Colonial Skeen Family History

The Colonial Skeen Family

Carrel W. Skeen gave this to
Dempsey Jackson in 1964. She gave a copy to her cousin's son,
Richard Jackson, in the early 1980s. He sent a copy to me,
Joan Taylor Gillen, 21 July 2000.

For me, there is information about Robert TAYLOR, his in-laws, children and the granddaughter who married Jesse SKEEN. Additionally, there are many other names along with sources that might assist other researchers of these and other lines. To the best of our knowledge, this material has never been published. Richard and I believe it is worth sharing so others might evaluate the work and explore its veracity. While we invite you to print, distribute and enjoy this document for your own nonprofit, personal use, we ask that you link to this site rather than reproduce the work online. Additionally, we ask that you do not claim any of the apparent work of Carrel W. Skeen as your own.

Richard JACKSON   [email protected]
Researching: SKEEN, BLACK, JACKSON, GIBBS, TAYLOR, LOWE, GAMMON, STONER, MCCONNELL, MCMILLEN, and many, many more.

Joan Taylor GILLEN [email protected]
Researching: BARTUNEK, BISHOP, CARSON, COX, GILLEN, HERRING, JONES, KNIGHT, KOONS, SNYDER, TAYLOR, THOMAS, and more.

Transcription Notes:

Page 3

SKENE, Alexander of New Skene b. ca 1670 d ca 1739
KENNEY, Mrs. Jemima nee MACKENZIE

Alexander, the oldest son of John was born in Aberdeen sometime between 1670-5 and came to New Jersey with his parents. Sometime between 1694 an 28 April 1696 he went to Barbados as the Secr. to the Gov. This was later raised to the rank of a patent office, a promotion which caused some controversy. The History of Barbados by Sir Robt. H. Schomburgk, gives: "The Hon. Ralph GREY, brother of the Earl of Tinkerville was appointed Governour of the Barbados and arrived at the Island 26 July 1698. During his administration Mr. SKEYNE received His Majesty's (William III) Letters Patent appointing him Secretary of the Island and Private Secretary to the Gov'r. The Gov'r considered the latter appointment an innovation, as former Governours had appointed their own private secretary, who received considerable fees and perquisites, a certain percentage of which devolved upon the Gov'r. Mr. SKEYNE holding the appointment under the Crown, refused any share of these emoluments to the Gov'r who appealed to the Crown, without the matter being brought to an issue. Then, Hist. of Barbados by Poyner, p171, 196 &c "The 1706 Council recommended that Mr. SKEEN be replaced in his office . . . In consequences of this representation, Mr. SKEENE, by Her Majesty's Letters Mandatory, was restored to the possession of all his rights and perquisites both as private and public secretary. [very wide space] The governor finding his situation rendered extremely unpleasant by the continued contention of the parties, ANd his constitution impaired by the influence of a tropical climate, resigned his authority (in Sept.) into the hands of William SHARPE, president of Council, with a view of returning to England . . . ."

On January 26, 1698 Alexander married Mrs. Jemina KENNEY (Barbados Ref. 1698 vol 1#563). In his will her son describes his mother's ring as: "viz a buck's head with the mottow Lucio sed no Uro" so Jemina was from a cadet line of the MacKenzies of Seaforth. While still in Barbados they had two daughters: +a Jane baptised 17 August 1700 and +b Lilia SKEENE b 3 Mar 1701 (Barbados ref: 1700 vol 46/21 and 1701 vol 1/612.

The proprietors of South Carolina were desperate for labor. In the lush climate the forest had to be continually pushed back. Land was cleared not once but many times. Slaves, newly imported from Africa, were of little service: trained slaves were needed to train the new imports. SKENE had a large establishment of agricultural workers on the island and Sir John COLLETON, one of the proprietors of So. Carolina, prompted him to move sometime between 1707 and 1711. M   Eugene SIRMANS of the Inst. of Early AM. Hist. and Culture, William and Mary College, wrote: "The SKEENES were the most important family in S.C. for one interested in the development of slavery. Not only did they bring many slaves from Barbados, but, more important, Alexander SKEENE and his sister Lillia HAIG were the first slaveholders in S. C. to permit or encourage missionary activities among slaves. All other slaveholders flatly refused to allow their slaves to be converted to Christianity, or at most tollerated missionary work. The SKEENES on the other hand, actively encouraged it. I believe you will find this covered adequately in Frank J. Klingberg's An Appraisal of the Negro in Colonial South Carolina. If you would like to get into the sources, they are the letters from Ebenezer TAYLOR, Peter TUSTIAN, and Francis VARNOD, all missionaries to the parish in which the SKENES lived, to the Secr. of the Soc'y for the Propogation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. Transcripts of these letters are available at the Libr. Of Cong."

We do not know how many children Alexander and Jemina had after coming to So. Carolina, but Rev. Mr. VARNOD in 1711 reported that he had baptised "children and negroes belonging to Mr. Alexander Skene." From the evidence of wills we know he had a son John (d.s.p.) and another, probably Alexander, who was the father of his g'son.

For £33 Alexander bought 3,000 acres from Samuel WRAGG. This was part of the original Barony Cressoe which Charles II granted the Earl of SHAFTSBURY on 18 March 1675. This was situated on the Ashley River near the extinct town of Dorchester - not far from the present city of Summerville. It was in that part of St. Andrews Parish which was later transferred to St. George's. He called his plantation New Skene.

Page 4

On 30 April 1717 the Lords Proprietors named Robert JOHNSON, the son of the former Gov'r Sir Nathaniel JOHNSON, the Gov'r of So. Carol. By his instructions, Gov'r JOHNSON was, immediately on his arrival, to summon Alexander SKENE, Nicholas TROTT, Thomas BROUGHTON, Charles HART, Francis YONGE, Samuel WRAGG, and (James) KINLOCH to be his council.

The colony was pushing back from the coast, indeed Alexander had acquired four tracts of land on the Pee Dee, Black, and Maccinaw Rivers. Nicholas TROTT prevailed upon the Governor to veto several acts of Council which would have provided added protection from the Indians and roads for those living on the frontier. The citizens knowing of SKENE's experiences on the Island, appealed to him to lead in overthrowing the government of the Lords Proprietors. He had come to the colony on the appeal of the Lords Proprietors and he felt himself ill-used because he could not settle his northern plantations for want of protection. SKENE led the revolt. (Is this the first example of the "Right of Revolution" in the New World?) The first notice the Governor had of the movement was a letter dated 26 November 1719 signed by Mr. SKENE, Colonel LOGAN, and Major BLAKEWAY. This letter told the governor that the whole province had entered into an association to stand by their rights and privileges and to get rid of the oppression and arbitrary dealings of the Lords Proprietors.

The province became a Royal Colony.

Robt. JOHNSON gov'r under the proprietors, was made gove'r of the Royal Colony. In spite of Alexander's part in the revolt, Gov. Johnson appointed him to his Council. When it was decided to issue added currency, Thomas SMITH led a mob in revolt. The revolt was put down and the mob put in jail by Alexander SKENE. Thus provolked Langrave Thomas SMITH, sr. started to gather men and Gov. Middleton declared him to be in treason and arrested him. To revenge the arrest of the two Smiths the Goose Creek Militia planned to seize SKENE. Earlier, in June 1717 "Hon. Alexander SKENE" was named by a commission as an assistant to the Judge of Admiralty in trying a party of pirates.

The present town of Dorchester is not the Dorchester of the colonial period. The colonial town was near Summerville and the ruins of the old fort and church could be seen from Summerville in the 1930s. In 1719 Dorchester was separated from St. Andrew's Parish and Alexander was one of the commissioners to select the location of the church. When a free school was to be erected in Dorchester in 1734, Alexander was appointed trustee for taking care of its interest.

His will was drafted 25 May 1739 but we do not know the date it was proved. It is to be found in the Will Book, 1740-7 in the vault of the Probate Court of Charleston County on page 44. With only slight abridgements that will reads:

"I, Alexr. SKENE of Berkley County . . . . Imprimis, it is my espress will and desire that all my Just Debts & Funeral Expenses b  duly paid and satisfied with all convenient Speed after my decease and the better to enable my Executors and Executrx to pay my Debts I will and order that all my Stock of Horses, Mares, Colts, and Geldings be sold except on Stalion and Six Mares; Item I give and bequeath unto my Dear Sister Lilia HAIG the sum of Fifty Pounds currant money of this province, and my will and desire is that my said Sister shall have her meat, drink, washing and Lodging on my Plantation during her Natural Life . . . . Item I give and bequeath to my Dear son John SKENE, esqr. my Diamond Ring, Gold headed Cand and gold seal and also the sume of One Hundred Pounds of current money, having already Settled as much on him and laid out for his benefit as my estate will afford. Item I give to my . . . . dearest wife Jeminah SKENE all my plate, Jewels and household Stuff and also my Chariot and Horses. And whereas I am possessed of several large and Valuable Tracts of Land on Peedee, Maccamaw, & Black river, it is my will and desire that my Exerx. and Executrix . . . . Settle such Part thereof as they see fit and that they possess themselves of all such lands . . . . Item I give . . . . to my Grand Son [appears as if at some time, something may have been written in the margin and whited out] Alexander SKENE my gold neck buckle and silver plates on my housing and bags to be delivered him when my Exors and Executrix shall think proper . . . . Item as to all the rest Residue and remainder of my estate both real and personal I give . . . to my wife Jemimah SKENEN for the term of her Natural Life and immediately after her

*****end of fourth page*****

Index | Previous Page | Next Page

Home *Bartunek* Gillen * Jones * Taylor
Web Cards * Index * Surnames * Contact
Contribute information to the site
©2000, Joan and Frank Gillen Email: [email protected]
Last updated: Saturday, 08-Sep-2018 08:28:03 MDT