Stephen (Skiff) Skiffe (1641 - 1710)

Born 14 Apr 1641 in Sandwich, Plymouth Colony

Husband of Lydia (Snow) Skiff — married about 1665 in Sandwich, Plymouth Colony [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 9 Jun 1710 at age 69 in Sandwich, Barnstable County, Province of Massachusetts Bay

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Biography

Stephen was born on April 14, 1641, at Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts.^[1] He was the son of James Skiffe and Mary Reeves.

Stephen married Lydia Snow, the daughter of Anthony Snow and Abigail Warren of Plymouth. They had the following children named in his will (daughters placed in order named in will):^[2][3]

1. Abigail, m. Shubael Smith
2. Deborah, b. 14 Jul 1668; m. Stephen Presbury
3. Mary/Marcy, m. John Chipman
4. Lydia, m. John Blackwell
5. Stephen, m1. Sarah Lothrop; m2. Mrs. Thankful [Gorham] Hawes

The fact that he was called "Esqr." in the Sandwich records shows that he was a man of some education.^[4] Banks states that he was Justice of the Peace and a Representative to the General Court in 1676 and after.

In 1675 Stephen Skiff was one of a counsel of war in Sandwich.^[5]

His will was made on May 7, 1701, with a codicil added on August 20, 1708.^[2] He died on June 8, 1710, at Sandwich, per his inventory,^[6][7][8] or 9 June as given on his gravestone.^[9] In his will he named his wife Lydia, son Stephen, daughters Abigail Smith, Deborah Presbury, Mary Chipman, Lydia Blackwell, and granddaughter Keziah.^[2]

Stephen was buried at the Old Town Cemetery in Sandwich.^[9] You can see a picture of his gravestone at Find A Grave: Memorial #16584120. The inscription reads:

HERE LYES Y BODY

OF STEPHEN SKIFFE

ESQ DIED JUNE

9th 1710

IN Y 70 th YEAR OF

HIS AGE

Lydia died on March 17, 1713, and was also buried at the Old Town Cemetery in Sandwich.^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ Bowman, George Ernest, "Sandwich Vital Records," Mayflower Descendant Vol. 29:69.

   "Stephen Skeffe the son of James Skeffe and Mary Skeffe his wife was Born the 14th day of Aprill Anno Dom 1641"

2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Barnstable County Probate Records, Vol. 3:137-8.
3. ↑ Banks, Hist. of Martha's Vineyard, p. 433
4. ↑ Bowman, George Ernest, "Sandwich Vital Records," Mayflower Descendant Vol. 29:21-23, at 22
5. ↑ Frederick Lockwood Pierson, The Descendants of James Skiff of London, England and Sandwich, MA. Who died after 1688, Amenia, NY, Walsh & Griffen, Printers. 1895.
6. ↑ Barnstable County Probate Records, Vol. 3:139 Inventory Stephen Skeefe.
7. ↑ Cardell, Caroline Lewis and Russell A. Lowell Jr, Vital Records of Sandwich, Massachusetts to 1885 (NEHGS, Boston, MA: 1996) Vol. 1. Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2010 Subscription required.) Page 29.

   "Stephen Skiffe Esqr June 8. Died June 8, 1710 per note on Inventory"

8. ↑ Bowman, George Ernest, "Sandwich Vital Records," Mayflower Descendant Vol. 29:21-23, at 22.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16584120/stephen-skiffe: accessed 28 October 2023), memorial page for Capt Stephen Skiffe (14 Apr 1641–9 Jun 1710), Find A Grave: Memorial #16584120, citing Old Town Cemetery, Sandwich, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, USA; Maintained by Mayflower Pilgrim 332 (contributor 47081711).
10. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16584181/lydia-skiffe: accessed 28 October 2023), memorial page for Lydia Snow Skiffe (1640–17 Mar 1713), Find A Grave: Memorial #16584181, citing Old Town Cemetery, Sandwich, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, USA; Maintained by Mayflower Pilgrim 332 (contributor 47081711).

See also:

• Mayflower Families through Five Generations Vol. 18 Part 1 of 3, Richard Warren (General Society of Mayflower Descendants, Boston, 2006)

• Mayflower Births and Deaths, Vol. 1 and 2

• Otis, Amos, Genealogical notes of Barnstable families, being a reprint of the Amos Otis Papers. Barnstable, Ms. 1888. (v.1):1: 164. Birth: 1640 Massachusetts; Volume 160, Page 81. Link on Family Search.

• U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700// [1666] as the marriage date on Page 692