#52 Ancestors Week 40 - October Birthday - James Skeen

Amy Johnson Crow at No Story Too Small has a weekly challenge to write the stories of your ancestors. This is week #40and the suggested theme is October Birthday. As it turns out I had quite a bunch of ancestors to pull from.  Two grandparents, two great grandparents all born in October. But I decided to feature my 4th great grandfather James Skeen.

James was born 250 years ago on October 26, 1765 either in Pennsylvania or Virginia. James' father bought 190 acres in Borden's Tract in the Shenandoah Valley in 1778. James was married in Rockbridge, Virginia, but by 1800 was in Blount County, Tennessee, where most of his children were born. He was on the tax lists in 1801 and patented land in 1809

James Skeen, 145 acres, Blount, TN
Early land records of North Carolina and Tennessee 1753-1931

He was on the move again buying 146 acres in Knox County Kentucky Oct 25, 1815. His children all married in Kentucky but they also were on the move by the mid 1830's. Their moves were into Lawrence County Indiana.  James joined them in Indiana and died there in 1834 at the age of 68.

James Skeen, died Feb 20, 1834
Aged 68 Yrs 4 Mo & 24 Da.
Buried in Shiloh Cemetery, Lawrence Co., IN

James Skeen certainly exemplified the pioneer spirit that many citizens had after the Revolution that kept them moving west.