15. Josiah³ Skillings (John², Thomas¹) (#1249) was born in Kittery, York, ME 1684.⁽¹³³⁾ NOTE: Dorothy Skillings says b abt 1681 Josiah died bef 7 Jul 1719 in Kittery, York, ME, at approximately 35 years of age.⁽¹³⁴⁾

He married Elizabeth Lydston in Kittery, York, ME, 17 May 1708.⁽¹³⁵⁾ Sargent says 1708; Kittery VR p 44 says 1700; Lapham says her name is Mary, but has a question mark after the name (Elizabeth Lydston is #1260.)

Elizabeth was born bef 1691/2.⁽¹³⁶⁾ Maine Probate Abstracts, V 5, p 16 Elizabeth was the daughter of Edward Lydston (Lydstone) and Katherine Chadbourne.

She resided in Scarborough, Cumberland, ME 1726-1762.⁽¹³⁷⁾ Abstract from Chadbourne Family by E.C. Bacon, p 72:

53. Elizabeth(4) Litten (Katherine(3),Humphrey(2),William(1)), married first 17 May 1707 Josiah Skillin, who died (adm granted 7 Jul 1719), three children, (see female file), married second 12 Jan 1723/4 Roger Deering, as his second wife, estate to her in Scarborough 12 Jan 1741/2; no children with Deering. Children, surname Skillin:

1. John(5) d.y.

2. Edward, b 19 May 1711 (Bible Record held by Peter Meigs); died Scarborough 3 Nov 1779; married Scarborough 23 May 1731/2 Sarah Miller, born 25 Dec 1712. 13 children born Scarborough, surname Skillin: (1) Elizabeth, born 16 Apr 1733, married Aaron Plummer; (2) Josiah, born 23 Dec 1734; (3) Lydia born 6 Sep 1736; (4) Sarah born 1738; (5) John born 4 Jan 1741 married Hannah Hasty; (6) Catherine born 14 May 1743, married 29 Oct 1761 Jotham Libby; (7) Josiah born 24 Oct 1745, died Aug 1747; (8) Simeon born 17 Dec 1747, married 25 May 1769 Mary Skillins; (9) Mark, born 24 June 1750; (10) Josiah (twin) born 22 May 1752, married first circa 1772 Sarah Blackstone, married second 4 Dec 1776 Susannah Noyes, 16 children; (11) Benjamin (twin) born 22 May 1752; (12) Rebecca born 27 Apr 1754; (13) Edward born 21 Oct 1756.

3. Elizabeth, born 24 Dec 1713; married Danforth Phipps, baptized 4 Feb 1710/11, shipwright of Falmouth, son of Thomas and Eleanor (Harvey) (Cutts) Phipps. They had children.

Abstract from Grandfather Tales of Scarborough by A.F. Moulton, p 209:

More than 40 years after the settlement in 1631 passed in prosperity and peace when Count Frontenac became Governor of New France, as Canada was then called, and attempted to conquer all of America for France. In 1690 he sent his troops with their Indian allies in overwhelming force to drive the English from Maine, and all of the Scarboro settlers were then forced to leave the place. After a dozen years some came back to try to locate anew their desolated homes. Scarcely had they arrived when the French and Indian war broke out anew and garrison houses were built for places of refuge in case of attack.

Among those who took part in the second settlement was Roger Dearing, who, in 1716, came to Scarboro from Kittery. He purchased from the heirs of Rev. Robert Jordan the "Nonsuch Farm," lately owned by Henry G. Beyer, and his house there was one of the garrison houses. In 1723 the Indians made a sudden attack in the absence of the owner and Mrs. Dearing was killed.

Mr. Dearing married for his second wife Elizabeth Lydston Skillings. After peace was declared they occupied the old homestead. In 1741 Mr. Dearing died, and by his will left a legacy to the Scarboro Church and a legacy to the religious and industrious poor, and all the remainder of his large estate to his well-beloved wife, Elizabeth.

Madame Dearing, as she was called, was a true colonial dame of great dignity and influence. For years she managed with great ability her large estate. In those times slavery was a recognized institution in Maine and elsewhere, and the records tell of her black servant, Hagar, who was married to black Caesar, the servant of Captain Prout. In her life-time she was highly honored and much beloved and her funeral was attended by a great concourse of citizens.

Abstract from Skillings 8 Generations, pp 19-21:

After the death of Josiah Skillings (her 1st husband), Elizabeth m2 16 Jan 1723/4 Kittery, ME Roger Deering, as his 2nd wife.

From "Three Scarborough Women" by Moulton, pp 208-209: "More than forty years after the settlement in 1631 passed in prosperity and peace when Count Frontenac became governor of New France, as Canada was then called, and attempted to conquer all of America for France. In 1690, he sent his troops with their Indian allies in overwhelming force to drive the English from Maine. All the Scarborough settlers were then forced to leave the place. After a dozen years some came back to try to locate their desolated homes. Scarcely had they arrived when the French and Indian War broke out anew and garrison houses were bult for places of refuce in case of attack."

Among those who took part in the second settlement was Roger Deering, who, in 1716, came to Scarborough from Kittery. He purchased from the heirs of Rev. Robert Jordan, the "Nonesuch Farm" (2000 acres), lately owned by Henry G. Beyer, and his house there was one of the garrison houses. In 1723, the Indians made a sudden attack in the absence of the owner and Mrs. Dearing was killed. Roger m2 Elizabeth (Lydston) Skillings. After peace was declared they occupied the old homestead. In 1741, Roger d and by his will left a legacy to the Scarborough Church and a legacy to the religious and industrious poor; all the remainder of his large estate to his well-beloved wife, Elizabeth.

Madame Dearing, as Elizabeth was called, was a true colonial dame of great dignity and influence. For 40 years she managed her large estate with great ability. In those times, slavery was a recognized institution in Maine and elsewhere, and the records tell of her black servant, Hagar, who was married to Black Caesar, the servant of Capt. Prout. In her lifetime, she was highly honored and much beloved and her funeral was attended by a great concourse of citizens.

They lived in Kittery from their wedding until 1728, at which time they moved back to Scarborough as he was one of the 16 founders of the First Congregational Church on 26 Jun 1728. They conveyed all interest in the farm at Long Creek to Samuel (brother of Josiah) Skillings. Roger d 1741, leaving the bulk of his estate to Elizabeth.

In 1762, Elizabeth was still living on Nonesuch Farm. Tom Henley reports: "all that remains of the Nonesuch Farm is located on the Portland Farm's Road in Scarborough, a short distance from Route One (King's Highway), which, until recently, was the home of Karen Libbey, daughter of Dorothy Shaw Libbey, author of "Scarborough Becomes a Town," (1953)." Tom says this is the oldest remaining Skillin(gs) structure that he knows of.

He resided in Kittery, York, ME 1708.⁽¹³⁸⁾ Occupation: shipwright.⁽¹³⁹⁾ Josiah's will was probated in Kittery, York, ME, 7 Jul 1719.⁽¹⁴⁰⁾ Abstract from Maine Probate Abstracts, 1:82 (see also MPA 3:20):

3/20. JOSIAH SKILLIAN [SKILLINGS], of Kittery. LA (Letters Administration) (3.19). F17158. LA gr York, 7 July 1719, to Mrs. Elizabeth Skillings of Kittery, wid of the est of her husb Josiah Skillings of Kittery, shipwright, decd int, with t&p inv exh at or bef 7 Oct next, & a p&t acct at or bef 7 Jan 1719 [sic].

3 children (Kittery Vital Records, p 44) surname Skillings: John, Edward, and Elizabeth

Abstract from The Skillings Family by W.M. Sargent, p 8:

Doubt, indicated by the "(?)" on p. 47 of the Recorder is well grounded, for Josiah married Elizabeth Lydston (not Mary Litton, as there printed), who after his death, m. 2d, Jan. 16, 1723-4 Roger Dearing, instead of her daughter doig so, as is erroneously stated on p. 49, at the immature age of ten; and that the daughter Elizabeth (26) Skillings did marry Danforth Phipps.

Abstract from Memoirs of Robert F. Skillings, pp 7-8:

Josiah Skillings, 3rd son of John Skillings. No records have ever been found to establish the date of his birth or of his death. His next older brother, Samuel, was born in 1677, from which we may infer that Josiah's birth took place as late as 1680/81. He married Elizabeth Lydston 17 May 1708; always lived in Kittery, was probably engaged in farming, and died previous to 1723, as the records show that his widow married Roger Deering 16 Jan 1723/4. They had three children: John, Edward, and Rebecca. Edward, b 29 Mar 1711, married Sarah Mills 23 Mar 1731/2. She was born in Portsmouth 25 Dec 1712. Their home was in Scarboro, the family record showing that all their children were born in that town.

Abstract from Desc of Edward Small by Underhill - Roberts Family, V 2, p 1137:

III. Josiah3, m. Elizabeth Lydston, May 17, 1708, at Kittery.

Abstract from Skillings 8 Generations, pp 19-21:

Josiah3 Skillin (John2, Thomas1), b abt 1681 Famouth, ME, a shipwright of Kittery, ME; m 17 May 1708 Kittery, ME Elizabeth Lydston, d/o Edward and Catherine (Chadbourne) Lydston. Josiah sold 1.5 acres in Kittery, land at mouth of Spruce Creek and Crooked Lane. He bought land from his stepbrother, Elihu Gunnison, Jr, 29 May 1709 and sold it 4 Jun 1710. He bought land of Edward Lydston, his father-in-law, and sold it to Samuel (his brother) in 1705. Josiah has a very extensive probate record in York Co, ME extending from 1719 to 1766. He d prior to 7 7 Jul 1719 Kittery, ME when his will was probated and his wife granted administration of his estate. Elizabeth m2 16 Jan 1723/4 Kittery, ME Roger Deering.

Children of Josiah and Elizabeth:

1. John, b 15 Aug 1709; d Feb 1720 2. Edward, b 29 May 1711 Kittery; m Sarah Miller 3. Elizabeth, b 24 Dec 1713; m Danforth Phipps 4. child, d young (mentioned in Probate record) 5. child, d young (mentioned in Probate record).

Abstract from Skillings-Wager Families:

S.R. Durand: "Josiah Skillings is mentioned as a brother of [our ancestor] Samuel Skillings in the reference about them on page 79 of 'Old Kittery and her Families.' He must have been born within a few years after Samuel Skillings, who was born in 1679.

Josiah married Elizabeth Lydston six years after his brother married Rhoda Haley. His marriage is noted in 'Old Kittery and her Families' in the paragraph about her father Edward Lyddon: 'Elizabeth married 17 May, 1708 Josiah Skillins; married (2) 12 January 1723-24, Roger Deering.' Her second marriage would indicate that Josiah Skillings died in about 1720, probably before he had become forty years of age."

Josiah Skillings and Elizabeth Lydston had the following children:

56 i. John⁴ Skillings (#2737) was born in Kittery, York, ME 15 Aug 1709.⁽¹⁴¹⁾ Sargent says 15 Aug 1709 at Falmouth; Kittery VR p 44 says 19 Aug 1709 at Kittery; E.C. Bacon says "prob one of the three bur about 7 mos after Josiah died" (LND, p 636, Maine Probate Abstracts V 4, p 218). John died Feb 1720 at 10 years of age.⁽¹⁴²⁾ MEHGR (3:150) and Alan Lundstedt say he died bef 1733

+ 57 ii. Edward Skillings was born 20 May 1711.

+ 58 iii. Elizabeth Skillings was born 24 Dec 1713.

59 iv. child Skillings (#76822) was born in Kittery, York, ME c1714/5.⁽¹⁴³⁾ Child died c1714/5 in Kittery, York, ME, at less than one year of age.⁽¹⁴⁴⁾

60 v. child Skillings (#76823) was born in Kittery, York, ME c1716/7.⁽¹⁴⁵⁾ Child died young in Kittery, York, ME.⁽¹⁴⁶⁾

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