"Long Hunter" Henry Skaggs' Will

Henry Skaggs from the "Long Hunter" Skaggs family died in ca. 1810 with a will.  I didn't care much about the details of the will with the exception of the genealogical information.  I had Grok read the will and incorporate the relevant information into our description of the "Long Hunter" Skaggs family.

Based on the analysis of the provided documents—the 1769 land deeds from Augusta County, Virginia; the 1783/1784 land survey for Rachel Skaggs in Montgomery County, Virginia; the Archibald Thompson Journal (transcribed 2020); the Moses Skaggs estate papers (Green County, Kentucky, 1836); and Henry Skaggs' last will and testament (dated April 5, 1809, probated December 24, 1810)—here is a detailed summary of the known family relationships, key milestones with dates, and the names of enslaved persons associated with the family.

Transcription of Henry Skaggs' Will

5 APRIL 1809
GREEN COUNTY, KENTUCKY
Will Book 1 pp. 56-57

Will

In the name of God Amen, I HENRY SKAGGS of the County of Green and state of Kentucky do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following (To wit) I leave all my Estate both real and personal to my beloved Wife to be enjoyed by her during her life, and after her death, the tract of Land wher on I now live I give to my Grand son JOHN SKAGGS son of JAMES SKAGGS; my Negro man Bob I give to my son DAVID SKAGGS; my negro woman Lucy I give to SYLVIA ROARK; I give to my Daughter SARAH SKAGGS a negro girl Rachel; I give to my son JAMES SKAGGS the rest of my negroes, jinney, and all her Children except (Rachel) and her further increase should she have any during either my life time or the lifetime of my Wife. The ballance of my Estate is to be sold, and I give one Dollar to STEPHEN SKAGGS, the Ballance to be equally divided amongst my Children hereafter named, SOLOMON SKAGGS, LUCY STACY, RACHEL RAY, NANCY D SPANE, POLLY COMBS what I have here left to each of my Children is in addition to what I have heretofore given Lastly I do appoint my son JAMES SKAGGS and ELIAS BARBEE Executors to this my last Will Revoking all others heretofore made by me. In testamony where of I here unto set my hand and seal this fifth day of April in the year of our Lord 1809.

HENRY SKAGGS (mark) (seal) Signed, sealed and puplished in the presence of

ELIAS BARBEE x
JOHN BARBEE x
LARKIN DURRET x
JAMES RAFITY x
WILLIAM BARBEE x
At a County Court held for Green County on the 4th Monday in december 1810. This will was produced into Court and proven by the oath off LARKIN DURRET, JAMES RAFFIRTY and JOHN BARBEE and ordered to be recorded which is done accordingly by
Clerk JOHN BARRET DC

Overview of the Skaggs Family

The Skaggs family, documented through colonial Virginia deeds, land surveys, estate papers, and interconnected family journals, represents a frontier settler clan with roots in Augusta County, Virginia, and later migrations to Green and Monroe Counties, Kentucky. The family is associated with the "Long Hunter" tradition—early explorers and hunters who ventured into Kentucky and Tennessee wildernesses. The primary sources analyzed include two land deeds dated August 17, 1769; a land survey for Rachel Skaggs with a certificate dated September 14, 1781, surveyed March 8, 1783, and assigned May 1, 1784; the Moses Skaggs estate papers filed around 1836 in Green County, Kentucky; Henry Skaggs' will dated April 5, 1809, and probated December 24, 1810, in Green County; and the Archibald Thompson Journal, which records related family births, marriages, travels, and ledger entries from the 1750s to the 1790s.

Patriarchal Generation

  • James Skaggs Sr. and Rachel Skaggs: James Sr. and Rachel were the central parental figures, residing in Augusta County, Virginia, where they held a 440-acre tract on the Middle River of the Shenandoah. On August 17, 1769, they deeded 200 acres each to their sons Henry and James Jr., with a nominal consideration of five shillings and a one-year reservation of use. James Sr. died prior to September 14, 1781, as Rachel claimed 150 acres on the New River in Montgomery County as a widow on that date. The land was surveyed March 8, 1783, and assigned to Henry on May 1, 1784, indicating Rachel's death occurred between March 8, 1783, and May 1, 1784.

Children and Immediate Descendants

The Moses Skaggs estate papers list the siblings explicitly, with additional details from the journal's birth registers and Henry’s will:

  • Henry Skaggs: Son of James Sr. and Rachel; received 200 acres on August 17, 1769. Married Mary Skaggs, who received a life estate in his will dated April 5, 1809. Henry owned a plantation noted in the journal (where Archibald Thompson resided from February 1778 to 1781) and property on Pitman Creek. His will, probated December 24, 1810, bequeathed land to grandson John Skaggs (son of James Skaggs), enslaved people to son David Skaggs (Tob), daughter Sarah Skaggs (Rachel), and grandson James Skaggs (the rest, including Jenny), with $1 to Stephen Skaggs and the residue to his children (excluding Rachel and her issue). Henry's children, per the journal, include John Thompson Skaggs (born December 4/5, 1760), Lucy Skaggs (born December 5, 1762; married John Stasey on May 9, 1782), Solomon Skaggs (born January 30, 1766), David Skaggs (born April 28, 1767), Silvanus Skaggs (born February 18, 1769), and Mary Skaggs (born December 19, 1771).
  • James Skaggs Jr.: Son of James Sr. and Rachel; received 200 acres on August 17, 1769. Father of grandsons John and James (per Henry's will, where they inherited land and enslaved people). Named executor in Henry's will.
  • Charles Skaggs: Son of James Sr. and Rachel; married Lucinda "Lucy" Thompson (sister of Archibald Thompson, per journal preface). The journal records their children's births: Archibald Skaggs (born January 3, 1759), Rachel Skaggs (born last day of August 1761), Nancy Skaggs (born April 22, 1763), Frederick Skaggs (born December 11, 1764), Mary Skaggs (born September 16, 1767), Thomas Skaggs (born December 16, 1769), Sarah Skaggs (born December 27, 1771), and Moses Skaggs (born January 27, 1774).
  • Moses Skaggs: Son of James Sr. and Rachel; died intestate without children or surviving spouse prior to the 1836 estate suit in Green County, Kentucky, which divided his property among siblings' heirs.
  • Richard Skaggs: Son of James Sr. and Rachel; heirs claimed shares in Moses' estate.
  • Jacob Skaggs: Son of James Sr. and Rachel; listed in Moses' estate papers.
  • John Skaggs: Son of James Sr. and Rachel; witnessed both 1769 deeds.
  • Sisters: Susanah (married Richard Whitt), Lydia (married Mathias Harman), Elizabeth (married John Hankins), and Nancy (married William Meredith), per Moses' estate papers.

Extended and Collateral Relatives

  • James Skaggs (married to Susannah): Likely a cousin or nephew of James Sr.; witnessed both 1769 deeds. Resided in the Augusta/Montgomery County area with land on New River/Little River; migrated to Tennessee and Kentucky by 1787.
  • Thompson Family Ties: The journal connects the Skaggs to the Thompsons through Lucinda Thompson (married Charles Skaggs) and possibly Mary Thompson (married Henry Skaggs). Archibald Thompson's diary notes travels (e.g., November 13, 1796, to March 27, 1797, staying at Solomon Skaggs' house on Pitman Creek) and ledger entries involving Skaggs family members (e.g., David Skaggs owing for sows and corn).

Key Milestones and Dates

  • Pre-1769: James Sr. and Rachel acquired the 440-acre Augusta County tract.
  • August 17, 1769: Deeds to Henry and James Jr. executed and witnessed.
  • September 14, 1781: Commissioners' certificate issued for Rachel's 150-acre claim in Montgomery County.
  • March 8, 1783: Survey conducted for Rachel's land.
  • May 1, 1784: Rachel's land assigned to Henry.
  • 1778–1781: Archibald Thompson resided on Henry's plantation.
  • May 9, 1782: Lucy Skaggs (daughter of Henry) married John Stasey.
  • 1796–1797: Archibald Thompson's journey from Little River to Green River, noting stays with Solomon Skaggs.
  • Prior to 1836: Moses Skaggs died intestate; estate suit filed around 1836 in Green County.
  • April 5, 1809: Henry Skaggs executed his will.
  • December 24, 1810: Henry's will probated in Green County.

Enslaved Persons

  • From Henry Skaggs' will (dated April 5, 1809):
    • Tob (enslaved man, bequeathed to son David).
    • Lucy (enslaved woman, bequeathed to Silvanus).
    • Rachel (enslaved girl, bequeathed to daughter Sarah).
    • Jenny (enslaved person, part of remainder to grandson James Skaggs).

This overview adheres strictly to dates and relationships from the analyzed documents, omitting speculation and focusing on verified evidence. The family's story illustrates frontier settlement, migration, and inheritance in 18th-century America.

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