Peter's Lawrence County, KY Years

Old Peter Skaggs stops showing up in Virginia records in 1811.  Apparently at that point he moves on to Kentucky, specifically Floyd County.  A large part of eastern Kentucky was known as Floyd County then, later in 1822 Lawrence County was created from Floyd.  Our evidence of Peter Skaggs in Kentucky is from present-day Lawrence County, specifically Blaine Creek.


  Kentucky Land Warrants

In 1815 the Kentucky State Legislature passed an act relative to land distribution, and the records written in fulfilment of this statute are now known as Kentucky Land Warrant, 1816-1873. The act of the General Assembly governing this group of grants opened for sale, at $20.00 per 100 acres, all the vacant lands to anyone in Kentucky, except an alien. The method followed was similar to that originally employed by Virginia, the purchaser securing receipt from the State Treasurer which was in turn converted into a land office warrant, authorizing the owner to locate and survey a certain acreage. When this had been completed and returned to the land office it was registered and a land patent was issued to the owner within about six months. This law, however, did not apply to lands west of the Tennessee River.  

Peter Skaggs, 100, D, 392, 6-24-1817, Floyd, Big Blanes Cr
John Skagg, 100, G, 402, 12-20-1819, Floyd, Clain Cr
Lewis Scaggs, 50, H, 41, 6-5-1817, Floyd, Big Blains Cr

100 acres on Big Blaine Creek was patented to Peter Skaggs from the State of Kentucky on June 24, 1817.  Land was also patented to his sons Lewis and John.

1820 Census – Floyd County (the county Prior to Lawrence), KY:
Peter Skaggs
4 Males under the age of 25
1 Male 45 +
1 Female under the age of 10
1 Female 25-45

It looks like from the 1820 census that Peter lived with his wife, four sons and a daughter.

1823 – First Tax List for Lawrence County, KY – the portion that was
in Floyd County, KY before 1823:

Jeremiah Scaggs, John Scaggs, Lewis Scaggs, Peter Scaggs, Solomon
Scaggs, Solomon Scaggs, Jr.

The initial tax list for the new Lawrence County (formed from Floyd County) KY compiled in 1823 listed Peter and his sons Lewis, John, Jeremiah and Solomon.  Also listed was an older Solomon Scaggs.  Legend has it that this older Solomon was Peter's brother.

1830 Census - Lawrence County, KY:

Peter Scags, Sr.
3 Males under the age of 19;
1 Male 60-69
3 Females under the age of 19;
1 Female 50-59

The 1830 census has Peter living with his wife, three sons and three daughters.

1840 Census – Lawrence County, KY:

Peter Skeggs
2 Males under the age of 30
1 Male 80 – 90
1 Female 60 – 70

The 1840 census has Peter living with his wife and two sons.

Peter died October 21, 1841 in Lawrence County, KY.  He was survived by his wife, Martha.

Peter Scaggs' will from the Lawrence County, KY Will Book 1, Page 19:

In the name of God, Amen. This 23rd day of Sept. in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty three, State of Kentucky, Lawrence County. I, Peter Skaggs, of said county and state aforesaid being in very feeble state of body but of sound mind and memory do make this my last will and testament at the same time eitterally revoking all other declaring this to be my last will and testament.

First, My just debts to be paid and my body resigned to the tomb andmy soul to God who gave it. I give and bequeath the whole andresidue of my estate whether real or personal and everything I am possessed of what so ever or where so ever; I give and bequeath the whole to my beloved wife Patty Skaggs during her natural life and at her decease a sale to be made of all that remains of my said estate, I give and bequeath to my youngest son Christian Skaggs fifty dollars and no more and the balance if any remains to be equally divided among my loving children and at the same time I do appoint my son Sollomon Skaggs my executor of this last will and testament.  To which I have here unto set my hand and seal this day and date above written.

Signed, Sealed and delivered in the presence of: Campbell Rice, Walter Osborne, Meredith Edwards

Peter (his X mark) Skaggs

State of Kentucky
Lawrence County

I George F Hatcher clerk of the county court for the county aforesaid do certify that this last will and testament of Peter Skaggs, Sr. appears to have been produced in open court on 22nd day
of November, 1841 and proven and ordered to record wherefore the same is accordingly done.

ATTEST: George F Hatcher, Clerk

Peter wrote his will on September 23, 1833 and his son Solomon was executor.  The will was read on November 22, 1841.