A GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF THE PIONEER THOMAS SKIDMORE [SCUDAMORE] OF THE MASSACHUSETTS AND CONNECTICUT COLONIES IN NEW ENGLAND AND OF HUNTINGTON, LONG ISLAND, AND OF HIS DESCENDANTS THROUGH THE BRANCHES HEREIN SET FORTH INCLUDING OTHER RELATED BRANCHES OF THE SKIDMORE FAMILY WITH HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF PLACES WHERE THE SEVERAL BRANCHES SETTLED AND OF EVENTS IN WHICH REPRESENTATIVE MEMBERS PARTICIPATED COMPILED AND PUBLISHED BY EMILY C. HAWLEY 1911 CoPYRIGIIT, 1911, llY EMIL\" C. HAWLEY rRF.SS OF F.. L. HlLPRF.TII & CO. r.RJ\TTLF.. nORO. \"T. SKIDMORE GENEALOGY 2 ~- '1. .j~~-,!~ff (',_ ' . ~ .. ~ '.· ... .. ' ',:1 ; ~~; / :ii I '' : rJ) ~ It is wise for us to recur to the history of our ancestors; those who do not look upon themselves as a link connecting the past with the future do not perform thdr duty to the world. -Daniel Webster E~!IJ.Y C. HAWLEY B1<oo;;FJELD C;:sTF.R. Coss. INTRODUCTION. There is something within me yearns For that kindred of long ago, Who govern my life by turns, Whether I will or no. Louise M. Hodgkins. Our New England ancestry dates back only about nine generations to Plymouth Rock. The hearthstones of the early settlers have but recently crumbled away. Vines and mosses cover many foundation walls where stood the n1de dwellings built one hundred and fifty or two hun­ dred years ago. The desire to .-erpetuate the names and deeds of our progenitors has but recently taken possession of us, so strongly have we been in­ fluenced by that trait of our Kew England antecedents, namely, con­ servatism; a solicitude lest we exalt too highly those quiet, simple, stead­ fast lives that have contributed so much to our own. A fear (never expressed, however) that we might find ourselves in some way allied to those "Princes and Lords·• of the olden times, who, Robert Bums said, ''are but the breath of kings." It is doubtful if our ancestors become a subject of particular interest to us until middle life has drawn about us the mysteries and questionings which come with the passing years. The buoyancy and "simple joy of living'' which charac­ terize youthful years leave nothing to be desired while they are ours. For how can the past minister to those whose every thought is satisfied with today, or with dreams of tomorrow? But the time comes when a man likes to think of himself as a link in the family succession. The sources of his strength, physical and mental, have been derived from his progenitors, and he, in turn, desires to contribute to the good of another generation, in some way or form, as may be within his capacity so to do. \Vhen I undertook the work of compiling this book, it was- my intent to prepare for my immediate relatives of the Skidmore line a brief genealogical record of our branch of the Skidmore family, from the present generation back to our first ancestor here in N"ew England. But the scope of my work has, from time to time, been enlarged, until the book includes many branches of the Skidmore family residing in various vii. INTRODUCTION places, with historical and biographical sketches, and records of numerous families that have been connected by marriage with the Skidmore fainily. The work of bringing together the facts and data for this book involved a very extensive correspondence, and much personal research of records, deeds, and historical papers, together with assistance received from interested friends of the Skidmore family mentioned elsewhere in this book. I have persona!iy visited the various towns in which the early Skid­ more families resided on Long Island and in Connecticut, that I might secure the proper setti11g, and present a more interesting background for the characters who figured in the days of which I write. I have also studied the early history of these towns, the churches, and the political spirit as it manifested itself during the struggle for liberty. Genealogy may properly be regarded in the light of a science, :which it is destined to become. · There are various ways of presenting the results of genealogical research. Genealogy is not only an orderly and accurate record of suer­ generations descending from a common ancestor, but it is muc .: than this. It is a history, if properly presented, of periods 01 ..ne, showing the customs, trend of thought, and the struggles of men. It is, moreover, a study in /zcrcdity, and in this light it offers a most interesting field for investigation. There is a ·'study of families," the transmission of physical and mental endowments, and the influence of environment on the individual. President Eliot of Harvard College has said that "Permanence of domicile. and, to some extent, the transmission of a trade or profession from father to son lead to superior stock." It has likewise been shown that in families where superior abilities appear, the number of children exceeds the average. Galton laid down a law of heredity, saying that "One half of the sum of our inheritance is from our parents, and one fourth from our grand­ parents." In compiling this genealogy I have found my self-imposed task not only an arduous one, but a fascinating work, which I shall lay down, perhaps, with something akin to regret. · Of the delightful friendships formed with many persons bearing the Skidmore name, or descended from this family, I may not here speak, only to say they have been one of the compensations of the work,. pos­ sibly the greatest. viii. J.\'TRODCCTJO.V I also hope that this book may be the foundation of a more extensive work, which in future years will be undertaken by another. The origin of the Skidmore family-its early history-is of unusual interest ; I am of the opinion that few N cw England families present so fascinating .. nd honorable a history. This book is dedicated to those who bear the Skidmore name, or who arc descendants therefrom. It was written by me at Brooktield Center, Conn., during the years ]908, 190!1, l !IHI, E~tlL.Y C. HAWL.E\", a descendant in the ninth generation of Thomas Skidmore:, the pioneer, through her mother, Esther :\I. Skidmore-Hawley. ix. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page Introduction vii. CHAPTER I. The Origin of the Skidmore Name; Skidmore Coat-of-Arms; Family Motto 3 CHAPTER II. 1066 English Ancestry; Roll of Battle Abbey; Sir Thomas Scudamore; Hereford­ shire County, England; The Scudamores of Holme Lacy: The Scudamores of Kent Church; The Scudamores of Canterbury; Sketch of Holme Lacy Manor-House, Hereford, Eng.; Its interior furnishings by Gibbons, Van Loo and Ramsay . • • . • . • . 7 CHAPTER III. 1635 Thomas (Scudamore) Skidmore, the Pioneer Ancestor in New England; at Cambridge, Mass., 1635-1646; Assisted Gov. John Winthrop, Jr., at Say­ brook, Conn., in 1647, and at New London in 1648; An early Settler at Stratford, Conn., 1649-1(,6(); One of the Founders of Huntington, L. I., in 1666; At Fairfield, Conn., in 1(,6() and again in 1684; Historical Sketch of Fairfield, Conn. • . 19 CHAPTER IV. Children of Thomas Skidmore, the Pioneer Ancestor; Thomas Skidmore, Jr., of Huntington, L. I.; Dorothy Skidmore, wife of Hugh Griffin; Jedidah Skidmore, wife of Edwin Higbee; John Skidmore of Jamaica, L. I.; Grace Skidmore, wife of John Golding; Joseph Skidmore of Huntington, L. I. .. .. 29 CHAPTER V. Historical Sketch of Huntington, L. I.; Early Settlers; First Church; Town Records; Modem Huntington; Huntington Library; Huntington Bay; The Bay Crest Section . 37 CHAPTER VI. A Record of John Skidmore (Scidmore), Sr., of Huntington, L. I., grandson of Thomas Skidmore, the Pioneer; A Record of the three sons of John (Scidmore) Skidmore, Sr., Joseph Skidmore, John Skidmore, Jr.• Thomas Skidmore, all of Suffolk County, Long Island, and daughters, Abigail and Temperance Skidmore . • . • . • . • . 45 xi. CO.VTENTS CHAPTER VII. A Record of Joseph Skidmore of Huntington, L. I. (a son of John Skidmore, Sr.); A Record of the live sons of Joseph Skidmore, Joseph, Peter, Samuel, Isaac, Philip, and of the four daughters, Rebecca, Temperance, Eliza and Esther ................................................................ 4i CHAPTER VIII. Captain Joel Skidmore (Scidmorc) of Northport, L. I.. and family, Margaret Scidmore Arthur; Mary Scidmore; Joel L Scidmorc; llyron G. Scidmore; Platt Skidmore of Huntington, L. I.; William E. Skidmore; Brewster Skidmore; \Voocllmll Skidmore; 01arles Skidmore . .. 49 CHAPTER IX. John Skidmore, Jr., of Smithtown, L. I., and his Descendants; Zophar Skid­ more, Sr., of Smithtown, L. I., and his family; Sketch of Smithtown, L. I. 53 CHAPTER X. A Sketch of Captain Hubbard Skidmore of New York City, son of Zophar Skidmore, Sr., of Smithtown, L. I.; A Record of Captain Hubbard Skid­ more's sons and daughters by his lirst and second marriage; A Record oi the Ridgway Family and t!·~ ;Joremus Family oi New York, Descendants of Sarah M. Skidmore and Estelle E. Skidmore, rcspecti,·ely; Sketch oi Judge James Ridgway and family of New York; Sketch of Joseph Skid­ more Ridgway and f;;, c"y of New York; Sketch of Prof. R. Ogden Doremus and Estelle E. Skidmore. his wife. of New York City; Family of Prof. R. Ogden .Doremus . 56 CHAPTER XI. Zophar Sciclmorc, Jr., of Smithtown, L. I.; A Record oi his son. Solomon Scid­ more, his grandson, George B. Scidmorc oi Iowa, and his great-grand­ children, Hon. George H. Scidmore of Seoul, Korea, and Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore of Washington, D. C. .. • .. .. .. .. • . .. .. • . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. • 69 CHAPTER XII. Record of Samuel Skidmore, Solomon Skidmore, Richard Skidmore, sons of Zophar Skidmore, Sr. .. • . i3 CHAPTER XIII. Historical Sketch of New York City; Early political life; Dutch Church; Holland, the cradle of liberty and education; Historical Memorials; Th~ Hudson-Fulton celebration in 1909; The Indians of New York State; Emigration oi New York and Long Island settlers to No\"a Scotia, li82 and 1783 .............................................................