For a long time, Ann Truman Skinner, my 9X-great grandmother, was thought to be the daughter of Edward Storer, and the sister of astronomer Arthur Storer. Well, some new research has placed her a different family--sort of.
Since Arthur Storer's 1686 will specifically mentions his sister Ann Skinner, it was a natural assumption that Ann was a Storer and the daughter of Arthur's father, Edward Storer. But there were some complications with that assumption. Ann Skinner's will was proved in Maryland in 1714 and her tombstone puts her age at death at 75, giving her a birthdate of 1639 more or less. Edward Storer married Marie Widmerpole in 1637 in Notthingham, England, so Ann must have been a daughter of that first marriage, right? Problem is, no one could find any documentation for that birth, or indeed of any children of that marriage.
Edward married secondly Katherine Babbington in 1640 and had three children with her: Edward, Katherine, and Arthur (born posthumously), before his death in 1644. Katherine's brother, Humphrey Babbington, a fellow of Trinity College, mentions his sister and his nephews Edward and Arthur in his will in 1686, but no mention of a niece Ann.
After Edward Storer's death, Katherine married a second time in 1647 to William Clarke of Lincolnshire and had three children with him: Joseph, Martha and John.
So, genealogists have been left with the assumption that Ann must have been a child of Edward Storer and Marie Widmerpole even though they couldn't prove this definitively.
Until now. In 2023, Robert Battle and John Brandon, doing research on the Clarke family, (See Below) discovered a baptismal record for Ann Clarke, daughter of William and Martha Clarke, baptized 10 December 1637 in Grantham, Lincolnshire. Light bulb goes on!
Take a look at the household of William and Katherine Clark when they married in 1647:
William's children from his first marriage to Martha--Joseph Clarke, age 13, Ann Clarke, age 10, William Clarke, age 6.
Katherine's children from her first marriage to Edward Storer--Edward, age 5, Katherine, age 4, and Arthur, age 3.
Very easy to see why Arthur Storer regarded Ann as his sister since they grew up together from a young age. So, Ann was not actually a Storer by birth, but a Clarke. This also explains another little mystery--why Ann named one of her children Clarke Skinner.
Now, what do we know about the Clarkes, who have now moved into my ancestral line?
William Clarke was born in Grantham, Lincolnshire, England in 1609, the son of apothecary Rafe/Ralph Clarke. He followed his father into the apothecary profession (someone who made and sold their own medicines). William's sons followed him into that work.
During the English Civil War (a series of battles between Royalists and Parliamentarians), William sided with the Parliamentarians, who wanted a kind of constitutional monarchy. When Grantham was captured by the Royalists, William was indicted for high treason, but fortunately for him, the town was recaptured by Oliver Cromwell and the Parliamentarians, so William was released.
William married first in the early 1630's to Martha (possibly Robson) and had seven children with her according to baptismal records, but only three lived past infancy: Joseph (1634) Ann (1637) and William (1641).
After Martha's death, the 38-year-old widower married again to Katherine Babbington Storer, 34-year-old widow of Edward and daughter of Adrian and Margaret Babbington. They had two more children together: John (1648) and Martha (1649).
So, quite a lively household.
And there was one more living in the household--Isaac Newton. Yes that Isaac Newton. In 1654, young Isaac boarded with the Clarkes in order to attend the King's School in Grantham along with Edward and Arthur Storer. (Newton's mother was a friend of Katherine Babbington.) Newton carved his name into the boards of the garret where he slept. Several biographers have suggested that it was lessons learned from William Clarke that first sparked Newton's interest in chemistry. Newton remained lifelong friends with his classmate Arthur. (More on Arthur, who was a well-respected scientist in his own right, here.)
William Clarke eventually retired to Leicestershire, leaving his business to his son William. He died in 1671 leaving his estate to his wife Katherine, children Joseph, Martha, John, and William, and kinsmen, Humphrey Babbington and Dr. Joseph Clarke, his brother-in-law and brother, respectively. His step-son Edward Storer was one of the witnesses to the will. Ann is not mentioned in the will, probably because she was well-married and living in Maryland at the time.
What became of Ann, my 9X-great-grandmother? About 1658, Ann married Dr. James Truman, the son of Henry Truman/Trueman of Nottinghamshire, England. Ann and James had three daughters in England before migrating to Maryland: Martha (1662) my 8X-great-grandmother, Mary (1663), and Ann (1664). James, Ann, and their three oldest daughters were transported to Maryland about 1666, following James's brothers Nathaniel and Thomas. It is believed that Arthur Storer came to Maryland with Ann and James's family. A fourth daughter, Elizabeth, was born in Maryland.
Dr. Truman was a justice and commissioner in Calvert County MD in 1669-1670. He died in 1672 leaving a considerable estate of L600, a large library and a house full of valuable furnishings. His will names his wife Ann, his daughters Martha, Mary and Elizabeth and his brothers Thomas and Nathaniel. Arthur Storer was one of the witnesses of his will. He is buried at the Truman estate--Trent Hall--in St. Mary's County MD, along with his two brothers.
Ann and Robert Skinner had three sons: Clarke Skinner (1674), Dr. William Skinner (1676) another of my 8X-great grandfathers, and Adderton Skinner (1682).
Robert Skinner died in 1686 at his plantation "The Reserve" near Prince Frederick in Calvert County MD (about where that red dot is on the map at the left). He left a will naming his wife Ann and children Robert, Mary, Clarke, William and Adderton.
Arthur Storer was a witness to this will. He died the same year as Robert Skinner and leaves the residue of his estate to his "sister," Ann Skinner.
Ann Clarke Truman Skinner died in Calvert County MD about 1714, leaving a will that named her children Martha Greenfield, Elizabeth Greene, and Clarke, William and Adderton Skinner. She is buried in the Skinner family cemetery near Prince Frederick.
Here lyeth Mrs. Ann Skinner, first Relict of James Truman, Gent., afterwards of Robert Skinner who died 3 August 1717 [note: this date is an error since her will was proved in 1714] aged about 75 years, having lived near half the time a widow.
Martha Truman, my 8X-great grandmother married Col. Thomas Greenfield about 1680 and had eight children with him including Ann Greenfield Wight my 7X-great grandmother through my Sasscer line.
Dr. William Skinner, my 8X-great grandfather married Elizabeth Mackall, the daughter of James Mackall and Mary Graham, in 1701 in Calvert County MD. They had eight children including Mary Skinner, my 7X-great grandmother through my father's Scrivener family.
So, it turns out that I am not a Storer descendant, but this new discovery has opened up a whole new line of ancestors in the Clarke family.
With many thanks to the research of Robert and John:
Battle, Robert and John C. Brandon. Identity of Anne, First Wife of Robert Woodmansey, Schoolmaster of Boston, Massachusetts, and of Her Niece, Anne (Not Storer), Wife of James Truman and Robert Skinner of Maryland. The New England Historical and Genealogical Register 177 (Winter 2023):67-84. (Requires Membership) Accessed 30 March 2023
I enjoyed reading how you were able to make new discoveries, and find a new branch for your tree, all thanks to research being shared. Thanks for sharing!
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