William Skinner
William Skinner was the father of Anne Skinner, who married John Talcott of Braintree in Essex. He was living in 1604, when his son-in-law made his will and named him twice in it as "my Father in law, William Skinner." Where he lived is not stated. He was probably of Braintree or near it.
John Talcott made Anne his executrix and charged her with paying the legacies to their children. He did not leave it to trust. Anne was to "enter her owne bonde in the somme of thre hundred poundes to my Father in law, William Skinner, and Rob't Tailcot." A bond was a written promise to forfeit a sum of money if the signer failed to do what was promised. Three hundred pounds was a large sum, and it was owed to her own father and her husband's brother.
The will looked ahead to her marrying again. If she did, she was to find "one sufficient suretie that my saide Father-in-Lawe, William Skinner, and Roberte Tailcot, my brother, shall like of, to the same William Skinner and Roberte Tailcot, trulie to p'forme all the legacies which on her parte are to be paide according to the true meaning of this my last Will and Testament." A surety was a second person who would pay if she did not. William Skinner and Robert Talcott of Colchester were the two men set to watch over the children's portions.
The will was proved in London on 24 January 1604/5. By then Anne had already married again, to Moses Wall, who swore to the will as her husband.
His grandchildren were John Talcott, who went to New England and became one of the first proprietors of Hartford, and Rachel, who married John Steele.
Sources
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Cite: Heirology, "William Skinner", https://heirology.com/ancestors/william-skinner-520280.