Skinner, Provost of Montrose

[Stuart P]

I am trying to find ancestors for Hercules Skinner who died in India ca 1803, father of James Skinner 1778-1841 who gained  fame as the founder of the Indian regiment "Skinner's Horse". Hercules is mentioned on a couple of internet sources as the son of a Provost of Montrose. James' older brother was called David and younger brother was Robert.

I suspect that Hercules may not be the son of a provost but maybe a grandson. There was a birth of a Hercules in Aberdeen, 1750 to Robert Skinner and Elisabeth Ogilvie. This Robert was an Exciseman, therefore unlikely to be from Aberdeen.

Does anyone know about the Provosts of Montrose?

[MonicaL]

Hi Stuart

It would be worthwhile you contacting the Angus Archives to see whether they have a list of Provosts for Montrose www.angus.gov.uk/history/archives/ You could also check whether they have anything in the Archives for this Skinner family.

There is reference showing for example: DAVID SKINNER, PROVOST OF MONTROSE IN 1744  http://nq.oxfordjournals.org/content/vol172/issue1/index.dtl

It is surprising how little there is on line about the family prior to James Skinner 1778-1841. I've checked the normal sources for family trees etc and nothing shows that links it all up. If I can give you some suggestions:

- If you have the names of Hercules' children in order of birth (you mentioned for example that son David was the eldest) I would if you look to Scottish naming pattern for clues on possible name for Hercules father.

- there is a small contingency of Skinners showing in Montrose. You could search the OPRs for clues although as you know these can be patchy and Hercules' actually entry may not show.

- IGI also has a number of entries for the family (batch codes for Montrose are C113125 for births and M113122 for marriages). You will see there are a number of possibilities there for Hercules births, parents, grandparents etc.

- I found this http://allenteenterprises.org/TEA.htm - a number of entries for the Skinners from Montrose.

- You can also find a number of Will & Testaments for Skinner on SP, if you search in  "Brechin Commissary Court"

Monica 

[Stuart P]

Thanks for that Monica
I have now gone through the OPR births in Montrose, in which there are references to Provost David Skinner in 1714 , 1727-1730, and in 1738 "Prov. Skinner Sr & Jr". The records for 1727-30 are for Baillie David Skinner & Christian Coutts whose baptismal witness was Provost David Skinner (husband of Mary Ouchterloney).
It seems likely that the Angus Archives may have a lot more information, and that Episcopalian Records would be worth looking at.

If anyone is keen to get themselves connected to royalty, then James Skinner bpt. 27 Jul 1708 in Montrose to David S. and Mary Ouchterloney married Henrietta Howe - she is descended from the Bruce, and various other royal lines.

[Peter Gundry]

Hi Stuart and Monica

It is good to note there is some serious research into family of Hercules Skinner as to many folk have taken as Gospel page 6 of David Holman’s 1961 book “Sikander Sahib” https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9_fb118Vdb2dEhaNnJfVlFiU2c

The Author conjectures "is any truth in Skinner's romantic story of how his parents met" as "there is no indication of his [Hercules] unit until 1777". Might James have told a few more Porkies regarding the suicide of his mother?? Hercules 1803 will suggests mother and two younger daughter were then alive https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9_fb118Vdb2S1o4azNGbWVjeFU

I believe Stuart that you are spot on about Hercules being child of Robert Skinner & Elizabeth Ogilvie – had he been born before 1750 he would not have been allowed to enroll as a cadet as 21 was the very outside age. The norn was 15
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9_fb118Vdb2cExkYzVjZ05Ccmc and that Robert’s parents were David Skinner Snr. Provost of Montrose (1733-1735) and Mary Ouchterlony - their son David Skinner Jnr. Provost of Montrose (1739-1741 &  1743-1745[6?]).

Hercules’ Brother Captain James Skinner’s probate https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9_fb118Vdb2QmxSQngzNmh0ZW8 took just on 13 years to be proved as cousin Ensign William Ann Skinner took will from Bengal via Jamaica to eldest brother David in Bordeaux but died in the meantime. James Skinner Baptism (One witness: James Ogilvie, Collector of His Majesty's Customs possibly? grandfather) https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9_fb118Vdb2QWdoUWkyS1Q0V0U

I trust the links to my Google Drive are correct

Cheers

Peter

[MonicaL]

Hi Peter

Welcome to RootsChat 

Stuart will get an email of your post and hopefully be back online here soon.

Monica

[Ashok Mahindroo]

Hi Stuart, Monica and Peter,
I am a direct descendant of David Skinner, Provost of Montrose and I live in India in the Skinner’s family home in Mussoorie called Sikander Hall. The house was named after Col. James (Sikander) Skinner, born to Maj. Hercules Skinner and his Rajput wife, Jeany.
Someone had asked for details of Provosts of Montrose, so I’ve attached a page.
I have copies of all of James Skinner’s books, so if anyone needs any details about him, pls ask.
My mother, Sylvia Anne Mahindroo (born Skinner) was Col James Skinner’s great grand daughter. David Skinner (provost of Montrose 1733-44) was James Skinner’s grandfather.

[MonicaL]

Welcome to RootsChat, Ashok 

Good to have you on board. Others should get a notification of your post and hopefully post back.

Monica

[skinnerm]

Hi Stuart, please go to my website and hopefully you should find the answers to your questions. Vest wishes, Mark Skinner   

http://www.skinnerancestry.co.uk/india.html

[skinnerm]

Hi again, to establish the connection between the Scottish Skinner branch and Col James Skinner's Anglo Indian branch I had to piece together three ancestral facts.  Mark Skinner