William Skinner I (1720 - 1807)

Born 16 Jul 1720 in Malden, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Husband of Thankful (Mascraft) Skinner — married 2 Jan 1746 in Woodstock, Windham, Connecticut

Descendants

Died 30 Jan 1807 at age 86 in Woodstock, Windham, Connecticut, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Keith Hathaway [send private message]

This profile is part of the Skinner Name Study.

Biography

Born

• William Skinner was born July 16th 1720 ^{[1] [2]}

Title of Deacon

The laws of Massachusetts and Connecticut were quite similar upon this question of support of religious worship, but the strict adherence to this principle, it is believed, was more general and less yielding in Connecticut, down to a more recent period, than in Massachusetts.

It has, however, been satisfactorily tested both sides of the line, between these States, that religion needs no compulsory enactments to insure its support, and that conscience is the only proper guide and impelling motor in that direction.

It was the custom in Woodstock, as also in towns generally in the early history of New England, to station tything-men in the galleries of the church, to keep a supervision over the youth, and in this town the custom continued down to a recent period.

It was formerly the custom here to adopt the Quaker mode of seating males and females on separate sides of the house. This, no doubt, ceased when pews instead of benches were used for seating the congregation.

In the two first meeting-houses, it was usual here, as was general in the colonial period, to dignify the pews. A committee was selected to decide upon the grade of honor and dignity in point of character each member of the parish sustained, and by that criterion to determine the eligible position of his seat in the meeting-house.

DEACONS

Edward Morris, one of the first planters, was the first deacon of the first Congregational church, and probably continued his office through the pastorate of the first minister, the Rev. Josiah Dwight.

The second was Edward Chamberlain, chosen, September 8, 1727; and the next, William Lyon, elected on March 12, 1730.

In 1763 Jedediah Morse and Wlllliaam Skinner were selected for deacons, and held the oflice forty-three years.

Deacon Skinner was born in Malden, Massachusetts, in 1720, and removed to Woodstock at the age of twenty-one years, in 174:1 ; he died here, January 30, 1807, aged eighty-seven.

His wife died on the 16th of April, 1805, having lived a married life over fifty-nine years.

Deacon Morse was born in Woodstock in 1726, and married Sarah Child in 1747; he died in 1819, aged ninety-three; his wife died the 5th of April, 1805, but sixteen days before the death of Mrs. Skinner; she had been married fifty-eight years.

The coincidence of long life, being deacons of the church so long, living with wives of their choice so long a period, and both their wives deceasing so near the same time, are remarkable incidents. '

It has been said of them that both being large in stature, they resembled each other much, possessed similar qualities of mind, were both strongly intellectual, possessing marked practical common sense and correct views relating to matters in general, which often called them to oflices of trust and responsibility by their townsmen. It is also reported of them that they kept a diary, or had written each of them a brief sketch of their history, but that of Deacon Skinner was carried to Vermont by a relative. The sketch by Deacon Morse has been kept in this town by a descendant—Deacon Asa T. Child. It was written in 1810; the following are some of the facts disclosed, which exhibit his great usefulness and demand by his fellow-townsmen:

In 1763 he was chosen a selectman, and held that office eighteen years; in 1764 was elected to the General Assembly as their representative, and continued in that office thirty-one years; was chosen town clerk in 1767, and held that office twenty-seven years; also held the office of justice of the peace from 1774 to 1801. He remarked in his diary relative to his social relations with Deacon Skinner:

• “We stood together forty-three years as brothers in harmony; have taken sweet council together; and many a time walked to the house of God in company; but our days of pleasure are now closed by the death of Deacon Skinner.”

In 1820 Theophilus B. Chandler was chosen deacon, and in 1833, Moses Lyon, 3d, was elected to that office, and resigned in 1854.

The same year Lewis Chamberlain and Asa T. Child were elected deacons. Mr. Chamberlain having deceased in 1858, Alden Southworth was chosen to fill the vacancy.

It should have been stated before, in point of date, that, in 1798, Wm. Lyon, 2d, and Lothrop Holmes were elected deacons, and that, on the decease of Mr. Holmes in 1805, Jedediah Kimball was chosen to fill his place.

MEETING-HOUSES

It has been related before that the founders of this town erected their first house for religious worship in the year 1691, and up to 1717, that small building remained their place of meeting, but as the inhabitants increased it was now found too limited for the members of the society, when a committee was selected by the town to view the old house and report what should be done. The report was, that it was not capable of repair to accommodate the people, and that the only proper and economical course was to erect a new house. ^[3]

Wife & Children ^[4]

67'. Deacon WILLIAM SKINNER (4), Abraham (3) (2),Thomas (1.), was born .in Malden, Mass., July 16, 1720, hap­ tized in First Unitarian Church, Revere.Mass., Nov.13, 1720, married at Woodstock, Conn., January 2, 1746, Thankful, daughter of Jacob and Thankful (Holmes) Mascraft. She was born January 23, 1721, and died in Woodstock, April 16, 1805. He died in Woodstock, January 30, 1807.

Children : All born in Woodstock.

• 197. Corp. Calvin (5), b. Oct 25, 1746, m. at Thompson, Conn., Feb. 12, 1775, Eleanor Porter. After his death she m. 2nd, at Woodstock, Feb. 7, 1782, Capt. Zebulon Lyon.
• 198. Deac. William (5), b. Feb. 24, 1748, m. Sarah Greene. She b. 1755, d. in Woodstock, May 28, 1813. Both ad­ mitted to church Apr. 27, 1784. He d. Woodstock, July 25, t 829.
• 199. Bathseda (5), b. Apr. 15, 1749, m. Feb. 2, 1786, as 2nd w. Daniel Havens. Heb. Sept. 30, 1752, d. at Royalton, Vt., Dec. 19, 1837. She d. July 1$, 1808. Buried at S. Royalton.
• 200. Sabra (5), b. April 15, 1749, d. Sept. 23, 175 4.
• 201. Ebenezer (5), b. and d. Oct 18, 1750.
• 202. Thankful (5), b. J une 30, 1751 or 1752, m. as 3rd w., Feb. 10, 1790, Deac. and Dr. Enoch Burt, of Wilbraham, Mass. Heb. Oct. 3, 1742, d. Mar. 29, 1809. She d. Jan. 10, 1834. Admitted to church Mar. 23, 1783, dismissed to Wilbraham, July 1. 1810.
• 203. Deborah (5 ), b. June 21, 1752, d. Sept. 23, 1754.
• 204. Sabra (5 ), b. June 7, 1754, bp. Apr. 18, 1756, m. Nov. 9, 1783, Capt Nehemiah Noble. She d. in Bethel, Vt., Dec.14,1831. He b. in New London, Conn., June 6, 1756, d in Bethel, Oct. 31, 1836. He served in War of 1812.
• 205. Deborah (5), b. June 7 1754.
• 206. Tabitha (5), b. June 15. 1756, d. Jan. 26, 1759.
• 207. Frances(5), b. Oct. 21, 1757, d. Woodstock, May 21,1813.
• 208. Isaac (5) , b. July 24, 1759, m.in Royalton, Dec. 25, 1786, Lucy Sh:1w; he d. Mar. 19, 1843. (Rev. soldier). She b. J une 17, 1764, d. Apr. 27, 1843.
• 209. Luther (5), b. Oct. 14, 1760, or May 15, 1761, m. May 8, 1788, Temperance, dau. of Ebenezer and Temperance (Holdredge) Dewey, and wid. of Rev. Josiah Kilburn. She b. Hebron, Conn., May 21, 1761.
• 210. Ebenezer (5), b. May 24, 1762, m. in Woodstock, J an. · 3, 1788, Lydia, dau. of Elias and Lydia Mason ; he d. in Woodstock, June 24, 1837. She d. in Woodstock, Dec. . 29, 1837.

Died

• William Skinner died Jan 30th 1807 Aged 87 ^[1]

"Deacon Skinner was carried off to Vermont by a relative" - page 347 ^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Skinner Family Record Transcribed by and in possession of Tracy St. Claire [1]
2. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FC95-CRD : 4 December 2014), Abraham Skinner in entry for William Skinner, 16 Jul 1720; citing Malden, Middlesex, Massachusetts, p 79; FHL microfilm 14,774.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Historical Collections Reformation in France By Holmes Ammidown - page 346-348 [2]
4. ↑ The Skinner kinsmen, the descendants of Thomas Skinner of Malden, Mass. / compiled by Natalie R. Ferndale pg 76 [3]

• "United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKK-XL9 : accessed 21 June 2019), William Skinner, Woodstock, Windham, Connecticut, United States; citing p. 330, NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1; FHL microfilm 568,141.
• "Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F74Y-3SW : 11 February 2018), William Skinner, 24 Feb 1748; citing ; FHL microfilm unknow
• "Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7WG-TP5 : 11 February 2018), William Skinner in entry for Francis Skinner, 21 Oct 1757; citing ; FHL microfilm unknown.
• "Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F74Y-39G : 11 February 2018), William Skinner in entry for Isaac Skinner, 24 Jul 1759; citing ; FHL microfilm unknown.
• "Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F74Y-3QG : 11 February 2018), William Skinner in entry for Ebenezer Skinner, 24 May 1762; citing ; FHL microfilm unknown.
• "Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F74Y-39B : 11 February 2018), William Skinner in entry for Luther Skinner, 14 Oct 1760; citing ; FHL microfilm unknown.
• "Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2SH-JWL : 11 February 2018), Deborah Skinner, Jun 1752; citing ; FHL microfilm unknown.

Source: #S-1450862356

Page: Ancestry Family Trees

Note:

Data:

Text: http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=890183&pid=-719653447

Source S-1450862356

Repository: #R-1958205582

Title: Public Member Trees

Author: Ancestry.com

Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006.Original data - Family trees submitted by Ancestry members.Original data: Family trees submitted by Ancestry members.

Note: This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created.

Repository R-1958205582

Name: Ancestry.com

Address: http://www.Ancestry.com

Note:

See also:

• Doris Seymour Wahl, The Skinner Kinsmen, The Descendants of Joseph and Martha (Kinne) Skinner, Niagara Falls, NY, n.d., pp. 1, 5.

• Wm. R. Cutter, Ed., Genealogical & Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Boston & Eastern Mass., Vol. 1, Lewis Hist. Pub. Co., 1908. Reprinted 1996 Higginson Book Co.

• William R. Cutter, New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial.

• William Richard Cutter, Genealogical and Family History of Central New York: a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the building of a nation, Baltimore, MD: Reprinted for Clearfield Co. by Genealogical Pub. Co., 1994, p. 55. Originally published: New York: Lewis Historical Pub. Co., 1912.

• Malden, Massachusetts Vital Records.

• Charles Henry Pope, The Pioneers of Massachusetts, a Descriptive List Drawn from Records of the Colonies, Towns and Churches, and other Contemporaneous Documents, Boston, 1900, p. 346.

• Deloraine Pendre Corey, The History of Malden, Massachusetts 1633-1785, copyright 1898.

• Clarence Winthrop Bowen, The History of Woodstock Connecticut, Genealogies of Woodstock Families, Norwood, MA: Plimpton Press, 1930.

• Thomas Bellows Wyman, The Genealogies and Estates of Charlestown, Massachusetts 1629-1818, Somersworth, NH: New England History Press, 1982.

• James Savage, Genealogy Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England.

• Joyce Johnson, Oceana County History, Oceana County Historical Society (Michigan), 1992 v2 p. 279: Sergeant Thomas Skinner, first generation in America, came to America from Chichester, England and settled at Malden, MA, in about 1649. He had three sons.

• Myrtle S. Bohme, References: New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 53, 1899.

• Dorothy B. West, Thomas Skinner of Malden, MA, Silver Springs, MD

• Hobbies, The Magazine for Collectors. September, 1958. Another Skinner, Thomas, was born 1617 in Chichester Co., Sussex, England, and died March 2, 1703-4 in Malden, Mass. He came to the colonies between 1649 and 1652. He married twice and by his first wife had two sons, both born in Chichester, England: Thomas born 1645, and Abraham born 1649. He was admitted freeman in Malden May 18, 1653 and was there licensed to keep an ‘Ordinary’ or Inn.

• Genevieve S. Copley, Skinners: Descendant of Thomas Skinner of Malden, MA.

• skinnerkinsmen.org - Skinner Family Association website.

• Stiles, Henry R. The History and Genealogies of Ancient Windsor 1635-1891, Somersworth, NH, the New Hampshire Pub Co., 1976. (orig.1891-92). 2 v.