Bathurst Skelton was born June 1744 to James and Mary Bathurst. He attended the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.
He as the first husband of Martha Wayles. They married on November 20, 1766 at the Wayles family home at their plantation, The Forest. Bathurst and Martha lived at his Charles City County plantation during their marriage. He and Martha had one son John (born on November 7, 1767, deceased June 10, 1771). Bathurst Skelton died in a September 30, 1768 accident, before his son's first birthday.