Third Generation

16. Joseph/Joost Skillman was born in 1712 in Brooklyn, Kings, NY. He died on 18 April 1772 at the age of 60 in Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY. He was buried in 1772 at Bushwick Church in Brooklyn, Kings, NY. His SOA Number is 10. Slave holders in New York.

From SOA:
Joost, as he was called, was lame in one of his feet from childhood, and much kept within doors at home in his youth, and yet had spent apparently a rather robust out-of-door life for sixty years. He was "a farmer" in Bushwÿck (heart of Brooklyn today), Skillman Street getting its name from this family, and the farm on which he spent his life he gave at death to his 4th son, John, by will of Oct. 1, 1767, probated April 18, 1772. The witnesses to this will were William Craambos, Peter Vandewater and Jno. Roosevelt, the executors being Sarah, his wife, Jacob Messerole, his brother-in-law, and his friend Theodorus Polhemus. By this will other small lots of land in Bushwick were bequeathed to his son Joseph, and varying sums of money to each of the remaining members of the family. To his wife (who survived him), the testator devised "also the use of my negro Tom to wait on her during her life." All the heads of families of this generation of Skillmans were probably owners of slaves, though they never called them such; Abraham and Benjamin as well as Joost or Joseph were, and quite certainly the others. Thomas,2 their father, in his will of 1739, gave his executors full power "to sell my negro man Sam and my negro woman Dorcas, as soon as convenient after my decease." In 1735 Joseph m. Sara dau. of Jan3 Messerole and Elizabeth his wife, of Bushwick. Sara was sister of Isaac Messerole who m. Catharine Skillman, the dau. of Abraham, Joseph's elder brother. Isaac and Sara here were grandchildren of Jan2 or Jean Messerole, Jr., the "sucking child" (and only son) of Jean Messerole and Jonica, his wife, brought with them in 1663 from Picardy. Their grandmother was Maritje Coevert.

Joseph/Joost Skillman and Sarah Messerole were married in 1735 in Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY. Sarah Messerole, daughter of John Messerole and Elizabeth Praa, was born about 1720 in Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY. Mormon Archive Record has b.c. 1726. She died after 1 October 1767 at the age of 47 in Red Hook, Vernon Valley, NY. She was buried in Red Hook, Vernon Valley, NY.

Joseph/Joost Skillman-60 and Sarah Messerole-76 had the following children:

+85	i.	Lt. Thomas Skillman-77.
86	ii.	William Skillman was born about 1739 in Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY. He died before 1839 at the age of 100. His SOA Number is 10 ii. He served in the military in Revolutionary War. Governor Clinton (Dec. 22, 1780) p1edged the faith of his State (N. Y.) to persons advancing money for American prisoners (Rev. War) on Long Island. Of those who made the advance or cashed these pledges, never perhaps expecting a return, were Thomas Skillman and William Skillman, first of that forename in the family. From SOA: Governor Clinton (Dec. 22, 1780) pledged the faith of his State (N. Y.) to persons advancing money for American prisoners (Rev. War) on Long Island. Of those who made the advance or cashed these pledges, never perhaps expecting a return, were Thomas Skillman and William Skillman, first of that forename in the family. There were 149 men of Long Island on this roll of honor, and all were paid eventually (1785 ?). (See N. Y, in Rev. as Col'y and State. Supplementary Vol. 2, p. 169). Undoubtedly William belongs in this family, but he has no further record.
+87	iii.	Elizabeth Skillman-731.
+88	iv.	Sarah Skillman-735.
+89	v.	Mercy "Mary" Skillman-739.
+90	vi.	Joseph Skillman-726.
+91	vii.	John Skillman-728.
+92	viii.	Anna Maria "Antje" Skillman-733.