Archibald Skaggs' Revolutionary War Pension Attestation

Archibald Skaggs' pension application (S31367) was transcribed from original Revolutionary War records and details his life and military service. Below is a chronological summary based on his sworn declaration on September 7, 1832, in Adair County, Kentucky, when he was 72 years old (last January), seeking benefits under the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.

Chronological Summary of Archibald Skaggs' Pension Attestation

Archibald Skaggs' pension application (S31367) was transcribed from original Revolutionary War records by Grok.

• January 1, 1759: Archibald Skaggs was born in an unnamed county in South Carolina.
• Post-1759 (Childhood Moves): His parents moved the family to Halifax County, Virginia, and later to Little River near New River in Botetourt County, Virginia (later Montgomery County).
• Approximately 1779 (First Tour of Duty): Ordered out by Colonel Preston for one month of militia service under Captain John Taylor. Served at Culberson's Bottom Fort (also known as Culbertson's Bottom Fort) on New River, about 40 miles upstream, guarding against Indians. Discharged after one month; received a written discharge, now lost.
• After First Tour (Second Tour: McIntosh's Campaign): Volunteered for a six-month tour under Captain James Thomson and Lieutenant Bailey. Ordered out by Colonel Preston, marched down New River through Greenbrier County, across Gauley Mountain and Gauley River, to near the mouth of the Kanawha River (about 300 miles from home). Stopped there, then marched back toward home, nearly perishing from harsh conditions. Discharged on Gauley River after the full term; may have received a written discharge, now lost.
• Perhaps 1780 (Third Tour: Against Tories): Ordered out for 15 days against Tories under Captain Daniel Trigg. Captured between 50 and 100 Tories and deserters; Colonel Preston compelled them to enlist in the United States Army or find substitutes.
• Total Service: Seven months and 15 days in the Revolutionary War, proved by Henry Skaggs of Grayson County, Kentucky (possibly his uncle or relative).
• Post-War Life: Resided in Adair County, Kentucky, by September 7, 1832, where he made the declaration before Justice of the Peace Daniel Trabue. Relinquished all other pension claims.

The application was certified by Justice of the Peace Daniel Trabue on September 7, 1832, and includes a note from Henry Skaggs S30701 (likely the affiant). No specific post-1780 events are detailed beyond the 1832 application.

If Archibald Skaggs is the eldest son of Charles Skaggs, and the Henry Skaggs mentioned in his 1832 pension attestation (S31367) is Henry (son to Aaron) rather than Henry (son of James and Rachel), this shifts the familial connections. The pension attestation, sworn on September 7, 1832, in Adair County, Kentucky, names Henry Skaggs as a witness to Archibald’s Revolutionary War service, suggesting a close relationship, likely a cousin, which aligns with Henry (son to Aaron) being a collateral relative. This also reconciles Archibald’s inclusion as an heir receiving a slave girl named SuSanna in Charles’ 1815 will with his survival to 1832.

Updated Overview of the "Long Hunter" Skaggs Family

The "Long Hunter" Skaggs family, a group of frontier explorers and settlers active in Virginia and Kentucky during the 18th century, is documented through land deeds, militia muster rolls, pension attestations, family journals, estate papers, and wills. Key sources include the 1769 land deeds from Augusta County, Virginia; the 1783/1784 land survey for Rachel Skaggs in Montgomery County, Virginia; the Archibald Thompson Journal (recording births, marriages, travels, and ledger entries from the 1750s to the 1790s); the Moses Skaggs estate papers (Green County, Kentucky, filed around 1836); Henry Skaggs' will dated April 5, 1809, and probated December 24, 1810; Charles Skaggs' will dated February 9, 1815, and probated January 22, 1816; Richard Skaggs' will dated December 10, 1818, and probated May 21, 1821; the September 9–October 6, 1777, and March 31, 1781, militia muster rolls from Montgomery County, Virginia; and Archibald Skaggs' pension application (S31367, sworn September 7, 1832, in Adair County, Kentucky). These records highlight the family's land acquisitions, Revolutionary War service, migrations, and inheritance patterns, with the Long Hunters (e.g., Henry, Charles, Moses) known for expeditions into Kentucky and Tennessee wildernesses.

Patriarchal Generation

• James Skaggs Sr. and Rachel Skaggs: James Sr. and Rachel held a 440-acre tract on the Middle River of the Shenandoah in Augusta County, Virginia. On August 17, 1769, they deeded 200 acres each to sons Henry and James Jr. 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 (surveyed March 8, 1783, and assigned to Henry on May 1, 1784), indicating her death occurred between March 8, 1783, and May 1, 1784.

Children and Immediate Descendants

The Moses Skaggs estate papers list the siblings, supplemented by birth registers in the journal, Henry’s will, Charles’ will, Richard’s will, the muster rolls, and Archibald Skaggs' pension attestation:

• Henry Skaggs (b. aft. 1730 d. ca. 1810): 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. 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). Listed as "not fit" on the March 31, 1781, muster roll.
• 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). Named executor in Henry's will. Listed as "James Skaggs (longman)" on the September 13, 1777, muster roll, indicating fitness for service.
• Charles Skaggs (d. ca. 1815): Son of James Sr. and Rachel; married Lucinda "Lucy" Thompson. 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). His will, dated February 9, 1815, and probated January 22, 1816, granted Lucy a life estate or widowhood interest in all property. Executors were sons Thomas and Frederick. Listed as fit on the September 13, 1777, muster roll.
  • Archibald Skaggs (b. 1759): Eldest son of Charles Skaggs and Lucinda Thompson, born January 3, 1759, in South Carolina (per the journal, near the pension’s January 1, 1759). His family moved to Halifax County, Virginia, then to Little River near New River in Botetourt County (later Montgomery County). Served in the Revolutionary War with his cousin Henry Skaggs (son to Aaron), including tours around 1779 (one month at Culberson's Bottom Fort under Captain John Taylor), the McIntosh Campaign (six months under Captain James Thomson), and perhaps 1780 (15 days against Tories under Captain Daniel Trigg). Total service: seven months and 15 days. Received a slave girl named SuSanna as per Charles’ 1815 will. Resided in Adair County, Kentucky, by September 7, 1832, where he swore his pension declaration before Justice of the Peace Daniel Trabue.
• Moses Skaggs (b. aft. 1730): Son of James Sr. and Rachel; died intestate without children or surviving spouse prior to the 1836 estate suit, which divided his property among siblings' heirs. Listed as fit on the September 13, 1777, and March 31, 1781, muster rolls.
• Richard Skaggs (d. ca. 1821): Son of James Sr. and Rachel; married Elizabeth Skaggs. His will, dated December 10, 1818, and probated May 21, 1821, granted Elizabeth a life estate in all property, then divided the home tract equally among sons John and Charles and daughter Mary; residual estate to John, Charles, Elizabeth, Mary, and heirs of daughter Rachel; enslaved people Isaac and Judah sold after Elizabeth’s death with proceeds distributed similarly. Executors were sons John and Charles.
• Jacob Skaggs (b. ca. 1763): Son of James Sr. and Rachel; listed in Moses' estate papers. Listed as "under 18" on the March 31, 1781, muster roll.
• John Skaggs: Son of James Sr. and Rachel; witnessed both 1769 deeds. Listed as fit on the September 13, 1777, muster roll (including "John Skaggs," "John Skaggs (Goard Head)," and "John Scaggs, Junr.").
• 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.
• Henry Skaggs (son to Aaron): Listed as fit on the September 13, 1777, muster roll, suggesting a collateral branch, possibly a cousin to Archibald Skaggs. Served in the Revolutionary War, as attested by Archibald Skaggs in his 1832 pension, indicating a close relationship.
• 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). Listed as sergeant on the September 13, 1777, and March 31, 1781, muster rolls.
• Zachariah Skaggs: Listed as fit on the September 13, 1777, muster roll, possibly a nephew or cousin.

Key Milestones and Dates

• January 1, 1759: Archibald Skaggs born in South Carolina (per pension, near journal’s January 3, 1759).
• 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 9–October 6, 1777: Muster roll documented militia service in Montgomery County.
• March 31, 1781: Muster roll documented militia service in Montgomery County.
• 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.
• February 9, 1815: Charles Skaggs executed his will.
• January 22, 1816: Charles' will probated in Green County.
• December 10, 1818: Richard Skaggs executed his will.
• May 21, 1821: Richard's will probated in Barren County.
• September 7, 1832: Archibald Skaggs swore his pension declaration in Adair County, Kentucky.

Enslaved Persons

• From Henry Skaggs' will (dated April 5, 1809): Tob (enslaved man, to son David), Lucy (enslaved woman, to Sibbina/Sylvania), Rachel (enslaved girl, to daughter Sarah), Jenny (enslaved person, part of remainder to grandson James).
• From Charles Skaggs' will (dated February 9, 1815): SuSanna, Bob and Sepio bequeathed to sons Archibald, Thomas and Moses respectively.
• From Richard Skaggs' will (dated December 10, 1818): Isaac and Judah (enslaved people, to be sold after Elizabeth’s death).