The skinners of fife
Rich history in the kingdom of Fife
Our grandfather’s paternal family hail from the Kingdom of Fife, where generations of proud Scottish Skinners have farmed the lands of Auchtermuchty, Newton of Falkland and Leslie.
In the 1850s the family spread its wings when John Skinner (1822-1907) arrived in Newport to work. He settled there with his wife Jessie and established the Welsh Skinners, and then through his son John (1859-1917), the Nebraskan Skinners of the USA. The family tradition of naming the first-born son John has led to at least eleven John Skinners over three centuries.
The Scottish Skinners are a sub-branch of the MacGregor clan, a surname that was banned in Scotland several times prior to the 18th century, in an effort to clamp down on the unruly clan. Famous members of the clan include Rob Roy MacGregor, the outlaw and folk hero. Our surname Skinner is classed as an occupational surname with English and Scottish origins, hence the close links with farming that run through many generations of our family.
Due to the proliferation of Skinners in Fife, family research is complicated, and many records are incomplete. We are extremely grateful to the dedicated researchers who have, over many years, tried to unravel its intricacies. It is generally accepted that 1701 in Auchtermuchty, Fife is as far back as you can trace the line with real confidence. For this page we have drawn heavily on work done by Robert C Lang of the USA, Shirley Pedersen of New Zealand, and Graham Walters of Wales.
We start our account in Auchtermuchty, Fife on 17th December 1756 with the wedding of John Skinner and Margaret Stocks. John was a farmer, and both lived locally. They had four children whilst living in Auchtermuchty: Christian, Ann, James and Elizabeth. They then moved the family to Newton of Falkland where they farmed and had a further three children: Jean, Robert and finally John who was born on 5th January 1772.
Auchtermuchty is a small town and until 1975 was a royal burgh, established under charter of King James V in 1517. There is evidence of human habitation in the area dating back over 2,000 years. In the past, the linen industry was a major source of work in the town, but in the early 18th century the firm of John White was established, bringing the town its first foundry, the town also had a distillery.
After moving to Newton of Falkland, John and Margaret raised their family on the farm and they became part of the community. Falkland is now considered to be the home of our family line and has attracted family researchers from around the world. Many of our descendants are buried in Falkland Cemetery.
Historic Falkland is a royal burgh situated in the foothills of the Lomond Hills. Until 1337 it was the site of a castle built by Macduff, the Thane of Fife. In 1458, Falkland received its royal charter, and its famous palace was built. The 1800s saw the village improved, and in 1970 the popular tourist destination became one of the first Conservation Areas in Scotland.
In 1797 John Skinner (1772-?) was still living on the farm when he married Mary Moutrie from Edinburgh. Their first son was born in 1799 and was named John, becoming the eighth Skinner to carry the name. John was followed by siblings Ann (1800), Robert (1802), James (1804), and Alexander (1813), all were born in Newton of Falkland.
Whereas John was to continue the family tradition of farming, his brothers Robert and James both became brewers and Alexander a weaver. It is thought that in later life John Skinner (1772) married for a second time to Christine Paterson.
On 27th January 1822 John Skinner (1799-1877), the son of John and Mary, married a local woman called Jane Duncan, born in 1798. Duncan is a famous Scottish surname, and Duncan I was a former leader of Scotland. He died in 1040, the events of which are told by Shakespeare in the play Macbeth. It is said that Jane Duncan’s paternal line can be traced back to the former leader. John and Jane established their home in Newton of Falkland before later moving to nearby Leslie.
John and Jane Skinner are the great-grandparents of our grandfather Donald Skinner. Like his forefathers, John was a farmer and the couple spent most of their lives living at Little Balquhomrie Farm near Leslie. Balquhomrie has a storied history and can be traced back to the 15th century. It is still a working farm and was sold in 2016 as a 118-acre livestock farm with traditional farmhouse and a number of original stone outbuildings.
John farmed the 120 acres until his sons were old enough to run the farm. John then used his skills and become a respected land surveyor. John and Jane had eight children. Their first son was born in 1822 and they followed the Skinner tradition and named him John. He became the ninth generation to carry the name. John was followed by seven siblings. David 1826, Robert 1829, Isabella 1831, James 1833, Andrew 1835, Alexander 1838 and finally Mary 1842. All were born in Falkland, except Mary who was born at Balquhomrie Farm in Leslie.
John Skinner (1822-1907) was the grandfather of our grandfather Donald. He grew up on the farm with his parents and siblings and worked with his father from a young age, learning the family trade. He was active in the farming community and as a young man was the Secretary of the Leslie Ploughing Society. Traditionally the eldest son would have been expected to take over the farm from his father. However, John had other ambitions.
Shortly before the 1851 census was completed John left the farm seeking work. He ended up in Newport, Wales where he took a farm management job. He returned briefly to Leslie to marry Jessie Farmer before the couple travelled to Newport where they settled. The story of the Welsh Skinners continues here.
The 1851 census shows that John senior was still farming Little Balquhomrie and also worked as a Land Surveyor. He was helped on the farm by four paid labourers, his wife Jane, and teenage children, Isabella, James, and Andrew. Alexander was still at school. Eldest son John Jr. had left the farm for Wales, whilst two children, David and Mary had died in childhood, both aged 7. Of Johns siblings Robert continue to live locally and became a blacksmith and farmer, he died in 1913. Another brother Alexander followed in the footsteps of an uncle and became a weaver.
John and Jane Skinner were married for 55 years. John died in 1877 and Jane in 1883. They are buried with two of their children, Mary and Alexander, in Falkland Cemetery on Newton Road. John’s grave reads: ‘Erected by Jane Duncan, Newton of Falkland in memory of her beloved husband John Skinner, Farmer and Land Surveyor, Balquhomrie. Died 3.6.1877 aged 78 years.’
Their children and grandchildren continued the Skinner line and there are ancestors dotted around Fife to this day.