A Tale of Three Zophars

Three Generations of Zophar Skinner

My father's mother was a Skinner. Her grandfather (and my gg-grandfather) was the 3rd Zophar Skinner in a row of Zophars.

The first Zophar Skinner was born in 1773 or early 1774, probably in Norton, Bristol County, Massachusetts. He was a son of Elijah Skinner and Abigal Hawes. Zophar married Bethiah Freeman in Norton on the 15 October 1798. His occupation was listed as a Miller when he died on 3 March 1843 in Franklin, Bristol County, Massachusetts of consumption. He is buried in the Norton Common Cemetery in Norton, Massachusetts.

Inscription: To the memory of
Mr Zophar Skinner
who died March 2, 1843.
Aged 69 years.
 Norton Common Cemetery, Norton, MA

Although the tombstone reads the  2^nd March for Zophar's death, his actual death record shows 3rd March for his death date.

The second Zophar Skinner was born 1 May 1803 in Norton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, third of eight children born to Zophar Skinner and Bethiah Freeman. He married Cynthia Comstock on the 27 September 1835 in Seekonk, Massachusetts. He died of typhoid pneumonia on the 1 July 1860 in Cumberland, Providence County, Rhode Island. He was a mill laborer at the time of his death. Zophar is buried in Mineral Spring Cemetery, Pawtucket, Rhode Island.


Inscription: Zophar Skinner
Died July 1, 1860
Aged 57 years & 2 mo's
Mineral Spring Cemetery, Pawtuket, RI

The third Zophar Skinner was born on the 12th of September 1843 in Valley Falls, Providence County, Rhode Island. He was the second child of Zophar Skinner and Cynthia Comstock. He married Eliza Jane Carpenter on the 24th of December, 1865 in Valley Falls. Zophar died of a heart attack on 11 November 1926 and is buried in Moshassuck Cemetery in Central Falls, Rhode Island. At the time of his death, he was the owner and manager of the R.I. Washer Company in Valley Falls, a manufacturer of leather washers.

Skinner Family Tombstone, Moshassuck Cemetery, Central Falls, RI

Inscription on reverse side of tombstone reads:

1843 - Zophar - 1926

1847 - Eliza J - 1922

1866 - Frederick W. - 1942

1867 - Charles E. - 1910

1900 - C. Edwin - 1911

1886 - Mabel Carlton - 1899

1870 - John F. - 1949

1871 - Annie F. - 1956

1894 - Hazel Skinner Grant - 1945