According to the book, Deerskins and Duffels: Creek Indian Trade with Anglo-America, 1685-1815 by Kathryn E. Braund, Archibald McGillivray was an Irishman who had been trading with the Indians since the 1730s. By 1741 McGillivray had taken in several partners, including Patrick Brown. When Archibald McGillivray retired from the firm in 1744, Patrick Brown established himself as the new director of the company and he renamed it Patrick Brown and Company and moved the headquarters from South Carolina to Augusta, Georgia. By the end of the 1740s Patrick Brown had joined forces with other companies to form Brown, Rae and Company. This company dominated the southern deerskin trade and drove most competitors out of business. By the time Patrick Brown died in 1755 his company owned 75% of the trade with the Creeks and Chickasaws.
Patrick Brown's documented death in 1755 presents problems for the researchers that claim Martha Cothon Skaggs was the daughter of Patrick Brown:
- Martha would have been about 110 years old when she died around 1865;
- She would have been about 56 years old when her last child, Rutha Skaggs, was born in 1811;
- She would have been significantly older than her age provided in the 1850 and 1860 censuses.
Once again, it looks like we have another case of a Skaggs myth overtaking reality. Martha Cothon Skaggs was not the daughter of Patrick Brown the Indian trader.
True, I agree. But just because its proven Martha Cothron doesn't have Indian blood in her to pass on through the generations, it doesn't mean she never had Indian influences in her younger life. I just can't envision her children/grandchildren or Great grandchildren would intentionally lie about her heritage. Also, there is something significant about Martha (Cothron) and Darky (Gothrin). Its to similar to be coincidence.Just can't put my finger on it......Could Martha Cothron be the 2nd child that Ruth Skaggs Bishop brought back from Indian captivity in 1779 ?
ReplyDeleteI agree, it is documented that the Skaggs family had frequent Indian contact. It could be that Martha Cothron was considered Indian by cultural rather than genetic reasons. DNA tests would only find the genetic background, not the cultural.
DeleteA recent interesting investigation into the heritage of a Thomas Bailey Christian of Tazewell County, Virginia bumped up against some of these questions. He was reputed by family legend to be Indian, even some claimed he was a surviving son of Chief Cornstalk of the Shawnee. Thomas Bailey Christian was adopted as an orphan by the Virginia militia officer Thomas Mastin. A male descendant of Thomas Bailey Christian had a DNA test and it showed he was European, not Indian. Yet the Christians were always seen as part Indian by their neighbors and even other Indians. I believe the truth is that Thomas Bailey Christian was culturally Indian yet genetically European. I am beginning to believe the same about Martha Cothron.
By the way, Capt. Thomas Mastin was in that Chickamauga campaign in 1779 so the orphans he raised may have been from there. A James Elkins was also with Mastin at Chickamauga according to pension declarations made in the 1830s. There are a lot of moving parts here between the Skaggs, Mastin and Elkins families that still need investigation. I may write up a post about this soon.
Ok, this is getting very interesting....Is it true that Peter Skaggs sister is Rachel Skaggs Lester by (DNA connection), and Rachel/William had a son named Thomas Mastin Lester ? If so, what does that say about Rachel's respect and first hand knowledge of Capt. Thomas Mastin ? Also, did Rachel Skaggs Lester name 2 of her daughters Martha Patsy and Dorcus Lester ? What does that say about Peter's wife Martha (Patty)Cothron and Ruth's Skaggs Bishop daughter Darky (Dorcus)Gothrin. Sounds like to me, at least in Rachel's eyes, that Rachel, Darky, and Martha all grew up as affectionate sisters. I look forward to your future posts/comments on all the above MOVING PARTS.....thanks
ReplyDeleteYou know, I hadn't thought about Rachel, Darky and Martha being three sisters but those family naming patterns you noticed are interesting. I'm getting started on a Thomas Bailey Christian post. There's so much information that I'll likely have to break it up into multiple posts.
DeleteLooking forward to it......thanks
ReplyDeleteI found this by researching a Patrick Brown b. 1760 in Hanover County, VA and died in 1835 in Indiana. Same kind of mystery. Definite involvement with Cherokee/Creek Indians around 1800.
ReplyDelete