TIMOTHY SKINNER of STAMFORD

Timothy Skinner was the fifth of 14 children of Joseph Skinner and Martha Kinne. His great-great grandfather Thomas Skinner had emigrated from Chichester County, Sussex County, England to Malden, Massachusetts about 1649-51 with his wife Mary and two sons. Thomas was a victueller and May 31, 1652 was licensed to keep an inn at Malden¹. Malden is now a suburb on the north side of Boston.

In succeeding generations, the Skinners moved south into eastern Connecticut where they held lands in Colchester, Hebron, Bolton and Preston.

On Timothy's mother's side, his great-great-great grandfather John Kinne (or Keney) emigrated from King's Lyn, Norfolk England to Salem, Essex County in Massachusetts prior to 1649. Other early New England names in Timothy's pedigree include Pratt, Lord, Nickerson, Brooks, Spencer, Putname, Knight, Lamb and Cox².

Timothy was born 2 March 1737 and baptized on 8 May 1737 in the Congregational Church, North Preston, Connecticut. Doris Wahl says that the baptismal records of the North Preston Congregational Church (later called Griswold) are in the State Library, Hartford Ct.³. Preston is just east of Norwich, CT.

While Timothy was young, his father Joseph and grandfather Ebenezer Skinner were active in buying and selling parcels of land, taking advantage of the westward advance of the frontier. Timothy followed their pattern when he came to Upper Canada, petitioning for free land at every opportunity. Several Skinners were proprietors of the Connecticut Company, which purchased a large tract of land between the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers in north-eastern Pennsylvania from the Delaware Indians in 1754. Joseph and Timothy's name appear on the deed, but whether this is our Timothy at 17 years of age, or a relative of the same name is difficult to know. Joseph and his family came to settle on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River, on flats called by the Indians Cushetunk. Shortly afterward, the father was shot and killed.

Nathan Skinner, son of Timothy's older brother Daniel, writing about 1845, says that the brothers Benjamin, Abner, Haggai and Calvin Skinner settled and helped build the town of Cochecton on the upper Delaware River in the Susquehanna purchase lands (later called Milanville, in Wayne Co, PA)⁴. He adds that "Timothy was a millwright and in 1757 assisted Skinner, Calkin and others in building a grist mill and saw mill at Cushetunk". Timothy applied this experience of building mills when he arrived in Upper Canada.

William Penn disputed the title of the Cushetunk settlers, and in 1761, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Timothy and others regarding encroachment on Indian lands near Cushetunk. Nathan reports that Timothy left the country and never returned. Possibly he went with the family of his brother Benjamin, who relocated across the Delaware River to Mount Hope, then part of Sussex Co, New Jersey but now in Orange Co, New York. This is consistent with Timothy's statement that he spent the Revolutionary War in Sussex Co, New Jersey. Nathan also states that Timothy and his brother Abner purchased land in New York called the Shawangunk Kill meadows from Henry Wisner of Goshen. They received title on 12 Dec 1767.

Timothy appeared before the Loyalist Claims Commission on August 29, 1787 at Niagara to submit his claim for compensation for losses incurred during the war^{32, 34}. According to his testimony, he lived in Sussex Co, New Jersey. Although he never came into the British lines during the war, he was always a friend to the British government. Having declared his sentiments, he was seized in April, 1777 and tried by a 'Court of Oyer and Terminer'. He was fined £150 and sentenced to six months imprisonment. Although part of his imprisonment was pardoned, he spent more time in jail because he was not able to pay all of his fine. The whole time of his imprisonment was 14 months.

On his release, Timothy could not make his escape. He continued at home until September 1783 and managed to save a good part of his estate. Leaving New Jersey, Timothy arrived in St. John's, Quebec 24 October. He wintered at Sorel and came to Niagara in the summer of 1784. His claim was for his fine and imprisonment.

Timothy produced as evidence a certificate under the hand of William Livingston, Governor, dated July 1777, attesting to the fine and imprisonment, and a receipt for the fine. Nathaniel Petitt vouched for the facts in Timothy's statement. Nathaniel was a Justice of the Peace in 1776 in Sussex Co, and a Member of Assembly from 1772 to 1775.²⁵

In the end, however, on 7th Dec 1787 the Commissioners determined "The Claimant not having come within the British Lines during the War, the Commissioners do not consider him as a Loyalist".³³

In various land petitions, Timothy described his experience during the Revolutionary War as follows:

That your Petitioner suffered very much by fines, imprisonment and other oppression from the Americans during the late war and that he came and put himself under the British government soon after the war was over and has lived ever since in this district.⁶

That your Petitioner lived in the Colony of New Jersey when the late rebellion in America took place. That he was unaffected with the madness of the times and still preserved his loyalty, in the most critical and darkest moments. For which he experienced a variety of sufferings both in his person and property. He has suffered fifteen months imprisonment and was at the time under the necessity of supporting himself or perishing with hunger. He has been fined one hundred & fifty pounds beside being obliged to pay a heavy bill of costs. He and his family have received abuse and insults without number. As soon as he had settled his affairs after the peace he removed with his family into this Province and has experienced his Majesty's usual Bounty to all that settle in the province without discrimination of characters.⁷

Timothy and his family are on a list from Sorel on 25 Dec 1783 of "Refugee Loyalists, Families, etc. Receiving Provisions at this Post and the block house on the Yamaska"²⁴. His family consisted of his wife and eight children: three boys and one girl over ten, and one boy and three girls under ten.

Henry Skinner, Josiah Skinner and Timothy Skinner are among the names of "Loyalists arrived the 19th July from Canada" (i.e. from Quebec), and who subscribed their names in order to settle and cultivate the Crown land opposite to Niagara on 20 July, 1784⁵. There is a certificate from the Land Board for 200 acres in Stamford township (originally called Township No. 2 of the District of Nassau), comprising part of Lot 160 and Lot 173 on 12 March 1792¹⁴. To receive this, Timothy swore the oath of fidelity and allegiance in accordance with the rules and regulations of the conduct of the Land Office which were set out on 17 February 1789. He received a Patent for these two and three more adjoining lots, totalling 390 acres, (lots 173, 174, 175, 176 and part 160) on 19 April 1798⁸, [14, pg. 673]. This land lies just above Niagara Falls and runs from within one chain of the Niagara River west to Drummond Road. One-seventh of the land was reserved for a protestant clergy reserve and in exchange, the government granted him 55 and 5/7 acres in the rear of the townships of Flamborough and Beverly.

On 2nd July 1793, Timothy petitioned John Graves Simcoe for 100 acres of land on which to erect a grist mill near Fort Erie at Point Abino⁶. The site included "is a small creek running through a piece of waste land from a swamp capable of erecting a small mill for the benefit of the neighbourhood which is much wanted there". Timothy got 42 of the settlers in the neighbourhood to sign his petition attesting to the great need for a grist mill. The petition was read in Council on 10 July and was granted. He received the front 100 acres of Lot 32, Bertie Township .

The following year, on 5th July 1794 Timothy petitioned for additional land on the same grounds of his suffering as a Loyalist⁷.

Two years later, on 22nd June 1796, he petitioned for 200 acres on Yonge Street on the basis of the proclamation of 7 February 1792 which provided for grants of 200 acres to petitioners who would undertake to cultivate and improve their acres and swear an oath of loyalty to the King¹⁶. His petition was granted, but it is not clear what land he received. (See MS 693 #20, pg 308; here he is called Timothy Skinner Junr U.E., implying that it was the son. Cf. the petition of 23 June 1800 [18] which is specifically from 'Timothy Skinner the Elder'.) In his will of 1807 he had 100 acres of Lot 14, Con 2 of York Tp. This was on the Don River, perfect for someone who built mills. With the help of his sons Isaiah and Timothy Jr., and his son-in-law Parshall Terry, he constructed the first mills in the Toronto area (the site of Todmorden Mills today).

John Andre estimates the most likely date of erection for this primitive sawmill is the spring of 1795. (If this is true, Timothy did not receive this land in response to his petition.) Andre says that Isaiah and Aaron Skinner were permitted by Simcoe to buy a millsite on the Don in May, 1794, and they asked for the confirmation of this site in July 1795, but the first concrete evidence of their own saw- and gristmill building dates from the beginning of 1796. On 3rd Feb 1796, Mrs. Simcoe described the ride of her whole family on the frozen Don on which they drove on the ice to Skinner's mill a mile above Castle Frank. On 4th July 1796 she walked to Skinners' Mill thro meadows that looked like meadows in England. Lady Simcoe made a sketch of Skinner's mill which shows a small frame building with an open side and a very simple dam made of branches and stones, through and over which water could run quite freely¹².

Timothy was on a roll, but his luck was about to run out. He had been making improvements on his lands in Stamford Township, including constructing a tannery on the Niagara River. However, the government had reserved a strip of land a chain wide bordering the river, and Timothy was encroaching on this reserve with his tannery. In 1797 he petitioned for a lease on the reserve land, but was refused, although the decision was not recorded until 27th August 1801¹⁷. On 23rd June 1800 he made a more elaborate petition for permission to erect a saw mill and grist mill on the reserve, which land was too steep for other uses such as a road¹⁸. He cited as precedent the south-east corner of Lot 174 that he had previously sold to John Burch on which the latter was operating a saw mill on the river under the bank with impunity. Furthermore, as in his previous successful petition for Point Abino, Timothy attached a petition from 58 inhabitants of Stamford Tp attesting to the great need for such mills. At first his petition was turned back for a site plan, and on 30th June he submitted a short description of the dimensions of the proposed mills¹⁹. On 19th August 1800 the decision was made that "these proposals cannot be accepted".

Timothy's brother Benjamin named him an executor of his will on 21 Oct 1800³⁰.

On 17th May 1802, Timothy was granted a patent from the Crown for 400 acres, Lots 18 and 19, Con 12, Blenheim Tp¹¹. Why this was granted in not known. This land was to become the site of the village of Plattsville.

Timothy was expunged from the U.E. list on 24 May 1805⁹ . The trigger for this was the petition of his daughter, Sarah Haun, for land as the daughter of a U.E. Loyalist, which was received by the Council on 9 May 1805²⁶. The first examiner noted "The name of Timothy Skinner appears on the UE List", but John McGill, the Inspector General of the Public Provincial Accounts, added a note that "Timothy Skinner did not join the Royal Standard before the Treaty of Separation". On 15 May the Lieutenant Governor, Peter Hunter, referred the question whether the name of Timothy Skinner has not been improperly placed on the U.E. List to the Executive Council to examine and report.  Aeneas Shaw reported back on 24 May, "It being stated by the Inspector General of the Public Provincial Accounts that Timothy Skinner did not join the Royal Standard, or reside within the British Lines previous to the Treaty of Separation in 1783, the Committee do therefore recommend that the name of Timothy Skinner be expunged from the U.E. List". Peter Hunter approved this recommendation.

Was this typical, or did McGill have a personal reason to wish the old man ill? Despite this ruling, his daughter Patience was able to obtain a land grant as a Daughter of a Loyalist in 1817²⁰. Patience described herself as 'the Daughter of the late Timothy Skinner of the Township of Stamford a U.E. Loyalist', and her petition was supported by her brother-in-law, Samuel Hoffman. Perhaps the fact that she made her petition in Adolphustown, where her husband Henry Baker was known as the son of a Loyalist, worked in her favour.

Timothy signed an affidavit in favour of Nathaniel Beckon on 26 Jan 1811³¹. Beckon was married to his niece, Sarah, the daughter of Benjamin.

At the age of 70, on 11 May 1807, Timothy composed his will¹⁰. In it, he was especially considerate of his daughters and of his youngest son, Job. His land holdings were:

The will was filed on 25 Sept 1815.

The only reference I have found to Timothy's death is the statement of Thomas Clark, a J.P. for Niagara District written on 4 March 1824 in support of the Claim for Losses in the War of 1812 by Job Skinner²⁷. Clark wrote,

From my knowledge of the late Job Skinner who when alive was my near neighbour and resided on the public road, opposite the Falls - I believe that he must have lost considerably during the late war, his farm being contiguous to the scene of action at Lundy Lane in 1814 - his father Timothy Skinner who resided with him died during the war, himself dying shortly afterward and his uncle and neighbour Haggai Skinner having died last autumn, makes it difficult to get more particular proof of his claim at so distant a period . . .

A Timothy Skinner, private in the 2nd Lincoln militia, was killed at the Battle of Chippawa on 5 July 1814. While some take this to be Timothy Skinner Senior, it is almost certainly his son. The commander, Thomas Dickson, named the remaining family as his widow Ann Skinner²⁸ and two children²⁹. Timothy Jr. married Ann Lutz.

References

1. Doris Wahl, The Skinner Kinsmen, The Descendants of Joseph and Martha (Kinne) Skinner, (Niagara Falls, NY, By the Author, ca. 1959).

2. Family Search, LDS

3. Doris Wahl, letters and charts, OGS Chart #145, North York Public Library

4. Nathan Skinner, manuscript copied by Doris Wahl from a typewritten copy in the Grosvenor Library, Buffalo, NY and reprinted in [1].

5. Canadian Archives Series B, Vol 168, pg 38; reprinted as Appendix C in E. A. Cruikshank, Ten Years of the Colony of Niagara, 1780-1790, Niagara Historical Society No. 17, (Welland, Tribune Print, 1908). Original list from the Haldimand Papers is also found in "Haldimand Loyalist Lists", NYPL reel C-1475.

6. U.C. Land Petitions S Misc/150 1787-1794 Vol 494. Ontario Archives reel C-2832 (full text below)

7. U.C. Land Petitions S Misc/151 1787-1794 Vol 494. Ontario Archives reel C-2832 (full text below)

8. Ernest Green, "Township No. 2 Mount Dorchester Stamford", Ontario Historical Society, ca. 1928, pp. 248-338.

9. Upper Canada Land Book F, 1804-06, pg 325

10. Lincoln County Wills #2198; filed 25 Sept 1815; Ontario Archives reel GS1-649 (full text below)

11. Blenheim Township, Oxford County; Abstract Index of Deeds Vol A; Archives of Ontario GS-2375.2

12. John Andre, Infant Toronto as Simcoe's Folly, (Toronto: Ortoprint, 1971), pp 76,77.

13. Alexander Fraser, Second Report of the Bureau of the Archives for the Province of Ontario, (Toronto, 1904). Pg 982. [A transcription of A.O. 12/16, pp. 423-4; see #32 below.]

14. Stamford Township Papers pp. 664 to 673; Ontario Archives, RG 1, Vol IV; MS-658, reel 455.

15. Bertie Township Papers, pp. 67-70; Ontario Archives, MS-658, reel 35.

16. Upper Canada Land Petitions S 2/48. Ontario Archives reel C-2806 (full text below)

17. Upper Canada Land Petitions S Leases/1, Vol 493. Ontario Archives reel C-2831 (full text below)

18. Upper Canada Land Petitions S 5/127. Ontario Archives reel C-2808 (full text below)

19. Upper Canada Land Petitions S 5/60. Reel C-2808 (full text below)

20. Upper Canada Land Petitions K 11/54. Reel C-2118

21. Bertie Township, Welland County, Abstract Old Series Vol A 1797-1865. Ontario Archives GS 2794. [The Bargain and Sale is instrument no. 325.]

22. Pelham Township, Welland County, Abstract Old Series Vol A 1796-1958. Ontario Archives GS 2870.

23. Collin Skinner, son of Job Skinner (5th son of Timothy), in his memorial concerning Timothy's will which is filed as instrument 2198, Pelham Township. 23 Apr 1845.

24. Haldiman Loyalist Lists, microfilm C-1475. Vol 167, pg 354 (= folio 308v in the original).

25. Alfred E. Jones, The Loyalists of New Jersey, 1988. Reprinted from the New Jersey Historical Society Proceedings, Vol X (1927).

26. Upper Canada Land Petitions H 7/36. Ontario Archives reel C-2045

27. Upper Canada: War of 1812 Losses Claims, RG 19 E 5(a), Vol 3751, No. 1028. National Archives.

28. Upper Canada Sundries, RG 5 A1, Vol 20, pg 8600. National Archives of Canada reel C-4544

29. Upper Canada Sundries, RG 5 A1, Vol 20, pg 8602. National Archives of Canada reel C-4544

30. Upper Canada Land Petitions B 18/74. Ontario Archives reel C-1630

31. Upper Canada Land Petitions B Misc/69 (1793-1840). Ontario Archives reel C-1635

32. A.O. 12/16, pg 421. National Archives of Canada reel B-1158 (full text below)

33. A.O. 12/63 pg. 124. National Archives of Canada reel B-1169

34. A.O.13/20, pg 80. National Archives of Canada reel B-2191 (full text below)

Appendix: Text of Documents

Audit Office 13, Bundle 20, pg. 80. Reel B-2191

To Colonel Thomas Dundas and Jeremy Pemberton Esquire, Commissioners appointed by His Majesty for enquiring into the losses of those Persons who have suffer'd in their Rights and Propertys during the late unhappy dissentions in America The memorial of Timothy Skinner late of Sussex County, in the Province of New Jersey, but now at Niagara in the Province of Quebec Humbly sheweth that your Memorialist in the time of the late unhappy disturbances in America, was settled in Sussex County in the Province of New Jersey but being thought inimical to the laws of the United States, was imprisoned for the space of fourteen months, and fined in the sum of one hundred and sixty-eight pounds New Jersey currency. That understanding His Most Gracious Sovrain [sic], by and with the advice of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in Parliament Assembled, had taken into consideration the distressed state of his Loyal American subjects purpose granting them such relief as may appear just and reasonable in proportion to their losses Your memorialist in behalf of himself and family, humbly begs that you will be pleased to take this case into your serious consideration and that you will be pleased to grant him such relief as may appear reasonable, and your memorialist will ever pray. I do hereby humbly swear that I have by the above fines suffered to the full amount of one hundred and sixty-eight pounds New Jersey currency, so help me God. Timothy Skinner Sworn before me at Niagara this 14th day of April 1786 A. Campbell J.P.

Audit Office Vol 12, Bundle 16, pg 421-424. Reel B-1158

August 29th 1787 Evidence in the claim of Timothy Skinner, late of New Jersey Claimant Sworn, Says he left the Jerseys September 1783, arrived at St. John's 24th October - wintered at Sorell - came to Niagara the next Summer. Is a native of America, lived in Sussex County, never came into the British lines during the War. Says he was always a friend to the British Government, he had declared his sentiments, was taken up in April 1777 and committed to gaol, he was kept 6 months in close confinement - this was part of his sentence. Produces certificate under the hand of William Livingston Governor dated July 1777 reciting that Claimant had been fined £150 and sentenced to 6 months imprisonment, and that part of his imprisonment was pardoned. Says he laid in gaol some time not being able to pay his fine, the whole time of his imprisonment was 14 months. Says he could not make his escape afterwards, he continued at home till Septr 1783. Saved good part of his estate. Claim is for his fine and imprisonment. Produced receipts to prove payment of his fine. Nathaniel Petit Esqr: I know claimant, looked upon him as a friend to the British Government during the Rebellion - Remember his being imprisoned on account of his Loyalty - He was kept close prisoner 6 months and fined. He had been tried by a court of Oyer and Terminer.

U.C. Land Petitions S Misc/150 Vol 494. Reel C-2832
To His Excellency John Graves Simcoe Esq Lieut Governor of the Province of Upper Canada &c&c&c The Petition of Timothy Skinner Humbly Sheweth To Your Excellency in Council that Your Petitioner suffered very much by Fines Imprisonment and other Oppression from the Americans during the Late War and that he came and put himself under the British Government soon after the War was over and has lived ever since in this District Begs to inform your Excellency that there is a small creek a little below point Ebeno runing thro a piece of Waist [sic] Land from a Swamp capable of Erecting a small Mill for the Benefit of the Neighbourhood which is much wanted there. Your Petitioner therefore most Humbly Requests that your Excellency will Please to permit him to Build a Mill thereon and grant him one hundred acres of Land adjoining Therto on the same terms as is granted to the rest of the Province. And your petitioner will be ever bound to Pray Timothy Skinner
Rec'd from Major Littlehals 2nd July 1793	Skinner Petition to erect a Grist Mill with a Grant of 100 acres adjoining Rec'd this Petition of Mr. P. Terry 2 July 1793 Read in Council July 10 Granted
[page 150a] We the undernamed Subscribers living in the neighbourhood about Point Ebeno humbly crave that this Petition may meet with Your Excellency's Approbation as we are in great want of a Grist Mill in this part of the Settlement.
Stopel Richards Geghida Scrila Mical Buck John Bantan John Willson Joseph Havens Nathan Havens Frederick Anger Jacob Hufman Niclous Hufman Charls Anker Frederick Buck William Tesha John Lyon Azaliah Schooley Jesse Skinner Peter Scram Thos Kinney	Alex'r McQueen Senr Thos Doan Crowell Willson Frederick William Philip Buck Daniel McQueen Alexander McQueen Jr. John Cutler Mathias Haven Edward (blotted) Daniel Alward Henery Alward Nathaneil Dennis Ezekiel Dennis James Edsall Fred'k Rowe Mathias Haun Wiliam Haun Daniel Forsyth Henry Skinner David Tuttle Christol Tryer (his X) John Morningstar Daviel Alwood Petre Feere

U.C. Land Petitions S Misc/151 Vol 494. Reel C-2832

To His Excellency John Graves Simcoe Esqr Governor and Commander in Chief of His Majesty Province of Upper Canada &c. &c. &c. In Council The Petition of the subscriber, Humbly sheweth That your Petitioner lived in the Colony of New Jersey when the late rebellion in America took place. That he was unaffected with the madness of the times and still preserved his loyalty, in the most critical and darkest moments. For which he experienced a variety of sufferings both in his person and property. He has suffered fifteen months imprisonment and was at the time under the necessity of supporting himself or perishing with hunger. He has been fined one hundred & fifty pounds beside being obliged to pay a heavy bill of costs. He and his family have received abuse and insults without number. As soon as he had settled his affairs after the peace he removed with his family into this Province and has experienced his Majesty's usual Bounty to all that settle in the province without discrimination of characters. Encouraged by the disposition His excellency and Your Honors have ever manifested to incourage and reward such as have been distinguished by their suffering in the cause of Loyalty and righteousness your Petitioner begs leave to throw himself on the Benevolence of your Honors on the present occasion, and most humbly prays that your Honors would indulge him a further location of Lands as much as your Honors in your wisdom shall see fit and as in duty bound he will ever pray. Timothy Skinner Newark July 5th 1794

U. C. Land Petitions S 2/48; Reel C-2806
To his Excellency John Graves Simcoe, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor, and commander in Chief of the Province of Upper Canada, &c. &c. &c. In Council. The Petition of Timothy Skinner, Respectfully shews, That your petitioner is desirous to settle on the lands of the Crown in this Province, … Prays your Excellency, would be pleased to grant him On Young Street 200 acres of land upon the terms and conditions expressed in your Excellency's proclamation bearing date the 7th day of February, 1792, … York June 22nd , 1796
[page 48a] Recommended to give the Prayer his Petition. No 777. Confirmed 8 October 1796 P.R. Entered Page 33 of Land Book B.

U. C. Land Petitions S Leases/1, Vol 493. Reel C-2831
To His Honor Peter Russell Esqr President Province &c. &c &c. In Council The Petition of Timothy Skinner Humbly Sheweth- That your Petitioner made considerable improvements on the reserve along the river in front of his lands wherein he now resides. That the same being in the bottom and near the falls, your Petitioner has erected a tannery, and cleared about an acre for at the time he made the improvements there was then no reserve. Your petitioner prays your Honor would allow him a lease for the same, for such number of years as your Honor may think meet, and your Petitioner as in duty bound would ever pray. Timothy Skinner Stamford 1797
[page 1a] Timothy Skinner UC 25th July '97 reserve below the Falls Stamford This stripe (?) not having been applied as part of the 2/4ths does not come within the Reference made to the Subject (?). (signed) R. Smith Aug 27 1801

U. C. Land Petitions S 5/127; Reel C-2808
To His Excellency Peter Hunter Esq. Lieut. Governor of the Province of Upper Canada &c. &c. &c. In council The Petition of Timothy Skinner the Elder of the Township of Stamford Humbly sheweth That your Petitioner is proprietor of the Lot 173, the broken Lot 174 on the River Niagara, above the falls, & the south half of Lot 160 & broken front on the same River, Township of Stamford, by Deed from His Majesty excepting one chain of reserve on the Bank of the River extending throughout the front of said Lots. That there is scarce a possibility of the said Reserve being used for a road or a carrying place, it being so broken and rugged, and the road now used goes through the ? part of the aforementioned Lots. That the south east angle of Lot 174 your petitioner formerly disposed of to Mr. Burch, whereon he built the mills now called by his name & which are on the River under the Bank. That there is a very suitable situation for other mills on the North East front of the said Lot No. 174 and at the East End of Lot 160 on the southerly part thereof belonging to your petitioner, where he is desirous of erecting a grist mill and a saw mill. Your petitioner therefore humbly prays your Excellency to grant him permission to erect mills on the River Niagara in front of the aforesaid Lot No. 174 (not interfering with that part belonging to the heirs of Mr. Burch) and in front of the southerly half of Lot No. 160 upon such conditions as your Excellency may seem meet, and your Petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray- Timothy Skinner York 23 June 1800
[page 127c] June 25 1800 Recommend that Pet. do lay before the board a Plan of the proposed Mill site (?) and intended Mill.
[page 127d] To His Excellency the Governor in Council of Upper Canada &c. The petition of the Subscribers (Inhabitants of Lincoln County Stamford Township) - - Most respectfully sheweth that there is great want of Mills at or near the Falls of Niagara . We therefore pray that Timothy Skinner (Senior) may be tolerated to build said mills adjoining his own land and as in duty bound we shall ever pray. (signed)
Thomas Millard Chas Willson James Forsyth Haggai Skinner Noah Cook John Harvey Edwd Lafferty John Losca John Durham Edward Durham Thomas Millard Junior John Reilly	Peter McMicking Jacob Kilman John McKinlie(?) John Clow Adam McNair Peter Thomson Paul Cripps Archibald Thomson John Thomson Thomas McMicking Joseph Robeson his mark X John Chisholm Donald Ross James Cooper Conrad Darshimer (?) Patrick Reilly	Benjamin Skinner Azariah Lundy William Lundy Jacob Fonger William Fonger Charles Grene Benjamin Skinner Senior Ebenezir Skinner Isaac Chambers Robert Spencer his X mark James Crawford Chris Bulmer (?) Henry Ramsey James Goball (?)	Thomas Doan John Upper Jacob Upper George Upper George Couke Robert Wilkerson Benajah (?) Williams George Keefer John Rily (?) Ezekial Woodruff Giles Hall Hugh Wilson John Wilson John Wilson Junr John Silverthorn

U. C. Land Petitions S 5/60; Reel C-2808
York June 30th 1800 A plan for Building a grist and saw mill on a piece of land as per petition that is to say that the said Timothy Skinner will build a saw mill thirty six feet by twelve do., and a grist mill twenty eight feet square; that he will give security to build the said mills within three years from the date of said grant, or ??? the said grant, and forfeit all the improvements that may be made on the said land. Timothy Skinner
[page 60a] Aug 19 1800 These proposals cannot be accepted.

Lincoln County Wills #2198; filed 25 Sept 1815; Ontario Archives Reel GS1-649

"In the name of god Amen. I Timothy Skinner Senior of the majestic Province of Upper Canada District of Niagara County of Lincoln & Township of Stamford being weak of body but of sound and perfect mind and Memory blessed be almighty god for the same do this Eleventh day of may one Thousand Eight Hundred and Seven make constitute and publish this my last Will and Testament (that is to say) Imprimus(?). I commend my soul into the Hand and protection of almighty god, who gave it to me and my body to the earth to be buried in a Christian like manner in hopes of a Joyful Resurrection through the merits of my Saviour Jesus Christ, and as for that worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased god to bless me, I dispose thereof as follows First I give and bequesth unto my beloved wife Patience Skinner one third part of the Real profits of my land and tenements during her widowhood Together with one third part of my Moveable property an personal Estate. To my oldest Son Isaiah Skinner I give and bequest twenty one shillings. I also give and bequesth to my second son Henry Skinner twenty one shillings. I also give and bequesth to my third son Aaron Skinner twenty one Shillings. I also give and bequesth to my fourth Son Timothy Skinner Junior Twenty one Shillings. I also give and bequesth to my fifty Son Job Skinner the whole of the farm in wherein I now dwell to him and the male heirs of his body lawfully begotten for ever and Ever together with nine acres of land adjoining. To him and his heirs for ever. which said nine acres I purchased of my Fourth Son Timothy Skinner Junior and I likewise give and bequesth unto my fifth Son Job Skinner all the Remaining Moisly (?) or two thirds of my moveable property or personal Estate. I also give and bequesth unto my two oldest daughters that is to say Mary Quivey and Rhoda Terry two hundred acres of land that is to say lot Number Eighteen in the Twelfth Concession of Blenheim (I being possessed of no better description of said land at present) Share and Share alike to them the said Mary Quivey and Rhoda Terry and the male hirs of their and each of their bodies for ever. I also give and bequeath to my third daughter Sarah Haun one hundred acres of land that is to say the northernmost Fifty acres of lot Number Eleven in the Sixth concession of Blenheim and Fifty of lot number three in Fourteenth Concession of Pelham Township to her and the male heirs of her body for ever. I also give and bequeath to my fourth and Fifth daughers Lois and Patience Skinner Two hundred acres of Land viz. Lot number Nineteen in the Twelfth Concession of Blenheim Township to them and the male heirs of their and Their bodies for ever Share and Share alike. I also give and bequeath to my Grandson Collin Skinner one hundred acres of land viz the East end of lot Number Fourteen in the County of York Township of York and Second Concession to him and the male heirs of his body lawfully begotten for Ever as I have bequesthed my estate in Blenhiem Township without mentioning the County I declare that I have forgot what county it is in. With respect to Funeral Charges and other debts wherein I do, or many Stand indebted at my decease it is my will that they be paid out of my moveable Property and the farm whereon I now dwell and I do hereby make ordain Constitute and appoint my Brother Haggia Skinner Senior Noah Cook and my Fifth Son Job Skinner may be my true and lawful executors to this my last will hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the day and year first above written. --- Signed Sealed Published and declared by the above named Timothy Skinner Senior to be his last will and Testament. In the prescence of us and each of us who have hereunto subscribed our name as witnesses in the presence of the Testator. (signed) Hamilton Graham                             Timothy Skinner Senior Stephen Peer John Misener

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