Even the best researchers can make mistakes, and I rarely find a good reason to attack someone for that. However, when the mistakes are published, it is pretty hard to convince folks that their tree is incorrect. Hence, the need for clarification exists. That being said, your comments and corrections are welcome in the comment section below.
I am descended from Skaggs people more times than most, so I’ve spent a lot of time on them. Please allow me to explain who some of these people are with the name Thomas Skaggs. There are four born before 1843 that I’d like to identify. To be clear, the surname is sometimes seen as S-C-A-G-G-S, but in this post, I will stick with S-K-A-G-G-S. Other spellings are also sometimes seen, as there may be with any name. Please note I am not taking into account the calendar change from Gregorian to Julian.
Thomas Skaggs (1728-1806), son of Richard Skaggs and Mary Brashear
Thomas Skaggs (Bef. 1797-Bef. 1870), son of John Skaggs and Catherine Hicks
Thomas L. Skaggs (1808-1877), son of James Skaggs and Elizabeth Miller
Thomas Anderson Skaggs (1842-1903), son of Thomas L. Skaggs and Julia Ann Hunter
THOMAS SKAGGS (1728-1806)
He was born October 22, 1728, in Queen Anne’s Parish, Prince Georges County, Maryland, baptized in St. Barnabas Church.
His parents were Richard Skaggs and Mary BRASHEAR, who are on record as being married in Maryland in 1727.
Thomas’s wife’s name is unknown. We know that he lived on Wolf Creek in Greenbrier (later Monroe) County, near Alderson, and in later life became a member of Greenbrier Baptist Church. He is mentioned many times in the church, land, and court records of Monroe/Greenbrier counties. He was the father of Charles (m. unknown wife), Richard (m. Susanna WOOD), John (m. Catherine HICKS), Jane (m. Richard HICKS), Peter (m. Martha COTHRON), Elizabeth (m. Obadiah HAMMONDS), Isaac (m. Nancy GOODWIN), and Susannah (m. William WITHROW), and others. [I am descended from Charles (x3), John, and Susannah.]
2. THOMAS SKAGGS (Abt. 1797-Bef. 1870)
He was born in what became Monroe county, and his parents were John Skaggs and Catherine HICKS. As proof of that, he was listed in a land document after his father John’s death. See this post for that documentation. He is NOT the Thomas Skaggs who served in the 22nd Virginia Infantry. He married Susanna JOHNSTON, daughter of William and Elizabeth HICKS Johnston. Thomas and Susanna were first cousins since their mothers were sisters.
He had at least three daughters:
Sarah R. Skaggs, b. 1824, who married Valentine Jacob Kious. Thomas was living with them in the 1860 census. He was not found in the 1870 census.
Some have confused this Sarah with a daughter of James and Elizabeth Miller Skaggs. THAT Sarah was born 1830 and married William A. Evans. Also some have Cyrus Skaggs as a son, but he was the son of James and Elizabeth Miller Skaggs.
Margaret Skaggs, b. 1826, who married John Taylor. More documentation for Margaret is needed. This information came from the tree of another researcher.
Martha E., b. 1831, who married George Taylor. Martha appears with her parents in the 1850 census. (Thomas was on the previous page.) Notice that Catharine Wood, age 56, is living with them. I BELIEVE she is the daughter of Bailey and Nancy LNU Wood since the age matches. I can only guess as to the relationship of James Wood. (LNU=Last name unknown)
THOMAS L. SKAGGS (1808-1877)
Thomas’s life is well documented. I don’t know where the “L” came from. He was born Nov. 14, 1808 (according to Bible record), in Monroe County, to James and Elizabeth Miller Skaggs before they moved to Fayette County. See this post.
Elizabeth was the daughter of Valentine Miller and Susana Ensminger. James Skaggs was the son of Charles Skaggs and grandson of Thomas Skaggs #1 (b. 1728). He married his mother’s first cousin, Julia Ann Hunter, daughter of James Hunter and Mary Elizabeth Ensminger.
He served in the 22nd Virginia Infantry, but was discharged for age-related health problems.
The record of his death says his wife was Mary, but that is an error. Mary was probably his daughter-in-law, wife of Thomas’s son Winfield Scott Skaggs. The widow Julia was living with them. There is ample documentation for the children listed below, but I don’t have room for it here.
THOMAS ANDERSON SKAGGS (1842-1903)
There is ample, readily-available documentation for this family, so I will not include it here, but he was the son of Thomas L. Skaggs (above) and Julia HUNTER.
I welcome your questions and comments.