The Mystery of Richard Wade Skaggs

Back in 2014 there was a request on the Ancestry message boards for information about a Richard Wade Skaggs from Western Kentucky.  He supposedly was born in Louisiana and grew up in Kentucky and appears to have ties to a Richard Wade and Mary Ann Skaggs who are found in Louisiana shortly after it was turned over to the United States.  What's really interesting for Skaggs researchers are the lawsuits filed in 1836 against a bunch of Skaggs including this Mary Ann Skaggs and her husband Richard Wade.  The details are below the fold.

Below is the request from the 2014 Ancestry message board:

I am a direct descendant of Richard Wade Skaggs (married to Elizabeth and then Nancy Underwood) and have been looking for information on his origins for a long time. I would be grateful if anybody could provide more info about where this Richard Wade Skaggs came from or where the Richard Wade and Mary Skaggs mentioned below that I am speculating could possibly be his parents came from. Thanks!

Relevant facts about Richard Wade Skaggs:

According to an indenture made October 4th, 1841, Richard Wade Skaggs turned 14 in March 1841 (birth year would be 1827).

In the 1850 Census of Green County, Kentucky, Richard Wade Skaggs is listed as a laborer living with Stephen and Sarah Skaggs. He is listed as being 21 years old and born in Louisiana. (birth year would be ~1829)

In the 1860 Census of Taylor County, Kentucky, Richard Wade Skaggs is listed as being 27 years old and born in Kentucky. (birth year would be ~1833 

In the 1870 Census of Taylor County, Kentucky, Richard Wade Skaggs is listed as being 44 yeasr old and born in Louisiana. (birth year would be ~1826)

In the 1880 Census of Larue County, Kentucky, Richard Wade Skaggs is listed as being 52 years old and born in Kentucky. (birth year would be ~1828)

In the 1900 Census of Larue County, Kentucky, Richard Wade Skaggs is listed as being 74 years old and born in Kentucky. (birth year would be ~1826)

In the 1910 Census of Buffalo, Larue County, Kentucky he is listed as being 84 years old and born in Louisiana. (birth year would be ~1826)

The death certificate of Richard Wade Skaggs lists his birth date as March 15, 1825 (his tombstone says March 15, 1824). His mother is listed as "Nannie Skaggs" and his father is listed as "Not Known". His birth place, and the birth place of both parents is listed as "Kentucky". The informant on the death certificate is James Skaggs (presumably his son James).

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Relevant facts about Richard Wade and Mary Skaggs:

A Richard Wade married to a Mary Skaggs was mentioned in a lawsuit in 1836 as follows: 

Green co., Ky., Order Books: Sept. 2, l836, John Skaggs vs. Jeremiah Skaggs. This day came the complainants by his counsel and filed his bill herein and on his motion and its appearing to the satisfaction of the courts that Jeremaih Skaggs, Richard Wade & Mary his wife formerly Skaggs, Wm. Graham and Sally his wife formerly Skaggs, Stephen Skaggs, James Skaggs, Nancy Skaggs, Elizabeth Skaggs, Jeremiah Skaggs, James Skaggs, John Pearce & Letta his wife, Henry Skaggs, James Skaggs, John Patterson and Jane his wife, John Jackson and Elizabeth his wife are not inhabitants of this Commonwealth. It is therefore ordered by the court that unless the sd. non resident defendants to appear here on or before the lst day of Dec. term next and file their answer to the complainants bill that said bill will be taken against them as confessed and the prayer thereof decreed accordingly.

Then John also sues William Skaggs & the same people are listed.

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A Richard Wade and Mary Ann Skaggs are found in Louisiana as early as 1812 (I'm just speculating at this point that these may be the same individuals mentioned above):

Maritime Commerce and the Founding of Wadesboro, Tangipahoa Parish, & St. Helena Parish, Louisiana

http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm

HISTORIC PONCHATOULA

Maritime Commerce and the Founding of Wadesboro

By JIM PERRIN

Special to The Times

(Part Two In A Series)

...

On the Ponchatoula River early settler Richard Wade had established a location sometimes called Ponchatoula Landing, but usually referred to as Wade's Landing. Richard Wade and his wife Mary Ann Skaggs (Scuggs, Skeggs) settled in St. Helena Parish by 1812, owning land on the Natalbany River, By 1819, Richard had established his landing on the Ponchatoula River. Wade was a cotton planter and also engaged in commerce at his landing. He was listed as owning 960 acres of land on tax lists in both 1824 and 1826 on the Ponchatoula River in what was then St. Helena Parish. He was also taxed as the owner of a tavern in 1826. In later years he was to lay out a town at his landing and begin the settlement of Wadesborough.

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A Richard Wade is listed in the 1820 Census of St. Helena Parish, Louisiana

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Richard Wade married Mary Ann Robson on March 13, 1829 in St. Helena parish, Louisiana (not sure what happened to Mary Ann Skaggs).

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Richard Wade sold land to a Mary Ann Robertson/Robinson on November 13, 1829 (is this person related to the Mary Ann Robson he married and how?):

Deeds: Richard Wade to Mary Ann Robinson, St. Helena Parish, LA

http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm

State of Louisiana

Parish of St. Helena

Richard Wade to Mary Ann Robinson

13 November 1829

Know all men by these presents that I, Richard Wade of the parish of St. Helena and State of Louisiana, have this day for and in consideration of the sum of fifteen hundred dollars, cash to me in hand paid before the signing of the presents by Mary Ann Robertson of the said parish and State, grant, bargain, sold transferred, and conveyed and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell, transfer and convey unto the said Mary Ann Robinson one half of a section of Land containing three hundred and twenty acres situate lying and being on the Ponchatola [sic] River on the east side of, Known by the name of Wades landing place, bounded on the north by Absolom Traylors land, on the east by lands of Jon Cone?, and on all other sides by vacant Lands. To have and to hold the afore said described premises unto the said Mary Ann Robinson, her heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, and the said Richard Wade for himself, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns unto the said Mary Ann Robertson, her heirs, and assigns shall and will warrant and forever defend the aforesaid described premises, hereby warranting and defending the aforesaid land from the claim or claims of all and every person or persons whomsoever.

Done and passed before me Burlin Childress, parish Judge and ex officio notary public in and for said parish, on this Thirteenth day of November in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty nine in presence of Samuel Rankins, and Edward Gorman, witnesses who signed with me, the said Judge and notary.

R. Wade

Witness

Edward Gorman

Samuel Rankin

Burlin Childress, P. J. ex N. OP.

Source: Conveyance Records - St. Helena Parish, Louisiana (FHL Film 0355804-pg.

337)

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A Richard Waid is listed in the 1830 Census of St. Helena Parish, Louisiana.

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Any help in solving the mystery of where these people came form would be greatly

This request for help is loaded full of interesting tidbits for Skaggs research.  There are many rabbit holes to go down when tracking down the relationships between the Skaggs in those lawsuits.  I've only taken a cursory look at these facts but here's a few things that stand out for me:

• I think the William Skaggs who was sued by John Skaggs in 1836 was William the eldest son of James Skaggs the Long Hunter (Longman), son of James and Rachel Skaggs of Virginia.  Perhaps the rest of these Skaggs are descendants of heirs to James the Long Hunter.  If so, then I bet dollars to doughnuts that the Mary Ann Skaggs who married Richard Wade was a daughter or grand-daughter of James the Long Hunter since she's obviously being sued.
• Recall that James the Long Hunter disappeared with his neighbor's wife, Leah Carter, in 1793, never to be heard from again.  It's a stab in the dark, but perhaps he ran away to Louisiana.  It was governed by Spain at the time and Napoleon reacquired it for France in 1800 before it was sold to the United States in 1804 and became a state in 1812.  James Skaggs and Leah Carter could have had a hidey-hole down there without anyone noticing amongst the handoffs between Spain, France and the U.S.  Anyway, Richard Wade founds the town of Wadesboro along with a Mary Ann Skaggs who appears to have Western Kentucky roots.
• The 1850 census shows a Richard Wade, age 60 born in Louisiana and a Mary Ann Wade, age 63 born in Kentucky..
• Are there two Richard Wades here?  Perhaps father and son?  There are two marriages and some deeded land as clues.
• This Richard Wade Skaggs ends up back in Green County, KY in 1841 under an indenture.  How does he have the last name Skaggs if he is the son of Richard Wade and Mary Ann Skaggs?  Is he even their son?