One of my occasional hobbies is genealogy. I think of it as a very personal way to learn history and I've always been interested in history. I've been able to trace most of the branches of my family back pretty far and the Internet in most cases has made this far, far easier than it used to be. However, one of my most direct lines ends in a mystery with a man who was born in ~1824. His name was Richard Wade Skaggs. Finding A birth certificate is unlikely but there may be a baptismal record, family Bible, or some other legal documentation or something else out there...
Here is the information I have on Richard Wade Skaggs, some of this came from a post I made on Ancestry a few years back:
His death certificate lists his mother as Nannie Skaggs (supposedly maiden name according to the form) and his father as "Unknown". Based on this I would guess that he was most likely born out of wedlock and that he took his mother's last name. However, there could be some other explanation like perhaps the person (probably son) who provided the information didn't know her maiden name...
Some other relevant facts about Richard Wade Skaggs:
According to an indenture made October 4th, 1841, Richard Wade Skaggs turned 14 in March 1841 (birth year would be 1827). His age was probably fudged for this to make him older.
In the 1850 Census of Green County, Kentucky, Richard Wade Skaggs is listed as a laborer living with Stephen and Sarah Skaggs. He is listed as being 21 years old and born in Louisiana (birth year would be ~1829). Stephen and Sarah are about 10 years older so they couldn't be his parents though I would have to assume that they are related somehow, probably through his mother.
In the 1860 Census of Taylor County, Kentucky, Richard Wade Skaggs is listed as being 27 years old and born in Kentucky. (birth year would be ~1833)
In the 1870 Census of Taylor County, Kentucky, Richard Wade Skaggs is listed as being 44 years old and born in Louisiana. (birth year would be ~1826)
In the 1880 Census of Larue County, Kentucky, Richard Wade Skaggs is listed as being 52 years old and born in Kentucky. (birth year would be ~1828)
In the 1900 Census of Larue County, Kentucky, Richard Wade Skaggs is listed as being 74 years old and born in Kentucky. (birth year would be ~1826)
In the 1910 Census of Buffalo, Larue County, Kentucky he is listed as being 84 years old and born in Louisiana. (birth year would be ~1826)
The death certificate of Richard Wade Skaggs lists his birth date as March 15, 1825 and his tombstone says March 15, 1824. His mother is listed as "Nannie Skaggs" and his father is listed as "Not Known". His birth place, and the birth place of both parents is listed as "Kentucky". The informant on the death certificate is James Skaggs (he had a son named James so that's probably him).
It seems to me that "Nannie" is probably a nickname or short for something like Nancy but I'm just speculating. Richard's birth date is uncertain but it seems likely to have been March 15th 1824 or 1825.
Interestingly, there was a Richard Wade married to a Mary Skaggs mentioned in a lawsuit with a bunch of other Skaggs relatives (presumably). So speculating that these may have been Richard Wade Skaggs parents I tried to do some research on them. But this means his parents were married so why would he have taken his mother's last name? Divorce before birth? Below is what I found on them.
Relevant facts about Richard Wade and Mary Skaggs:
A Richard Wade married to a Mary Skaggs was mentioned in a lawsuit in 1836 as follows:
Green co., Ky., Order Books: Sept. 2, l836, John Skaggs vs. Jeremiah Skaggs. This day came the complainants by his counsel and filed his bill herein and on his motion and its appearing to the satisfaction of the courts that Jeremaih Skaggs, Richard Wade & Mary his wife formerly Skaggs, Wm. Graham and Sally his wife formerly Skaggs, Stephen Skaggs, James Skaggs, Nancy Skaggs, Elizabeth Skaggs, Jeremiah Skaggs, James Skaggs, John Pearce & Letta his wife, Henry Skaggs, James Skaggs, John Patterson and Jane his wife, John Jackson and Elizabeth his wife are not inhabitants of this Commonwealth. It is therefore ordered by the court that unless the sd. non resident defendants to appear here on or before the lst day of Dec. term next and file their answer to the complainants bill that said bill will be taken against them as confessed and the prayer thereof decreed accordingly.
Then John also sues William Skaggs & the same people are listed.
A Richard Wade and Mary Ann Skaggs are found in Louisiana as early as 1812. I'm just speculating at this point that these may be the same individuals mentioned above but it is compelling that they were in Louisiana and Richard Wade Skaggs had his birth place sometimes listed as Louisiana:
Maritime Commerce and the Founding of Wadesboro, Tangipahoa Parish, & St. Helena Parish, Louisiana
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
HISTORIC PONCHATOULA
Maritime Commerce and the Founding of Wadesboro
By JIM PERRIN
Special to The Times
(Part Two In A Series)
...
On the Ponchatoula River early settler Richard Wade had established a location sometimes called Ponchatoula Landing, but usually referred to as Wade's Landing. Richard Wade and his wife Mary Ann Skaggs (Scuggs, Skeggs) settled in St. Helena Parish by 1812, owning land on the Natalbany River, By 1819, Richard had established his landing on the Ponchatoula River. Wade was a cotton planter and also engaged in commerce at his landing. He was listed as owning 960 acres of land on tax lists in both 1824 and 1826 on the Ponchatoula River in what was then St. Helena Parish. He was also taxed as the owner of a tavern in 1826. In later years he was to lay out a town at his landing and begin the settlement of Wadesborough.
A Richard Wade is listed in the 1820 Census of St. Helena Parish, Louisiana
Richard Wade married Mary Ann Robson on March 13, 1829 in St. Helena parish, Louisiana (not sure what happened to Mary Ann Skaggs - did he really marry two different people named Mary Ann? Were these two different Richard Wades that both happened to marry someone named Marry Ann in the same parish?).
Richard Wade sold land to a Mary Ann Robertson/Robinson on November 13, 1829 (is this person related to the Mary Ann Robson he married and how? These are probably just spelling variations because of transcription errors or other reasons... Is he selling land to his wife? Maybe her mother had the same name? What's with all the Mary Ann variations?):
Deeds: Richard Wade to Mary Ann Robinson, St. Helena Parish, LA
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
State of Louisiana
Parish of St. Helena
Richard Wade to Mary Ann Robinson
13 November 1829
Know all men by these presents that I, Richard Wade of the parish of St. Helena and State of Louisiana, have this day for and in consideration of the sum of fifteen hundred dollars, cash to me in hand paid before the signing of the presents by Mary Ann Robertson of the said parish and State, grant, bargain, sold transferred, and conveyed and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell, transfer and convey unto the said Mary Ann Robinson one half of a section of Land containing three hundred and twenty acres situate lying and being on the Ponchatola [sic] River on the east side of, Known by the name of Wades landing place, bounded on the north by Absolom Traylors land, on the east by lands of Jon Cone?, and on all other sides by vacant Lands. To have and to hold the afore said described premises unto the said Mary Ann Robinson, her heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, and the said Richard Wade for himself, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns unto the said Mary Ann Robertson, her heirs, and assigns shall and will warrant and forever defend the aforesaid described premises, hereby warranting and defending the aforesaid land from the claim or claims of all and every person or persons whomsoever.Done and passed before me Burlin Childress, parish Judge and ex officio notary public in and for said parish, on this Thirteenth day of November in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty nine in presence of Samuel Rankins, and Edward Gorman, witnesses who signed with me, the said Judge and notary.
R. Wade
Witness
Edward Gorman
Samuel RankinBurlin Childress, P. J. ex N. OP.
Source: Conveyance Records - St. Helena Parish, Louisiana (FHL Film 0355804-pg.
A Richard Waid is listed in the 1830 Census of St. Helena Parish, Louisiana.
Any help in solving the mystery of where these people came from would be greatly appreciated. I doubt this information can be found online because I've been looking for 20 years. However, if you happen to live in any of the places where Richard Wade Skaggs might have been born (Kentucky or Louisiana most likely) and happen to do genealogy research anyway, then keep your eyes out for Richard...and remember, I'm just speculating that the Richard Wade and Mary Ann Skaggs I mention above MIGHT be Richard Wade Skaggs parents and I can't even be sure that the ones mentioned in the lawsuit in Kentucky are the same as the ones that were in Louisiana earlier. That's all speculation on my part...
For some more information on Richard Wade Skaggs, see the following links:
https://www.megalextoria.com/genealogy/gramps/TheSkaggsFiles/ppl/c/e/f63c96da7156dde19cd7e6faec.html
https://www.megalextoria.com/tng/getperson.php?personID=ind00023&tree=TheSkaggsFiles
https://familytrees.genopro.com/Azrael/Skaggs/Skaggs-RichardWade-ind00023.htm which includes most of the info I have on him.