353. Simeon⁶ Skillings Jr (Lt Simeon⁵, Edward⁴, Josiah³, John², Thomas¹) (#4310) was born in Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland, ME 31 May 1787.⁽²⁰⁴⁴⁾ Simeon died 17 Sep 1865 at 78 years of age. age 78y 3m His body was interred 1865 in Portland, Cumberland, ME, Western Cemetery.

He married Nancy Adams (Preble?) 16 Aug 1812.⁽²⁰⁴⁵⁾ Note: Skillings Reunion Book says her name was Nancy Preble - need to investigate this possibility (Nancy Adams (Preble?) is #4319.)

Nancy was born 1790/1 in Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland, ME.⁽²⁰⁴⁶⁾ Nancy died 10 Jul 1869 at 78 years of age.⁽²⁰⁴⁷⁾ age 79 years 11 months

Her body was interred 1869 in Portland, Cumberland, ME, Western Cemetery.⁽²⁰⁴⁸⁾

He resided in Bangs' Island, Cumberland, ME 1811.⁽²⁰⁴⁹⁾ Abstract from Memoirs of Robert F. Skillings, pp 9-10:

Simeon Skillings, Jr. was born and lived on a farm in Cape Elizabeth in the neighborhood of what is now the village of Cash's Corner. A man of large frame, stocky build, nearly six feet tall and well proportioned, with head erect, he was endowed with physical strength and agility above the average. Hving a strong, healthy, and active body, possessed with a mind alert and of a jovial disposition, he was reputed to be a leader in the merrymakings of the people and tradition says he was a champion wrestler, that being a leading pastime of those days. Inured to toil and the hardships which were the inevitable lot of the plain people of that period, he was prepared to make his own way in a busy world. He leased Bangs Island of the Preble Heirs in 1811 and, having married 16 Aug 1812 to Nancy Adams, who was a great-granddaughter of Gen. Jedediah Preble, thereafter made it his home. His principle occupation was farming and by his energy and thrift, assisted by his capable and faithful wife, he was able to rear a large family - 12 children - and to buy the interests of several of the owners of the island until, in 1840, he had gained possession of six-sevenths of its broad acres, the other one-seventh remaining in the Heirs of Commodore Edward Preble.

The island was conveyed by Nathaniel Jones to Joshua Bans 28 Sep 1734 and, after that time it was known as Bangs Island for more than 100 years. From the Jordan Memorial, p 78: "At the settlement of Cape Elizabeth, in Maine, Portland was the name applied to Bangs Island ... and to this day the promontory opposite is called Portland Head. This island, no doubt, strongly reminded such men as Joseph Phippen ...

Here was the home of Simeon, Jr and here he grew to the years of manhood amid the varied, and sometimes perhaps monotonous scenes and toils incident to life on a farm, relieved only by occasional trips to the city and numerous boating trips on the waters of Casco Bay. These trips were taken mostly for the purpose of catching fish and lobsters, the hours devoted merely to the pleasures of sailing, being few and far between.

Being isolated from the public schools, his early instruction in letters was somewhat liminted to what could be had in the home and to a brief term during the winter seasons under a private teacher. This method was followed until 1834, after which time he had the benefit of attending the public school six terms of 12 weeks each by crossing the water each day to Peaks Island. These adverse circumstances show that his school privileges were few, and being often interrupted by inclement weather, progress was inevitably slow. But he showed in many ways, particularly by his proficiency in writing, spelling, and composition, that he appreciated and improved those limited privileges. During the later years of his life ...

Simeon Skillings Jr and Nancy Adams (Preble?) had the following children:

+ 872 i. Edward P.⁷ Skillings was born 28 Apr 1813.

+ 873 ii. Charles Porter Skillings was born 18 Aug 1814.

+ 874 iii. George W. Skillings was born 10 Dec 1815.

+ 875 iv. Simeon P. Skillings was born 12 Mar 1818.

+ 876 v. Robert Franklin Skillings was born 31 Oct 1819.

+ 877 vi. Sarah Adams Skillings was born 29 Jun 1821.

878 vii. Silas Broad Skillings (#4453) was born in Portland, Cumberland, ME 23 Oct 1822.⁽²⁰⁵⁰⁾ Note: Skillings Reunion says b 29 Oct 1822 Silas died 26 Apr 1826 at 3 years of age.⁽²⁰⁵¹⁾

879 viii. Oliver Perry Skillings (#4454) was born in Portland, Cumberland, ME 19 May 1824.⁽²⁰⁵²⁾ age 26 years on 1850 census; enumerated w/bro Robert F. Skillings Sr; unmarried Oliver died 10 Jun 1852 at 28 years of age.⁽²⁰⁵³⁾ Occupation: mariner.⁽²⁰⁵⁴⁾

+ 880 ix. Eliza M. Skillings was born 25 Dec 1826.

881 x. Nancy Preble Skillings (#4456) was born in Portland, Cumberland, ME 25 Feb 1828.⁽²⁰⁵⁵⁾ Nancy died 12 Mar 1901 at 73 years of age.⁽²⁰⁵⁶⁾ She married Ichabod W. Leighton 22 Dec 1876.⁽²⁰⁵⁷⁾ (Ichabod W. Leighton is #4468.)

+ 882 xi. Silas Broad Skillings II was born 25 Aug 1829.

+ 883 xii. Mary M. Skillings was born 17 Jul 1831.

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