The "Longhunter" Skaggs Family and the Moses Skaggs Estate

A good place to start with documenting the Skaggs family in America is with a group of family members commonly referred to as the "Longhunters."  These brothers lived in Virginia and Kentucky during the colonial period, the American Revolution and the first few decades of the United States.  We will start with this family because we are fortunate to have a court case filed in 1836 in Green County, Kentucky involving the estate of one of the Longhunter brothers, Moses Skaggs.  I used the artificial intelligence engine Grok to analyze the Moses Skaggs Estate papers.

Summary List of Moses Skaggs and His Siblings

Based on the Moses Skaggs Estate Lawsuit (Chancery Suit #3871, Green County, Kentucky, 1836), Moses Skaggs died intestate around 1796 in Green County, Kentucky, without children. The suit and depositions identify his siblings, their marital status, and their recognized heirs. Below is a concise list of Moses and his siblings, as consistently described by witnesses (e.g., William Ratliff, Frances Samples, Peter Despain, Moses Hankins, Ebenezer Brewster, Thomas Witten). Note: The suit claims brothers Henry, Richard, Charles, Jacob, and James died without legitimate issue, but some depositions mention children (potentially "natural"/illegitimate), causing disputes over heirship.

  • Moses Skaggs (d. ~1796, Green Co., KY)
    • Married: Elizabeth (widow, d. ~1834).
    • Children: None.
    • Notes: Died intestate, leaving land, a slave (Rachel), and personal property. Estate disputed by heirs and administrators.
  • Brothers (5 or 6, all deceased by 1836):
    1. Henry Skaggs (d. intestate)
      • Children (per depositions, disputed as illegitimate): Lucy (m. Stacy), Mary (m. Combs), James Skaggs, Silvey (m. Roark).
    2. Richard Skaggs (d. intestate)
      • Child (per Ratliff, disputed): Henry Skaggs.
    3. Charles Skaggs (d. intestate)
      • Children (per Ratliff, disputed): Rachel (m. Blevins), Archibald Skaggs, Thomas Skaggs, William Skaggs.
    4. Jacob Skaggs (d. intestate)
      • Married: Frances Samples.
      • Child: William Skaggs Sr. (living in Green Co., KY, 1836; confirmed by Frances Samples).
    5. John Skaggs (d. intestate, after Moses per Despain)
      • Children (recognized heirs): Susan/Susanah (m. William Quary/Querry), [unnamed] (m. Thomas York), Lydia (m. Laban Ellis), Rebecca Skaggs (unmarried).
    6. James Skaggs (mentioned in some depositions, e.g., Ratliff/Samples; d. intestate)
      • Children (disputed): William Skaggs, Rachel (m. Etherton).
  • Sisters (4, all deceased by 1836; their descendants are primary recognized heirs):
    1. Susannah Skaggs (m. Richard Whit, both d.)
      • Children (heirs): Susannah (m. Henry Criswell, widowed), Edmond/Edmund Whit, Hezekiah Whit.
    2. Lydia Skaggs (m. Mathias Harman, both d.)
      • Children (heirs): Adam Harman, Henry Harman, Mathias Harman, Catherine/Katy (m. Robert Beavers), Phoebe/Phebe (m. Moses Beavers), [possibly Lovace] (m. Thomas Christian).
    3. Elizabeth/Betty Skaggs (m. John Hankins, both d.; uncle to Absalom Hankins)
      • Children (heirs): Rachel (m. Archibald Maloney), Sarah/Sally (m. John Mitchell), Rebecca (m. John Howell), Mary (m. Joseph White), Parthena/Prathena Hankins, Lucy Hankins, Lydia Hankins, Joseph Hankins, Moses Hankins.
    4. Nancy Skaggs (m. William Merady/Meridy/Meredith, both d.)
      • Children (heirs): James Merady, John Merady, Daniel Merady, Mathias Merady, William Merady.

Notes:

  • The primary heirs recognized in the suit are descendants of John Skaggs and the four sisters (Susannah, Lydia, Elizabeth, Nancy), who sold their claims to Aaron and Jeremiah Lewis in 1835 for $10–$20 each.
  • Discrepancies exist regarding brothers’ children (e.g., William Skaggs Sr. as Jacob’s son is acknowledged, but others are contested as illegitimate).
  • Sibling relationships were verified by long-term acquaintances (e.g., Ebenezer Brewster, 62 years in Tazewell Co., VA; Thomas Witten, 66 years) and family members (e.g., Moses Hankins, Joseph Hankins).
Location: Greensburg, KY 42743, USA

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