William Skaggs' Revolutionary War Pension Attestation

Chronological Timeline of Events in William Skaggs' Pension Attestation

1757: William Skaggs is born in North Carolina, near a place called "the horse pasture," as learned from his parents. (No specific month or day is recalled; the family Bible recording his age was later destroyed in a house fire.) [Bill: I think Horse Pasture was in Halifax County, Virginia near the North Carolina state line.]
March 1778: Enters service as an Indian spy in Virginia (near the head of Clinch River) [Bill: The head of Clinch River is in present-day Tazewell County, Virginia but likely Montgomery County in 1778] under Captain Thomas Mastin. He and Thomas Ray are assigned to spy along a 75-mile boundary from the head of Clinch River to the Big Canebrake on Big Sandy River.
During 1778 (specific date not stated, but during spy service): While spying, discovers signs of Cherokee Indians following a buffalo trace toward white settlements. Rushes back to warn the community; learns the Indians had arrived the previous night and attacked his father (James Skaggs Jr.), who was returning from a neighbor's house. His father turns, fires, and kills one pursuer, repelling the invasion.
Late October or Early November 1778: Discharged from spy service after approximately 8 months.
Spring 1779 (month and day not recalled): Enlists in the Virginia militia (near head of Clinch River) for a 3-month tour under Captain Thomas Mastin (or Maston/Martin) in Colonel Isaac Shelby's regiment.
During 1779 Tour (shortly after enlistment): Participates in a water expedition down to Chickamauga towns on the south side of the Tennessee River, settled by Cherokee Indians. The force invades, kills many inhabitants, puts the rest to flight, and burns the town.
During 1779 Tour (after town destruction): Joins a scouting party of about 30 soldiers under Captain Bean. Marches north across the Cumberland Mountains, discovers an Indian encampment, attacks it, kills three Indians, and takes three prisoners (William personally captures a squaw).
During 1779 Tour (after scouting success): Rejoins the main army at a creek encampment, then marches to Powell's Valley, where the army is discharged due to scarcity of provisions. William receives a written discharge from Captain Mastin (later destroyed in a house fire along with all household property, including the family Bible).
September 2, 1802: Marries Polly Pearce (or Pierce) in Green County, Kentucky, officiated by Reverend William Mathis. (Marriage record copied in the file.)
Sometime After Service (date not specified, but prior to 1832): Migrates to and becomes a resident of Green County, Kentucky. Loses all documentary evidence (discharge, Bible with birth record) in a house fire.
August 23, 1832: Appears in open court in Green Circuit Court, Green County, Kentucky (aged 75), and swears his initial declaration for a pension under the Act of June 7, 1832. Details his 1778 spy service and 1779 enlistment; relinquishes other pension claims; no living witnesses or documents available. Supported by affidavits from clergyman Charles Blevins and Samuel Brents.
March 4, 1831: Pension commencement date (backdated), at $36.66 per annum for 11 months of service as a private in the Virginia militia.
May 24, 1833: Appears before Justice of the Peace Wm. B. Allen in Green County, Kentucky, to amend his declaration due to memory issues from old age. Confirms service lengths (8 months spy in 1778; 3 months enlisted in 1779); restates birth details; names character references (Major Richard Hazle, Captain Jacob Saltsman, Captain Joseph Harrison, James Sweaney, Samuel A. Spencer). Supported by affidavits from Samuel A. Spencer and James Sweaney.
August 20, 1848: Dies in Green County, Kentucky.
March 10, 1853: Widow Polly Skaggs (aged 80) files for a widow's pension in Green County, Kentucky, under the Act of February 3, 1853. Confirms marriage date, husband's death, and her widow status. Supported by testimony from Jane Warren and Louisa Gravatt (acquainted with the couple; confirm maiden name as Polly Pearce).
February 3, 1853: Widow's pension commencement date, at $36.66 per annum.
March 17, 1855: Widow Polly Skaggs (aged 75) files for bounty land entitlement in Green County, Kentucky, as William's widow. (Bounty land warrant: BLWt27564-160-55.)

This timeline focuses on the factual sequence from the file, excluding methodological notes or transcription details. The total service claimed is 11 months, with no other pensions or annuities pursued.

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; Archibald Skaggs' pension application (S31367, sworn September 7, 1832, in Adair County, Kentucky); Henry Skaggs' pension application (S30701, sworn September 24, 1832, in Grayson County, Kentucky); and William Skaggs' pension application (W2182, sworn August 23, 1832, in Green County, Kentucky, with amendments May 24, 1833). These records highlight the family's land acquisitions, Revolutionary War service (e.g., at Point Pleasant, 1774, per SAR), migrations to Kentucky, and inheritance patterns involving land and enslaved persons. The Long Hunters (e.g., Henry, Charles, Moses, James Jr.) were known for expeditions into Kentucky and Tennessee wildernesses, with collateral branches like Aaron Sr.'s line extending the family network.

Patriarchal Generation

James Skaggs Sr. (d. ca. 1780) and Rachel Skaggs (d. ca. 1784): Held a 440-acre tract on the Middle River of the Shenandoah in Augusta County, Virginia. Deeded 200 acres each to sons Henry and James Jr. on August 17, 1769. 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 (1836) list the siblings, supplemented by birth registers in the journal, wills, muster rolls, pensions, and 1774 payrolls:

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, probated December 24, 1810. Bequeathed land to grandson John Skaggs (son of James Jr.), enslaved Tob to son David, enslaved Rachel to daughter Sarah, enslaved Jenny to grandson James; $1 to Stephen Skaggs; residue to children (excluding Rachel's issue). Children per journal: John Thompson Skaggs (b. December 4/5, 1760), Lucy Skaggs (b. December 5, 1762; m. John Stasey May 9, 1782), Solomon Skaggs (b. January 30, 1766), David Skaggs (b. April 28, 1767), Silvanus Skaggs (b. February 18, 1769), Mary Skaggs (b. December 19, 1771). Listed as "not fit" on March 31, 1781 muster. 1774 service: Sgt. leading 4-day patrol (pay 2/4; not at Point Pleasant; non-Revolutionary per SAR); private 10 days Capt. William Russell's Co. (pay 6/; Russell's at Point Pleasant, potentially qualifying though short/detached).
James Skaggs Jr. (b. ~1730s): Son of James Sr. and Rachel; received 200 acres on August 17, 1769. Known as a "Long Hunter" for his frontier expeditions. Father of eldest son William (b. 1757), grandsons John and James (per Henry's will), and possibly others; executor in Henry's will. Resided near the head of Clinch River in Virginia by the 1770s. In 1778, while returning from a neighbor's house, he was attacked and pursued by Cherokee Indians who had followed a buffalo trace into white settlements; he turned, fired, and killed one pursuer, repelling the invasion (per son William's pension testimony). Listed as "James Skaggs (longman)" on September 13, 1777 muster. 1774 service: Private in Capt. William Herbert's Co.; fought at Point Pleasant (qualifies as Revolutionary per SAR; bounty land 104 acres). Died prior to the 1836 Moses Skaggs estate settlement, which distributed his share among heirs.

William Skaggs (b. 1757, d. August 20, 1848): Eldest son of James Jr.; born in North Carolina near "the horse pasture" (per mother's account; family Bible with record burned in house fire). Resided near head of Clinch River, Virginia, by 1778. Served as Indian spy (March-November. 1778, Capt. Thomas Mastin; spied along 75-mile boundary from Clinch River to Big Sandy River canebrake with Thomas Ray; discovered and thwarted Cherokee invasion that targeted his father James Jr.). Enlisted in Virginia militia (spring 1779, 3 months; Capt. Mastin, Col. Isaac Shelby; water tour to Chickamauga towns, destroyed settlement, killed inhabitants; joined Capt. Bean's scouting party, crossed Cumberland Mountains, attacked Indian encampment, killed 3, captured 3 including a squaw by William; marched to Powell's Valley, discharged due to scarcity of provisions; written discharge burned in house fire). Migrated to Green County, Kentucky, by 1832; pension W2182 at $36.66 per annum commencing March 4, 1831, for 11 months as private in Virginia militia. Married Polly Pearce (b. ca. 1773) on September 2, 1802, in Green County by Rev. William Mathis; she applied for widow's pension (1853, aged 80) and bounty land (1855, aged 75/85?). No known documentary evidence beyond pension; character references: Maj. Richard Hazle, Capt. Jacob Saltsman, Capt. Joseph Harrison, James Sweaney, Samuel A. Spencer. Widow pensioned at $36.66 per annum commencing February 3, 1853. Bounty land warrant BLWt27564-160-55.

Charles Skaggs (d. ca. 1815): Son of James Sr. and Rachel; married Lucinda "Lucy" Thompson. Children per journal: Archibald Skaggs (b. January 3, 1759), Rachel Skaggs (b. August 31, 1761), Nancy Skaggs (b. April 22, 1763), Frederick Skaggs (b. December 11, 1764), Mary Skaggs (b. September 16, 1767), Thomas Skaggs (b. December 16, 1769), Sarah Skaggs (b. December 27, 1771), Moses Skaggs (b. January 27, 1774). Will dated February 9, 1815, probated January 22, 1816, granted Lucy a life estate. Executors: Thomas, Frederick. Listed as fit on September 13, 1777 muster. 1774 service: Sgt. 94 days own detachment (pay 56/4; not at Point Pleasant; non-Revolutionary); private 6 days Capt. James Robertson's Co. (pay 3/6; not at Point Pleasant; non-Revolutionary).

Archibald Skaggs (b. January 3, 1759): Eldest son of Charles and Lucinda Thompson, born in South Carolina. Family moved to Halifax County, Virginia, then to Little River near New River in Botetourt County (later Montgomery County). Revolutionary service with cousin Henry (son of Aaron Sr.): 1779 (1 month at Culberson's Bottom Fort, Capt. John Taylor), McIntosh Campaign (6 months, Capt. James Thomson), possibly 1780 (15 days vs. Tories, Capt. Daniel Trigg). Total: 7 months 15 days. Received enslaved SuSanna per Charles' 1815 will. Resided in Adair County, Kentucky, by September 7, 1832; pension S31367 sworn before Justice Daniel Trabue. Listed as sergeant on September 13, 1777 and March 31, 1781 musters.

Moses Skaggs (b. aft. 1730): Son of James Sr. and Rachel; died intestate pre-1836, no spouse/children; estate divided among siblings' heirs. Listed as fit on September 13, 1777 and March 31, 1781 musters. 1774 service: Private 4 days Sgt. Henry Skaggs' detachment (pay 2/4; not at Point Pleasant; non-Revolutionary).
Richard Skaggs (d. ca. 1821): Son of James Sr. and Rachel; married Elizabeth Skaggs. Will dated December 10, 1818, probated May 21, 1821, granted Elizabeth a life estate; home tract to sons John, Charles and daughter Mary; residual to John, Charles, Elizabeth, Mary, Rachel's heirs; enslaved Isaac and Judah sold post-Elizabeth's death. Executors: John, Charles. 1774 service: Private 4 days Sgt. Henry Skaggs' detachment (pay 2/4); 92 days Capt. Joseph Cloyd's Co. (pay 55/2; horse hire; not at Point Pleasant; non-Revolutionary).
Jacob Skaggs (b. ca. 1763): Son of James Sr. and Rachel; listed in Moses' estate papers. Listed as "under 18" on March 31, 1781 muster. No 1774 payroll.
John Skaggs: Son of James Sr. and Rachel; witnessed 1769 deeds. Listed as fit on September 13, 1777 muster ("John Skaggs," "John Skaggs (Goard Head)," "John Scaggs, Junr."). 1774 service: Private 94 days Sgt. Charles Skaggs' detachment (pay 56/4; not at Point Pleasant; non-Revolutionary); Capt. James Robertson's Co.: 28 days (pay 16/8; not at Point Pleasant; non-Revolutionary) and 94 days (pay 56/4; not at Point Pleasant; non-Revolutionary).
Sisters: Susanah (m. Richard Whitt), Lydia (m. Mathias Harman), Elizabeth (m. John Hankins), Nancy (m. William Meredith), per Moses' estate papers. No 1774 payrolls.

Extended and Collateral Relatives

James Skaggs (m. Susannah): Likely cousin/nephew of James Sr.; witnessed 1769 deeds. No 1774 payroll.
Aaron Skaggs Sr. (b. ~1739 Carolinas, d. aft. 1783): Collateral (likely brother/kinsman to James Sr.'s sons via Richard Skaggs); 1755 Orange Co., NC tax ("Aaron Skeggs"); 1772 VA tithables (Fincastle/Botetourt). Possible 1743 Orange Co., VA horse stealing (unconfirmed). Father to Aaron Jr. (~1758) and Henry (~1759 SC, "Hunting Henry"). 1774 service: Private 4 days Sgt. Henry Skaggs' detachment (pay 2/4; not at Point Pleasant; non-Revolutionary).
Aaron Skaggs Jr. (b. ~1758, d. before 1800): Son of Aaron Sr.; 1772 VA tithables. 1774 service: Private 94 days Sgt. Charles Skaggs' detachment (pay 56/4; not at Point Pleasant; non-Revolutionary); 90 days Capt. James Harrod's Co. (pay 54/; post-battle; non-Revolutionary).
Henry Skaggs (son of Aaron Sr.) (b. Spring 1759 SC, d. aft. 1850): "Hunting Henry"; family to Montgomery Co., VA (Little River). Revolutionary service: 1779 (1 month Culbertson's Bottom Fort, Capt. John Taylor), McIntosh Campaign (6 months, Capt. James Thompson). Total: 7 months. Grayson Co., KY by 1832; pension S30701 sworn September 24, 1832. Fit on September 13, 1777 muster. No 1774 payroll.
Zachariah Skaggs: Listed as fit on September 13, 1777 muster. No 1774 payroll.
George Skaggs: 1774 private 10 days Capt. William Russell's Co. (pay 6/; Russell's at Point Pleasant, potentially qualifying though short/detached). Lineage unconfirmed.

Thompson Family Ties

The journal connects Skaggs to Thompsons via Lucinda Thompson (m. Charles) and possibly Mary Thompson (m. Henry). Archibald Thompson's diary: 1796-1797 travels (stayed at Solomon Skaggs' on Pitman Creek November 13, 1796 to March 27, 1797); ledger (David Skaggs owed for sows/corn). Resided on Henry's plantation 1778-1781.

Enslaved Persons

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

Key Milestones and Dates

~1739: Aaron Sr. b. Carolinas.
1743: Possible Orange Co., VA horse stealing (unconfirmed; Aaron Sr.?).
1755: Aaron Sr. on Orange Co., NC tax.
~1758: Aaron Jr. b. (son of Aaron Sr.).
1757: William (son of James Jr.) b. NC near horse pasture.
January 3, 1759: Archibald b. SC.
Spring 1759: Henry (son of Aaron Sr.) b. SC.
Pre-1769: James Sr./Rachel acquire Augusta tract.
August 17, 1769: Deeds to Henry/James Jr.
1772: Aaron Sr./Jr. in VA tithables.
1774: Lord Dunmore's War payrolls: Henry (4/10 days), Richard (4/92 days), Moses (4 days), Charles (94/6 days), John (94/28/94 days), James Jr. (Point Pleasant), Aaron Sr. (4 days), Aaron Jr. (94/90 days), George (10 days).
September 9-October 6, 1777: Montgomery Co. muster.
March-November. 1778: William Skaggs serves as Indian spy; thwarts invasion targeting father James Jr.
Spring 1779: William Skaggs enlists; Chickamauga expedition.
March 31, 1781: Montgomery Co. muster.
September 14, 1781: Rachel's Montgomery claim.
May 9, 1782: Lucy Skaggs m. John Stasey.
March 8, 1783: Rachel's survey.
May 1, 1784: Rachel's land to Henry.
1778-1781: Archibald Thompson on Henry's plantation.
November 13, 1796-March 27, 1797: Thompson journey (stays with Solomon Skaggs).
September 2, 1802: William Skaggs m. Polly Pearce, Green Co., KY.
Pre-1836: Moses d. intestate; 1836 Green Co. estate suit.
April 5, 1809: Henry will.
December 24, 1810: Henry probated.
February 9, 1815: Charles will.
January 22, 1816: Charles probated.
December 10, 1818: Richard will.
May 21, 1821: Richard probated.
August 23, 1832: William Skaggs pension (Green Co., KY).
September 7, 1832: Archibald pension (Adair Co., KY).
September 24, 1832: Henry (son of Aaron Sr.) pension (Grayson Co., KY).
May 24, 1833: William Skaggs pension amendment.
August 20, 1848: William Skaggs d., Green Co., KY.
February 3, 1853: Polly Skaggs widow's pension commences.
March 17, 1855: Polly Skaggs bounty land application.

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