He was born at Woodbury, Connecticut, now known as Sudbury, May 6, 1750 (n. s.), and died in Chicopee, Massachusetts, March 1, 1843, aged ninety-three. He grew up on his father's farm, enduring the privations and sacrifices incident to colonial life in the days before the revolution. After the battle of Lexington, in 1775, came the call for troops to defend the country. Amos, then twenty-five years old, responded to the call, and July 13, 1775, enlisted in the Seventh Regiment of Connecticut state troops, commanded by Colonel Charles Webb, and in the Fifth Company, Nathaniel Tuttle, captain. The companies were stationed at various places along the sound until September 14, when, on call from General Washington, the regiment was ordered to the Boston camps and assigned to General Sullivan's brigade on Winter Hill. It remained there until its term of service ended, December 20, 1775. The troops called out in 1775 constituted a provisional force. Raised by their respective colonies to meet an emergency, their service was limited to short terms. Nearly all were to disband in December, because it was supposed that military operations would cease for the winter, as had been the case in the French and Indian wars. It was soon found imperative, however, to organize new forces, and both congress and Washington urged the soldiers who had been in the field to enlist. Many did so, among them Amos Skeele; Colonel Webb remained in command of his regiment as before, but its name was changed to that of Nineteenth Continental Foot. From Boston the regiment marched under Washington to New York, going by way of New London, and thence on vessels through the sound. It assisted in fortifying New York; was ordered to Brooklyn front; was closely engaged at the battle of White Plains, October 28, 1776, and at Trenton, December 25, 1776, and in part at Princeton, January 3, 1777. Its service closed with the year 1776. In April, 1777, Mr. Skeele was at home planning for re-enlistment, when the British under General Tryon made an attack on Danbury where the American army had valuable stores. The militia gathered hurriedly in defense. Mr. Skeele was made captain of a volunteer company, and during the skirmish was seriously wounded by a bullet in his right arm. This ended his service in the war. He then turned his attention to the study of medicine. He studied for a time in Litchfield, Connecticut, but the greater part of his preparation was under the instruction of Dr. Hastings, of Bethlehem, Connecticut. While there he had the privilege of sitting under the preaching of Dr. Bellamy, the noted theologian, which contributed much to the formation of his religious character. He entered upon practice in Hampton, Connecticut, in 1783, going from there to Middle Haddam in 1787, and from there to Somers in 1795. In 1804 he settled in Chicopee, Massachusetts, then the second parish of Springfield. He was the first and for many years the only physician between Springfield and Hadley, and his practice included Ludlow, South Hadley and Holyoke, as well as Chicopee. He continued in practice until he was past eighty years old. He was active and successful in his profession. He was deacon in the church and diligent in promoting all worthy and philanthropic objects. He had the courage of his convictions and never hesitated as to any course which he believed to be right. Dr. David Field said of him: "For a very long period he discharged his duties of piety to God and beneficence to man with remarkable fidelity."

Dr. Skeele married (first) at Colchester, Connecticut, at the old homestead, on Otis Hill, December 10, 1788, Marcy (Otis) Cone, widow of Daniel Cone, and daughter of John and Prudence (Taintor) Otis. She was born in Colchester, September 17, 1764, and died in Chicopee, Massachusetts, June 2, 1812. He married (second) August 4, 1814, Lucy Sexton, of Somers, Connecticut. His children, all by first marriage, were: 1. Otis, 2. a daughter lived only six days. 3. Marcy, 4. Amos, 5. Roxana, 6. Daniel Cone, 7. Delina Cone, 8. Levi Collins.