Zachariah Skaggs: The Man and the Myth

Point Pleasant Memorial

Zachariah Skaggs (also spelled Scaggs, Skeggs, or Scags in various records) was a Virginia frontiersman, landowner, Revolutionary War patriot, and pioneer settler who lived through the turbulent expansion of the American frontier in southwestern Virginia. Born around 1745 (estimates range from 1740–1748) in colonial Virginia, likely in the Pittsylvania or Augusta County area. The Skaggs family had roots in early colonial Virginia, with possible Norwegian origins from the word "skegg" meaning beard, and were part of a broader network of longhunters and settlers pushing westward after the French and Indian War.

Zachariah married Nancy "Annie" (maiden name unknown) around 1764–1765, likely in Pittsylvania County. Nancy, born around 1745–1750, was his lifelong companion and outlived him. The long-standing association of Nancy Annie Wilcox as his wife is a debunked genealogical myth. The Nancy Wilcox who married a Zachariah Skaggs on January 28, 1822, in Barren County, Kentucky, was the wife of a younger Zachariah Skaggs (born around 1779), son of Charles Skaggs and Nancy Gravat (or Gravatt), and grandson of John "Gourdhead" Skaggs. That marriage occurred four years after this Zachariah's death in 1818 and belongs to a separate branch of the Skaggs family.

Together, Zachariah and Nancy Skaggs had at least one proven child, Jeremiah Skaggs (born October 25, 1766). Family records, including the Patty Skaggs Whitt Bible, suggest additional children: John Skaggs (born April 13, 1770) and Lydia Skaggs (born June 15, 1781). However, documentation for John and Lydia is less definitive. A proven descendant of Zachariah, through grandson John Skaggs, tested for Y-DNA with the R-FT6584 haplogroup, demonstrating that Zachariah was NOT the father of Peter Skaggs (R-BY99605) as claimed by several researchers. They belong to separate patrilineal lines within the Skaggs surname cluster of Southwestern Virginia.

Zachariah's early life was marked by establishment in Pittsylvania County, where he first appeared as a head of household on the 1767 tithables list under John Wilson's district, indicating he was at least 21 years old and independent. In 1772, he was involved in a court case against John Roach for an open attachment, which was dismissed. By 1774, during Lord Dunmore's War, Zachariah and relative Reuben Skaggs volunteered for militia service under Major James Robertson in Fincastle County (later Montgomery), marching as part of the expedition against Shawnee tribes.

In 1777, Zachariah swore an oath of allegiance to the Commonwealth of Virginia in Montgomery County under Captain Daniel Trigg's company, solidifying his status as a Revolutionary War patriot (DAR Ancestor #A204564). He resided in Montgomery during this period, acquiring land rights as heir to John Skaggs for 150 acres on Meadow Creek (settled 1774, assigned to John Charlton in 1780). By 1782, Zachariah relocated to Washington County (later Russell in 1786), appearing on personal property tax lists in Maj. Mastin's precinct with modest livestock (horses and cattle).

In Russell County, Zachariah settled permanently on Indian Creek, a tributary of the Clinch River near modern Honaker or Coulwood. He acquired 100 acres via treasury warrant in 1783 (surveyed April 24, 1786), expanded with 140 acres from Simon and Magdalene Cockrell in 1793 (with a reciprocal transaction in 1794), and managed various sales and adjustments (e.g., 5 acres to John Horton in 1801, 140 acres to Patrick Kindrick in 1811). By 1815, his holdings totaled 242 acres valued at $500, which he deeded to grandson John Skaggs in 1816 for "natural love and affection," reserving 42 acres for his and Nancy's lifetime use.

Zachariah's later years were spent in Russell County, with occasional border-area activity in Tazewell County (formed 1799), including a 1806 deed from William Oney, exemptions from levies due to old age and infirmities (1808–1810), and a 1810 deed to John Husk. Tax records from 1814 show two white males 16+ in his household, likely including grandson John as a caretaker. Zachariah died on June 2, 1818, in Russell County, aged about 73. He was buried in Whitt Cemetery, Coulwood, Russell County.

Nancy survived Zachariah and co-administered his estate with grandson John. The estate was modest, with an inventory returned July 7, 1818 (appraised at about $180.96), and a sale bill recorded February 2, 1819. Zachariah exemplified the resilient Appalachian pioneer: a militia veteran, family patriarch, and land steward who helped establish communities in the Clinch River valley during westward expansion. His descendants continued in Virginia and beyond, preserving family records like the Patty Skaggs Whitt Bible.

• Maud Carter Clement, The History of Pittsylvania County, Virginia (1929), pp. 277–278: 1767 Tithables recorded by John Wilson, Gent.: Zachariah Scags.
• Pittsylvania County, Virginia Court Records, Vol. 1, 1767-1772, p. 432: 25 June 1772: Zachariah Scaggs vs. John Roach, open attachment dismissed.
• Reuben Gold Thwaites and Louise Phelps Kellogg, Documentary History of Dunmore's War, 1774 (1905), pp. 94–95: 20 July 1774: Major James Robertson to Colonel William Preston, Zachariah Skaggs and Ruben Skaggs agreed to march under his command.
• Library of Virginia transcription by Ruby Altizer Roberts: 13 September 1777: Oath of allegiance in Montgomery County, Capt. Daniel Trigg's company, including Zachariah Skaggs.
• Mary B. Kegley and Frederick Bittle Kegley, Early Adventurers on the Western Waters, Volume 2 (1980), p. 67: September 23, 1780, Montgomery County: John Charlton, assignee of Zacharia Skeggs, heir to John Skeggs, commissioner's certificate, 150 acres on branch of Meadow Creek (New River), settled 1784.
• Washington County, Virginia Personal Property Tax Lists (1782–1786): Zachariah Skeggs listed with 1 tithable, horses, and cattle in Maj. Mastin's/Henry Smith's precincts.
• Washington County Survey Records Abstracts 1781-1797, Part 4, p. 338: April 24, 1786: Zachariah Scaggs, 100 acres on Indian Creek, waters of Clinch River, treasury warrant #17147 dated June 13, 1783.
• Russell County Personal Property Tax Lists (1787–1814): Zachariah Scaggs with tithables (including Jeremiah in 1787), horses, and cattle; 1814 with 2 white males 16+.
• Russell County Deed Book 1, pp. 314–315: August 24, 1793: Simon and Magdalene Cockrell to Zachariah Skaggs, 147 acres on Middle Fork of Indian Creek.
• Russell County Law Order Book 2, p. 135: January 28, 1794: Indentures from Simon Cockrell to Samuel Duff and Zachariah Scaggs acknowledged, with Magdalene's privy examination.
• Russell County Deed Book (1801): October 27, 1801: Zachariah and Nancy Scaggs to John Horton, 5 acres on Clinch Mountain spur.
• Tazewell County Order Book (1800–1810), p. 277: February 23, 1808: Zachariah Scaggs exempted from county levy and poor rates due to old age and bodily infirmities.
• Tazewell County Order Book, p. 355: February 28, 1810: Indenture from Zachariah Scaggs and Nancy his wife to John Husk acknowledged, with Nancy's privy examination.
• Russell County Deed Book 5, p. 531: March 1, 1816: Zachariah Scaggs to John Scaggs (grandson), 242 acres on Indian Creek for natural love and affection, reserving 42 acres for lifetime use.
• Russell County Will Book 3 (1812–1821): June 1818: Letters of administration granted to Anne Scaggs and John Scaggs; July 7, 1818: Inventory returned; February 2, 1819: Sale bill recorded by administrator John Scaggs.
• Patty Skaggs Whitt Bible (given by grandmother Nancy Skaggs on March 21, 1807): Sewn-in pages listing children of Zachariah Skaggs and Nancy: Jeremiah (October 25, 1766), John (April 13, 1770), Lydia (June 15, 1781).
• Find a Grave Memorial ID 113625115: Zachariah Skaggs, buried in Whitt Cemetery, Coulwood, Russell County, Virginia.
• WikiTree Skaggs-292 (Zachariah d. 1818): Notes that Nancy Wilcox married a different Zachariah Skaggs in Barren County, KY, in 1822; this Zachariah's wife was Anne/Nancy (maiden unknown) per deeds and probate.
• WikiTree Wilcox-1681 (Nancy Wilcox): Married Zachariah Skaggs (younger, d. after 1850) in Barren County, KY, 1822; distinct from Russell County Zachariah's wife.