John SKILLINGTON was a wheelwright of Rearsby, Leicestershire.

He married Sarah SPENCER in Rempstone in 1693. They baptized 7 daughters in Rearsby at the turn of the 18th century. Four daughters - two Annas and two Elizabeths - died in infancy.

No obvious baptismal record for John can be found. A John SKILLINGTON was baptized in Thrussington in September 1677 by William and Isabel SKILLINGTON. They also baptized a William in 1681 and Elizabeth in 1690. But if John was born in 1677 then he would have been just 17 when his first child, Mary, was baptized in 1794.

John wrote his last will and testment on his death bed on 20 Sep 1715. He was buried on 25 Sep 1715 in Rearsby. In his will he made his wife Sarah is executrix and gave £5 bequests to his daughters Mary, Sarah and Rebecca. The witnesses were William SKILLINGTON, Elizabeth SKILLINGTON and Isabel SKILLINGTON.

Although it's not clear what the relationship is, it appears that William and Isabell SKILLINGTON, and their daughter Elizabeth, had come to his death bed, and while there been asked to witness his last will and testament. It's possible that William wrote the document - certainly it contains a number of idiosyncratic spellings less asscoiated with professional lawyers.