Additional

Additional "Skaggs" Wills

These Wills were filled in Green County, KY but the area later became Adair County!

Charles Skaggs

WILL: Charles Skaggs, 1815 Green Co., KY Will

CHARLES SKAGGS
WILL

9 FEBRUARY 1815

GREEN COUNTY, KENTUCKY
Will Book 1 pp. 137-139

In the Name of god amen, I CHARLES SKAGGS Citizen of Green County,
Kentucky considering the Mortality of human Nature and that it was
appointed for all men once to die and after committing my body to the
ground and my soul to god who gave it, I make and constitute this
instrument of writing whereunto my name is subscribed to be my last will
and testament, revoking all others. In primis, all my debts of which there
is but few, and none of Magnitude, are to be paid, and then whatever
there remains I will and bequeath in the following manner that is to say
first my wish and desire is that my beloved wife LUCY SKAGGS shall have the
use and profit of my whole estate Real and personal during her Natural life
except such parts as I shall hereafter mention, that is to say the part of
the land and plantation whereon I now live, and whereon my son MOSES
SKAGGS Now lives, on the South side of the branch for him to have the use
and benefit of that previous to the decease of his Mother, and at her
decease to have the hold of the land the reason of my doing this is because
he paid a greater part of the price that we gave for the land, though the
deed was made to me. And at the decease of my wife; my desire is to have
the whole of the land. Item first I will and bequeath to my beloved son
ARCHIBALD SKAGGS a negro girl called SuSanna. Item I will and bequeath to
my beloved daughter RACHEL BLEVEN'S heirs one dollar. Item to my beloved
daughter NANCY MEREDITH an equal part part of my estate except such parts
as I have before mentioned and shall hereafter mention. Item I will and
bequeath, to my beloved son FREDERICK SKAGGS I will and bequeath to him
his equal part, among the other Children except such parts as is before and
hereafter shall be mentioned. Item   to my beloved daughter POLLY GRAY I
will and bequeath to her heirs one dollar. Item to my beloved daughter
SALLY ROBERTSON, I will and bequeath an equal part with the others except
the parts before and hereafter will be mentioned. Item to my beloved son
THOMAS SKAGGS I will and bequeath my Negro boy called Bob and an equal part
with the other Children of the property before mentioned and my said son
THOMAS SKAGGS I will to be the executor to my whole estate. Item to my
beloved son MOSES SKAGGS I will bequeath my Negro man called Sepio and a
rifle gun called Sepios gun together with a equal part of the property not
mentioned. Item to TEMPY BELCHER, wife to BERRY BELCHER I will and
bequeath to her a filly called the reggie muffin to be hers immediately
after my death. Item to NATHAN BLEVIN I will and bequeath two [word
crossed out] colts, one called Jolly and the other Tody.
In witness of which I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of February
in the year of Christ one thousand eight hundred and fifteen.

        CHARLES SKAGGS
Tetes
JAMES AKIN
CHARLES BLEVINS
CHARETY HOWEL
WM. G. OWENS
ZACHERIAH NANCE

At a County Court, held for Green County at the Courthouse in Greensburgh
on the 22nd day of January 1816. The within will of CHARLES SKAGGS Dec'd
was produced in Court and proven by the oath of
WILLIAM G. OWENS, ZACHERIAH NANCE and NATHANIEL OWENS subscribing witnesses
to said will, and that they believed him at the time of executing the same
to be in his perfect mind and memory and the same was ordered to be
recorded which is done accordingly. Given under my hand this 28th day of
March 1816.
                                        JOHN BARRET, cfc

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Jemima Gee Morse
morse@shentel.net

Moses Skaggs

ESTATES: MOSES SKAGGS HEIRS, ESTATE CASE # 3871, GREEN CO., KY, 1836
Part 1

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Lula (Hankins) Hunter hunter@pixie.com and Jemima Gee Morse morse@shentel.net

INTRODUCTION
Green County, Kentucky Circuit Court in Chancery Jeremiah & Aaron Lewis } Complainants
vs.
Heirs and Admrs. of Moses Skaggs dec'd, } Defendants

The Moses Skaggs Heirs Chancery Suit #3871 (MES) is a basis for genealogy of
one branch of the early Skaggs, Whitt, Hankins, Harman, Thompson, Meredith,
Mirady, Chriswell, White, Maloney, Mitchell, Beavers, Combs, Howell, Samples,
Quary, Ellis, York Ratliff, Despain, Roark, Combs, Simpson, Blevins, Jones,
Whitten, Lockhart, Cecil, Bruster, families in Kentucky and Virginia.
Abstracts of copies of the depositions in this suit, published by Barbara
Wright, have been available for several years through the Green County, Ky.,
Historical Society http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygreen/historical society.htm

The following is a line-by-line transcript of the set of MES documents in the
Green County, Ky court file, transcribed by Lula (Hankins) Hunter, who traces
her descendancy to Elizabeth (Skaggs) Hankins. Filed in 1836, the suit was
brought about forty years after the death of Moses Skaggs who died intestate
and without children, possessed of a quantity of real & personal property.
The Bill further stated that he left his only legal representatives at law,
five brothers and four sisters namely: Henry, Richard, Charles, Jacob, John,
Susannah, Lydia, Elizabeth, and Nancy.

NOTE: Moses Skaggs' two brothers, Henry and Charles Skaggs, are further
identified in a diary in which Henry and Charles' wives are identified as
sisters to Archibald Thompson. Archibald Thompson, born in 1736, left a diary
recording events in early Virginia and Kentucky history, including births and
marriage records for his and allied families in the New River Valley and in
old Lincoln Co., Ky. The diary is in the possession of an Archibald
descendant in Monroe County, Ky., and a copy is in the William B. Harlan
Memorial Library, Tompkinsville, Ky. Measuring about four-by-five inches, it
is one-hundred pages and includes some loose papers. In late 1999, a color
photo copy was made of the original diary, and a line-by-line transcript was
made, which is now posted at Doug Moore's web site
http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/archibald/

CIRCUIT COURT CASE #3871

AARON & JEREMIAH LEWIS
BILL
SKAGGS heirs & Admrs.
No. 801

Page 1
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To The Honerable Judge of the Green Circuit Court in Chancery sitting. Your
oraters Aaron & Jeramiah Lewis would respectfully represent unto your Honor
that many years since Moses Skaggs departed this life intestate and without
issue in this county of Green leaving at his death a tract of land situate &
being in this county afsd containing (   ) acres and a negro Woman Slave
named Rachel and her (   ) children named (   ) and personal property
consisting of horses cattle hogs and sheep to the value of $500 besides
various articles of farming utensils, household and kitichen furniture worth
$300 that said Moses left at his death (   ). Skaggs his widdow who lived on
the tract of land afsd and kept and retained the slaves and other property
named afsd in her possesion without Administering on the estate of said Moses
until the (   ) day of (   ) when she departed this life leaving the slaves
and a part of the persoal property afsd & she having made use of and
otherwise disposed of most of the personal property afsd before her death and
the said slaves having since the death of said Moses incresed (   ) in number
which is children of the said Rachel and has been born since the death of
said Moses. That on the (   ) day of (   ) after the death of the widdow
after a certain William Jones was regularly appointed Administrator of all
and singular jt goods & chatle rights and credits of the said Moses Skaggs
deceased by the County Court of Green

Page 2
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of the said Moses Skaggs deceased all of which will more fully and at large
appear from instruments of writing executed by the said heirs and
distributees of the estate of the said Moses Skaggs deceased as afsd which
writings marked one, two, three & four are herewith filed and made a part of
this Bill that your orators have since their purchase as afsd called on and
demanded of the said Cavin and Blevin a settlement and distribution of the
Estate of the said Moses Skaggs deceased that the said Blevin and Cavin
utterly failed and refused to settle and make distribution of said Estate
with your oraters. That the said Blevin and Cavin took possession of the
tract of land belonging to the estate of this said Moses Skaggs deceased as
the Administrators of said Estate and has as such rented the same out and
received the rent therefor and now has as such the possession of said tract
of land and fails and refuses to deliver the possession of the same to your
oraters. All of which acting and doings of the said Cavin and Blevin are
contrary to Equity and good conscience and manifestty tends to the injury and
oppression of your oraters and in as much as they are remadies in the
premises at law & can only be relieved in Equity when proved hardships &
care more properly when one may have

Page 3
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executed bond as Administrator of said Moses as afsd with James T Carter,
John Meirs and Charles Blevins his securities and that the said Jones took
possession (marked thru) the slaves and what personal property yet remained
into his possession and had then appraised and returned an inventory and said
appraisement made in due form by him as Administrator of said Moses as afsd
to the County Court of Green which was approved of by said court and ordered
to be recorded all of which will more fully appear from a copy of said order
Bond and Inventory and appraisement which is herewith filed marked (A) and is
made a part of this Bill. That Jones made no sale of the personal property
that came into his hands afsd, that he kept and applied to his own use the
work and labour and hire of said slaves from the time he was appointed
administrator as afsd untill the day of (   ) 1834 when he departed this
life which work labour & hire was reasonably worth the sum of $300 per year
from the time he Administered untill his death that afsd Jones when he was
the Administrator of said Moses as afsd collected and received large sums of
money that was due & coming to the Estate of said Moses towit the sum of
$1000 That after the death of said Jones towit on the (   ) day of October
1834 the said Charles Blevins, and William Cavin was on their motion
regularly appointed Adminis-

Page 4
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trators of the Goods chattles rights and credits of the Estate of the said
Moses by the County Court of Green and they executed bond with William
Coakly, James Mears and Robert Scoot their securities and the said Blevins
and Cavin took possession of the slaves and the personal property which was
yet unsold belonging to the Estate of the said Moses, and had the same
regularly appraised and returned to the County Court of Green, which
appraisement was approved of and ordered to be recorded by said Court all of
which will more fully and at large appear from a copy of said order bond and
appraisement which is herewith filed marked (B) and is made a part of this
Bill that the said Blevin and Cavin since they was appointed Administrator of
the Estate of said Moses as afsd sold one of said slaves towit Rachel worth
$700 and has applied the money to their own use. That the hire of said Rachel
is & has been ever since the said Cavin and Blevin received the possession of
her as afsd reasonably worth the sum of $50 per year that the said Blevin and
Cavin have ever since they received the possession of the said slaves as afsd
kept and applied their work and labor to their own use which is now & has
been ever since they received them as afsd reasonably worth the sum of $300
per year that the said Blevin and Cavin have received and collected since
they was appointed Administrators of the estate of the said Moses as afsd
large sums of money that was due and owing the Estate of said Moses towit the
sum of $1000 all of which they have

Page 5
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invested. May it please your Honer the premise considered to Grant them
chancery process against the said James T Carter, John Meers and Charles
Blevins the securities of the said William Jones deceased and the said
Charles Blevins and William Cavin and William Coakly, James Mears and Robert
Scott their securities, and the said sons and daughters and their husbands as
before stated of the said John Skaggs deceased and of the said Susanah Whit
and her husband Richard Whit and of the said Lydia Harman and her husband
Mathias Harman and of the said Elizabeth Hankins and her husband John Hankins
and of the said Nancy Merady and her husband William Merady who are the only
heirs and distributees of the said Moses Skaggs deceased, all of whom your
orators makes defendants to this Bill may be compeled to appear and answer
all and singular the allegations of the same on oath that the said Blevin and
Cavin answer and say how many children of the said Slaves has been born since
they came into their possession as before stated what is their age, names and
sex. That your Honer decree in favour of your orators against the defts
Carter, John Meers and Charles Blevin for such sums as may be coming to them
as afsd from the said William Jones deceased that was

Page 6
_____________________________________________________________________________

applied to their own use that the said Moses Skaggs deceased left at his
death four sisters to wit Susannah Skaggs had intermarried with one Richard
Whit, Lydia who had intermarried with Mathias Harman, Elizabeth who had
intermarried with John Hankins, and Nancy who had intermarried with William
Merady and brothers to wit John Skaggs, Henry Skaggs, Richard Skaggs,
Charles Skaggs, Jacob Skaggs that the afsd brothers all except John Skaggs
have since the death of the said Moses departed this life intestate and
without issue leaving the said John Skaggs and the afsd Susanah Whit and her
husband Richard Whit, Lydia Harman and her husband Mathias Harman,
Elizabeth Hankins and her husband John Hankins and Nancy Merady and her
husband William Merady [and the said John Skaggs, marked thru] their only
heirs at law that the said John Skaggs, Susanah Whit & her husband Richard
Whit, Lydia Harman and her husband Mathias Harman, Elizabeth Hankins and
her husband John Hankins, and Nancy Merady and her husband William Merady
have also departed this life intestate leaving the following persons their
children and heirs at law towit the said John Skagg had one daughter named
Susanah who is now the wife of of William Quary and one other daughter named
(    ) now the wife of Thomas York and one other daughter named (    ) now
the wife of Laban Ellis and one other daughter named Rebecca Skaggs who
remains unmarried. The only children and heirs at law of the said Richard
Whit and his wife Susanah late Susanah Skaggs are Susanah Criswelll, late
Susanah Whit who intermarried with ( ) Criswell who after his marriage with
said Susanah departed this life and Edmond Whit and the only children and

Page 7
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heirs at law of the said Lydia Harman and her husband Mathias Harman are Adam
Harman, Henry Harman and Mathias Harman and one daughter named (    ) who is
now the wife of Robert Beavers and one other daughter named (    ) now the
wife of Moses Beavers and one other daughter named (    ) now the wife of
Thomas Christian. The only children and heirs at law of Elizabeth Hankins and
her husband John Hankins are one daughter named (    ) who is now the wife of
Archabald Maloney, one other daughter named (    ) now the wife of John
Mitchell and one other daughter named (    ) now the wife of John Howell and
one other daughter named (    ) now the wife of Joseph Whit and Prathena
Hankins, Lucy Hankins, and Lydia Hankins and Joseph Hankins & Moses Hankins
and the only children and heirs at law of the said Nancy Merady and her
husband William Merady are James Merady, John Merady, Daniel Merady,
Mathias Merady and William Merady that the afsd sons and daughters of the
said John Skaggs and of the said Susanah Whit and Richard Whit her husband
and of the said Lydia Harman and her husband, Mathias Harman and of the said
Elizabeth Hankins and John Hankins her husband and of the said Nancy Merady
and her husband William Merady are now the only heirs at law of the said
Moses Skaggs deceased. They state that the widdow of the said Moses after the
death of the said Moses and

Page 8
_____________________________________________________________________________

before her death afsd sold and conveyed all her right title interest and
claim in & to the Estate of the said Moses to the said Charles Blevin and
that at her death she had no interest whatever in said Estate. Your orators
state that the number names and sex of the afsd slaves that came into the
possession of the said Jones and afterwards into the possession of the said
Blevin and Cavin as the Administrators of the estate of the said Moses Skaggs
deceased will fully and at large appear from the copies of the afsd inventory
and appraisement made out by them and returned to the county court of Green
as afsd which is made a part of the Bill as afsd. They charge that there has
been other slaves children of the afsd slaves born since they came into the
possession of the said Cavin and Blevin as afsd. Your orators charge that
they have recently purchased for a valuable consideration the intire interest
right and title of the sons and daughters and the husbands of the daughters
as before stated of the said John Skaggs, Susanah Whit and her husband
Richard Whit, Elizabeth Hankins and her husband John Hankins and Mathias
Harman and his wife Lydia Harman and the said William Merady and his wife
Nancy Merady who are now and was at the time afsd the purchase the only heirs
at law & distributees

Page 9
_____________________________________________________________________________

(Parts of this page missing, torn, lines slanted]

__?__ decree in favor of the said Blevin and Cavin __?__ to your oraters the
afsd and the __?__ of land Honer decree against said & heir securities
value __?__ Rachel together with __?__ __?__ the amount that the said
Blevin __?__ may be found indebted _?__ final __?__ of said Estate and
further Grant unto your oraters all such other and further relief as they may
show them selves entitled to and they as in duty bond will ever pray (appears
to be a signature, not legible)

Page 10

ESTATES: MOSES SKAGGS HEIRS, ESTATE CASE # 3871, GREEN CO., KY, 1836
Part 2

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Lula (Hankins) Hunter hunter@pixie.com and Jemima Gee Morse morse@shentel.net

The answer of William Skaggs Senr to a Bill filed in chancery by A & J Lewis
against him and others in the Green Circuit Court who for answer say, he is
is a son and heir at law of Jacob Skaggs, deceased a brother of Moses Skaggs
deceased and that he is willing for a decree to be entered in favour of said
A & J Lewis for that portion of said Moses Skaggs Estate that may be coming
to this deft at the present term of the said Court and having fully answered
he prays, to be dismissed &c.
/s/ William Skaggs

----------------------------------------------------------------
Messrs. Charles Blevins, William Cavin, James T. Carter, John Meers, William
Coakley, James Meers, and Robert Scott, Take notice, that on the 27 of (   )
day of this month at the house of William Skaggs, on Alecks fork of Pitmans
Creek, we shall proceed to take the depositions of Frances Samples, William
Ratliff and others to be read as evidence on the trial of a suit in chancery
now pending in the Green Circuit Court wherein we are Complainants and
yourselves and others are defendants. If we do not finish on that day we will
continue from day to day until all are finished. April the 18th 1836.
/s/ Aaron Lewis
/s/ Jeremiah Lewis

Page 11
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The Commonwealth of Kentucky to any two Justices of the Peace of the state of
Virginia Greeting Know ye that we trusting to your fidelity and provident
circumspection in diligently taking the deposition of Moses Hankins, Joseph
White, Mathias Harman, James Harman, Joseph Hankins, Bird Lockhart, Abel
Hankins, William White, John White, James White and Shadrack White.

As well On the part of Aaron & Jeremiah Lewis Complainants as Charles Blevins
and William Cavins (admr. of the Estate of Moses Skaggs Decd) defendants in a
certain suit in Chancery depending in the Greene Circuit Court - we command
you that at such time and place as the parties may direct you cause the
witnesses aforesaid to come before you and their depositons, On Oath take and
send and certify to Our Circuit Court aforesaid at the Courthouse in
Greensburg On the first day of August Term next enclosed to gether with this
writ Witness John Barret Clerk of Our said Court at the Clerks Office this
18th day of July 1836 and 45th year of the Commonwealth.
/s/ John Barret Clk

Page 12
______________________________________________________________________________

The depositon of William Ratliff taken at the house of William Skaggs, on
Aleck fork of Pitmans Creek pursuant to notice on the 27th of April 1836, to
be read in evidence on the trial of a suit in Chancery now pending in the
Green Circuit Court, in which Aaron and Jeremiah Lewis are complainants and
William Cavin, Charles Blevins, and others are defendants. The deponent being
of lawful age and first duly sworn deposeth and says I was acquainted with
Moses Skaggs of Green County, Kentucky. He had four sisters towit Susanah,
who married one Richard Whit, Lydia, who married Matthias Harman, Betty
(Elizabeth) who married John Han- kins, and Nancy who married William Meridy.
I was acquainted with all of them in the State of Virginia, and quite
intimate with them.

Question by Complainants: Have Moses Skaggs or not one brother by the name of
John Skaggs.
Answer: Yes he had.

Question of same: Have or have not the sisters above named the only sisters,
which Moses Skaggs had.
Answer: Yes they were all that I know of.

Page 13
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Question of same: State if you can when Moses Skaggs died and where he lived
at the time of his death.
Answer: I can not say certainly when he died, but think it has been about
forty years. He died at his house in Green County.

Question by same: Did or did not sd Moses Skaggs have at his death any
children.
Answer: He never had any children that I know of. He had none I know when he
died.

Question by same: Did or did not Richard Whit & wife, Matthias Harman & wife,
and John Hankins and wife live in the State of Virginia.
Answer: They did.

Question by Defendant: Are you acquainted with the Children of John Hankins,
Hezekiah Whit & Matthias Harman.
Answer: None but the Children of Hankins and one of Whit.

Question by same: State how long it has been since you was acquainted with
the above named Children.
Answer: About thirty years.

Page 14
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Question by same: Was you acquainted with the sisters of Moses Skaggs
previous to their marriage.
Answer: Yes I was.

Question by same: Was you acquainted with the brothers of Moses Skaggs, if so
name them.
I was acquainted with Henry, James, Charles, John, Richard & Jacob, these
were all the brothers of William Skaggs
[Moses Skaggs?]

Question by same: Did you know them in Kentucky and did they not all raise
large families.
Answer: Yes I believe they did.

Question by same: Was you acquainted with the children of the above named
persons.
Answer: I was acquainted with some of them Rachel Blevins, Archabal Skaggs,
Thomas Skaggs, William Skaggs, these are Charles Skaggs children.

Question by same: Was you acquainted with Henry Skaggs children & how many of
them
Answer: I was acquainted Lucy Stacy, Mary Combs & James Skaggs & Silvey
Roark.

Question by same: Was you acquainted with the children of James Skaggs
I was acquainted with William Skaggs & Rachel Etherton the children of James
Skaggs.

Page 15
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Question by same: Was you acquainted with Richard Skaggs children.
Answer: I knew Henry Skaggs.

Question: Did all the children of the above named persons live in the state
of Kentucky & the County Green.
Answer: I believe they did.

Question of Complainants: Were you or not acquainted with the children of
Jacob Skaggs.
Answer: He had one son by the name of William Skaggs who is now living in
Green County.

And further this deponent says no.
/s/ William (x) Ratliff (his mark)

Also in deposition of Frances Samples, taken at the same time and place and
for the same purpose. This deponent being of lawful age and first duly sworn
says.

Question of Complainant: Were you or not acquainted with Moses Skaggs, who
died in Green County about forty years since.
Answer: I was.

Question of same: How many sisters had by and when did they marry.
Answer: He had four sisters only, to wit Susana married Richard Whit, Lydia
married

Page 16
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Matthias Harman, Elizabeth married John Hankins, and Nancy who married
Meridy.

Question by same: Did they or not live in the State of Virginia when you knew
them.
Answer: I think it was.

Question by same: Had or not Moses Skaggs also some brothers, and if so name
them.
Answer: I think he had six brothers towit. Henry, John, James, Charles,
Richard, Jacob. These were all that I ever knew and believe he ever had.

Question by same: Did or did not Moses Skaggs ever have any children.
Answer: No, he never had any that I ever knew and I was intimately acquainted
with him.

Question of same: Was or not the wife of sd Moses Skaggs named Elizabeth, and
did she not survive him.
Answer: Yes, that was her name, and she did survive him many years & she has
been dead not a long while.

Question by same: Have or not you and Jacob Skaggs

Page 17
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brother of sd Moses lawfully married with.
Answer: We were, and lived together many years as man & wife.

Question by same: How many children had you and what are their names.
Answer: We had but one, and he is named William and is now living in this
County.

Question by Defendants: Do you consider yourself the widow of Jacob Skaggs
deceasd.
Answer: I do.

Question by same: Do or do you not consider yourself interested in the estate
of Moses Skaggs Decd [either for yourself or your son William] marked thru.
Answer: I do not know that I do.

Question by same: Do you or do you not consider yourself interested in sd
Estate for your son William.
Answer: I do not and further this deponant sayeth not.
/s/ Frances (x) Samples (her mark)

Also the deposition of John Spratt taken at the same time and place for the
same purpose. The deponent being of lawful age and first duly sworn days.

Question by Complainants: Are you or not

Page 18
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acquainted with the tract of land on which old Moses Skaggs lived and died in
Green.
Answer: I am acquainted with the land on which I have been informed sd Moses
lived and died.

Question by same: State if William Jones who was Admr of the estate of sd
Moses did or not live on, and rent out a tract of land for many years
previous to his death.
Answer: He lived on and cultivated it for two or three years & I do not know
whether he ever rented it out.

Question by same: State what the plantation was worth rent, per year at the
time Jones occupied it.
Answer: I should think the plantation at the time he had it was worth at the
least one hundred dollars per year on an average.

Question by same: Do you or do you not know that sd Jones had this following
slave towit, Rachel, Lydia & Matilda, which belonged to the estate of sd
Moses in his possession as Admr. for same years before his death and that he
appropriated their labor to his use.
Answer: He had for two or three years

Page 19 _____________________________________________________________________________

Question by same: State what each of those negro Women were worth hire, per
year during the time he had them.
Answer: I think they were worth twenty five a piece I would have been
willing to have given that.

Question by same: Do you or not know that since the death of sd William Jones
William Caven and Charles Blevins, have had access to sd slaves in
possession as Admrs. of sd Moses Skaggs and that they have been enjoying the
benifit of their labours.
Answer: They have.

Question by same: Would you or not suppose be of the opinion that they were
worth as much per year since Cavin & Blevins have had them in possession, as
they were when Jones had them.
Answer: Yes.

Question by same: Do you or not know that since the death of sd Jones, sd
Cavin and Blevin have been renting out the land above spoken of and was or
not the land during the time they have been renting it worth at the least
one hundred and thirty dollars per year.
Answer: They have been renting it out and I think it was worth one hundred
and thirty per year.

Page 20

ESTATES: MOSES SKAGGS HEIRS, ESTATE CASE # 3871, GREEN CO., KY, 1836
Part3

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Lula (Hankins) Hunter hunter@pixie.com and Jemima Gee Morse morse@shentel.net

Question by same: Are you or not acaquainted with Rachel, Lydia, Matilda,
Gabriel, Ann, Marion, Mary, Lewis & Frank Henry and family, if so state what
each of them are worth.
Answer: I have known them for many years, Rachel I should think worth three
hundred dollars; Lydia is worth six hundred; Matilda five hundred; Gabriel is
worth four hundred; Ann is worth two hundred & fifty; Marion is worth one
hundred and fifty; Mary is worth three hundred dollars; Lewis is worth three
hundred and Frank-Henry is worth one hundred and fifty dollars.

Question by Defendant: Were you acquainted with the farm and the value of
renting per day at the time Jones took the same in possession.
Answer: I think it was worth fifty or sixty dollars per year.

Question by same: Was not a part of the farm leased out at the time Jones
came into the possession of the same.
Answer: It was.

Question by same: How much more was the rent of the land worth at Jones death
that it was at the time sd Jones took the same in possession
Answer: I think it was double as much.

Page 21
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Question by same: What was the improvement of the farm worth by the labour sd
Jones put on the same.
Answer: I think sd Jones improved the farm to the amount of three Hundred
dollars.

Question by same: Was not the widow of Moses Skaggs Decd supported from the
proceads of the farm & Neagroes before and after Jones came into the
possession of the same.
Answer: I believe the widow was supported from the proceads previous to Jones
coming into the possession and I believe Jones supported her after he got into the
possession of sd farm.

Question by same: Did not the property above mentioned remain in the
possession of the widow after Jones death, so long as she lived.
Answer: I believe the Neagroes did.

Question by same: Did you ever know the Widow to disposeth of the farm during her life.
Answer: She lived and died there.

Question by Complainants: do you or do you not know that although the Widow
lived on the farm until her death, that the larger portion of it was rented
out by the Administrators.
Answer: I do.

Question by same: Do you not know that

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during the time Jones had the plantation in possion, that much of the
valuable timbers or it was destroyed, and the land was worn and deteriorated
by the cultivation of it.
Answer: I think some of the valuable timber was destroyed and the land has
been injured most has been always cultivated in corn and oats.

Question by same: Do you or do you not know that before the death of the
Widow, Cavin and Blevins leased the farm and some of the Negroes, to one
Ratliff, and that they recvd one hundred & twenty five barrels of corn from
him as the rent of sd Cavin.
Answer: They did rent the land, and on the slaves to Ratliff. I understand
that [Ratliff was to give them one half of corn and tobacco. myself &
Archibald Ratliff made an estimate of lumber supposed there would be two
hundred fifty barrels of corn and two thousand pounds of tobacco. [Words
within brackets is marked thru] I can not say on what terms.

Question: Have or not the lease of which you have spoken as being on the land
when Jones took the possession it nearly expired.
Answer: I do not know. And further he sayeth not.
/s/ John Spratt

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Also the deposition of Peter Despain taken at the same time and place and for
the same purpose the deponent being of lawful age and and sworn deposeth &
says.

Question by complainant: Were you or not acquainted with Moses Skaggs and
formerly of Green County Answer: I was, I lived with in the State of Virginia
and came with him to this County.

Question by same: Did he or not die in this county, did he or not have or
ever have any children.
Answer: He did die in this county many years ago. He never had any children.
His father and mother died many years before Moses. He had however four
sisters only towit, Susanah, Lydia Elizabeth and Nancy. Susanah married
Richard Whit, Lydia married Matthias Harman, Elizabeth married John Hankins
and Nancy married William Meridy. He also had the following brothers towit,
James Henry, Richard, John, Jacob and Charles. Elizabeth, Susanah and Lydia
with their husbands lived in Virginia, where I suppose their children are now
living.

Question by same: Did or not Moses Skaggs die before any of his sisters and
before John Skaggs.
Answer: I do not know when the sisters in Virginia died. Moses however died
many years ago and before his sister Nancy Meridy and before John Skaggs.

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Commonwealth of Kentucky to the sheriff of Green County Greeting you are hear
by Commanded to summon James T Carter, John Mears, Charles Blevins, William
Cavin, William Coakly, James Mears, Robert Scott, Susanah Quary, Thomas York
and wife, Labin Ellis & wife, Rebecca Skaggs, Susanah Criswell, Edmond Whit,
Adam Harman, Henry Harmon, Mathias Harman, Robert Beavers and wife, Moses
Beavers & wife, Thomas Christian & wife, Archibald Malony & wife, John
Mitchell & wife, John Howell & wife, Joseph Whit, Prathena Hankins, Lucy
Hankins, Lydia Hankins, Joseph Hankins, Moses Hankins, James Mirady, John
Mirady, Daniel Mirady, Mathias Mirady & William Mirady to appear before the
judge of the Green Circuit Court at the Court house in Greensburg on the 1st
day of our May term next to answer a bill in Chancery exhibited against them
in our said Court by Aaron Lewis and Jeremiah Lewis and this you shall in no
wise omit under the penalty of £100. and have them there this wit witness
John Barret Clerk of our said Court at the Clerks office in Greensburg this
3rd day of March 1836 and 44th year of the Commonwealth.

/s/ John Barret

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Aaron & Jeramiah Lewis amends their Bill in the suit now pending in the Green
Circuit Court of them against the Administrator heirs and Moses Skaggs
deceased and others now pending in Chancery, these complainants state that
they have been informed and and charges that the Brothers of the said Moses
Skaggs as named and set forth by them in their said original Bill towit Henry
Skaggs, Richard Skaggs Charles Skaggs, Jacob Skaggs & James Skaggs all died
without lawful children as they believe. That the said James departed this
life long since and after the death of the said Moses that each of the said
brothers married and set forth in this Bill never was married but your rators
have been informed and charges that each one of them had what is called
natural children, at their death who are same of whom they have been informed
set up claim to a part of the Estate of the said Moses Skaggs as the lawful
children and heirs at law of the afsd deceased brothers of the said Moses
desd.

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They state that the names and residence of the natural children of the heirs
at law (if there be any other than they have stated in Bill) of the heirs
at law of the Brothers of the said Moses Skaggs deceased are all unknown to
these complainants except William Skaggs who they are informed claims to be
the son & heir of the afsd Jacob Skaggs deceased. These complainants state
that the names of the heirs at law of the Widdow Elizabeth Skaggs & of the
said Moses Skaggs deceased are also unknown to them. They state that she
died many years since in the county of Green and that no person has ever
administered on her estate. They make the unknown heirs at law of the
Brothers of the said Moses Skaggs decd. towit Charles, Jacob, Henry, Richard
and James Skaggs whose names are unknown to your orator except as before
stated defendants to this and the original Bill they also make the unknown
heirs at law of the Widow of the said Moses Skaggs deceased defendants. to
this & their original Bill, They also make the said William Skaggs a deft. to
sd Bill and pray that they may be compeled to appear and answer all the
allegations of said Bills, and that your Honor grant unto your orators all
such relief as they have asked for in their original Bill and they as in duty
bound will ever pray &c.

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This day personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace in and for the
County of Green and State of Kentucky. The within named Aaron and Jeramiah
Lewis and made oaths that the surities of the Heirs at law of Henry Skaggs,
Charles Skaggs, Richard Skaggs, Jacob Skaggs and James Skaggs deceased
brothers of Moses Skaggs deceased if there are others than these named and
aledged in their original & amended Bill filed in this cause. Also the names
of the heirs at law of Elizabeth Skaggs deceased the Widdow of the said Moses
Skaggs deceased are all unknown to them except so far as their names are set
forth in their original & amended Bill. Given under my hand this 1st day of
September 1837.

/s/ Alexandr. McCandless J.P.GC

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I, J. H. Caulfield, printer and publisher, of the "Kentucky Register," a
public authorised newspaper, published in Elizabethtown, Ky., do certify,
that, the annexed order of publication in Chancery, wherein Jeremiah Lewis
and Aaron Lewis are complainants against the heirs of Moses Skaggs deceased--
-----defendants has been published in said paper for two calendar months, by
successive weekly insertions, commencing on the 2nd day of April last and
ending on the 2nd day of June 1836. Given under my hand this 2nd day of June
1836.
J. H. Caulfield

Proprietor, Printer & Publisher of "Ky. Register."
Printer's fee $5.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ADVERTISEMENTS
Green Circuit court, Feb. term, 1836
Jeremiah Lewis and Aaron Lewis, complainants, against the heirs of Moses
Skeggs, dec'd, defts.---In Chancery:
This day came the complainants and filed their bill, and it appearing to
the satisfaction of the court, that the defendants James Meredeth, John
Meredeth, Daniel Meredeth, Matthew Meredeth, Wm. Meredeth, Susanna Quary and
Wm. Quary her husband, Thomas York and wife, Laban Ellis and wife, Rebecca
Skaggs, Susanna Criswell, Edw. Whit, Adam Harman, Henry Harman, Matthias
Harman, Robert Beavers and wife, Moses Beavers and wife, Thomas Christian and
wife, Josiah Whit and wife, Archibald Maloney and wife, John Mitchell and
wife, Joseph Howell and wife, Parthena Hankins, Lucy Hankins, Lydia Hankins,
Joseph Hankins, and Moses Hankins, are not inhabitants of this commonwealth,
and they not having answered the complainants bill a greeably to law and the
rules of this court. it is ordered that unless the aforesaid nonresidents do
answer the same on or before the first day of the next term of this court,
the same will be taken as confessed against them. A Copy test,
John Barret, Cl'k.
April 2----

Charles Blevins and Wm. Cavin}
vs.
Jeremiah Lewis & Aaron Lewis } In Chny.

The respondents separately came & defend to and not admitting, but protesting
against & denying the allegations of the bill of the Complts. for answer
thereto separately say, that the afsd. bill and the matters and things
therein containd. are not good & sufficient in law, for him to have &
maintain his sd. bill; and each one says, that he is not bound by the law
of the land further to answer thereto; and this they are ready to verify &C.

/s/ Buckner for Deft.

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Messrs. Jeremiah Lewis & Aaron Lewis Take Notice that on the 1st Monday in
February next we shall take the depositions of Elias Barbee & others at the
house of William Sympson Esqr. in Green County to be read as evidence in the
suit in Chancery defending in the Green Circuit Court in which you are
Complts. & we are Defts. & we shall continue from day to day till they be
completed.

16th Jany 1837
/s/ Wm Cavins
/s/ Charles Blevins

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The deposition of Elias Barbee taken at the House of William Sympson in the
County of Green and State of Kentucky on the 6th day of February 1837
agreebly To the notice hereto annexed to be heard as evidence on the part of
the defendants in a suit in Chancery now Depending in the Circuit Court for
the County of Green where in Jeramiah Lewis and Aaron Lewis is Complainants
and William Cavin and Charles Blevins Defendants the deponant being of lawful
age and first duly sworn deposeth and saith

Question by deponants: Are you are you not acquainted towitt the lands of
Moses Skaggs decd. where on William Jones decd. formerly lived.
Answer: I am.

Question by same: Is the land increased in value by the improvement made by
said Jones.
Answer: I want to presume that its value had been increased but to what
extent I am not able to say.

Question by same: Was you or was you not acquainted with Moses Skaggs decd.
in his life time.
Answer: I was.

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2nd question by same: Was you or was you not acquainted with the Brothers &
Sisters of sd. Skaggs & if so how many of them.
Answer: I was. I was not acquainted with his sisters if he had any. Those of
his Brothers who claimed to be such was Henry Skaggs, Charles Skaggs, John
Skaggs, Richd. Skaggs & Jacob Skagg.

Question by same: Do you or do you not recollect how long since the death of
Moses Skeaggs.
Answer. I do not recollect but suppose about forty years.

Question by same: Do you know if any of his Brothers are living.
Answer: I do not.

Question by same: Do you or do you not know wheather any of said Brothers
left issue.
Answer: I believe a majority did.

Question by Compls: Do you or do you not know whether Jacob Skaggs left any
lawfull issue.
Answer: I have allways understood he did not.

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Question by same: Do you or do you not know wheather the other Brothers of
Moses Skaggs decd. left lawfull issue or not.
Answer: I had never learned but what he were lawfully married to the woman by
which they had issue.

And farther this deponant sayith not.
/s/ Elias Barbee

Also the deposition of Thornton Buckner taken at the same place & at the
same time for the purpose mentioned in the foregoing caption.

Question by defendants: Are you or are you not acquainted with the lands of
Moses Skaggs decd whereon WilliamJones Decd formerly lived & if so state the
increased value of said land by the improvements made by said Jones.
Answer: I am acquainted with it. It is increased in value but to what amount
I can not say.

& furthermore this deponant saith not.
/s/ Thornton Buckner

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This day personally appeared before me a justice of the Peace in and for the
County of Green and State of Kentucky, Aaron & Jeremiah Lewis of the same
county and State and made oath that there is a suit in Chancery now pending
in the Green Circuit Court, wherein they are Complainants and Charles
Blevins, William Caven and others are defendants, and that in sd suit, Moses
Hankins, Joseph White, Matthias Harman, James Harman, Joseph Hankins, Bird
Lockhart, Abel Hankins, William White, John White, James White, and Shadrack
White, all of whom live in the State of Virginia are informant witnesses for
them and that they know of no previous other persons by whom they can prove
the same facts. Given under my hand and seal as justice aforesaid this 18th
of July 1836.

/s/ Wm. B Allen J.P. S.C.

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also the depposition of Daniel Turner taken at the same time & place & for
the same purpose in the foregoing caption named.

Question by defendants: Do you or do you not know the negro woman Matilda &
her Children formerly in the possession of William Cavin & how long William
Cavin had them in possession.
Answer: I knew her & her three children the time sd. Cavin had her & her
children in possession was about twelve months.

Question by same: Do you or do you not know that the children was sick with
the flux some five or six weeks.
Answer: I believe they were sick but I do not know how long I suppose that
length of time.

Question by same: Do you or do you not believe that from the sickness of said
Negroes that they were of considerable expense to Cavin over & above the
labor performed by them.
Answer: I think the labor performed by them would compensate said Cavin for
keeping them.

Page 35

Henry Skaggs

WILL: Henry Skaggs, 1809 Green Co., Ky.,

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Jemima Gee Morse morse@shentel.net

HENRY SKAGGS WILL
5 APRIL 1809

GREEN COUNTY, KENTUCKY
Will Book 1 pp. 56-57

Will

In the name of God Amen, I HENRY SKAGGS of the County of Green and state of Kentucky do make
this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following (To wit) I leave all my Estate both real and
personal to my beloved Wife to be enjoyed by her during her life, and after her death, the tract of Land
wher on I now live I give to my Grand son JOHN SKAGGS son of JAMES SKAGGS; my Negro man
Bob I give to my son DAVID SKAGGS;   my negro woman Lucy I give to SYLVIA ROARK; I give to
my Daughter SARAH SKAGGS a negro girl Rachel; I give to my son JAMES SKAGGS the rest of my
negroes,   jinney, and all her Children except (Rachel) and her further increase should she have any during
either my life time or the lifetime of my Wife. The ballance of my Estate is to be sold, and I give one Dollar
to STEPHEN SKAGGS, the Ballance to be equally divided amongst my Children hereafter named,
SOLOMON SKAGGS, LUCY STACY, RACHEL RAY, NANCY D SPANE, POLLY COMBS what I
have here left to each of my Children is in addition to what I have heretofore given   Lastly I do appoint my
son JAMES SKAGGS and ELIAS BARBEE Executors to this my last Will Revoking all others
heretofore made by me. In testamony where of I here unto set my hand and seal this fifth day of April in
the year of our Lord 1809.
Signed, sealed and puplished in the presence of

HENRY SKAGGS (mark) (seal)
ELIAS BARBEE x
JOHN BARBEE x
LARKIN DURRET x
JAMES RAFITY x
WILLIAM BARBEE x

At a County Court held for Green County on the 4th Monday in december 1810.
This will was produced into Court and proven by the oath off LARKIN DURRET, JAMES RAFFIRTY
and JOHN BARBEE and ordered to be recorded which is done accordingly by
Clerk JOHN BARRET DC