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 1750 prob. - 1820
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| Name |
William Skinner |
| Suffix |
III |
| Birth |
1750 prob. |
Chowan Co, NC  |
| Gender |
Male |
| Burial |
1820 |
| Death |
11 Jun 1820 |
Richmond Co, GA |
| Person ID |
I325 |
Georgia Revolutionary War Graves |
| Last Modified |
1 Feb 2022 |
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| Notes |
- P-290822
- 1774. William Skinner signed dissent to the Resolutions of August 10, 1774. (Source: Allen Daniel Candler's The Revolutionary Records of Georgia,: Vol I, p. 20, probably from Parish of St. Pauls and St. George) verified https://books.google.com/books?id=sFZEAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false
- 1776, 26 June. William Skinner on Council of Safety list of those whose going at large is dangerous to liberties of America. (Source: Daniel Candler's The Revolutionary Records of Georgia,: Vol I, p.146) verified
- Major William Skinner III served under Captain John Purvis' Co of the SC Rangers commanded by Col. William Thompson. "For payment for his faithful service during the Revolutionary War of 1776' Major William Skinner III was given a land grant in Screven County, Georgia. President George Washington stopped and had breakfast with Major Skinner at his home in Screven County in 1791 on his tour through Georgia. Washington's visit is depicted on a historical marker in Screven County, Georgia
- Wife: Unknown. Some say Elizabeth Jones, daughter of Seaborn Jones. But GA Marriage Index shows a William Skinner marries Eliz. Jones 4 Feb 1817 so can?t be correct for William III, unless there were 2 Elizabeth Joneses. Others say wife?s name was Rebecca. She must have been deceased by 1820 as she is not mentioned in Skinner?s will.
Children?s names verified from will. Spouses not checked.
Children:
i. John m. Mary Jones, 1810, probably the daughter of James Jones
ii. Sarah ?Sallie?, m. Arthur Smith, before 1820
iii. William, m. Elizabeth Jones?, 1817
iv. Leavingston m. Ideda Hughes on 4 Jul 1824 in Oglethorpe County, Georgia
v. Thomas, m. Frances Darby, 1823
vi. Carolyn, m. Alexander Ligon, 1824
vii. Seaborn, m. Martha Ann Hall, 1824
- 1776 deed to John Smith states that William lll and Benjamin are brothers.
--Served under Captain John Purvis? Co of the SC Rangers commanded by Col. William Thompson
" For Payment for his faithful service during the Revolutionary War of 1776" Major William Skinner was given a land grant. He settled in Screven County, Georgia. George Washington stopped and had breakfast with him in 1791 on his tour through Georgia. This visit is depicted on a historical marker in Screven County Ga.
1786, 14 August - 1790 16 Dec. Justice of Peace Burke Co.
1795- Constitutional Convention Screven Co.
January 7,1795-February 6 1801, Justice of the Peace Screven Co.
1796 House of Representatives.
1797, Senate, Screven County.
1797, 15 June - 1799, 14 Feb. J.I.C. Screven Co.
In Dec 1806 he traded land grants with Seaborn Jones of Richmond County, GA, and it is believed this is how he got the land, 4129 acres, where the Skinnerville community was located and is where the home of William Skinner is located. Assuming that the home was occupied by William Skinner when it was built, the home would now be 200 years old.
1808, 19 January Justice of the Peace, Richmond Co. (source: Georgia Archives)
1813-1817, 26 Feb. J.P.119th Dist. Richmond Co. ((source: Georgia Archives card file J.P. 1813-1817, p. 888)
Oct 1814, Deed from William Skinner to son John Skinner and son in law Arthur Smith of 1485 acres in Richmond and Columbia counties (Deed Book "W" p 496, possibly Columbia County but probably Richmond County.)
1820, 3 Jul. Will probated. (Signed 20 April) Lists children John, Sarah (wife of Arthur Smith), William, Leavingston, Thomas, Caroline, and Seaborn. (Ordinary of Richmond Co. has record of the Will.) GA Wills, Vol A-B, 1798-1853, p 182. Verified
Family legend is that on the day of his death (11 June 1820) he invited all of his children to come to his home for a family dinner and then, while his family was at the dinner table outside in the yard, the old major went to a point under the stairway in one of the bedrooms and there committed suicide by placing his old army musket under his chin and pulling the trigger with his toe. He was rumored to have buried a large sum of gold on his property, and for many years people would sneak on the land to dig for this gold.
1821. Letters of guardianship issued to Livingston Skinner, guardian of Carolyn Skinner and Seaborn Skinner, minor orphan children of William Skinner, deceased. (Court of Ordinary Minutes, Richmond Co., Book 2B, 1821-1840).
In 1823, Richmond Co., GA the sons of Wm SKINNER, John & William who were executors of Maj. Wm. SKINNER estate verified Moses MORGAN had paid for the 100 acres he bought from their father for $225.
In 1828 Moses sold 4 acres to his mother-in-law, Elizabeth McKEAN (McCAIN), this was out of the 100 acres bought from SKINNER. Witnesses were John LAMKIN & John WILCOX, JP. (recorded 1832)
On the 1830 Richmond Co., GA census, Moses MORGAN is found on p. 287.
In 1831 Moses MORGAN sold his land to Seaborn SKINNER for $150, recorded 1832 with A. SMITH & Arthur FOSTER, JP as witnesses.
Moses had drawn land in the GA LL and was moving from Richmond Co.
The entire branch of the Skinner family is known for being very tall. William?s grandson (also William Skinner, called ?Big Bill Skinner? by friends) was known as the ?Georgia Giant?. He was believed to be the tallest man in GA when he died in 1887. His wife was Jane E. Skinner. Jane's obituary says she was married to the "largest man in the state".
?William Skinner, known as the Georgia Giant, who stood 6 ft. 9in. in his stockings, weighed nearly 300lb and was seventy-three years of age, died recently near Augusta, Ga.?
(The New York Clipper, 26 Nov 1887, page 593)
As of Jun 2018, per Marcia Plunkett: ?My husband now owns the Skinner Family Cemetery on Skinner Mill Rd in Augusta after his mother (Catherine Skinner Plunkett) passed last year. It is landlocked and also padlocked but certainly not overgrown. Our family has always paid to have it maintained.?
Sources:
- Charles J. Skinner's "The Richmond County Skinners" self-published in 1948. (Copy is at Augusta University Library, Special Collections Room).
- Skinner article that appears the Richmond County History, Vol. 10, No. 1Winter, 1978: (Richmond County Historical Society, Richmond County History, Volumes 6-10,1974-78, Augusta, GA: The Society, 1978.) Held in the Georgia Room.
- Grave Marked 11 May 2018 by the Brier Creek, Col William Few, and Wiregrass Chapters of the GA SAR
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