I've usually stayed away from writing about the Long Hunter Skaggs since they are the most documented branch of the Skaggs family. I've rarely felt I could add anything new to the discussion about these guys, with a few exceptions. However, there is some new research regarding Henry Skaggs that deserves attention.
Henry Skaggs first appears in the historical record in 1761 as part of a party of "Long Hunters" from Pittsylvania County, Virginia according to Maud Carter Clement in The History of Pittsylvania County, Virginia. For the next several decades Henry Skaggs is associated with many events like the murder at Frenchman's Knob, the rescue of Jenny Wiley from the Indians and the pursuit of the serial killers the Harpe Brothers.
Skaggs researchers have been investigating the history of Henry Skaggs taking advantage of newly digitized documents online, deeds and other public documents, and stories told by Henry's contemporaries and their descendants. I encourage you to read a summary of their analysis in A Tale of Three Henrys.
I was at first skeptical, but now with all the evidence available I'm coming over to their way of thinking about Henry Skaggs: there was more than one Henry and over time the stories of these Henrys were blended into the lifetime of a single Henry Skaggs. This is not uncommon in genealogy, we've seen it before with the James Skaggs story. I'm now leaning toward three historical Henrys:
- Henry Skaggs the Long Hunter, son of James and Rachel Skaggs of New River, died 1810
- Henry Skeggs the land guide and scout, single man with no children died 1820 (Man of Mystery)
- Henry Skaggs the tory hunter, known by some as Hunting Henry died 1851
Now I want to discuss Henry Skaggs the Long Hunter. His birthday is listed all over the internet as January 8, 1724. Is this accurate? Do we have documentation? The reason I'm asking is based on my research on Henry's youngest brother, Jacob. We have evidence from Revolutionary War militia records that Jacob was born circa 1764. If Henry and Jacob were the oldest and youngest sons of James and Rachel Skaggs, that means Rachel was having children over a 40 year period. Not likely. Could James Skaggs have fathered Henry with an earlier wife? It's possible, however we currently have no evidence that James had a wife other than Rachel.
Since Henry Skaggs the Long Hunter doesn't really show up in the record until 1761, I think it's possible that he was born later than 1724. According to the Archibald Thompson diary, Henry's eldest son named John was born on the 4th to 5th of December 1760. It doesn't seem likely that Henry's eldest would have been born when Henry was age 36. I'm thinking Henry was likely born sometime in the 1730s, not 1724. What do you think?
Good points and very likely! In Florence Edwards Gardiner book , Cyrus Edwards' Stories of the Early Days. Is recorded 2 references of Henry Skaggs age. The Long Hunter.
ReplyDelete1) Page 206: Late in the afternoon in the month of November, 1765, my grandfather was at his home in the New River settlements, a traveler stopped by who was apparently about 30 years old. He stated his name was Henry Skeggs.
2) Pages 12-20: (p.17) Late in the fall of 1802 or 1803, Skeggs, who had then for several years been making his home with my grandfather in Metcalfe County, (p.20) Skeggs had now quit his land business, He was 70 years old, but hale and hearty.
3) Both references seem to have Henry Skeggs age as being in the early to mid 1730's.
These stories might have been about Henry the Man of Mystery, if there really was such a guy.
DeleteInteresting! So the Henry Skaggs that is supposed to be buried at the Irwin Cemetery on the property of former Kentucky Governor Louie Nunn was actually the Henry Skaggs (The Man of Mystery) ? Or Henry Skaggs (The Long Hunter) ?
ReplyDeleteMy understanding is the Henry Skaggs buried on Louie Nunn's property was buried in 1810. He would have been Henry Skaggs the Long Hunter.
DeleteThanks for clarification. The long Hunter Henry Skaggs lived in Green County and was buried in Barren County 1810. The land Guide/Scout Henry Skaggs lived in Barren County and died in 1820 (Buried unknown). I believe Green and Barren Counties border or very close to each other. Both of these Henry's must have known each other......
ReplyDeleteYou make a good point. Supposedly Henry the Man of Mystery went turkey hunting near Park, Kentucky in Barren County (Park is close to Louie Nunn's old farm). Cader Edward claimed Henry the Man of Mystery died there on his hunt in 1820 and Cader buried him nearby. If so, I'm beginning to think the Henry Skaggs buried at Louie Nunn's old property was Henry the Man of Mystery not Henry the Long Hunter.
DeleteIf so, Henry the Long Hunter likely died in Green County in 1810. I hope an expert on Henry the Long Hunter can weigh in on this theory.
My thoughts as well. Just so intriguing and confusing concerning deciphering both Henry Skaggs. Thanks so much for your research on the three Henry's. So....can you shed any more definitive light on which Henry is or should be credited for forging Skaggs trace through Kentucky ?
ReplyDeleteJohn Barbee claimed Henry the Long Hunter was in the Battle of Kanawha in 1775 and there are county records that show Henry the Long Hunter was in Virginia until 1789. When Boone's trail to Boonesborough, and its branch from Hazel Patch leading to St. Asaph, Boiling Springs and Harrodsburg, became passable for packhorses and people on foot, Henderson eagerly sought Skeggs to guide immigrants through the wilderness jungle. It was the Man of Mystery who made the early trips (1775-1980) on the Wilderness Trail to either the Boonesborough or Harrodsburg settlements.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
ReplyDeleteI think the Henry Skaggs who rescued Jenny Wiley in October 1790 was Henry the Man of Mystery. Henry Skaggs the Long Hunter was accounted for in the Russell County, Virginia personal property tax list of 1790, so I don't believe Henry the Long Hunter was in eastern Kentucky at Harman's Station in October 1790 to rescue Jenny Wiley.
ReplyDeleteI am starting to believe this too, based on year/location. https://www.manxfamilyhistory.com/uploads/7/0/3/8/70384941/3-henry-routes-map_orig.jpg
ReplyDeleteDS