skinker

SAMUEL SKINKER
(1677-1752) Ancestors: Samuel Skinker came to America in about 1700. He was probably the only son of a Thomas Skinker (b. abt. 1643, d. 1723) and Mary Luffee (m. 1676) of Bristol. He had one sister, Elizabeth, who stayed in England, married to Benjamin Wilder in 1731.

History: Samuel's earliest activities in America are obscure although he is believed to have settled near Port Conway early in the century. He eventually owned land and was a merchant on the east side of the Rappahannock River ferry across from Port Royal, Virginia. He started purchasing land in 1723 and 27 conveyances of land are recorded for him between then and 1752. A home called Millbank was built on this land in 1725 but burned in 1800. Its relation to other homes of the time is shown on a map in the Fall book listed below. A second house which must be the Millbank illustrated in a pencil sketch by Luisa Lewis burned in 1900.

Descendants: Apparently all Skinkers in America are descended from Samuel through two of his sons, Samuel and William.
     William (b. abt. 1738, d. abt. 1812) was the founder of Haymarket, Virginia and William's nephew (also William, d. 1845) is honored with a portrait in the town hall. Samuel's will of 1752 indicates that William was one of several illegitimate children, so his mother is unknown.
     Samuel's great granddaughter Mary Mildred married Augustine Washington Fitzhugh in 1824. Other marriages to prominent Virginia families occurred.
     Samuel's 2nd greatgrandson, Thomas Keith Skinker (1845-1924), published a book on the Skinker family in 1923 (below) and was the person after whom Skinker Boulevard fronting on Washington University in St. Louis was named.
     Samuel's great grandson Thomas Julian Skinker (1819-1900) married Ann Eliza Hite (1830-1912), grandniece of President James Madison and granddaughter of Isaac Hite, Jr.(of Belle Grove, Virginia), in 1848.

Descent from Samuel Skinker:
    Samuel Skinker m. Dinah Thorp (not the mother of William)
      William Skinker m. Mary Sells (widow Powlett) m. 1772
          Samuel Hampson Skinker (1785-1856) m. Margaret Wilson Julian (d. 1863) in 1803
             Thomas Julian Skinker (1819-1900) m. Ann Eliza Hite (1830-1912) in 1848
                Thomas Julian Skinker (1849-1944) m. Annie Brown Rose (1848-1900) in 1872
                   Irvine Hite Skinker (1877-1961) m. Caroline C. Young (1882-1971) in 1903
                     Betty Rose Skinker (1913-1996)

References:

Crewdson, Robert. 1995. Crossroads of the Past: A History of Haymarket, Virginia.
    Prince William Historical Commission.
Fall, Ralph E. 1977. The Diary of Robert Rose. Maps by Murray Fontaine Rose. McClure
    Press, Verona, VA.
Niven, Alexander C. (ed.). 1975. Fourscore Plus. The Civil War Reminiscences of
    Thomas Julian Skinker II. Monograph I. Institute of Civil War Studies, Clayton, MO
Rose, Christine. 1985. The Brothers Rev. Robert Rose and Rev. Charles Rose of Colonial
    Virginia and Wester Alves, Morayshire, Scotland, with information on their brothers
    Patrick, James, Hugh, George and Alexander. San Jose, CA.
Skinker, Thomas Julian II. 1932. Fourscore Plus. Stories of Thomas Julian Skinker II.
    Family photocopies.
Skinker, Thomas Keith. 1923. Samuel Skinker and his Descendants. An account of the
    Skinker family and all their kindred who have the blood of Samuel Skinker in their
    veins. Publ. by Author, St. Louis, MO