Stephen LUCE was born ¹ on 25 Sep 1714 in Tisbury, Dukes, Massachusetts, United States. He died ² on 13 May 1801 in Tisbury, Dukes, Massachusetts, United States. Stephen married ³ Content PRESBURY on 5 Sep 1735 in Tisbury, Dukes, Massachusetts, United States.

Content PRESBURY [Parents] was born ¹ in 1711 in Edgartown, Dukes, Massachusetts, United States. She died ² on 9 Sep 1773 in Tisbury, Dukes, Massachusetts, United States. Content married ³ Stephen LUCE on 5 Sep 1735 in Tisbury, Dukes, Massachusetts, United States.

Timothy LUCE was born ¹ on 18 Mar 1704 in prob Edgartown, Dukes, Massachusetts, United States. He died ² on 6 May 1782 in Tisbury, Dukes, Massachusetts, United States. Timothy married ³ Sarah PRESBURY on 18 Feb 1730/1731 in Edgartown, Dukes, Massachusetts, United States.

Sarah PRESBURY [Parents] was born ¹ in 1713 in Edgartown, Dukes, Massachusetts, United States. She died ² on 30 Jan 1793 in Tisbury, Dukes, Massachusetts, United States. Sarah married ³ Timothy LUCE on 18 Feb 1730/1731 in Edgartown, Dukes, Massachusetts, United States.

James SKIFF [Parents] ¹ was born ² on 12 Sep 1638 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States. James married ³ Elizabeth NEIGHBOR on 18 Nov 1659. The marriage ended in divorce.

Other marriages:

BARNARD, Sarah

2. JAMES SKIFFE, (James1), b. 12 Sept. 1638; res. Sandwich, Mass. His connection with the Vineyard is detailed in Vol I., p. 474 and Vol. II, Annals of W. T., pp. 72-3. He m. (1) ELIZABETH NEIGHBOR of Boston 18 Nov. 1659 from whom he was divorced 1670 and (2) SARAH BARNARD of Nan. (espoused Mch. 1677), who was b. abt. 1648 and d. 24 Oct. 1732.

By Second Wife:

11. SARAH, b. (1678); m. ROBERT LONG.
12. PATIENCE, b. (1681); m. JOHN SWAIN 3 Oct. 1706.
13. MARY, b. (1684); m. MOSES GILES 3 Nov. 1708.
14. HANNAH, b. 1687; m. JACOB DAGGETT (52) 24 Oct. 1714.
15. BEULAH, b. (1690); m. THOMAS BARTHOLOMEW 15 July 1724.
16. NATHAN, b. (1693); killed by pirates off Nan. 1723; s. p.

Elizabeth NEIGHBOR. Elizabeth married ¹ James SKIFF on 18 Nov 1659. The marriage ended in divorce.

James SKIFF [Parents] ¹ was born ² on 12 Sep 1638 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States. James married ³ Sarah BARNARD in Mar 1677 in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, United States.

Other marriages:

NEIGHBOR, Elizabeth

2. JAMES SKIFFE, (James1), b. 12 Sept. 1638; res. Sandwich, Mass. His connection with the Vineyard is detailed in Vol I., p. 474 and Vol. II, Annals of W. T., pp. 72-3. He m. (1) ELIZABETH NEIGHBOR of Boston 18 Nov. 1659 from whom he was divorced 1670 and (2) SARAH BARNARD of Nan. (espoused Mch. 1677), who was b. abt. 1648 and d. 24 Oct. 1732.

By Second Wife:

11. SARAH, b. (1678); m. ROBERT LONG.
12. PATIENCE, b. (1681); m. JOHN SWAIN 3 Oct. 1706.
13. MARY, b. (1684); m. MOSES GILES 3 Nov. 1708.
14. HANNAH, b. 1687; m. JACOB DAGGETT (52) 24 Oct. 1714.
15. BEULAH, b. (1690); m. THOMAS BARTHOLOMEW 15 July 1724.
16. NATHAN, b. (1693); killed by pirates off Nan. 1723; s. p.

Sarah BARNARD was born in 1648. She died on 24 Oct 1732. Sarah married ¹ James SKIFF in Mar 1677 in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, United States.

Nathaniel SKIFF [Parents] ¹ was born ² on 20 Mar 1645 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States. He died on 24 Apr 1723. Nathaniel married ³ Mary PARTRIDGE in BY 1669 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States.

Other marriages:

WEST, Ruth

4. NATHANIEL SKIFFE, (James1) b. 20 Mch. 1645; res. Sandwich, Mass.; rem. to Falmouth (1677) later to T. and C. and finally to Windham, Conn. (1713), where he d. 24 Apr. 723 of smallpox. He m. (1) MARY PARTRIDGE (dau. of George and Sarah (Tracy) Partridge of Duxbury); (2) RUTH WEST (6), who was b. 1651 and d. 31 Dec. 1741. In the absence of records the following named are believed to be his children as all others of the name at that period are otherwise placed:

30. ABIGAIL, b. (1679).
31. (Son), b. and d. 1681.
32. SARAH, b. (1683).
33. JOHN, b. (1686); soldier in French War 1709, Capt. Matthew Austin's company.
34. HANNAH, b. 6 June 1688; m. (1) BENJAMIN MAYHEW (63) 13 May 1704; (2) WILLIAM HUNT
(30). 35. BEULAH, b. (1689).
36. NATHAN, b. 1691; soldier in French War 1711 and d. 17 Oct. 1711 of disease, contracted in service.
(Mass. Arch. LXXI. 856).
37. NATHANIEL, b. 1693; m. HANNAH CAREY; res. Windham, Conn.
38. STEPHEN, b. (1696); m. ELIZBETH HATCH.

Mary PARTRIDGE. Mary married ¹ Nathaniel SKIFF in BY 1669 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States.

Nathaniel SKIFF [Parents] ¹ was born ² on 20 Mar 1645 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States. He died on 24 Apr 1723. Nathaniel married ³ Ruth WEST in BY 1699 in Falmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States.

Other marriages:

PARTRIDGE, Mary

4. NATHANIEL SKIFFE, (James1) b. 20 Mch. 1645; res. Sandwich, Mass.; rem. to Falmouth (1677) later to T. and C. and finally to Windham, Conn. (1713), where he d. 24 Apr. 723 of smallpox. He m. (1) MARY PARTRIDGE (dau. of George and Sarah (Tracy) Partridge of Duxbury); (2) RUTH WEST (6), who was b. 1651 and d. 31 Dec. 1741. In the absence of records the following named are believed to be his children as all others of the name at that period are otherwise placed:

30. ABIGAIL, b. (1679).
31. (Son), b. and d. 1681.
32. SARAH, b. (1683).
33. JOHN, b. (1686); soldier in French War 1709, Capt. Matthew Austin's company.
34. HANNAH, b. 6 June 1688; m. (1) BENJAMIN MAYHEW (63) 13 May 1704; (2) WILLIAM HUNT
(30). 35. BEULAH, b. (1689).
36. NATHAN, b. 1691; soldier in French War 1711 and d. 17 Oct. 1711 of disease, contracted in service.
(Mass. Arch. LXXI. 856).
37. NATHANIEL, b. 1693; m. HANNAH CAREY; res. Windham, Conn.
38. STEPHEN, b. (1696); m. ELIZBETH HATCH.

Ruth WEST was born in 1651. She died on 31 Dec 1741. Ruth married ¹ Nathaniel SKIFF in BY 1699 in Falmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States.

Thomas MAYHEW was born in 1650 in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, United States. He died on 21 Jul 1715. Thomas married ¹ Sarah SKIFF about 1673 in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, United States.

THOMAS MAYHEW, 3d.

The second son of Rev. Thomas Mayhew, Jr., born in 1650 chose this town as his home, although he resided for a while in Tisbury, where from 1674 to 1679 he was town clerk. In 1680 he purchased sixty acres of land in the new settlement at Chilmark, and thenceforth spent his life here as a resident. His birth gave him prominence through family influences and during all of his adult life he was an office holder. He was an associate justice of the King's Bench from 1692 to 1699 and chief justice 1699 to 1713 of the same court. Parson Homes, in his diary, gives us this account of his last days:

On the twenty first of July Anno 1715 being Thursday about two of the clock in the morning Thomas Mayhew Esqu'r of Chilmarke de-parted this life he had been for several yeares troubled with the dis-temper called the kings evil by which he was brought neere the gates of Death but by some applications made to him by an Indian doctor he re-covered so far that he was able to rid about and look after his affairs, but in the latter end of the spring or begining of summer this year he was suddenly taken with a stopag of his urine and a violent pain in his right leg, after some time his left leg swelled pretty much yet the Paine continued in the other leg, by the use of means the stopag of his urine was removed, yet the other symptoms continued. After some time there came a doctor to the Island that thought the swelling and pain in his legs might be removed by bathing and sweathing, which preceded accordingly in some measure, but after some time the swelling proceeded upwardly and he was siesed with an inwerd fever and shortness of breth which prevaild upon him till it carried him off. His nostril and throat grew so sore some days before he died that he could not speak so as to be under-stood, he was a man of good sense considering his education and seemed to be piously inclined tho he did entertain some singular opinions in religion.

The nephew, Experience, has also left this brief notice of his uncle:

He was long impowered in the Government of the Indians there, and was both singularly spirited & accomplished for that service as he was on divers other accounts a very excellent Person. [*Brief account of the State of the Indians (1720).]

He married Sarah Skiffe (5), who was born Oct. 12, 1646, and survived her husband until Dec. 30, 1740, when she passed away in the 95th year of her age.

[See The Mayhew Family of Martha's Vineyard for more information about his family.]
Source: The History of Martha's Vineyard by Dr. Charles Banks: Volume II, Annals of Chilmark:  pp. 29 - 41

Sarah SKIFF [Parents] ¹ was born ² on 12 Oct 1646 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States. She died on 30 Dec 1740 in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, United States. Sarah married ³ Thomas MAYHEW about 1673 in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, United States.

Shearjashub BOURNE [scrapbook] was born ¹ about 1644 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States. He died ² on 7 Mar 1718/1719 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States. Shearjashub married ^{3, 4} Bathsheba SKIFF in 1666 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States.

Bathsheba SKIFF [Parents] ¹ was born ² on 26 Apr 1648 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States. Bathsheba married ^{3, 4} Shearjashub BOURNE in 1666 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States.

Elisha BOURNE [scrapbook] was born ¹ about 1647 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States. He died ² on 21 Dec 1706 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States. Elisha married ³ Patience SKIFF on 16 Oct 1675 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States.

Patience SKIFF [Parents] ¹ was born ² on 25 Mar 1652 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States. She died ³ in 1718 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States. Patience married ⁴ Elisha BOURNE on 16 Oct 1675 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States.

Benjamin SKIFF [Parents] [scrapbook] ¹ was born ² on 14 Nov 1655 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States. He died ³ on 17 Feb 1717/1718. He was buried in Chilmark, Dukes, Massachusetts, United States. Benjamin married ^{4, 5} Hannah MERRY on 20 Feb 1679/1680 in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, United States.

BENJAMIN SKIFFE.

In his day and generation Benjamin Skiffe was the most prominent man in Chilmark and held a commanding posi-tion in civil and military affairs throughout the county. Indeed, he was the leading citizen of the Vineyard, after the death of Matthew Mayhew. Benjamin was next to the youngest of the four sons of James Skiffe, Senior, who came to the Vineyard. He was born Nov. 5, 1655, probably in Sandwich, where his father resided and had been a prominent citizen for many years. He was a witness to a deed in Tisbury on Dec. 4, 1677, [*Dukes Deeds, I, 267.] and it is probable that he had gone to Tisbury before that with one of his brothers, either James or Nathaniel, as an inmate of their homes. [*James came to Tisbury in 1671 and Nathaniel before 1674. The younger brother Nathan does not appear on record till 1675.] There he first saw the young girl who had lately moved there from Hampton, and who first attracted his admiration.

The girl, Hannah, daughter of Joseph Merry, was five years his junior, and on Feb. 20, 1679-80 they were married. Where they set up housekeeping is not known, but the next record we find of him is a purchase of land in this town on Feb. 6, 1681, consisting of a tract on the west side of Roaring brook. [*Dukes Deeds, I, 233] The next year on July so, 1682, he bought the land called "Nathaniel's Neck," but it cannot be determined whether either of these were used by him as a place of residence. [*Ibid., I, 346] From all evidences he still remained in Tisbury and is called of that town in 168I, 1682 and 1688, and on March 17, 1687, was chosen town clerk there. [*Tisbury Records, 18.] He was elected county commissioner in 1686, apparently to represent Chilmark, as the other two were citizens of the sister townships. He continued to act as town clerk of Tisbury from his first election in 1687 to 1693 inclusive, and not until 1695 is he called "of Chil-mark." He was a proprietor of one share in the town, how-ever, in 1692. [*Court Records, Vol. I. It is difficult to separate the relations of proprietors and residents, as there were non-resident proprietors who were entitled to hold office and draw lots.] His residence was on the east side of the Fulling Mill brook, not far from the site of the mill which stood on its banks, in sight of the South road. He bought one hundred acres on Feb. 13, 1694, jointly with Pain Mayhew, and it is supposed that it was for the purpose of carrying on the mill which he had erected there for fulling cloth. [*Dukes Deeds, I, 233.] Two years later he bought the mill privileges of New Mill river "to improve for a mill," but it is not known whether another one was built there by him. [*Ibid., I, 125.]

When the great political change of jurisdiction over the Vineyard took place in 1791, it appears that Skiffe was one of those who did not like the transfer, and he took sides with the Mayhews in the policy of passive opposition. "Capt'n ben Skiffe," wrote Simon Athearn in October of that year, "have bene very bussie against the government from this place," and as a consequence he recommended that Skiffe be super-seded as Captain of the military company as "the most likely way to bring the company to obedience." [*Mass. Archives, CXII, 424.]

But Athearn was not able to carry his point in this matter, and Skiffe continued to be a leader in military affairs as well as in civil life. He was for some time prior to 1792 Captain of the Foot Company of Militia of Tisbury and Chilmark combined, and is referred to as Captain Skiffe in 1693 and 1695. In 1703 he appears as Major Skiffe and thereafter is known by that title, and late as 1709 he was in command of this body of troopers. [*Savage says he was employed "in an important trust" by Governor Dudley in 1704, but the author has no data in confirmation of it (Gen. Dict., IV, 706).]

The town availed itself little of his services in an official capacity. For three years only, 1706-7-8, he served it as selectman, but his time was in requisition for more important duties to which the whole island unanimously called him. In those days the three towns, as at present, sent but one repre-sentative to the General Court, and for five years, 1707-1711, 1715, and 171 7, he was the "member from the Vineyard." [*Chilmark Town Records, 6, 7, 8; Tisbury Records, 62.] In 1716 Edgartown voted to send him again if Chilmark would join, but it does not appear that this was done. [*Edgartown Records, II, 79.] In 1700 he was one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas for this county, and on the death of Matthew Mayhew in 1710, Major Skiffe was Appointed Judge of Probate for this county in suc-cession arid held the office until his own decease eight years later. It will thus be seen that this man was one of the fore-most men of his time, whom all were ready to honor with such marks of confidence and respect as was in their power to bestow. He seemed to have stood well with the influential Mayhews and thus steered clear of the difficulties into which his brother fell by antagonizing them. There is an entry in the town records of Edgartown significant of the esteem in which he was held by other communities. On Jan. 22, 1707-8, the town voted that "Major Benjamin Skiffe, Esqr. shall be requested by their Clerk, Thomas Trapp, to be at their next meeting at Edgertown to assist them in their public or common affairs as moderator; and do order their said clerk to request the same in their behalf." [*Ibid., II, 90.] This appears to be an unusual and unique compliment.

Major Skiffe, in his last illness, made his will on Feb. 15, 1717-18, and died two days later. He left a large property which was inventoried by the appraisers on Feb. 23, 1719, and returned as amounting to £2748-10-5, probably being the richest man in the town. [*Dukes Probate, I, 65-7.] He was childless, but had adopted young Beriah Tilton (23), born in 1703, and to him he bequeathed, subject to Mrs. Skiffe's contingent interest, the homestead and mill adjoining. He also gave bequests in his will to his niece, Sarah Athearn, daughter of his brother Nathan, and to his brother-in-law, Thomas Pease. The following is an abstract of his will:

To Hannah my dear and loving wife … my sole executrix … all my estate … to dispose of as she sees fit if she dont dispose of the same in her life time then my will farther is that Beriah Tilton, a lad that now dwells with me, shall have my housing, mill and lands adjoining. … to Sarah, wife of Solomon Athearn of Tisbury, a certain tract of land lying in the Town of Chilmark, near the Stone Wall pond, being partly purchased of the Indians & not purchased the lands intended being held by me under Col. Thomas Dongan. I give her the whale of said tract as well the right to purchase as the already purchased.

I give to my brother Nathan Skiffe the right of purchase or patent right in a certain tract of land lying at Monamesha in the town of Chil-mark, which patent or right of purchase I had of Major Matthew Mayhew, deceased.

I give to Thomas Pease of Edgartown all the right title and interest which I have to any lands in Sanchacantucket Neck. [*Dukes Probate, I, 63.]

His widow survived him many years and died Feb. 27, 1758, at the great age of 98 years. They lie buried in the Chilmark burying ground on Abel's hill. She was a woman who partook of the distinctions accorded to her honored husband, and was called and known as Madame Skiffe. At her death she bequeathed to Beriah Tilton her "whole and sole personal estate" and made him executor. She had dis-posed of her real estate by deeds of gift and otherwise, but the homestead and mill remained in his possession as designed by her husband. [*Ibid., IV, 53.] This property descended to Beriah's son William and thence to his children, and was held by descendants till about 1897, when it was sold to George W. Blackwell.

Source: The History of Martha's Vineyard by Dr. Charles Banks: Volume II, Annals of Chilmark:  pp. 29 - 41

Hannah MERRY [scrapbook]. Hannah married ^{1, 2} Benjamin SKIFF on 20 Feb 1679/1680 in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, United States.