Could everyone write one simple essay about something that once happened in Saltaire…that they saw or were a part of…and put it on one big website? Somebody should collect a lot of stories before we all forget. Otherwise it is like a line in “On The Beach” : The history of the war that now would never be written.” -(JO'H)

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

The Coming of the Skinner Family to America

















The Skinner Family was originally from Kent County, England. The Skinners were a combination of Romanized Celt, Anglo-Saxon, Dane and Norman French.




The first Skinner to emigrate from Great Britain to the New World was John Skinner, who arrived in Virginia on the ship Marmaduke in 1621.




The next to emigrate was another John Skinner who was born in 1813 in Washurst, England. He married his wife Elizabeth of Wadhurst, Sussex in June of 1838. They were living at Gapood Brook in Pembery in the late 1830's and early 1840's, and later moved to 82 Bull Plum Cottage in Pembury around 1850. During that time they had eight children: George 1839, Fanny 1841, John 1844, James 1847, David 1848, Edward 1850, Dorous 1854 and Frederick 1859.



In 1851, John Skinner was working as a farm laborer. His wife was 33 and she took care of their children. George and Fanny were in school, and the others were still at home.




In 1861, they were living at 124 Buck Lane, Shem Row in Pembury. He was working with his sons George, John and James as farm laborers. By 1871, the John Skinner Family was residing at 129(4) Red Row in Pembury. Their son John has passed away in the Winter of 1870, and Elizabeth was being cared for by John, George, James, Edward, David and Frederick. By 1881, the Elizabeth Skinner Family resided at 87 Heysden Cottage, Pembery.




John and Elizabeth's son Edward married Carolyn Dane in 1868. She was born in 1849 in Hawkenbury, Kent. they also had eight children: Helen 1869, Edward James 5/15/1874, Ester 1876, John William 1877, Elizabeth 1880, Bessie 1881, and clara 1882. They were all born in Ticenhurst, Hawkenbury. Another duaghter Lottie was born in Frant, Sussex. In 1881, Edward and Caroline were residing at 32 Brotherhood Cottage, Fran, Hawkenbury. John was working as a bricklayer, and Caroline worked as a lauderess.



Their son Edward James was living in the Tunbridge Wells area in 1894, and was working in Blackhurst. He married Amy Fairman (B 4/29/1873-D 7/12/30) of Dorin Lane in Tunbridge Wells on January 19, 1898.




Sometime in 1898, they emmigrated to America. There are no records of this event at the Ellis Island Immagration Center, but they had a son Edward Walter Skinner in Throgs Neck, NY on June 18, 1898, and another son John William on November 11, 1899 in Cold Spring Harbor, LI, NY. They departed NYC for a family visit to England in 1901 or 1902, and their first daughter Dorothy in England on December 21, 1902. They visited friends and family in Turnbridge, Pembury and Brenchley over a year long reunion. Amy and the children, along with her husband's parents Edward and Caroline Skinner departed Southampton on October 10, 1903 aboard the American Liner SS New York. They arrived at the Hudson Piers and were ferried to Ellis Island. John left Southampton on the SS Philadelphia and arrived in NYC on May 31, 1903.



In 1903, Edward and Caroline moved back (?) to Greag River, NY. The 1910 Census indicates they were living on River Road at the F.S. Hutchin's Estate. There is some indication that this was also known as the White Estate. Edward was working as the Estate Superintendent. Albert Skinner was born on August 27, 1904. The family later moved to Islip, Central Avenue or 134 Islip Avenue.



Caroline died on June 30, 1915 and was buried in the Skinner Plot in Oakwood Cemetary on Brentwood Road in Bay Shore.Edward moved to Connecticut, and passed on May 21, 1941. He is also buried in the Skinner Family Plot.

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Blogger Gill Gleeson said...
Was very interested to see your post on the Skinner family coming to America - Edward and Caroline were my great great grandparents . They emigrated from Tunbridge Wells in Kent in 1903 and went to live with their son Edward and his family in Great River .I have been searching for a long time to find out when and where Caroline was buried .Fascinated by the stories of Captain Al and the photos .I live in the county of East Sussex in England .My great Grandmother Agnes was the only one of the Skinner children to stay in England .
Gill
January 23, 2013 at 10:44 AM
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4 comments:

Beaver said...

Spoke to Frank "Monkey" Mina last night. Both of us agreed that there must have been a broken branch on the Skinner family tree. Our ferryboat mentor - Al - was born on August 27, 1904(not 08/20/08). Frank states this can be confirmed in East Islip birth records. Frank also has in his possession Al's original USCG license showing a birth date of 08/27/04. Neither of us, in all the time we spent in Al's company, ever recall him having a sister.

jimmy said...

Fine Research, Cosmo.

Unknown said...

Was very interested to see your post on the Skinner family coming to America - Edward and Caroline were my great great grandparents . They emigrated from Tunbridge Wells in Kent in 1903 and went to live with their son Edward and his family in Great River .I have been searching for a long time to find out when and where Caroline was buried .Fascinated by the stories of Captain Al and the photos .I live in the county of East Sussex in England .My great Grandmother Agnes was the only one of the Skinner children to stay in England .
Gill

Unknown said...

Was very interested to see your post on the Skinner family coming to America - Edward and Caroline were my great great grandparents . They emigrated from Tunbridge Wells in Kent in 1903 and went to live with their son Edward and his family in Great River .I have been searching for a long time to find out when and where Caroline was buried .Fascinated by the stories of Captain Al and the photos .I live in the county of East Sussex in England .My great Grandmother Agnes was the only one of the Skinner children to stay in England .
Gill