Richard Scaggs, Early Colonist - Part 2

Previously, I posted a blog about Richard Scaggs, a founding colonist of Scaggs in America.  After studying the information in that blog and the results of subsequent DNA testing, I think that the Richard described may have been multiple individuals named Richard combined into one.

I still think the 1658 information up through the land transfer in New Castle, Delaware deeded in 1707 to Harmon Alrichs belonged to the original colonist Richard Scaggs.  The following may belong to a different Richard, likely his son:

1709 May 29: Gilbert Falconar, brother of John, was in Kent County on May 29, 1709, when on behalf of John Falconar late of Cecil County but now residing in London, merchant, he conveyed to Richard Scaggs of Kent County, planter, land granted to John Falcanar called The Exchange, 100 acres {KELR JSN:188}. 

This 100 acre property, called "The Exchange" appears as an asset in the 1742 will of William Scaggs, the eldest son a Richard Scaggs and wife Grace.  William Scaggs was also the older brother of the John Scaggs, born 1721 that we believe was married to Ruth Elkins and likely the father of Zachariah Skaggs and Old Peter.  "The Exchange" later appears in the 1783 tax list for Kent County, Maryland as property of Richard Scaggs, the eldest son of William.

I believe the estate of Richard Scaggs probated in 1725-26 was likely not the estate of the original colonist, since the clerk noted in the estate inventory that "No relations to the Deceased that appears." No relations appearing would be consistent with all heirs being under age.  This would be the case for the Richard married to Grace: William was age 17, Joseph 7, John 4 and Richard 1.  So I now am leaning toward the theory that the Richard Scaggs who died in 1725 was the Richard married to Grace and father of the boys listed above, not Richard the original colonist.

This theory about the Richard Scaggs who died in 1725 also makes sense in the context of the following information found subsequent to my original blog post:

• 1749 Kent County tax list showing only John Scaggs
• 1750 Kent County tax list showing only John Scaggs
• 1783 Kent County tax list showing only Richard Scaggs

I always had a problem with John Scaggs being the only Scaggs in Kent County eligible to be on the tax roll in 1749-50.  Where was his father, Richard, older brother William and younger brother Richard?  

Now we have a theory to match the known facts.  In 1742 William died and left 1/2 of "The Exchange" to his son Richard who was then only 5 years old.  William's widow, Mary (of "Mary Thear" fame) remarried in 1747 to Benjamin Kear and so her 1/2 share of "The Exchange" reverted to step-son Richard.  However, it appears Richard was living with his uncle John Scaggs since John appears on the tax lists of 1749 and 1750 when Richard was still under age.  In 1783, Richard was age 46 so of course he appears on the tax list for "The Exchange."  Also, by 1783 John Scaggs was long gone to Virginia and had likely died c. 1779, since Ruth Scaggs had remarried to John Bishop and they had a son David c. 1781.

What happened to John Scaggs' younger brother, Richard by 1749, since he wasn't found in the 1749 or 1750 Kent County tax lists?  This Richard was born in 1724 in Kent County, Maryland and a Richard Scaggs shows up about 1750 in Prince George's County, Maryland married to Sarah Selby. This is a famous branch of the family that lived up until recent times on the "Chew's Folly" property that Sarah Selby inherited from her father.  I am not aware of any hard evidence that the Richard who married Sarah Selby is the same Richard who was younger brother of John Scaggs, however, there is circumstantial evidence that there was some sort of migration from Kent to Prince George's County at that time.  Descendants of Samuel Norris, who provided surety for the administrator of Richard Scaggs' estate in 1725 in Kent County, appeared in Prince George's County at the same time as the Richard Scaggs who married Sarah Selby.  In fact, Benjamin Norris, a great-grandson of Samuel Norris, married a daughter of Richard Scaggs and Sarah Selby in Prince George's County.  So I am starting to believe that the Richard Scaggs who married Sarah Selby was the younger brother of John Scaggs of Kent County.

Below is how I think this family is related based on evidence, legend and speculation:

1 Richard Scaggs (the founding colonist)
+ unknown
     2 Richard Scaggs (c1685-1725)
     + Grace
          3 William Scaggs (1708-1742) family described in 1742 will and 1766 lease
          + Ann (?-1739)
               4 Richard Scaggs (1737-1814)
               4 Elizabeth Scaggs
          + Mary (1706-?)
               4 John Scaggs (1742-?)
          3 Joseph Scaggs (1718-?) no evidence he lived beyond childhood
          3 John Scaggs (1721-1779)
          + unknown
               4 Zachariah Skaggs (c1745-1818) heir-at-law to John Scaggs
               + Annie
                    5 Jeremiah Skaggs (1766-1798)
               4 William Scaggs (c1745-1774) DNA links William's kin to Old Peter's kin
               + Esther
                     5 Joseph Scaggs (c1765-c1824)
          + Ruth Elkins (c1740-c1806)
               4 Peter Skaggs (c1760-1841) "Old Peter"
               4 Solomon Skaggs (c1765-c1825)
               4 Rachel Skaggs (1766-?) DNA links Rachel's kin to Old Peter's kin
          3 Richard Scaggs (1724-?)
          + Sarah Selby (c1730-1802)
               4 Sarah Scaggs emigrated to Ohio
               4 Christopher Scaggs emigrated to S. Carolina

               4 Henry Scaggs

               4 William Scaggs emigrated to Georgia

               4 Eleanor Keziah Scaggs married Benjamin Norris

               4 James Scaggs heir to "Chew's Folly"

               4 Elizabeth Scaggs emigrated to Ohio

               4 Susannah Scaggs

               4 Ruthi Scaggs

               4 Phoebe Scaggs

               4 Rachel Scaggs

I'm missing the following groups of Skaggs family members since I don't yet have a theory about how they fit in with the above:

• James and Rachel Skaggs and the Longhunters - some DNA matches with kin above
• Aaron Skaggs / Susannah Hyatt and the Safeway Skaggs - same DNA haplogroup as above
• Richard Scaggs / Mary Brashier and the West Virginia Skaggs- Different Y-DNA haplogroup