Is there a link between English and Scottish branches of the Skinner Family?

This is the possible link between a John Skinner who travelled north from England, believed to be the son or grandson of Rt. Rev. Dr. Robert Skinner (b.1590), Bishop of Oxford (inter alia); AND John Skinner (b.1696), the father of Poet John Skinner (b.1721), and grandfather of Right Rev. John Skinner (b.1744), Escopalian Bishop Primate of Scotland (and my ancestor).

However, current examination of direct evidence seems to indicate that there was NO John Skinner of 1636, especially as a son of Dr. Robert Skinner. There is some evidence of a connected John Skinner born 1663, son of William and grandson of Robert.

There are four possibilities:

a) There is no connection between the English and Scottish Skinners. So far, no connection has been substantially validated.

b) John Skinner b. 1696 was the son of John Skinner b. 1636 (when he was 60 years old), and the latter was the son of Dr. Robert Skinner - Unlikely.

c) John Skinner b. 1696 was the son of John Skinner b. 1663, and the latter was the grandson of Dr. Robert Skinner

d) There was an intermediate generation, possibly James Skinner of Aberdeen. This is difficult because of the limited time slot.


A. Through Descendants of English John Skinner 1636:

1. The Curates Line -

http://www.the-curates-line.com/resources/Will%20of%20Robert%20Skinner.pdf

No mention of a son called John in this will of Bishop Skinner of 1670. A search on Ancestry.com found no direct (Births, Marriages or Deaths, etc) evidence of a John Skinner born in 1636 +/- 1 year.

2. Genus Ducere website - http://www.genusducere.net/wc07/wc07_289.htm

Bishop Robert Skinner had a son, John Skinner (1636-1704), who had a son John Skinner (1696-1776), who married Elizabeth Cattanach. This isn't supported elsewhere.



B. Through Descendants of English John Skinner 1663:

1. The Curates Line -

http://www.the-curates-line.com/resources/Skinner%20Scottish%20Line%20%5B1%5D.pdf

The link to John Skinner b. 1696 is shown via Robert's son William, and a John Skinner of St. Andrews (1663-1704), the supposed father of John Skinner b.1696.

A note states: William Skinner, the Bishop’s son, born abt 1636, died Hartlebury 26th August 1695, age 59.


C. Through Ancestors of Scottish John Skinner 1696:

1. Book of Robert Burns - http://www.forgottenbooks.com/readbook_text/The_Book_of_Robert_Burns_v2_1000689044/219

This states that John Skinner, firmly identified as the John Skinner b. 1696 who was married to Mrs. Farquason (nee Gillanders), was the son of a James Skinner of Aberdeen:

Page 210. "In the last decade of the seventeenth century, two brothers, George and James Skinner, were resident at Aberdeen, the former in the new town, the latter in the old. From the parish register we learn that both brothers belonged to the Episcopal Church. In the parish register under the 24th May 1693 is the following entry: " " George Skinner, indweller, and Anne Robertson, his spouse, had a daughter named Margaret, baptized by Mr. Andrew Burnet, minister; William Fettes,tailor, and James Hay, indweller, godfathers." George Skinner is described as one of the sub-tenants at Gilcomstone. When, on the 6th October 1695, "James Skinner at Denbum " received baptism for his son, John, four persons present on the occasion, including his brother George, are named as "witnesses;" but the rite was performed "be Mr. Hamilton,"who was an Episcopal clergyman."


John Skinner prosecuted his studies in Marischal College, where he completed his education in 1716." Qualifying himself as a teacher, he was for his first appointment indebted to a kinsman. This was William Skinner, who rented the lands of Birsemore in Deeside. John Skinner taught a school at Balfour, near the fann of liirscmore, and which was the only seminary that the wild and mountainous parish of Birsethen possessed. Not unsuccessful in his teaching, the young schoolmaster was also fortunate in his wooing. Among the heritors of Birse parish enrolled in the Poll Book, appears the name of Donald Farquharson of Balfour" His wife, a daughter of Gillanders of Ilighfield, a neighbouring landowner, was left a widow some time prior to 1720, for in that year she accepted as her second husband the Birsemore schoolmaster. Of the marriage was born at Birse, on the 3rd October 1721, a son, named John, the author of " Tullochgorum."

There is no doubt that this is the same John Skinner as described by the researchers of the descendants of Dr. Robert Skinner. However, the connection between James Skinner of Aberdeen and John Skinner (1663) is 'difficult' in time and, like the existence of John Skinner (1636 and/or 1663) entirely unvalidated so far.


Searching Scotlands People databases:
There is only one John Skinner born in Aberdeenshire between 1/1/1695 and 31/12/1697:
6th October 1695 - Old Machar Parish, Aberdeen City; his father was listed as James Skinner (He might be listed as being born in 1696 if his baptism wasn't until the new year and/or by a convention in use at the time).


Notes on Names.

1 Denbum. There is a Lower Denburn and an Upper Denburn (street) in Aberdeen, close to Golden Square. Looking at the map, these could once have been one continuous street, now bisected by a large ugly modern building called Denburn Health Centre.

2 Gilmstone. The Denburn Medical Centre appears to situated at a location called Gilmstone Park - and within what could have once been an open space. A short road called Gilcomston Park runs along the north east and north west side of the Medical Centre. To the east is the imposing Woolmanhill building of the Aberdeen Royal Hospitals.

A map from 1869 (see Citation) shows Gilmonston as an area of open space surrounded by medical buildings, and to the east is the Royal Infirmary. Upper Denburn Street carries much further east to the Royal Infirmary.