1.x
"DEACON" "PLANTER" RICHARD SKINNER - ___ WRIGHT
file updated 1/2003
Family
Record Summary
Biography
KDS Commentary
Source
References
Return
to Family Tree
BIOGRAPHY - Deacon Richard Skinner:
Born - circa 1664, based upon age at death.
1693 - Richard Skinner appears in Woodbridge records. (Monnette-2,pp89-93)
1696 - Richard Skinner, or son by the same name, was a Constable of Woodbridge. (Monnette-2,pp543-545; Dally-3)
1696 - Richard and John recorded at Woodbridge as early as 1696. (Monnette-2,p630)
This would refer to Richard Skinner being Woodbridge constable in 1696.
Quit-Rents paid up to 1696 - includes record of Richard Skinner, 86 acres. (Monnette-2,pp57-59).
August 29, 1700 - deeded 60 acres on a branch of the Rahway River by father-in-law Robert Wright. (deed-4)
February 28, 1708 - recorded as being one of the twenty-thirty members of the First Presbyterian Church of Woodbridge. Francis, John, and Ann Skinner were also among the first recorded church members. In a note made later in the margins of the church records, Richard was made an Assistant, presumably to the deacons. (church records-6)
June 10, 1708 - Will of Samuel Shephard, Woodbridge Presbyterian Minister. An accounting by the Executors on December 7, 1709 shows payments made by Richard Skinner and Matthew Moores, among many others. (Monnette-2,pp736-737, will-7)
March 28, 1710 - made Deacon of the First Presbyterian Church of Woodbridge. (church records-6)
1712 - land near that of Richard Skinner's land was accepted for a schoolhouse at Rahway. (Dally-8, Holcombe-1). Skinner's property would correspond to that land given to him by his father-in-law Robert Wright.
December, 1713 - Robert Wright, father-in-law to Richard Skinner, was one of ten persons to petition the governor for a license to erect a church and for permission to receive contributions for that purpose. Robert Wright was a settler of Rahway at a place called "Wrights Landing". (Monnette-2,p112 & pp732-733)
July 15, 1715 - Will of John Spencer of Woodbridge - inventory made by Benjamin Force and Richard Skinner. (will-7)
1717 -John Parker, Executor of Elisha Parker, dec'd versus Richard Skinner; Middlesex Co. court records. Later in 1719 - Henry Freeman versus John Skinner - same court records. (Monnette-2,pp540-541)
April 3, 1717 - a third division lot was laid out in Woodbridge Commons for Peter Elstone on land bordering that of Richard Skinner's farm. (Woodbridge-9,p91)
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-9,p98; Dally-9a)
May 21, 1720 - Richard Skinner purchased land in Woodbridge from John Jaques. (Woodbridge-9)
February 13, 1721 - "Planter" Richard Skinner purchased land in Woodbridge Commons from Samuel Moore, part of which was originally laid out as an addition to Samuel's first division allotment and part of which was originally assigned to Samuel as part of his sixth division allotment. (Woodbridge-9,pp118-120)
May 12, 1727 - Deacon Richard Skinner died at age 63, 4 months. (exhibit-12c)
May, 1728 - Will of William Elstone shows that the Account Administrators, who were sworn in May 26, 1727, made a payment to a Richard Skinner. (will-11)
The reference to Richard Skinner as being a Deacon occurs in two places:
1) Richard Skinner was
made Deacon of the Presbyterian Church of Woodbridge in 1710, and
2) Richard Skinner is
buried in the church cemetery as Deacon Richard Skinner.
There is no indication in church records as to how long Skinner was church Deacon. The fact that he was buried as Deacon in 1727 indicates some degree of longevity or importance.
My assumption is that this is the same Richard Skinner who was called a "Planter" in Woodbridge land transactions that occurred in 1687 and 1721.
There is no Will record to indicate what happened to the 60 acres of land deeded to Richard Skinner by Robert Wright in 1700 on the Rahway River, to the land purchased by Richard Skinner from John Jacques in 1720 or to the 30 acres purchased from Samuel Moore in 1721. There is also no information regarding the purchase or sale of his primary farm in Woodbridge Commons, located next to Peter Elston's farm and near land of brother John Skinner.
The children of Deacon Richard and his unnamed wife of the Wright family are unknown.
Three Skinners, likely all third-generation Skinners, were members of Col. Thomas Ffarmer's Regiment, Woodbridge Company, in the year 1715 - Richard Skinner Junior, Wright Skinner and John Skinner Junior. All three are likely of the same generation. John Junior is well-documented and would be the son of the Deacon's brother - John Skinner, Sr. John Senior's family does not include Wright Skinner, nor could it include Richard Junior.
The fact that these Skinners were old enough to have served in Ffarmer's 1715 regiment limits the pool of potential parents they could have descended from. I presume Richard Junior to be a child of Deacon Richard, as a result of his 'Junior' moniker. In that case, Richard Junior may really be Richard the Third (III), since both his presumed father and grandfather had the name Richard. The Senior and Junior monikers were not always used as precisely in the 1700's as they are today. For example, there are two Abraham Clarks who were uncle and nephew to each other who assumed the Sr. and Jr. monikers to distinguish between them.
I presume Wright Skinner to be another child of the Deacon by virtue of his first name, which is the same as the maiden name of the Deacon's wife. Wright Skinner appears in New Jersey records throughout the first half of the 1700's. Ref. Wright Skinner's Family Record.
There are various other Skinners who could be children of Deacon Richard, though they may be more than a generation removed. Nathaniel Skinner Senior, whose tombstone indicates he was born in Woodbridge in 1705 or 1706, is an obvious candidate. He had a brother, Cornelius Skinner, Senior, and possibly a sister Susannah (b. 1702). Nathaniel became a Baptist minister, perhaps a religious influence from the Deacon coupled with the stromg Baptist leanings of the Somerset Co. locale where Nathaniel lived. Nathaniel, Cornelius and Susannah are somewhat younger than Wright Skinner, who was old enough to have served in Ffarmer's 1715 regiment, and there is information discussed elsewhere to suggest that they were not siblings to Wright. Their ancestry remains unknown.
Richard, Robert and Phinehas are three other Skinners loosely connected with Nathaniel and Cornelius, and likely of the same generation. These three may share the same parentage as Nathaniel, Cornelius and Susannah. If children of the Deacon, Richard would then correspond to the Richard Junior who was recorded in Fframer's Regiment. Any of these Skinners could be children or grandchildren of the Deacon, or of his brother Francis, or of another unknown second- or third-generation Skinner. Reference the Family Records of Cornelius, Nathaniel, Susannah, Richard, Robert and Phinehas.
Monnette speculated that Nathaniel and Jonathan, "who appear at Woodbridge", may be children of the Deacon. Though I agree in the case of Nathaniel, Jonathan is several generations too young to be a child of the Deacon - reference Jonathan's Family Record.
The Will of Matthew Moore Junior in 1733, of Woodbridge, indicates that he had a daughter, Sarah Skinner and a grandchild Matthew Skinner. Monnette speculated that Sarah Skinner could have been a wife of the Deacon. However, it is now obvious that Sarah Skinner was one or two generations too young to have been wife to the Deacon.
Neither Sarah Skinner nor her son Matthew appear in any other NJ records. It is interesting, however, that a Matthew Skinner, as well as a Wright Skinner, begin appearing in the records of Duchess Co., New York in the mid-1700's. Wright Skinner, previously identified as being son of Deacon Richard, last appears in NJ records in the year 1757.
The Deacon's age at death needs to be confirmed, since that places his birth before the arrival and marriage of his presumed parents - Richard and Susannah. An independent source (does his tombstone exist today?) would assist in verification.
COMMENTARY ON MONNETTE'S WORK:
Sarah Moore, daughter of Matthew Moore, Junior, married an unknown member of the Skinner family and had one known child - Matthew Skinner. Monnette incorrectly concluded that Sarah Moore had specifically married Deacon Richard Skinner and that they had two children - Sarah and Matthew (Monnette-8).
This mistaken link between the Deacon and Sarah Moore has been recopied by later genealogists, including Lester Holcombe (Holcombe-1) and Harry Rush (Rush-17). Harry Rush compounded the error by linking the Deacon to a Sarah Moore of a previous generation who had absolutely no ties with the Skinner family. These inaccuracies now permeate Skinner family records maintained in the LDS library system and the internet.
I was cautioned by the Trenton State library that Monnette reached many conclusions in his work that were inaccurate. In fairness to Monnette, he presented a large body of factual, sourced information and kept that separate from his genealogical conclusions. It is his genealogical comments, basically a compilation of notes he made over decades of research, that are sometimes careless.
Did Deacon Richard marry Ann Wright, Sarah Moore or both of them?; And if he did not marry Ann Wright, was she the wife of John Skinner, the Deacon's brother? Monnette's confusion surrounding the potential spouses of Deacon Richard and his brother John Sr. is evident throughout Monnette's many references to the Skinner family:
1. p878 - "Deacon Richard Skinner had a wife Ann."
2. p878 - "Anne (born 1703) and Hannah (born 1701) were daughters of Robert Wright, Jr., son of the Robert Wright, Sr. who gave land to son-in-law Richard Skinner."
3. p1513, "John Skinner - wife Ann or Hannah (nee Wright)."
4. p1513, "Ann Skinner - wife of John (nee Wright)."
5. p1513, "Deacon Richard - "confused with John as to wife"; second wife was Sarah Moore."
6. p1586, "Deacon Richard - probably married to Ann Wright" [uses as his reference the land deed from Robert Wright to son-in-law Richard Skinner].
7. p1586, "Deacon
Richard - married Sarah Moore and had two children, Matthew and Sarah"
[uses as his reference
the NJ Archives Will summary of Matthew Moore].
Comment on item #7 above - Monnette misinterpreted the Will of Matthew Moore, Jr. Sarah Moore Skinner did not have two children named Matthew and Sarah. The Will mentions only one child - Matthew. Note also that the Will does not say that Sarah had married the Deacon. The Will only indicates that Sarah had married an unknown Skinner.
Here are the factual sources of information that Monnette referenced to support his genealogical conclusions:
a. The existence of a 1701 deed of land from Robert Wright to "son-in-law" Richard Skinner.
b. The offspring of Robert Wright included two daughters - Anne (born 1703) and Hannah (born 1701). Monnette concluded that Ann and Hannah were the daughters of Robert Wright, Jr., not the Robert Wright, Sr. who gave land to Deacon Richard Skinner.
c. John Skinner had a wife Ann with whom he joined the Woodbridge Presbyterian church in 1710 (and whom is mentioned in his Will - a fact not mentioned by Monnette).
d. Matthew Moore, Jr. (born circa 1667 and married 1696 per Monnette) had a daughter Sarah Skinner and grandson Matthew Skinner, per his Will. Though Monnette provides no birth date for Sarah, he does provide birth dates for two of the other children of Matthew, Jr., both of whom were born in the late 1690's.
Note the conclusions reached by Monnette that his references, above, do not support:
a. Deacon Richard married as his first or second wife Sarah Moore.
Monnette presented no evidence to connect Sarah Moore with Deacon Richard. Sarah Moore's father, Matthew Moore Jr., did not marry until 1696, and the recorded birth dates for two of Sarah's brothers are in the late 1690's. Assuming a similar birth date for Sarah, she would have been born when Deacon Richard was roughly 35 years of age.
The connection between Sarah Moore and Deacon Richard was simply a mistake on Monnette's part. Sarah Moore was born at least a generation too late to have been a wife of the Deacon and I have found no connection between the two people. No doubt, the fact that there were five Sarah's spread over three generations of the Moore family (Sarah Moore Savory, Sarah Moore Rolph, Sarah Rolph, Sarah Parker Moore and Sarah Moore Skinner) did not help in seeing the generational disparity between the Deacon and Sarah Moore Skinner.
I conclude that Sarah Moore married a third-generation or fourth-generation Skinner, likely a son of Deacon Richard, or a son of his brothers John and Francis.
b. Deacon Richard, or his brother John Skinner, married Ann Wright.
"for and in confirmation of the natural affection and fatherly love which I have & do ___ unto my well beloved son in law Richard Skinner"
I believe that Wright Skinner, who appears in New Jersey records in the first half of the 1700's, would have been one of their children, by virtue of his first name.
Note that Robert Wright also deeded land to another son-in-law - Captain John Moores, husband of his daughter Mary Wright.
Monnette also mentioned that John Skinner, the Deacon's brother, may have married Ann Wright. Two facts probably caused Monnette to consider a connection between John Skinner and Ann Wright. First, John Skinner's wife had a first name of Ann. Second, a Wright Skinner is mentioned in the estate settlement of John Skinner, the obvious implication being that Wright Skinner must have been a child of John Skinner and Ann Wright.
The fact that John Skinner's wife was named Ann can not be disputed - Ann Skinner joined the Presbyterian Church of Woodbridge on the same day as John Skinner, and John's Will specifically mentions his wife Ann. However, there is no evidence that she was Ann Wright or that Wright Skinner was a child of John and Ann.
Although Wright Skinner is mentioned in the estate settlement of John Skinner, he is not listed as being one of John's children in the original Will. He is simply mentioned several years after the estate inventory was completed as owing money to the estate. I conclude that Wright was not a child of John and Ann.
In his confusion as to whether the Deacon or John married ANN Wright, it is interesting to note that Monnette's work on the Wright family - both his factual sources and his genealogical conclusions, do not even indicate the existence of a member of the Wright family having the first name of Ann. Monnette seems to have settled on the name Ann, both because John Skinner's wife was named Ann and because of confusion with an Anne Wright, who was born years later in 1703.
I would also like to clarify one statement by Monnette:
p1586, "Deacon Richard - he had land near him accepted for a schoolhouse at Rahway."
This does not mean that Richard Skinner donated land for a schoolhouse, as a quick reading of the above may seem to imply. The original record referenced by Monnette simply says that land near that of Richard Skinner was accepted for a Schoolhouse at Rahway. This may have been Skinner's land or it may have been common land not yet allocated to settlers. Substantial common land existed in Woodbridge until well into the 1700's.
FURTHER RESEARCH:
Locate original cemetery
records to confirm birth date. Is the tombstone still there? How many
separate tombstone records have been published?
Re-visit church records
for additional church info from 1708 to 1770.
Exhibit 1 - "Descendants of Richard Alexander Skinner of Loudoun County, VA", Lester Granville Holcombe, 1972, available at the Church of Latter Day Saints library system, film #1421466.
[KDS - Holcombe's information, below, appears to have been copied from Monnette]:
"The second son of Richard Skinner and Susanna Poulaine "was Richard Skinner, known as "Deacon" who married Sarah Moore, daughter of Matthew Moore and to them were born at least two children, Matthew and Sarah. In 1712, he had land near that accepted for a schoolhouse at Rahway (Dally, p155). He was in Woodbridge Church in 1707-8 with Francis, John, and Ann Skinner (NJ Archives, Vol XXX, p343). Monnette records that he probably had two sons, Jonathan and Nathaniel, appearing later at Woodbridge.
It is believed by some searchers that the Nathaniel named above became the Rev. Nathaniel Skinner of Turkeyfoot Twp., Somerset Co., PA. [KDS note - that is the approach taken by Harry S. Rush, below]
In Monnette's record, he also mentions a Deacon Skinner who married Ann Wright, daughter of Robert Wright. The date of death 5-17-1727, age 63, would make the date of his birth to be 1664, a year or more before Richard I and Susanna were married. They had a son named Wright Skinner. Monnette also was confused or failed to identify the apparently two Richard Skinners living in Woodbridge at the same time."
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:
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 [KDS note - have found this source.]
John Skinner, 1691
John Skinner, 1692
pp57-59, List #3. New Jersey patentees paying quit-rents up to 25 March 1696, received by Mr. George Willokes July, 1697 in London:
"The third list of patentees and quit-renters ... is of greater interest than the two preceding ones, because covering more territory, viz., Bergen, Essex, Somerset, Middlesex and Monmouth counties... While the rents charged are usually to 1696, some are only to 1680, while a few later entries are as late as April 4, 1705. Because of the extreme length of the accounts, we present herewith only the names of the landholders and acreage. ... The quit-rent price was, in nearly all instances, 1-2 d. per acre per annum."
Middlesex County -
Richard Skinner, 86 acres
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 -
Captain - John Moore
Ensign - John Parker
Sergeants - John Compton, Henry Freeman, Richard Pangburn, Matthew Force, William Jones, Richard Bunn
Corporals - Edward Freeman, Samuel Ayers, Hendrick Van Camp, Samuel Lewis
Soldiers - John Ayers Jr., Thomas Ayers, Obediah Ayers Jr., John Allwood, Henry Allwood Jr., David Allford, Ezekiel Bloomfield, John Compton Jr., William Compton, Jonathan Dennis, Samuel Donham, Jonathan Donham, John Brown, Miles Bunn, Timothy Bloomfield, John Eddy, William Allston, Peter Allston Jr., Joseph Gray, John Ffrench, Thomas Fforce, Daniel Stillwell Jr., David Ilsley, John Inyard, William Ilsley, Edward Jones, Eliphelet Jones, Yelverton Crowell, John Clason, John Campbell, Jonathan Compton, Thomas Pusci, Henry Potter, John Nikes, Jamieh Robertson, Peter Pain, Benjamin Smith, Richard Skiner Jr. (sic), Wright Skiner, John Smith, Benjamin Smith Jr., Joseph Thornel, Benjamin Uselton, John Worth, Jonathan Walker, Paul William, John Wilkinson, Charles Selyer, David Kent, Steven Kent Jr., John Lee, Jamieh Lockhart, George Morris, Samuel Martin, Everit Masacor, Joseph Martin, Gershom Martin, Isaac Martin, John Martin, Samuel Stillwell, Isaac Walker, Frances Ayres, Frances Holland, John Skiner Jr. (sic), John Pusel, Thomas Aulger, Tobiah Hach, John Freeman, Richard James, Peter Pangborn, Samuel Moore, Benjamin Collins, Jeremiah Stillwell, John Catterlin, Jonathan Catterlin, William Crichfield, Moses Collins, Manieh Clark, Umphrey Day, John Coburn, John Lewis, John Clarkson, Benjamin Aulger, Obediah Soper, John Guard, Henry Bermore.
[KDS note - should have copied frrom p413 as the above has too many corrupted names. Note the numerous names above that relate to the Skinner family.]
Fourth Company, Piscataway - Includes 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
Adam Hude, Judge - 1711 to 1736; James Hude, same - 1722 to 1735
John Moore, Judge - 1715 to 1716
Woodbridge
Richard Skinner, Constable - 1696
John Skinner, Overseer - 1714
John Skinner, Constable - 1729
Ezekial Bloomfield, Constable - 1685
Ezekial Bloomfield, Overseer - 1735
Peter Elstone, Constable - 1700
Benjamin Force, Overseer - 1723; 1729
Matthew Moore, Constable - 1682
Matthew Moore, Jr., Constable - 1692
Matthew Moore, Constable - 1732
Matthew Moore, Overseer - 1688; 1696
Capt. Matthew Moore, Overseer - 1732
Robert Wright, Constable - 1689
p1512, Woodbridge Church affairs:
1666-7 - Woodbridge named for beloved Newbury pastor, Rev. John Woodbridge
1669 - Application to Rev. Abraham Pierson, Jr., of Newark, for minister; unsuccessful.
1670 - Application for Mr. Samuel Treat "to preach for six or seven months." No record.
1674, Oct 27 - committee appointed for erecting a meting house 30 ft. square.
1677, April - definite call extended to Ezekial Fogg.
1680 - Mr. John Allen was solicited and served as minister.
1681 - church building completed "to be plastered, all but the south side, over clapboards."
1686 - Archibald Riddell became minister.
1694 - Ephraim Andrews selected.
1695 - Samuel Shepard appeared as minister, serving intermittently, refused ordination, and d. 1722 or 1723.
1707 - Nathaniel Wade was ordained.
pp736-737, Persons mentioned in Will of Samuel Shephard, dated Jun 10, 1708, administration Aug 11, 1708:
Richard Skinner, Ezekial Bloomfield, David Oliver, Matthew Moores among many others.
pp112, December, 1713, Robert Wright was one of ten persons to petition the Governor of New Jersey for a license to erect a church and for permission to receive contributions for that purpose.
pp732-733, Settlers and Landowners at Rahway:
Robert Wright, "Wrights Landing"
Frances Moore, a minor - 1694
Frances Moore, bond of John Bishop of Rahway, guardian - Nov 16, 1694
Robert Wright - 1698/9
p630, Genealogical Treatment, as constructed/speculated by Monnette - "Richard Skinner, Sr."
"First settler of Woodbridge. He came in 1665, as a servant to Gov. Philip Carteret, (vide, ante, part one, p103), said to belong jointly in the service of Sir George Carteret (Hatfield, p58). ( Arch., Vol. XXI, pp46-59). He was a "joiner" by trade, and became a citizen of Elizabethtown, where he acquired a house-lot (orig. from Richard Painter) in 1672, from Balthazar De Hart, whom he had served (Idem, p88). In 1673, he took the oath of allegiance as a citizen of Elizabeth (do. p159). Removed to Woodbridge 1672-3 (Idem, pp168 and 256) where biogr. sketch.
[KDS note - pages 88, 159, 168, and 256 referenced by Monnette refer to the work of Hatfield, not to Monnette's own work - ref. Hatfield exhibits.]
He m. May 1, 1666, Sussanah Poulain, one of the French maidens, who came over with Carteret, and they had several children at Woodbridge, among whom, John Skinner, Richard Skinner, Jr., Francis Skinner, et al.
There was an interrelation with the Force family of Woodbridge, of which Benjamin and Matthew were representatives. Richard Skinner, Jr. and John Skinner were recorded at Woodbridge, NJ as early as 1696, when the father was probably dead. These two sons, with an Ann Skinner and brother Francis Skinner, were members of the Woodbridge church 1707-1708 (vide, ante, part one, pp111,2). Richard Skinner, Jr., was called "son-in-law" by Robert Wright, and as "Deacon Richard Skinner, died May 12, 1727, age 63", i.e.b. 1664, showing father's gen. (Vide, ante, part three, p377).
[KDS note - Robert Wright willed land to Richard Skinner - there is no reference to a Richard Skinner JUNIOR. The JUNIOR is Monnette's verbiage.]
In a deed dated 1700, August 29, with reference to land near Rahway, (E), was probably married to Ann Wright (NJ Archives, Vol. XXI, p311). In 1708, he was a debtor of Samuel Sheppard of Woodbridge, and in 1715, helped with the inventory of the estate of John Spence of Woodbridge (Vol. XXIII, pp435-456). [KDS note - Monnette switches subjects from Richard to John here.] John Skinner helped with the inventory of Edward Jones 1716/7, June 10, (idem, p267), and he was married to Elizabeth Cutter of Woodbridge, Mar. or Nov. 26, 1736, with four daughters born there (vide, ante, part two, pp251-6)). The former died 1748-9, leaving a will, followed by her will, 1750, (Arch., Vol. XXX, p435); and many descendants."
[KDS note -
p1586, Genealogy - "Deacon Richard Skinner of Woodbridge"
"He was so called and d. May 12, 1727, age 63, i.e., b. 1664 (vide, ante, part three, p377). He was the son of the first Richard Skinner (vide, ante, part four, p630).
In 1712, he had land near that accepted for schoolhouse at Rahway (Dally, p155). He was in Woodbridge church, 1707-8, with Francis Skinner, John Skinner and Ann Skinner, prob. latter's wife.
He had married Sarah Moore, daughter of Matthew Moore of Woodbridge, and had, at least, two children, Matthew and Sarah Skinner (Arch., Vol. XXX, p343). (Vide, ante, part four, p618) [KDS note - refers to Monnette-page 618]
He prob. had two sons, Jonathan and Nathaniel Skinner appearing later at Woodbridge.
Rev. Nathaniel Skinner, b. 1706, d. 1801, Somerset Co., Pa. (Jer. Gen. No. 3908, Apr. 20, 1912)"
pp1513, 1514 - Woodbridge Church Affairs, Comments of Monnette on church member genealogies:
[KDS note - everything listed after the persons highlighted name are the genealogical assumptions of Monnette, not facts from church or other documents.]
"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." [KDS - a speculative stretch.]
"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."
pp618-619, Genealogy - Moore Family
Hon. Samuel Moores - had three wives; children:
Francis - d. Will dated July 31, proved Sep 15 , 1729; m. Jane
Sarah - b. ca 1655, Newbury, MA; m. Oct or Dec 3, 1676, John Bloomfield
Rachel - b. ca 1660; m. Mar 1677/8, Jonathan Dennis
Elizabeth - b. Jul 30, 1688; m. Dec 8, 1687, Richard Smith of Piscataway(also p250)
Samuel Moore, Jr. - b. Mar 31, 1670, W.; d. Will dated Mar 26, pr. Apr 2, 1703; m. Oct 29 (26th per vital records, p250), 1693, Sarah Higgins
Thomas - b. July 26, 1672, W.; m. Dec 25, 1699, Mary White (also p250)
Capt. John - b. May 20, 1674, W.; m. Mar 18, 1699 (also p250), Hope Robins, in town of Freehold, d. 1714; m2. Nov 21, 1717, Mary Oliver (also p250)
Enoch (male) - b. Jun 3, 1678, W.
Francis (twin of Enoch) - m. Oct 15, 1696, Philip Doddridge (also p250)
Sarah - b. Sep 16, 1681, W.; d. Apr 12, 1688
Hannah - m. Oct 20, 1692, Richard Robins (also p250)
Matthew Moores (brother
to Samuel)
received land patent -
June 10, 1671
married May 27, 1662,
Newbury, MA Sarah Savory, daughter of William Savory
died Mar 20, 1691; Will
proved Mar 25, 1692
William - b. May 26, 1664 Newbury, MA; d. infancy
William - b. Feb 10, 1666 same; d. Will dated May 14, pr. May 28, 1712; m. Jul 2, 1690, Christian Allward (also p250), children: Sarah - b. Aug 29, 1691; Matthew - b. Oct 30, 1692; eight other children
Matthew, Jr. - b. ca
1667, Wdbrdg (?); d. Will dated Feb 24, pr. Apr 5, 1723; m. Nov 25,
1696, Sarah Parker (also p250)
[KDS note - Will is dated
and proved in the year 1733, not 1723]
[KDS note - Will also
mentions grandson Matthew Skinner.]
James - b. Mar, 1669; d. 1727, Will; m. Oct 31, 1693, Margaret Crage (also p250); children. Samuel, James
Samuel - b. Aug 3, 1673, Woodbridge; d. 1756, intestate; m. ca 1715 Experience Fitz Randolph
p878, Genealogy - Robert Wright, Sr., of Woodbridge:
"First settler of Rahway, before 1687 (Clayton, U & M., p245). His exact relationship to the conferee of Woodbridge, Richard Wright, in not definitely known, though prob. they were closely related.
Robert Wright, of Woodbridge, came there from Staten Island, (vide, ante, part one, p122), where, in 1680 and before, he was a settler, receiving Colonial land grant on the Island, in that year; removed to Woodbridge, 1684 (Dally, p103).
In 1701, he gave a deed "to his son-in-law" John Moores, both of Woodbridge, cordwainers, etc." His daughter, Mary Wright, had married, Captain John Moore, of Woodbridge (son of Matthew Moore), Dec. 28, 1692 (Jersey Genealogy, No. 4917, Dec. 19, 1914); and as published in this Series (part two, ante, p250). Deed of 1700, "Robert Wright of Woodbridge to his son-in-law, Richard Skinner (wife, Ann), of the same place, for 60 acres there on a branch of Rahaway River, etc." (Vide, ante, part four, p630)
In the Woodbridge Vital Records, the following births are recorded; (vide, ante, part two, p261)
Elizabeth, of Robert & Hannah
Hannah, of Robert & Hannah, Aug 2, 1701
Anne, of Robert & Hannah, Aug 25, 1703
It is more probable that these were the children of Robert Wright, Jr., a son of the above.
This Robert Wright, Sr.,
was certainly that son, Robert, mentioned in the Will, 1690, of that
first, Joshua Wright of "The Falls of the Delaware River:, now
Trenton, NJ (vide, ante, part three, p359), as appears: (Arch., Vol.
XXIII, p527).
[KDS note - The
descendents of Joshua Wright of Trenton, as depicted in numerous web
sites, do not include the Wright family of Woodbridge detailed here
by Monnette.]
Other Wright Wills on the same page of this authority, show the latter's son, Joseph Wright, of Chesterfield, Burlington County, who died in 1715.
A sister, of the latter, Elizabeth Wright, m. Peter Frettwell, who had a daughter Elizabeth, married to Jonathan Wright ...
[KDS note - Jonathan Wright or son by same name, per Janeway Account Books, was brother-in-law to Wright Skinner]
Richard Wright of Woodbridge, ..., who was most probably a brother of Robert Wright, Jr. (supra), since the children born to the latter were much later in birth than the wives of Captain John Moores and Richard Skinner [KDS note - Monnette did not know the birth dates of the wives, though his assumption is probably correct], in which case, Robert Wright, Sr., could easily have been the father of both Robert Wright, Jr., and Richard Wright, all of Woodbridge.
The latter had children
received in the Woodbridge Vital Records (vide, ante, part two, p261).
"Wright, Abner,
Richard & Sarah, Dec. 3, 1703.
Wright, Nathan, Richard
& Sarah, Sept., 1705.
Wright, Jeremiah, Richard
& Sarah, Feb. 3, 1707.
Wright, Moses, Richard
& Sarah, Oct. 22, 1707.
Wright, Marah (Mary),
Richard & Sarah, May 31, 1714."
The Richard Wright above continued at Woodbridge, where he died in 1736, leaving a will; dated 1736, Oct. 30, proved Dec. 5 1736, which adds children; Richard and David: (Arch., Vol. XXX, p551). Reg., Col. Tho: Ffarmer in 1715 (vide, ante, part two, p219)."
[KDS note - Much more extensive Wright genealogies are available at (1) freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kallenbach, (2) dizzy.library.arizona.edu/user/mount/ and (3) www.ristenbatt.com/genealogy/. These genealogies indicate that the descendents of Joshua Wright were located in Burlington Co., NJ and make no mention of the family of Robert Wright Sr. of Woodbridge included above. The Burlington Co. Wright family does include Elizabeth Fretwell and her son-in-law Jonathan Wright, shown above.]
Exhibit 2b - Woodbridge Town Records per typewritten copy on microfilm, film #944857, LDS library system, pp48-49, 4/4/1996/KDS:
1687, May 30 [First section missing]:
"and Between Samuel Moore of Woodbridge in the province Abovesaid: administrator of the Estate of Henry Jaquis Late of Woodbridge Deceased of the one party: and Isaac Clark and Richard Skinner Both of Woodbridge: planters; the other party: Witneseth Imprimis the above Named Samuel Moore as administrator abovesaid, hath and By these presents; doth Covenant, Bargain, and to farme Lett; unto the above Named Isaac Clark and Richard Skinner their heirs, Executors, administrators and assigns a Certain message, or tenement, Leying and Being, on a Neck or fork, Between the two Southernmost Branches of Rahawack River; Now in the possession of John Jones; to wit the Dwelling house and Barne together with the Land they Stand on; Containing Eighteen Acres, within fence Be it more or Less; together with al the fences and other the Edifices thereon; and as much of the upland Belonging to the Said farme as they their heirs &e: Shall so Cause to fence in and improve and also So much of the marsh or meadow ground Belonging to the Said farme as will maintain the Stock they Shall keep on the said farm: during the Terme hereafter mentioned: and also four oxen to Be delivered By John Jones in may next after the date of these presents, with Cart and Wheels, two ploughs, two yoke, two Chains, to pair of good plough Irons, one Sled, Cops and pin; all which above Named premises and utensils; the above Named Isaac Clark and Richard Skinner, their heirs, Executors, Administrators and assigns; are to have, hold, Occupy and peaceably to posses from and after the first day of may 1688. until the full time and terme of Six years Be fully Ended and Compleated; which will Be the first day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand Six hundred Ninety and four at the Expiration of which time the above Named Isaac Clark and Richard Skinner, their heirs, Executors, administrators, and assigns doth By these presents oblige themselves Joyntly and Severally; to Deliver into yee possession of Samuel Moore abovesaid or his order; all the above Named message or tenement, housing and Barnes, Being in Repair and tenantable; the Broken upland to Be all Left within a good sufficient fence, against hogs and cattle; also to Deliver four good working oxen; None above Eight years old Nor under four years old; with tow good pair of plough Irons, tow good Drauft Chains, two yokes for oxen, with hooks and Rings, one Cops and pin, with Cart and wheels, ploughs and Sled: and at the Exspiraton of the Said Lease, to Leave the orchard Containing About two Acres well planted with good fruit trees: and with a New Sufficient five Rail fence Round about the Same: and the whole time of their Lease to keep Cattle out of the Said orchard, that the young trees Be Not Spoiled: and the Said Isaac Clark and Richard Skinner their heirs &c: are to pay all Rates and taxes that may Be Laid upon all the Catte and Stock; during the full terme above: and the Said Samuel Moore or his order to pay all Rates taxes and Rents for the Said Land during the abovesaid terme: In Consideration whereof the above Named Isaac Clarke and Richard Skinner are hereby Bound Joyntly and Severally, By themselves or their order at Before or upon the first day of May yearly during the terme of Six years abovesaid: well and truly pay or Cause to BE PAID UNTO Samuel Moore or his order the full and Just Sum of Six pounds Sterling: in good merchant table Corne and other provisions at price Currant: and in Considerations that the time of this Lease Ends in May, it Shall Be Lawful for the Said Samuel Moore or his order or the heirs of Henry Jaquis Deceased if they Be of age to have free Egres and Regres to plough Soe or plant any of the Improved Land then in Being without Lett hinderance or molestation So Sone in the Summer foregoing the Expiration of this Lease; as the Said Isaac Clarke and Richard Skinner. Crop is of the ground; and to Cut and Bring home what hay they have occasion for; and to fodder their Cattle there, without Let, or hindrance; and the Said Isaac Clarke and Richard Skinner is to have four Cows with Calf, or Calves By their Sides during the Said terme: and at the Expiration of the Said terme to Deliver to the Said Samuel Moore or his order: four good Cows with Calf or Calves By their sides together with one half of the increase of the Said Cows: In witness whereof the parties to these presents have interchangeably, Sett to their hands and Seals this thirtyeth day of May 1687.
Samuel Moore (seal); Isaac Clark, his mark (seal); Richard Skinner, his mark (seal)
Signed, Sealed & Delivered in the presents of us
William Binglay, his mark; Francis Walker, his mark; John Corbat, his mark
[KDS note - this original document contains Richard Skinner's mark, but no signature.]
Exhibit 3 - "Woodbridge and Vicinity", Rev. Joseph W. Dally, 1873, p138, 10/6/1995/KDS:
Woodbridge Constables -
1670 - Richard Worth
1671
1672 - Thomas Bloomfield, Sr.
1675 - John Pike, Jr.
1678 - Samuel Bacon
1680 - Samuel Hale
1681 - Israel Thornell
1682 - Matthew Moore
1683 - Isaac Tappen
1684 - Samuel Smith
1685 - Ezekial Bloomfield
1686 - Nath'l Fitz Randolph, Obadiah Ayers
1687 - John Warlock, John Allen
1688 - Daniel Robins, Francis Walker
1689 - Elisha Parker, Robert Wright
1690 - Thomas Thorp, Thomas Pike
1691 - John Conger, Gawin Lockhart
1692 - Matthew Moore, Jr., John Coddington
1693 - Samuel Moore, Noah Bishop
1694 - Daniel Thorp, William Ellison
1695 - John Robison, Joseph Rolf
1696 - Thomas Collier, Richard Skinner
1697 - Joh Mores, John Compton, Stephen Tuttle
1698 - Joseph Thorp, John Ilsly, Jr.
1699 - William Mores, Obadiah Ayers
1700 - Peter Elstone, Samuel Dennis, Jr.
Exhibit 4 - Deed from Robert Wright to Richard Skinner:
"1700 Aug. 29. Do. Robert Wright of Woodbridge to his son-in-law Richard Skinner of the same place, for 60 acres there on a branch of Rahway R., S. E. The Mill brook of Rahaway (sic), S. W. Jonathan Haines, N. W. Unsurveyed, N. E. George Marcke. p136." per "East Jersey Patents, Etc., Liber No. 4," New Jersey Archives, Vol. XXI, p311, 9/15/1995/KDS.
[KDS note - this land corresponds to part or all of the tract of land Robert Wright received in an October 20, 1693 patent of the East Jersey proprietors, per a summary of that patent that I read by Charles Carroll Gardner, Rutgers University Library.]
Comments of VEM on above deed summary - "Witnesses included John Jacquish, married to Sarah Cutter." "Robert Wright admitted to the Church in Woodbridge, Aug. 30, 1708." [KDS note - Robert Wright was undoubtedly a founding member of the church, but I saw no record of him joining on that particular date.]
Exhibit 4a - Actual deed record, Trenton State Library (punctuation and some modernization of spelling by KDS):
"To all people to whom this presents [KDS note - covenant] writing shall come, I, Robert Wright, of Woodbridge in the County of Middlesex & province of East New Jersey, send greeting. Know yee that I, the said Robert Wright, as ___ for and in confirmation of the natural affection and fatherly love which I have & do ___ unto my well beloved son in law Richard Skinner of the above said town, county & province as also for divers other ___. Especially ___ have given & granted and by the said covenant do give, grant & confirm unto ye said Richard Skinner a certain tract of upland containing about sixty acres more or less as it is laid out situated lying & being within the bounds of Woodbridge upon a branch of Rahaway River, beginning at a __ __ marked on _____ on the northwest ___ of the mill brooks of Rahaway; thence west & by north thirty three chains to a white oak marked RW; thence north and by east twentie chains to a black birch marked RW; thence east & by south forty chains to the said brooks to a walnut marker as above; thence up the brooks to where it began. Southeast by the said brooks; Southwest by Jonathan Haines' land; northwest by land unsurveyed; northeast by George Marches land. To have and to hold that sixty acres of upland, ___ all housing forest, gardens, orchards, woods, ____ for profits and privileges unto ye said sixty acres of land belonging or any wife appurtaining unto ye said Richard Skinner, his honor, ____ & Assigns to his & their own property & ___ for ever ___ & quietly without any manner of challenge claim or domand of me the said Robert Wright or of any other person or persons whatsoever for me in my name by my ___ or procurement __ without any money or other thing ___(therefore) to be ___ unto ye said Robert Wright or any __ or Assigns.
And I the said Robert Wright all & singularly ___ sixty acres of land with the appurtenances to ye said Richard Skinner his Executors and Assigns to __ against all people so do warrant & forever affirm by this covenant. In witness whereof I have ___ unto ___ land & ___ this twentie ninth day of August, one thousand seven hundred. Robert Wright. Signed, sealed and delivered in ye presense of us - John Bishoph, Mary Bishop, M, her marks. It is agreed before signing the ye said Richard Skinner is to __ & pay all taxes & Quit Rents [imposing?] upon ye said sixty acres of land. Personally came before me ye said __ named Robert Wright acknowledged this instrument to be his free act __ September ye 2nd, 1700. John Bishop ___." per East Jersey Deeds, Liber No. 4, p136, Trenton State Library, 10/26/1995/KDS.
Exhibit 5 - "Jersey Genealogy", Mary K. Thurston, Newark Evening News, Apr 27, 1918, per files of VEM
"Richard Skinner was constable, Woodbridge, 1696, and was perhaps the Richard Skinner, who was son-in-law of Dr. Robert Wright and brother-in-law of John Moore. This relationship was evidenced by a deed from Dr. Wright to his son-in-law, Richard Skinner....."
[KDS note - the reference to Robert being a doctor ("Dr.") which also appears now and then in the notes of DSW/VEM is likely nothing more than a mistaken interpretation of the abbreviation Do. , meaning 'document', which precedes Robert's name in the NJ Archive summary - exhibit 4.]
Exhibit 6 - "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 names. Volume II is a handwritten copy of Volume I and easily readible, but has errors. Both are available on microfilm via the LDS library system, though the microfilm version of Volume I is difficult to read.]
"A record for the Church of Christ in Woodbridge containing the number of members initiated in full Communion with an account of all persons Baptized by the previous Pastor. This book (First) beginning June 16, 1707. Jan 29, 1707 was gathered the church in Woodbridge by Nathaniel Wade Pastor of said church. And preserved by Azel Roe his successor....."
"The Number and Names of the members Jan 29, 1707/8 were gathered the Church of Christ in Woodbridge by Nathaniel Wade Pastor. Present that were as messengers: two from ye Church of Newark and one from ye Church of Elizabethtown; Theophilus Pierson, Jonabs Wood, Benjamin Price. The foundation of the Church was laid first upon three persons who had been communicants in other churches. viz: Sam'l Hail, John Pike and Noah Bishop. The names of the church are as follows.
Admitted Jan 29,1707/8
Samuel Hail assistant
John Pike assistant
Noah Bishop assistant
Stephen Tuttle
John Foard Deacon __ 30, 1709
Robert Groves
Feb 28, 1707/8
Thomas Pike Deacon __ 30, 1709
John Ayers assistant
Richard Skinor ^
Joseph Gray
June 8, 1708
Lidia Bishop
Francis Skinor
[KDS note - the 'i' in 'Francis' is clearly dotted indicating a male; this is the only known reference to the existence of a Francis Skinner.]
June 20, 1708
Matthew Fors
Joseph Thorp
Aug 15, 1708
Daniel Britton
Richard Cutter
Sarah Pike
Elizabeth Britton
Sarah Fors
Elizabeth Gray
Lydia Pangborn
Sarah Holland
August 20, 1708
John Ilsley
John Jaques
John Skinor
Nathaniel Pike
Mary Groves
Ann Skinor
Elizabeth Ilsly
Mary Cutter
Mercy Pike
Mary Stillwell
Susannah Jaques
Desire Walker
Mehitable Butler
Hannah Freeman
Mary Wade
Joannah Dunham
Ester Bloomfield
Oct 31, 1708
....."
[KDS note - the list continues on until 1710, including an additional fifty or so names.]
[KDS note - The words 'Deacon' and 'assistant' that appear after some of the above names were written in the margins of the original records at a later time. The word 'assistant' written after the name of Richard Skinner in Volume I is somewhat confusing. The word is not written on the same line as Richard's name, but slightly above the end of his name, because there was no more room at the margin. A symbol (^) after Skinner's name points up to it. If you do not see the symbol, you might assume that the word 'assistant' is closer to the previous name on the list - John Ayres. Monnette, who includes the above church list on pages 111-112 of his work, makes that mistake. Volume II of the church records, which is a handwritten copy of Volume I, correctly shows that the Assistant was Richard Skinner. Here and there, there are minor differences between Volume I, Volume II and the list as reported by Monnette.]
[later in the records:]
"March 28, 1710
Chosen by ye Church that Richard Skinor and Moses Rolph for deacon in lieu of Elder Ford and Elder Pike."
[KDS note - this notation and the word "Deacon" on the tombstone of a Richard Skinner are the only known references to a Richard Skinner as "Deacon".]
Exhibit 7 - Will Abstracts:
"1708, June 10.
Shepherd, Shepard, Sheperd, Samuel, of Woodbridge. Letters of
administration on the estate of, granted to his widow Alice. ...
Middlesex Wills.
1709 Dec 7. Account of
the estate by John Norton, administrator, showing payments, made by
..., Richard Skiner,
..., John Pike, ..., Matthew Force, ..., and debts paid to ...,
Ezekiel Bloomfeild, ..., Henry Freeman, ..., David Dunham, ___
Oliver, Richard Wright, Capt. Elisha Parker, ..., Nathaniel Wade,
...". per "Abstracts of Wills, 1670-1730", NJ
Archives, Vol XXIII, pp415-416, 11/5/1995/KDS.
"1715, July 15.
Spencer, Spancer, John, of Woodbridge, Middlesex Co. Inventory of the
personal estate of, L49.15.6; made by Benjamin Force and Richard
Skiner.
1716-7 Jan. 22. Account
of the estate by William Spence of the same place, brother of John
and administrator, mentioning payments to Thomas Johnson, Edward
Freasey, both of Elizabeth Town, Thomas Force, Cornelius Eghmont, and
receipts from John Morelious, John Cambel, Nathaniel Dunham, Wm.
Webser, Edward Wilkison and Wm. Rogers." [KDS note - no liber
reference given].
per "Abstracts of
Wills, 1670-1730", NJ Archives, p435, 11/5/1995/KDS.
"1716-7 Jan. 10.
Jones, Edward, of ?, and wife. Inventory of the personal estate of
L26.10.3, incl. one "Mayer" (mare) L1; made by John
Skiner and Benjamin Force.
1716-7 Feb. 12.
Administration on the estate granted to Mathew Force of Woodbridge.
Lib. A, p49."
per "Abstracts of
Wills, 1770-1730," Vol. ?, NJ Archives, First Series, 1918,
p267, 11/5/1995/KDS.
Exhibit 8 - "Woodbridge and Vicinity", Rev. Joseph W. Dally, 1873, p155, 12/8/1995/KDS:
Woodbridge Town Meeting of January 28, 1714 - "Ensconcing themselves comfortably by Mr. Gilman's fireplace, the Freeholders leisurely proceeded to business, which was chiefly the appointment of a committee of four to take "special care" of the School Land; and the gift of two acres of land near Richard Skinner's, at Rahway, for building a school-house."
Exhibit 9 - 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 9a - "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 9b - 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 10 - "Colonial Conveyances, Provinces of East & West New Jersey, 1664-1794", computer print-out, Rutgers University library, 11/5/1995/KDS:
Richard Skinner
from William Leggee - Liber I, p276; 3/28/1673; E. si. Passaic River
[KDS note - East side of
the Passaic River.]
Richard Skinner from John Jaques - Liber C-2, p95; 5/21/1720; Woodbridge, Middlesex
Exhibit 11 - "Genealogical Dictionary of New Jersey", by Charles Carroll Gardner, Rutgers University library, 10/25/1995/KDS:
"1728, May. Account of Administrators of estate of Wm Elstone, wb (sworn in May 26, 1727), shows pays of 1/2 of L1:2:0 to Richard Skinner."
Exhibit 12 - "Genealogical Dictionary of New Jersey", by Charles Carroll Gardner, Rutgers University library, 10/25/1995/KDS:
"Deacon Richard d. May 12, 1727, age 63 y, 4 mo (MSNJM)."
Exhibit 12a - Monument Inscriptions, Woodbridge Cem., per unsourced notes of VEM:
" 'Deacon Richard Skinner - d. 5/17/1727 - age 63 years'.
John Skinner, probably the son of John, Sr. - Richard's brother, is buried next to Richard with the inscription - d. Feb 14, 1748/9."
Exhibit 12b - Email from Charlou Dolan dated 12/4/2001 -"LDS FHL Film #849,571: Collection of New Jersey Families, 1600-1900: Family Records Taken from Civil, Court, Land, & Probate Records, etc. (Gardner)"
Woodbridge Presb. Cem. Inscriptions:
John Skinner d. 14 Feb 1748/9.
near Mary Cuter (1687-1721) & Jos. & Jona Toma.
Deacon Richard Skinner d. 12 May 1727, age 63y 4m (next to John above).
Exhibit 12c - "Inscriptions Cemetery of the First Presbyterian Church of Woodbridge, New Jersey, gathered and compiled by Freeman Worth Gardner, Woodbridge, New Jersey, 1917." with notes provided by Patty B. Myers - <pbmyers@satx.rr.com>, per www.rootsweb.com/~njmiddle/WoodbridgePresby.html, 2003:
" 959 In memory of ELIZABETH
wife of RICHARD CUTTER
JUr & DAUGHr of WILLIAM
& MARY FOORD who
departed this life
April ye 22d 1756
in the 28 year
of her age.
NOTE: Richard Cutter was
s/o Richard Cutter and Mary Pike. See #951 for ancestry.
960 Here lyes ye Body of
JOHN SKINNER decd
Feby ye 14th 1748-9.
NOTE: He m. Elizabeth
Cutter, d/o Richard Cutter and Mary Pike. See #951 for Cutter ancestry.
961 Here lyes ye body of
DECON RICHARD SKINNER
decd May ye 12
1727
aged 63 years, 4 mos. "
Exhibits 13,14 - removed.
Exhibit 15 - "Abstracts of Wills", NJ Archives, First Series, Vol. XXX, p343, 9/15/1995/KDS:
"1732-3, Feb. 24. Moore, Matthew, of Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., carpenter; will of. Children - Nehemiah, Elizabeth, Matthew, and Sarah Skinner. Grandson - Matthew Skinner. If negro, Frank, pay L25 by Feb. 24, 1733-4 and interest for one year, he shall have right to his wife, Parthenia, and her children. Real and personal estate. Executors - Sam'l, son of James Moore, deceased and Robert, son of John Moore, deceased. Witnesses - Samuel Lockhart, Thomas Jackson, Elizabeth Dyer. Proved April 5, 1733. Lib. B, p390."
Exhibit 16 - unsourced notes from DSW in files of VEM:
Wright Skinner:
1 male 16 years of age
& up
0 males under 16 years
2 females
1800 Census of Bern, NY - also mentions Wright Skinner.
0 males, 16 yrs and up
1 male, under 16 years
3 females
MATTHEW SKINNER:
1 male, 16 years & up
0 males under 16 years
5 females
"MATTHEW SKINNER - b. ?
married SARAH ___
children:
ELIZABETH ___ b. May 25, 1783 Clinton Dutchess Co., NY
married prior to Mar 12, 1806 JAMES COX or COOK - b. Jun 18, 1765 Phillips Patent, Dutchess Co., NY"
Exhibit 17 - Records in the Church of Latter Day Saints, researched by Harry S. Rush, received by Mrs. D.A. Lamoreaux of Salt Lake City, Utah, 1966. Film #1126475 - IGI Batch Records of Skinner, Deacon Richard (Batch 7903103) - summary of these records as interpreted by KDS:
Matthew Moore - Sarah Savory (Rolph)
William Moore (b. May 2, 1664 same; d. infant , age 1)
William Moore (b. Feb 10, 1666 same; d. will pr. May 28, 1712)
Matthew Moore, Junior (b. ca 1667 same; d. will pr. Apr 5, 1733)
James Moore (b. Mar, 1669 same; d. will pr. May 10, 1727)
John Moore (b. Aug 15, 1671 same; d. will pr. Jan 4, 1716)
Samuel Moore (b. Aug 3, 1673 same; d. 1756)
(1) Richard Skinner - Susanna Poulain
(2) Deacon Richard Skinner (b. 1669 Elizabeth, NJ) - Sarah Moore (Rolph)
(3) Sarah Skinner (b. Woodbridge, NJ; d. )
(3) Rev. Nathaniel Skinner (b. 1706 Woodbridge, NJ; d. Oct 1, 1801) - wife Elizabeth __ (b. 1709 same; d. Sep 7, 1799)
(4) Samuel Skinner (b. ca 1734; d. ) - wife Agnes Critchfield (b. ); married circa 1755, Somerset Co., PA; he - age 20, she - ca age 18
(4) Reuben Skinner (b. ca 1736 Woodbridge, NJ; d. Apr 21, 1814)
(4) Robert Skinner (b. ca 1738 same; d. )
(4) John Skinner (b. ca 1740 same; d. Mar 22, 1823)
(4) Frankie Skinner (female; b. ca 1742 same; d. ) - Oliver Drake
(2) John Skinner
(2) Francis Skinner (male, white; b. 1669)
(2) Ann Skinner
[KDS note - Moses Rolph was a Woodbridge Justice of the Peace and was elected Town Clerk Mar 3, 1712. (Dally, p157) He was also recorded as being a member of the Woodbridge Presbyterian Church as of Feb 27, 1708. Also - Matthew Moore married Sarah Savory March, 1662; He was of Newbury, MA, and was among the first group of Woodbridge settlers, receiving 177 acres of land in 1670; He relocated there with two children; He died March, 1691, five children mentioned. per "Early History of Perth Amboy, William A. Whitehead, 1856, pp356-357, 10/6/1995/KDS.
Rush, above, copied Monnette's mistaken conclusion that Sarah Moore married Deacon Richard Skinner. Rush compounded this mistake by linking the wrong Sarah Moore to the Skinner family. The Sarah Moore shown above as having married Deacon Richard in fact married John Rolph, per Monnette. The Sarah Moore who was related to the Skinner family was a daughter of Matthew Moore, JUNIOR, whose Will was proved in 1733. Junior's Will indicates that he had a daughter, Sarah Skinner, and grandson, Matthew Skinner. Sarah would have married an unknown Skinner - she was one or more generations too young for the Deacon.]
Exhibit 18 - King Family per King Family Forum at www.genealogy.com, 2003:
KING family info NJ - 1670-1750
Posted by: Dave Tourison
(ID *****4838) Date: July 04, 2003 at 15:06:36
posting #14330 of 14919
Extracted from DOCUMENTS
RELATING TO THE COLONIAL HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, VOLUME
XXIII, CALENDAR OF NEW JERSEY WILLS, VOLUME I, 1670-1730; Paterson
NJ, 1901
( Libers 1, 2, etc. are
of West Jersey Wills. Those as Libers A, B, etc., are of East Jersey Wills)
KING, beginning page 274:
1726 Sept. 1. King, Hermanus, of Nottingham Township, Burlington Co.; will of. Wife Mary. Children – John, Mary French, Joseph, Thomas, Francis. Real and personal estate. Son Francis executor. Witnesses – William Quicksall, Mary Quicksall, Edm’d Beakes. Proved March 14, 1727-8. Lib. 2, p. 501.
1727-8 13th d. 1st m. (March). Inventory of the personal estate, £315.13; made by Edm’d Beakes and John Quicksall.
1719 Oct. 25. King, Robert, late of Ireland. Inventory of the personal estate of (£46.19.10); made by William Broun and Benforce (?). Middlesex Wills.
[page 275]
1719 Nov. 15-16. King, Robert, of Woodbridge. Inventory of the personal estate of (£86.13.11 incl. payments made at the vendue by Peter Cleton, Robert Heays, Samuel Smith, David Donin, Hugh Clark, Jeremiah and Joseph Blompheld (Blomfield), William Buk, Abenezar Williams, Matthew Moor, John Edey, Dr. Colance, James Thomson, Justice Raph, Charles Tams, Yana Parker, John McDowell, James Clarkson, John Muttry, John Foreman, Jonathan Ansly, Joseph Gillman and John Black); made by John McDowell, administrator. Middlesex Wills.
1719 Nov. 9. Administration on the estate granted to John Mack Dowell. Lib. A, p. 131.
Exhibit 19 - Wright/Fretwell per www. ristenbatt.com/geneaology.htm. 2003:
Elizabeth FRETTWELL
BIRTH: 26 JAN 1692,
Burlington Co,N.J.
DEATH: 17 JAN 1733
BURIAL: Burlington,Burlington,,N.J.
Father: Peter FRETTWELL
Mother: Elizabeth WRIGHT
Family 1: Jonathan WRIGHT
DIVORCE: N
MARRIAGE: 1712
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
_________________
_John FRETTWELL ___|
| |_________________
_Peter FRETTWELL __|
| | _John STACYE ____
| |_Helen STACYE _____|
| |_Mary FULWOOD ___
|
|--Elizabeth FRETTWELL
|
| _Robert WRIGHT __
| _Joshua WRIGHT ____|
| | |_Alice LAWTIE ___
|_Elizabeth WRIGHT _|
| _William EMPSON _
|_Elizabeth EMPSON _|
|_________________