John Skinner (early settler) facts for kids
John Skinner (born 1590, died 1650) was an important early settler in the Massachusetts Bay Colony and one of the people who helped start the town of Hartford, Connecticut. He was a Puritan, which means he followed a strict form of the Protestant Christian faith. John Skinner traveled to New England with a group led by Thomas Hooker, a famous Puritan leader. It's thought that Skinner came from a town called Braintree in Essex, England. He married Mary Loomis, whose father was Joseph Loomis. After John Skinner died, Mary later married Owen Tudor.
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Who Was John Skinner?
John Skinner was one of the many brave people who left England in the 1600s to build new lives in America. These settlers, often called Puritans, were looking for religious freedom and a chance to create communities based on their beliefs. Skinner played a part in the early history of two important colonies: Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Moving to the New World
John Skinner likely arrived in New England as part of Thomas Hooker's group. Hooker was a well-known minister who led many of his followers from Massachusetts to what is now Connecticut. They were looking for new land and more freedom to practice their religion. This journey was very difficult and involved traveling through thick forests.
Founding Hartford, Connecticut
In 1636, Thomas Hooker and his followers, including John Skinner, founded the town of Hartford. This new settlement became a key part of the Connecticut Colony. Founding a town meant clearing land, building homes, and setting up a government. John Skinner was one of the original landowners in Hartford.
Skinner's Land in Hartford
When Hartford was first laid out in 1639, John Skinner's home lot was on the west side of Main Street. This was a central location in the new town. However, Skinner later traded this piece of land with another settler named Richard Olmsted. Skinner received a different lot on what was then called the highway, which is now known as Trumbull Street. This shows how early settlers often traded land as the towns grew and developed.
