Skene, Philip Wharton

  • From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: See full biography at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Skene
  • Wiki Biography:
    • Philip Wharton Skene (5 February 1725 – 10 June 1810) was a British Army officer and landowner.
    • Skene was from the branch of the family associated with Hallyards Castle. He enlisted in the British army in 1739 and saw much action: the Battle of Porto Bello (1739), the Battle of Cartagena de Indias(1741), the Battle of Fontenoy (1745), and the Battle of Culloden (1746). In 1756 he arrived in the British colonies in North America. In February 1757 he was promoted to the command of a company in the 27th (Inniskilling) Regiment of Foot. He was wounded in Lord Howe’s 1758 attack on Fort Ticonderoga. In 1759 he was appointed major of a brigade and in October of that year was left in command of Crown Point with instructions to strengthen the fortifications. While he was stationed there he became convinced that the local area was a good one for trade and settlement. With the encouragement of Lord Amherst he started a small settlement at the head of Lake Champlain, purchasing land in the area.
    • In 1762 Skene was sent to the Caribbean and took part in the capture of Havana, being the first through the breach into Morro Castle. In 1763 he returned to North America and found his settlement reduced to 15 inhabitants. He travelled to England and in 1765 obtained a royal patent for a large tract of land known as Skenesborough (now the village of Whitehall). Returning to New York, he again began to develop a tenant settlement on his property. When his regiment returned to Ireland in 1768, Skene transferred to the Xth Foot, and then sold his commission in 1769. In 1770 he became a resident of his new community. Over the next 5 years he made many improvements to his property, such as a road to Salem, New York and on to Bennington known as “Skene’s Road”. He built mills, storehouses, and boats, including the schooner Katherine that later became the USS Liberty when seized by the patriots.
    • In 1762 Skene was sent to the Caribbean and took part in the capture of Havana, being the first through the breach into Morro Castle. In 1763 he returned to North America and found his settlement reduced to 15 inhabitants. He travelled to England and in 1765 obtained a royal patent for a large tract of land known as Skenesborough (now the village of Whitehall). Returning to New York, he again began to develop a tenant settlement on his property. When his regiment returned to Ireland in 1768, Skene transferred to the Xth Foot, and then sold his commission in 1769. In 1770 he became a resident of his new community. Over the next 5 years he made many improvements to his property, such as a road to Salem, New York and on to Bennington known as “Skene’s Road”. He built mills, storehouses, and boats, including the schooner Katherine that later became the USS Liberty when seized by the patriots.
    • On his return to England in 1777 he enlisted with General John Burgoyne’s expedition and was given the rank of colonel. Burgoyne used Skene’s home in Skenesborough as a headquarters in early July 1777, and Skene served Burgoyne as an advisor on local conditions and a commissary. Skene was sent along with Baum’s expedition that ended at the Battle of Bennington to recruit Loyalists; he was sent back by Baum to hurry along the reinforcements. As the reinforcements came up, reputedly Skene hailed some American scouts with a cry of “Are you for King George?” and got his horse shot out from under him. He also may have been influential in Burgoyne’s decision to cut a road from Skenesborough to Fort Edward, perhaps with a view to improving access to his settlement. Skene was later part of the surrender of Burgoyne’s army.
    • United Empire Loyalist listed in Loyalist Directory: https://uelac.ca/loyalist-directory/detail/?wpda_search_column_id=7402
    • Find A Grave: Cannot locate