John Skene (1649 - aft. 1690)

Ancestors Descendants

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Death and Legacy 1.2 Slaves 1.3 Sources 2 Acknowledgements

Biography

John Skene was born about 1649 in Newtytle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. This is now the village of Foveran.

In 1674, John Skene, a Quaker from Aberdeen, Scotland bought 300 acres of land in the Province of West Jersey and named his property "Peachfield".

Skene served as a Burlington judge, in the Colonial Assembly of West Jersey in 1683, and as deputy governor in . He is considered the first freemason in the United States.

Death and Legacy

John "Skeene," "gentleman" of Peachfield, Burlington County wrote his will 19 Aug 1690 naming his wife Helena sole heiress and executrix, eldest son Alexander, and other children unnamed. He died sometime before the inventory of his estate on 30 Mar 1695, amounting to £308.3.3 which included a library valued at £24.14 and an unnamed enslaved woman valued at £30^[1]

After his death in 1695, Henry Burr, also a Quaker, purchased the property from Skene's widow, Helena. Although the house burned in 1928, it was rebuilt, and the property was eventually deeded to the Colonial Dames of America, where it remains open to the public. More about Peachfield.

Slaves

The inventory of John Skene's estate included an unnamed slave woman valued at £30.

Sources

1. ↑ Nelson, William (ed.), Calendar of Wills, Administrations, Etc. Volume I, 1670-1730. Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Trenton, NJ: Archives of the State of New Jersey, 1901, volume 23, page 422

Scottish Quakers and Early America, 1650-1700

SKENE, JOHN

Merchant in Aberdeen, purchased land in West New Jersey 1664

Married Helen, daughter of John Fullarton in Kinnaber 23.10.1669

Father of Katherine; Lilias b 2.1673; Marie 3.12.1674; and Christine b 6.3.1675

(more)

Scottish Quakers and Early America, 1650-1700

1690 Aug 19 WILL Abstract

JOHN SKEENE of Peachfield, Burlington Co., gentleman

Wife: Helena

Eldest son: Alexander

Other children mentioned but not named

Executors: Patrick Robeson, George Hucheson and James Marshall

Proved: April 10, 1695

Inventory: March 30, 1695

New Jersey Abstract of Wills Vol XXIII

SKENE, JOHN

John Skene born 1649, son of Alexander Skene of Newtyle, a baillie and merchant in Aberdeen, and Lillias Gillespie, educated at Marischal College, Aberdeen, 1663; a merchant in Aberdeen, purchased land in West New Jersey 1664; a Quaker, with Helen Fullerton his wife and family emigrated from Aberdeen on the Golden Hind of London, arrived in Delaware 10.1682, settled in Peachfield, Burlington County, member of the Council of West New Jersey 1683, Deputy Governor of West New Jersey 1685, died 1687.

The Original Scots Colonists of Early America. Supplement 1607-1707

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/101532007/john-skene: accessed March 13, 2024), memorial page for John Skene (4 Apr 1649–19 Aug 1690), Find a Grave Memorial ID 101532007, citing John Skene Gravesite, Burlington County, New Jersey, USA; Maintained by Linda DeVane Boyd (contributor 47678956).

See also

• Wikipedia:John_Skene_(New_Jersey_official)

Acknowledgements

• This person was created through the import of Lanctot Modified 1-11-11.ged on 12 January 2011.