Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

chequer, "properties and casualties." He
is reputed to have been a very scholarly
man. According to a short biography by
Sir James Melville, he was able to make
addresses in Latin. John Skene is best
known for his compilation of the old laws
and constitutions of Scotland, printed in
Edinburgh in 1609, and covering the
period from Malcolm II. to King James
I. The title of the work is "Regiam Ma-
jestatem."
In 1590 Gilbert Skene was a professor
of medicine in King's College, Aberdeen,
and was later physician to the King,
which honored position he resigned in
1594. He was afterwards knighted. James
Skene was a long and faithful friend of
Sir Walter Scott, co-worker and co-partner
with him, and responsible for many
of the most interesting scenes in the
works of Scott. Andrew Skene succeeded
Lord Cockburn as solicitor-general of
Scotland. Alex Skene, of that ilk, appears
in 1633 in the "Book of the Annualrentaris"
for Aberdeenshire together with
Alex Skene, of Drumbreck, Gilbert Skene,
of Dyce, and James Skene, of Ramoir.
William Skene, in the early part of the
nineteenth century, resided in Aberdeen,
Scotland, and enjoyed with the sincere
satisfaction of a man of peace the less
turbulent times. With his wife, Elizabeth,
he was highly respected and much
beloved in the community.
John Skene was born in the old home
in Scotland, and made a lifelong study of
horticulture. He became an authority on
the subject and was consulted by owners
of large estates regarding the laying out
of their gardens and the propagation and
culture of fine and curious plant life. He
married Anna Dolby, of Lincolnshire,
England, and their children were: Wil-
liam, a clergyman of the Episcopal
church, who died in 1871 ; Mary, wife of
George W. Wilbur, president of the Wil-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
2gi
bur Shirt and Collar Company of Troy,
New York ; George, a minister of the
Methodist Episcopal church ;
Anna, who
died in Troy, in 1883; John Dolby, of
further mention ; Charles, an inventor and
expert mechanic, long manager of an iron
foundry in Chicago.
Rev. John Dolby Skene was born October
16, 1849, in Lincolnshire, England.
His parents came to this country when he
was a small child and he received his
education here, beginning in the public
schools of Troy, New York. His prepara-
tion for college was made under private
tutors, and his theological studies were
directed by Rev. Dr. J. I. Tucker, then
rector of the Church of Holy Cross, Troy,
and Rev. Dr. Nichols, of St. Mark's
Church, Hoosic Falls, New York. His
whole course of preparation was marked
by brilliant scholarship and the most devout
sense of religious responsibility.
Mr. Skene was ordained deacon in St.
Mark's Church in Hoosic Falls, at the
Feast of the Epiphany in 1877, and on
St. Peter's day, 1878, was advanced to the
priesthood. He acted as assistant to Dr.
Nichols until May, 1881, and was then
sent to Gouverneur, New York, by the
Bishop of Albany. He had charge of that
parish for a year and a half. The Bishop
then sent him to Ilion, New York where
he remained three years, going on at the
end of that period to Asbury Park, New
Jersey, where he remained until 1889.
Next he went to St. Paul's Church,
Brooklyn, New York, and this pastorate
he held until December i, 1894. He then
went to Danbury, Connecticut, where he
remained until 1902. From 1903 to 1904,
Rev. Mr. Skene was without a parish,
and spent the year in California. In May,
1904, he was transferred to St. Andrew's
Church, Stamford, Connecticut. During
his pastorate there the parish has grown
to such an extent that it has been neces-