Skaggs Family

The Skaggs family forms the central line of Charlie’s story, with roots in West Virginia and connections that extend across generations.

Overview

The Skaggs family history is grounded in the river towns and communities of West Virginia, where work, family, and place shaped daily life.

Across generations, the Skaggs carried forward values of resilience, craftsmanship, and commitment to family — traits that would define Charlie’s life and those who followed.

The Skaggs family is closely associated with the Londonderry (Derry) region of Ulster, Ireland, with records tracing the line back to the 16th and 17th centuries.

Several early figures, including William Busel Skaggs (1600–1680), are noted in genealogical records as part of a family rooted in the Ulster region during a period of significant political and social change. The family is often described as Scots-Irish, reflecting the broader settlement patterns of the time.

The late 17th century, particularly the period surrounding the Siege of Londonderry (1688–1689), marked a turning point for many families in the region. In the years that followed, members of the Skaggs family joined larger waves of migration to the American colonies, settling first in Maryland and Virginia before continuing westward.

Some traditions suggest deeper origins tied to Norse or Manx roots, though these connections remain part of ongoing historical interpretation.

Key Individuals

  • Katherine (Kate) C. (Catherine) Skaggs (Kate Martin; Charlie’s mother)

  • Charlie Martin

    • Born: (year if known)

    • Location: West Virginia / California

    • Connected to: Mary (Koepfer Family)

    • Notes: Central figure connecting the Martin and Koepfer family lines

    Agustus Brown Skaggs - 9/10/1867 - 2/07/1950 - Mt. Olive WV

  • Ruth Anne (Annie) Hughes (Skaggs) - 1/31/1872 - 12/12/1964

  • Mary Martin

  • (Add more as yo

Places & Roots

  • Belva, West Virginia

  • Huntington, West Virginia

  • Surrounding river communities

Timeline Highlights

  • Early 1900s — Family roots established in West Virginia

  • 1930s — Great Depression impacts daily life

  • 1940s — War years and transition

  • 1949 — Journey west begins

Photos & Documents

(Add images here over time — family photos, records, letters, etc.)

Notes & Ongoing Research

This section will continue to grow as additional records, stories, and materials are collected and added to the Skaggs family history.

Family Structure

Core Line

  • Agustus Brown Skaggs - 9/10/1867 - 2/07/1950 - Mt. Olive WV

  • Ruth Anne (Annie) Hughes (Skaggs) - 1/31/1872 - 12/12/1964

  • Kate Martin

  • Charlie Martin

Family Structure

Early Line — Ireland (Ulster Region)

  • Ire Skaggs (c. 1540–1580) - Londonderry, Ulster, Ireland

  • John William Skaggs (1560–1605) - Londonderry, Ireland

  • William Bulster Skaggs (1600–1680)

  • Thomas Skaggs (1640–1740) - Londonderry, Ireland

Transition to America

  • Richard Skaggs (1674–1766) -Londonderry, Ulster, Ireland

  • Richard Skaggs (1695–1756)

  • Thomas Skaggs (b. 1728) - Queen Anne Parish, Prince George’s County, Maryland

Virginia Line

  • Richard Skaggs (b. 1770) - Amherst County, Virginia

  • Joseph Preston Skaggs (b. 1795) - Virginia

  • Richard Lewis Skaggs (c. 1835) - Virginia

West Virginia Line

  • Agustus Brown Skaggs (1867–1950) - Mt. Olive, West Virginia, Dixie WV

Connection to the Martin Family

Agustus Brown Skaggs

  • Father of Kate (Skaggs) Martin, married to Charles C. Martin Sr. - Mother of Charlie Martin linking the Skaggs and Martin family lines

  • The Skaggs family line represents one of the deeper historical currents within the story of Charlie — A Moment in Time.

    From the Ulster region of Ireland, through early migration to colonial America, and into the Appalachian communities of Virginia and West Virginia, the Skaggs family reflects a broader pattern of movement that shaped generations.

    By the time the line reaches Agustus Brown Skaggs in West Virginia, these generations of migration, settlement, and adaptation had become part of the foundation upon which later family stories were built.

    Through Kate (Skaggs) Martin, this history becomes directly connected to Charlie’s life — linking Old World origins, early American frontier experience, and the modern family story that unfolds in the 20th century.

Extended Family

  • Siblings

  • Parents

  • Extended relatives connected to the Skaggs line

(Add names gradually as you confirm them)

Notes & Connections

This section captures relationships, shared histories, and connections between individuals across generations.

Connected Families

The Skaggs family is closely connected to other family lines through marriage, shared history, and place.

Primary Connections

Martins at White House 1962 (Dave & Steve not pictured)

Washing DC - 1960s

Time Stamp - Desert Frontiers (1960s-1970)