"Long Hunter" Richard Skaggs' Will

Richard Skaggs from the "Long Hunter" Skaggs family died ca. 1821 in Barren County, Kentucky with a will.  Once again, I had Grok read the will and incorporate the relevant genealogical 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's, Charles' and Richard's wills—here is a detailed summary of the family.

Overview of the "Long Hunter" Skaggs Family

The Skaggs family, as revealed through the analyzed 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 (with family birth registers, 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; and Richard Skaggs' will dated December 10, 1818, and probated May 21, 1821—depicts a settler family originating in colonial Virginia and migrating to Kentucky. The family is associated with the "Long Hunter" tradition of frontier exploration. The sources emphasize land transactions, family relationships, and inheritance, with the journal providing genealogical details, and the wills and estate papers detailing asset distributions.

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, and Richard’s will:

  • Henry Skaggs (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).
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Moses Skaggs: 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.
  • 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 deceased daughter Rachel; enslaved people Isaac and Judah sold after Elizabeth’s death with proceeds distributed similarly. Executors were sons John and Charles.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Enslaved Persons

  • From Henry Skaggs' will (dated April 5, 1809): Tob (enslaved man, to son David), Lucy (enslaved woman, to Silvanus), 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).

This updated overview is based solely on the dates and relationships from the documents, focusing on verified evidence while omitting unsupported approximations. The Skaggs family's history illustrates patterns of land acquisition, migration, and inheritance in the American frontier.

Location: Barren County, KY, USA

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