There was a firm family tradition that William Skinner, later the Rector of St. Peter's Church in Perth Amboy, had participated in one of the Jacobite risings and was related to the chiefs of the Clan Gregor – changing his name from MacGregor to avoid the persecution inflicted upon all those of that name.
[5] Skinner studied law at Newark while clerking for David Ogden, a member of the governor's council, and then began practising at Perth Amboy.
[6] Skinner was one of the three current and past speakers of the New Jersey colonial assembly who actively opposed American independence.
At the outbreak of the hostilities in the American colonies, he was offered by the Patriot rebels the pick of all civilian and military posts.
His claim to compensation for his losses as a Loyalist was difficult to adjust and caused the Commissioners much labour, but an allowance was finally made.