44. Capt Samuel⁴ Skillings Jr (Lt Samuel³, John², Thomas¹) (#4170) was born in Kittery, York, ME 4 Feb 1706.⁽²⁶⁹⁾ see also Kittery VRs to 1892; Windham Death Records say d 12 Mar 1799 age 93y Individual flags: Rev War. Samuel died 12 Mar 1799 in Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland, ME, at 93 years of age.⁽²⁷⁰⁾ age 93y His body was interred aft 12 Mar 1799 homestead(?); Long Creek Cemeter.⁽²⁷¹⁾ tombstone marks burial

He married Rebecca Sawyer in Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland, ME, 1731.⁽²⁷²⁾ (Rebecca Sawyer is #4185.) Rebecca was born 21 Mar 1715/6 in Gloucester, Essex, MA.⁽²⁷³⁾ Rebecca was the daughter of John Sawyer and Rebecca Stanford. Rebecca died 25 Jun 1798 in Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland, ME, at 82 years of age.⁽²⁷⁴⁾ Her body was interred aft 25 Jun 1798 in Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland, ME, Long Creek Cemetery.⁽²⁷⁵⁾

Occupation: millowner.⁽²⁷⁶⁾ Samuel served in the military in Shapleigh, York, ME, 1744; 1762-1767; 1776.⁽²⁷⁷⁾ Rev War as a Capt and a patriot Abstract from NSDAR Online Patriot Index: SKILLINGS Sr, Samuel Birth: MA 4 Feb 1706 Rank: Capt PS Service: MA Death: MA 12 Mar 1799 Patriot Pensioned: No Widow Pensioned: No Children Pensioned: No Heirs Pensioned: No Spouse: (1) Rebecca Sawyer

Abstract from Memoirs of Robert F. Skillings, p 8:

... Her (Mary) father was prob the Capt Samuel Skillings who commanded one of the four companies of volunteers raised in May 1756 to drive off the Indians. Willis says, "He marched in the direction of Windham and succeeded in saving the people and property in that place. He arrived in season to put the enemy to flight soon after they had commenced an attack upon the inhabitants, in which one was killed and one wounded and scalped." It is possible that his father, the first Samuel, who was said to have been active in Indian affairs and called Captain, may have commanded this company, but as he must have been nearly 80 years old if living at that time, it seems improbable. ...

Abstract from MHGR, 2:1:49, "Notes on the Skillings Family" by William B. Lapham:

Samuel Skillings, Jr was an active man in Falmouth. He was Capt of a scouting company and did valuable service in protecting the frontier settlements during the last war with the French and Indians. I have obtained no records of his family.

Abstract from The Skilling Book by Yates, p 2:

Samuel Skilling, Jr was b Kittery in 1706. He was the maker of the famous Skilling lease, Portland's leading man, commander of its military forces, and fought in the French and Indian War. Chapman says of him, "He was prominent in everything, sawmill owner, trader, innkeeper, selectman, a military genius." Among his possessions were three slaves. His tombstone at Long Creek is inscribed: "In Memory of Capt. Samuel Skillin. Obt. March 12, 1799. Aet. 93." His wife was Rebecca Sawyer. Just before the "lease" ran out, the lawyer of the Skilling League died, and his successor stated they had no proof that Capt Samuel ever owned the land he gave the lease of.

The Skilling Lease (on which the famous Skilling Claim was founded):

THIS INDENTURE OF LEASE, made and concluded upon this tenth day of April Annoq Domini, One thousand seven hundred ninety-tow, by and between SAMUEL SKILLING of the District of Cape Elizabeth in the County of Cumberland Gentm. of the one part and ENOCH ILSLEY, of Portland in the County aforesaid, Mercht. of the other part.

WITNESSETH: That the said Samuel Skilling, for himself, and in behalf of the other heirs of his Father Samuel Skillings, Deceased, for the Consideration hereafter mentioned hathn leased and to farm Letten, and by these presents doth lease and to farm let unto him the said Enoch, his heirs and assigns all the land lying Between ye South Westerly part of the County Goal Yard and the South Westerly part of the Hay Scales and between Back Street and Middle Street in the said Town of Portland (whereon Capt. Joseph Baily Now Dwells, and who has been a Tenant at will under us many years, past, and now Hires the House on said land, of the aforesaid Enoch Ilsley) for the full term of Ninety Nine years from the Hereof to be fully compleated, to improve as he the said Enoch his heirs or assigns may think proper and improve them as he chooses for and During the Term of time aforesaid. And the said Enoch Ilsley doth Covenant and engage to pay unto the said Samuel Skilling for himself, and the other heirs aforesaid One Dollar per year yearly for the rent of said land and at the expiration of said term of Ninety Nine years to yield and Deliver unto the said Samuel and the other Heirs aforesaid Quiet and Peacable Possession of said land and all the Buildings thereon, provided he or they pay the said Enoch his heirs or assigns as much Money as three Indiferent men may Judge said Buildings to be then worth when Delivered up at the end of Ninety Nine Years. To the True performance of each and Every article aforementioned the parties bind themselves their heirs Executors and administrators, Each to the other in the Penall sum of thirty Pounds.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, they have hereunto Interchangably set their hands and seals the day and year before mentioned.

Signed sealed and delivered ENOCH ILSLEY (Seal) in presence of us:

SIMEON SKILLING SAMUEL SKILLING (Seal) JOSEPH SKILLING

Received August 30, 1869, at 10 h. 33 m., and recorded according to the original. Attest: Eben Leach, Register

Note: Tom Henley states: This is the land on which the War Memorial now sits in Monument Square in Portland. The lease issue is still a live one after all these years. At one time the Skillings family mounted a challenge, but a family member absconded with the funds. The major part of Samuel Skillin's land was in what is now South Portland at Long Creek, near the Portland airport. This area roughly borders the Long Creek section of Cape Elizabeth (now South Portland) (on a map, it's where 295 crosses the river in the Portland area).

Abstract from Skillings 8 Generations, pp 22-23:

Samuel4 Skillin, Jr. (Samuel3, John2, Thomas1), b 4 Feb 1705/6 Kittery, ME; m Rebecca Sawyer (b abt 1715/6 Gloucester, MA), d/o John and Rebecca (Stanford) Sawyer.

In the first half of the 1700s, among those acquiring land in old Falmouth were Zebulon Trickey and Samuel, both of whom were securing large tracts rich in natural resources - notably salt marsh and wharfage on the shore and timber and mill sites inland. The area known as Stroudwater bounded in timber and water sources, so it was natural that both men should become involved in land purchases there. From their initial acquisition of neighboring parcels came an association that would mix their lands and families for generations.

In 1748 Samuel bought 100 acres from Samuel Waldo. About the same time, Zebulon Trickey bought 83 acres nearby. Upon the death of Zebulon, his widow Eleanor (Libby) Trickey, paid the debts of his insolvent estate and acquired the land outright. In 1757, Eleanor sold the property to their two sons, Zebulon Jr and David.

In 1765, Samuel sold 40 acres on the edge of his property to his son-in-law Zebulon Trickey, Jr (for further details of these families' interactions, see the Skillin Family Newsletter, 4:4 (1990)). Samuel apparently sold 1/8 of the sawmill on Long Creek to his son Simeon (see App C of Skillings 8 Generations).

Samuel was a member of the Snow Shoe Company, raised in 1744 of the County of York under the command of Capt Domoni Jordan.

From Robert F. Skillings: "Capt. Samuel Skillings commanded one of the four companies of volunteers raised to drive off the Indians." Willis says, in May 1756 "he marched in the direction of Windham and succeeded in saving the people and property in that place. He arrived in season to put the enemy to flight soon after they had commenced an attack upon the inhabitants, in which one was killed and one wounded and scalped." (for additional details see "New Marblehead, now Windham, Maine: Indian Troubles and Military Affairs," MHGR, Volume 5 (1888)).

Chapman says, "Samuel Skillin, Jr. was not a small mean soul, but a giant in many respects. Among his possessions were three slaves; he was owner of a sawmill, trader, inn keeper, selectman, a military genius; prominent in everything around him -- not a follower of others but a director."

Samuel was the owner of three slaves. A history of Titus Skillings (1766?-1842), whom Sargent calls a "slave of Capt. Samuel of Long Creek", is given in the Skillin Family Newsletter, 3:4 (1989) and in Thomas Henley's book, p 509.

In 1792, Samuel executed the "infamous" 99-year lease involving Monument Square in downtown Portland, ME to Enoch Ilsley of Portland, which lease was witnessed by Samuel's sons Simeon and Joseph. The document was not recorded at the Cumberland County Registry until 30 Aug 1869. Details of this transaction and the futile attempts of the family to retrieve ownership of the land are given in seferal newspaper articles in the Appendix of Skillings 8 Generations.

Rebecca (Sawyer) Skillings d 25 Jun 1798 Cape Elizabeth, ME; Samuel d 12 Mar 1799 age 93y Cape Elizabeth, ME; bur in Long Creek Cemetery (located behind the Air National Guard on Western Avenue, South Portland, ME). Children:

1. Josiah, b 7 Jun 1732 Cape Elizabeth; m Susanna Winter 2. Rebecca, b 15 Jun 1734 Falmouth; m Zebulon Trickey, Jr 3. Samuel III, b 21 Mar 1735/6 Cape Elizabeth; m Mary Mitchell 4. Sarah, b Jun/Jul 1743 Cape Elizabeth; m Samuel Dunn 5. Simeon, b abt 1748 Cape Elizabeth; m Rebecca Skillin 6. Mary, b 30 May 1751 Cape Elizabeth; m Simeon Skillin 7. Lucy, b abt 1752 Cape Elizabeth; m Thaddeus Broad 8. John, b abt 1753 Cape Elizabeth; m Rebecca Sawyer 9. Joseph, b 20 Mar 1762; m Anna Doane

Samuel was a Captain in the 6th Company in DO; commissioned officer of Colonel Samuel Waldo's Regiment 1762-1767.

Capt Samuel Skillings Jr and Rebecca Sawyer had the following children:

+ 122 i. Josiah⁵ Skillings was born 7 Jun 1732.

+ 123 ii. Rebecca Skillings was born 15 Jun 1734.

+ 124 iii. Pvt Samuel Skillings III was born 21 Mar 1736.

+ 125 iv. Sarah Skillings was born Jun 1743.

+ 126 v. Simeon Skillings was born c1748.

+ 127 vi. Mary Skillings was born 30 May 1751.

128 vii. Lucy Skillings (#4202) was born in Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland, ME 1752.⁽²⁷⁸⁾ She married Thaddeus Broad in Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland, ME, 25 Jan 1771.⁽²⁷⁹⁾ (Thaddeus Broad is #4203.)

+ 129 viii. John Skillings was born c1753.

+ 130 ix. Joseph Skillings was born 20 Mar 1762.

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