Philip Skene’s Iron Interests

Philip Skene was a career soldier, enlisting in the British Army in 1739.  He saw significant action in Europe and then in North America during the French & Indian War, where he was involved in the 1759 assault on Fort Ticonderoga.  This is how and when Skene became familiar with the trade and settlement potential of the area.  He received a land patent for what he would call Skenesborough, now the town of Whitehall, at the southern end of Lake Champlain. He built roads, mills, storehouses, and boats. His boats would be used to transport iron ore that was mined from his land north of Port Henry and brought south to Skenesborough (later known as the Cheever Mine)