» C»

Family 2: Ann Meeker ....(? ~ )
 

Ref#112:
The tragic fate of Stephen Ball is yet remembered, who having carried four quarters of beef to the British encampment on Staten Island, under a general promise of safety to all who would bring supplies to the army, was seized by a band of bloodyhearted refugees, taken across to Bergan Point, and hung with ten minutes' grace, the murderers having tried in vain to effect his arrest by the British officers.
 
Ref#122:
Ball page 61 - 17May1784, James Hetfield Jr having been maliciously accursed of being instrumental and accessory to the illegal execution of Mr. Ball at Bergen Point in 1781, in justice to his own innocense requests that the following be inserted in this newspaper. (Here follows a Judges of Richmond County, NY, each to the effect that James Hetfield was in New York at the time or in other ways corroborating that he was not with the group which executed Ball.) New Jersey Gazette.

David Ball page 454. 6Aug1784 - Phebe Smith, Staten Island, requests the Editor to publish two affidavits annexed to her letter. Her husband Job Smith was extradicted to New Jersey at the request of Governor Livingston and lodged in the Essex County gaol [KDS note - sic] on 10May1784, then being charged with murdering Stephen Ball, late of Elizabeth Town, on Bergen Point in Bergen County, and also with robbing Joseph Baldwin and Zophar Lyon. After a strict investigation, his former prosecutors have found that Job Smith is innocent of the charge. David Ball certifies that while he heretofore had reason to believe that Mr Job Smith was instrumental in the death of his son who was executed and murdered in 1781, he now believes him to be innocent. Zophar Lyon, Joseph Baldwin and Luther Baldwin, in the presence of John Hendricks Jr and Baker Hendricks, certify that having fully investigated the charge against Job Smith for having robbed Zopher Lyon and Joseph Baldwin about Oct 1781, they believe him to be innocent. New York Gazetteer.

Stephen Ball page 112d, 454 (see David) 21Feb1781: Hanged on Bergen Point, on 25th ult., Stephen Ball, by a party of refugees from Staten Island where Ball had gone to sell provisions. New Jersey Journal.
 

Ref#51: Newark Centinel - 27 Oct 1807: Account of trial & decision in trial of Cornelius Hetfield for murder of Stephen Ball. The NJ Gazzette reports - 7 Feb 1781: "Last week the enemy hung, at Bergen Point, on Ball, an inhabitant of Rahway, who was suspected of being a spy."

Genealogy Summarized from Web Site by KDS:

Exhibit 13a - Genealogy of David Ball per www.altlaw.com/edball/ , 2003:

David Ball

MALE
BIRTH: 1720 [Ref#15,#21,#53,#54,#61]
DEATH: 19 Apr 1789 [Ref#21,#53,#54,#61]
NOTE : 1729, Could be birth date. [Ref#124]
NOTE : Minute Man in New Jersey. [Ref#54]
NOTE : of Newark (Rahway), NJ. [Ref#51]
NOTE : 1786, Could be died date. [Ref#51]
NOTE : 19 Apr 1789, Could be died date.
OCCUPATION: Blacksmith

Notes

Family 1: Phebe Brown ....(? ~ 16 Jul 1748 )
MARRIAGE: 8 Jul 1740 [Ref#124]

Family 2: Joanna Watkins ....(? ~ 18 Feb 1776 )
MARRIAGE: AFT 16 Jul 1748 [Ref#124]

Exhibit 13b - Genealogy of Moses Ball per www.altlaw.com/edball/ , 2003:

Moses Ball
MALE
BIRTH: 1735, Newark or Hilton, Essex County, New Jersey, America [Ref#15,#53,#120,#113]
DEATH: 1775, prob. Springfield, Essex County, New Jersey, America [Ref#21]
NOTE : Established The "Ball Family Homestead" At Springfield, NJ [Ref#102]

Notes

Father: Thomas Ball ....(1688 ~ 18 Oct 1744 ) Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, America
Mother: Sarah Davis ....(1689-1690 ~ 1 Feb 1778 ) Essex County, New Jersey, America

Family 1: Lucretia Dalglish ....(? ~ ? )

MARRIAGE: 24 Jan 1749/50 [Ref#51,#243]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  _________________

  ___________________|_________________

  _Edward Ball _______|

  | | _________________

  | |___________________|_________________

 _Thomas Ball _|

| | _________________

| | _Thomas Blatchley _|_________________

| |_Abigail Blatchley _|

| | _Alling Ball ____

| |_Susannah Ball ____|_Dorothy Tuttle _

|

|--Moses Ball

|

| _________________

| _Stephen Davis ____|_________________

| _Thomas Davis ______|

| | | _________________

| | |_Mary Grant _______|_________________

|_Sarah Davis _|

  | _________________

  | ___________________|_________________

  |_Mary Ward _________|

  | _________________

  |___________________|_________________

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Notes

Ref#51:
Vance's BALL Chart: Moses BALL, s/o Thomas, b ca 1735, d ca 1775, res.
Springfield, chn. Jonathan b ca 1759 md Sarah STILES 1782, removed 1799
to Ascott, Canada near Vt., Samuel.

Ref#120:
Established the "Ball family homestead" at Springfield, New Jersey.

Exhibit 13c - Apphia Ball per www.altlaw.com/edball/ , 2003:

  |___________________|_________________

Exhibit 14 - Circumstances of the Death of Captain Richard Skinner, per The New-York Gazette; and the Weekly Mercury, No. 1446, July 5, 1779 as summarized in "Newspaper Extracts", NJ Archives, Vol. XXX, p491, 9/24/1995/KDS:

"Last Tuesday Night a Detachment from his Majesty's 37th Regiment, with a Party of Col. Barton's, and some Refugees, went over from Staten-Island to a Place called Woodbridge Raway, where they surprised a Party of Rebels in a Tavern, killed their commanding Officer Captain Skinner of a Troop of Light Horse, and another Man [,] and took the following Prisoners, viz[:] Capt. Samuel Meeker, Christopher March, Joseph Stephens, Benjamin Willis, David Craig, Stephen Ball, Lewis Marsh, Jotham Moore, Jesse Whitehead, John Tharp, Thomas Bloomfield, Jeremiah Corey, and David Hall."

[KDS note - Captain Richard Skinner was Captain of the First Militia, Middlesex Co.]

Exhibit 15 - Unknown Hannah Skinner, per www.public.asu/edu/!bjertz, 2003. Reference Fitzrandolph Family Tree under "Allied Families":

THOMAS SKINNER

Exhibit 16 - "The Loyalists of New Jersey in the Revolution", by E. Alfred Jones, 1927, per notes of VEM / July, 1964:

JOHN SKINNER (Lieut-General)

He was born in New Jersey*, but not known to be of any relation to General Cortlandt Skinner (supra). He began his military career in the British army as an Ensign in the 16th Foot on September 4, 1772. In the American War of Independence he served in the campaigns in the Southern colonies, in the actions at Beaufort and Stone Ferry in South Carolina and in the sieges of Savannah and Charleston. He commanded a troop in Tarleton's British Legion (Cavalry) in the Battles of Blackstocks, Cowpens and Guilford Court House.
In 1795 he served in the reduction to submission of the revolting Maroons in Jamaica, and thus saved that Island from the fate of St. Domingo, and in 1804 he commanded the 16th Foot in the expedition against Surinam. He was in command of a brigade at the capture of Guadaloupe in 1810. While holding the rank of Major-General., this American-born officer acted as Governor successively of St. Martin's, Santa Cruz and Guadaloupe.
Three of his sons became officers in the British army, namely, Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Skinner; John Skinner, and Ensign, who died of yellow fever in Jamaica in 1821; and Captain James Skinner, of the 61st Bengal Native Infantry, who was mortally wounded in India in 1842 by the hand of an assassin. A daughter married Captain Sir Henry Vere Huntly, Royal Navy, Lieutenant-Governor of Prince Edward Island. General Skinner died on October 10, 1827, and in his will he bequeathed all his property to his wife, Anne, whom he left as guardian to his children. His brother-in-law, Donald Maclean, of 37, Brunswick Square, London, is mentioned in his will. (Savine; Army Lists; original will).
*There was a John Skinner, of Woodbridge, born in 1733, who, in 1799, removed to (present) Franklin Co., Pa., but he was not this John Skinner. nor have his ancestors been traced.
 

THOMAS SKINNER
He was probably related to Lieutenant-General John Skinner (q.v.); was a baker born in New York City and lived in his own house at Perth Amboy from 1725 to 1775, when he was taken prisoner and banished to Cranbury.
His son, John, was in England in 1784, while he himself was in New York in 1788. There is a schedule of Thomas's confiscated estate, for which he claimed L1,348 and was awarded L750. (A.0. 13:111; A.0. 13:1I3; A.0. 12:12, ff. 33109; A.0. 12: 10, f. 3: A.0. 12:109).
Two sons took part with the Americans. He refused to speak to them and threatened to disinherit them, unless they produced their discharge. Ore son obtained his discharge after this threat. ("Loyalistas'Claims,"p. 303).
 

Exhibit 16a - "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:
Session Records
Woodbridge August 9, 1758
"Begun w/prayer.
Mrs. Bloomfield entered a complaint against Robert Stone (only from report) that __ Stone has detained some money __ he received for his grand-Mother Heard, of Thomas Skinner.
.....
Thomas Skinner's evidence being produced. Nathaniel Heard accused Robert Stone of detaining some money he received of Thomas Skinner, in the behalf of James O__, for his mother Heard."

Exhibit 16b - Per rootsweb.com, 2003:

Exhibit 16c - http://www.nyct.net/~manzano/clark/early.htm, 2003:

Exhbit 16d - Per 12/5/2001 email from Charlou Dolan:

Exhibit 17 - Honorable John Stites per www.maxpages.com/elishawoodruffs/Joseph_of_Westfield_page_7.htm, 2003:

Exhbit 18 - Stiles Family

Exhibit 19 - removed.

Exhbit 20 - Will Abstract:

Exhbit 21 - Will Abstract:

Exhibit 22 - Jonathan D. Skinner per "The Loyalists of New Jersey in the Revolution", by E. Alfred Jones, 1927, from the files of VEM / July, 1964:

JONATHAN D. SKINNER (Ensign)
Ensign in the 1st. New Jersey Volunteers, on half-pay until 1808, (Ind.:5605-6). No further account.
 

Exhbit 23 - Will Abstract:

"1760, May 20. Housman, John, of Middlesex Co.; will of. "I am enlisted in the New Jersey Regiment." To Godfried Warner all my estate. Executor - said Godfried Warner. Witnesses - John Smith, Andrew Smith, Jonathan Skinner. Proved June 1, 1761. Lib. G, p. 438."
per "Abstracts of Wills, 1761-1770", NJ Archives, Vol XXXIII, p206, 1/5/1996/KDS.
[KDS note - Smith (Smyth) is a name closely connected with the Perth Amboy Skinners. The New Jersey Regiment is not the Loyalist New Jersey Volunteers of the later Rev. War. The New Jersey regiment existed in 1760 and is briefly mentioned at http://www.oldnewark.com/military/units/113th/]

"1808, Sept 26. Tucker, Sarah, of Essex Co. Inventory, $407.67; mady by Josiah Hunt and Jonathan D. Skinner. ....."
per "Abstracts of Wills, p340.

Exhbit 24 - The Battles of Springfield and Connecticut Farms, per www.altlaw.com/edball, 2003:

I saw your message posted on the Edward Ball mailing list that you were interested in the Battle of Connecticut Farms. I have a lot of ancestors who lived in Connecticut Farms at the time of the Revolution, and the village was destroyed, so I have an interest in it too. Here is one account of the battle which you may be interested in. Connecticut Farms is now known as Union, New Jersey, and is four miles northwest of Elizabeth.

During the Revolutionary War the British commander Sir Henry Clinton had occupied New York, and General Washington had moved into northern New Jersey. On June 6, 1780, Baron Knyphausen a general temporarily in command of the British forces during Clinton's absence, sent five thousand troops from Staten Island to Elizabethtown, with orders to march to Morristown. On the following day, June 7, they reached Connecticut Farms, and stopped there long enough to burn every house but one in the village, and the Presbyterian Church. Wade's home was one of those destroyed; but the enemy were compelled to withdraw.

Two weeks later Sir Henry Clinton, having deceived Washington by a feint to the north in the direction of West Point, suddenly sent a new and even larger force, with five thousand infantry supported by cavalry and artillery, from Staten Island to Elizabethtown. They landed at daybreak on June 23, and marched at once in two columns toward the village of Springfield, just west of the Rahway River. Wade, a boy of seventeen, had joined the Essex County militia. Under the command of Colonel Elias Dayton he was one of the little patriot force that gathered in the apple orchard just across the river to stop the enemy advance. In the Battle of Springfield he fought that day, and was twice wounded. Again the enemy were forced to withdraw.

On the fiftieth anniversary, in June, 1830, Wade joined with other veterans of the battle to commemorate the event. David E. Wade, my ancestor was part of the battle.

The Book "Historical and Biographical Concerning Elizabethtown, New Jersey" by Nicholas Murray, 1844, has this account of the battle of Springfield.

The winter of 1780, when Washington was encamped at Morristown [New Jersey], was one of severe trial to the army, arising from the want of provisions and of pay. Rumors were rife among the British that the army was dissatisfied, that whole regiments were deserting, that the soldiers were in rebellion against the officers, and that New-Jersey was anxious to exchange her government, and to return to her allegiance to the crown. Believing these reports, Knyphausen was despatched with his mercenaries to New-Jersey, and on the 6th of June, under the cloak of night, landed at the Point with about five thousand men, from Staten Island. Early in the morning, he commenced his march to Morristown; but as he passed along he soon experienced the falseness of the reports as to the disposition of the people; for he was annoyed from every bush, and every wood, and almost every tree, as he passed along. He halted at Connecticut Farms, and as is stated, at the request of Governor Tryon, who was with him, he ordered the village, the church, and the parsonage, to be reduced to ashes. The Presbyterian church there, like many others in the country, was used as a barrack for the American army. It was on this occasion that Mrs. Caldwell [the pastor's wife] was murdered. A refugee walked up to the window, and seeing her surrounded by her children, with an infant in her arms, deliberately shot her through the heart. Her murdered body was drawn from the house, and laid by the wayside, when the torch was put to her dwelling, which was soon in ashes. Having burned the Farms, he marched towards Springfield; but learning next morning, that Washington had marched an army to meet him, he returned to the Point, greatly annoyed by little parties that every where concealed themselves. In about two weeks afterwards he marched again upon Springfield with five thousand infantry, a large body of cavalry, and several field-pieces. After a brave resistance, conducted by Major Lee, Colonels Dayton, Angel, Shreve, Ogden, and English take possession of the town, and soon reduce it to ashes. The serious opposition he meets deters him from prosecuting his plans farther. On the afternoon of this day he returns to the Point, and during the night he passed over to Staten Island. There was a large bridge of boats across the water separating the Point from Staten Island; and in the following morning not of vestige of it is to be seen.

It was on this second march of Knyphausen upon Springfield, that the following incident occurred: As the main body had turned the corner opposite the present residence of Mr. Richard Townley, a few young men, in the very sight of the army, and within musket shot of it, captured the guard and baggage, and horses, of a Colonel Fox. The baggage was afterwards sold at auction for upwards of one thousand dollars; and one of the four prisoners being a colored man, was taken to Philadelphia, and there sold into slavery. Among the individuals engaged in this exploit were Samuel Harriman, David Woodruff, Jesse Woodruff, Elihu Gale, Elihu Ogden, James Chandler, Henry Inslee and Mr. David Lyon.

Hope this helps with your research!

mailto:amckay@sdss1.physics.lsa.umich.edu

Note:

Short Hills was the "refuge" of the Fighting Parson of the Revolution - Rev. James Caldwell. It was a little village located four miles from Elizabethtown, now Elizabeth, Union County, NJ. This is where his wife was murdered on June 25, 1780. He was staying at "the Short Hills" when it happened. My source is "A Puritan Heritage." Lynn G. Lockward, Caldwell, NJ:, 1955. Aren't you glad I happened to be helping my niece do a book report on Caldwell's biography and needed to look up an additional fact? This information was on p. 89-90.

Bev Crifasi - bcrifasi@hicom.net

Appendix 25 - 1839 Request for Compensation for the Revolutionary War Destruction of the Springfield Presbyterian Church and the Home of Jonathan Skinner,
per "United States Congressional Serial Set", published by the United States Government Printing Office, 1839, coutesy of Google Books, 2009/KDS.

MEMORIAL TRUSTEES OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SPRINGFIELD, NEW JERSEY,
Indemnification for the destruction of said church during the revolutionary war.
February 16, 1839.
Referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Claims, and ordered to be printed.
To the honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled:
The memorial and petition of the trustees of the Presbyterian church of Springfield, in the county of Essex, and State of New Jersey,

MOST RESPECTFULLY SHOWS :

That they have been informed and believe, and as will appear from the accompanying documents, that on or about the — of June, in the year of our Lord 1780, the Presbyterian church of the said village of Springfield was occupied as a commissary store-house, at the time it was burned, for the American troops, and had been for years previous ; and also the dwelling house of Jonathan Skinner was occupied as a guard-house at the time it was burned, and had been, likewise, for years previous; and were both burned on*the day of the ever memorable battle of Springfield, on the retreat of the British troops; and both buildings were burned on account of their being so occupied as a commissary store-house and guard house; that the amount of the loss sustained thereby will appear from the documents accompanying this petition. And your petitioners humbly pray that your honorable bodies will afford them such relief as to your wisdom and justice shall seem meet.

And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c.
NOAH CLARK, President of the Board of Trustees.

State Of New Jersey,
Essex county, \ ss '

Personally appeared before me, John Wade, one of the judges of the inferior court of common pleas in and for said county, Matthias Denman, Blair & Rives, printers, aged eighty-seven years the 19th day of February, 1838, who, being sworn, deposeth and saith : That the Presbyterian church of Springfield was burnt by the British on or about the 23d of June. 1780, on the retreat of the British troops after the battle of Springfield, and. to deponent's personal knowledge, was made use of and occupied as a commissary store-house. Said church was a wooden building, and covered entire with cedar shingles. And deponent further believes the present church now standing on the old foundation to be the same sizo as the one burnt by the British as above specified. And, also, one other private dwelling, owned by Jonathan Skinner, was occupied as a guard-house, and that said Skinner was sergeant of the guard, and, to deponent's knowledge, was burnt by the British at the same time the church was.

his

MATTHIAS x DENMAN. mark.

Sworn and subscribed this 19th day of April, 1S3S.

JOHN WADE, Judge.

N. B.—Mr. Denman's becoming blind is the cause of having to make his mark.

JOHN WADE, Judge.

State Of New Jersey, )
Essex county, ^

Personally appeared before me, John Wade, ons of Ihe judges of the inferior court of common pleas in and for said county. David Whitehead, aged seventy six years and ten months, who, being sworn, deposeth and saith : That the Presbyterian church of Springfield was burnt by the British troops on the 23d day of June, 1780, on the retreat of the British after the battle of Springfield, and, to deponent's personal knowledge, was occupied as a commissary store-house, and had been for years previous to its being burnt, and Samuel Woodruff was either commissary or deputy commissary who attended said store. The church burnt was a wooden building, covered entire with cedar shingles. And deponent further believes the present church now standing 'on the old foundation to be the same size as the one burnt by the British as above specified. And deponent farther saith that he was in said battle, under the command of Colonel Ang«!.

DAVID WHITEHEAD.

Sworn, or affirmed, before me, this 19th day of March. 1838.

JOHN WADE.

State Of New Jersey. )

* I 4' t

Essex county, $ "

Personally appeared before me, John Wade, one of the judges of the inferior court of common pleas in and for said county, Stephen Lyon, aged eighty-three years the third day of July last past, who, being sworn, deposeth and saith : That the church in Springfield was burnt by the British troops on their retreat after the battle at Springfield, and deponent was in said battle ; believes it was in 1780, but cannot recollect the month nor day the church was burnt. Deponent believes it to be the same size as the one now standing on the same ground or foundation ; was a wooden building; the whole entire covering was cedar shingles.

STEPHEN LYON.

Sworn and subscribed before me, this 22d day of February, 1838.

JOHN WADE, Judge.

State Of New Jersey, .

n > SS

Essex county, \

Personally appeared before me, John Wade, one of the judges df the inferior court of common pleas in and for said county, Jacob Willis, who, being sworn, deposeth and sailh : That he helped build the Presbyterian church in Springfield that is now standing on the same foundation of the former one burnt by the British in 1780, at the battle of Springfield. Deponent believes the one standing to be the same size as the one burnt by the British ; and the church now standing on the old foundation is fifiy- seven feet in length and forty-seven feet in breadth ; in height, twenty-four feet posts.

JACOB WILLIS.

Sworn and subscribed this 25th day of October, 1838.

JOHN WADE. Judge.

State Of New Jersey, )
Essex county, \

Personally appeared before me, John Wade, one of the judges of the inferior court of common pleas in and for said county, Benjamin Crane, aged seventy-six years, who, being sworn, deposeth and saith : That the Presbyterian church of Springfield was burnt by the British troops on or about the 23d of June, 17SO, on the retreat of the British after the battle of Springfield, and, to deponent's personal knowledge, was occupied as a commissary store-house, and had been for years previous to its being burnt, and Samuel Woodruff was the commissary who attended said store. The church burnt was a wooden building, covered entire with cedar shingles. And deponent further believes the present church now standing on the old foundation to be the same size as the one burnt by the British as above specified ; and, also, one other private dwelling house, owned by Jonathan Skinner, was occupied as a guard-house, and that said Skinner was sergeant of the guard ; and, to deponent's knowledge, was burnt by the British at the same time the church was. And the deponent further saith, that he was in the whole battle, and fought by the side of the brave Colonel Angel, who commanded that day: and further saith not.

BENJAMIN CRANE.

Sworn and subscribed before me, this 17th day of February. 1838.

JOHN WADE, Judge.
£1,002, 13s. 6d. Appraised May 12, 1789.

i£482,'ls. 4d. Appraised as above, and at- tested to by Jonathan Skinner, Nathaniel Miller, and Samuel Woodruff.

I certify the above appraisals stand recorded, to the best ot' ray recollection, in the book of claims for spoliations of the British arms in the revolutionary war, by a law passed by the Legislature of New Jersey, agreeable to a recommendation from Congress to the Legislatures of the different States, and are now recorded, as above stated, in the public library at the city of Trenton, in the above State.

JOHN WADE.

State Of New Jersey, .
County of Essex, y

I, Elias Van Arsdale, junior, clerk of the county of Essex, do hereby certify, that John Wade, before whom the annexed affidavits of Matthias Denman, David Whitehead, Stephen Lyon, Jacob Willis, and Benjamin Crane] were severally made and taken, at the time of taking the same was one of the judges of the inferior court of common pleas and a justice of the peace in and for said county, duly commissioned and sworn ; and that the signatures " John Wade" affixed to the jurats of said affidavits, respectively, are genuine.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal [l. s.] of office, at Newark, in said county of Essex, this 1 Ith day of February, A. D. 1839.

E. VAN ARSDALE, Jr.. Clerk.