William Pickering (1720 - abt. 1789)

Born 10 Jan 1720 in Solebury Township, Bucks, Pennsylvania

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Wright) Pickering — married 1749 in Frederick County, Colony of Virginia

Descendants

Died about 19 Jan 1789 at about age 69 in Back Creek, Frederick Co, VA

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Biography

William was a Friend (Quaker)

Birth: William Pickering was born on 10 January 1720. ^[1] FindAGrave has the date as 1 March 1719.^[2]

Marriage: In 1749, William Pickering married Sarah Wright in Frederick County, Colony of Virginia.^[3]

Quaker Records:

It is asserted that in 1741/42, Joseph Lupton, the step-father of William Pickering, removed with his wife Mary Ann Lupton, and the Pickering and Lupton children, from Solebury, Bucks County, Pennsylvania to Frederick County, Virginia. William likely accompanied his mother and step-father.^[4][5]

As early as August of 1750, William and Sarah Pickering signed as a couple on a marriage certificate issued Joseph Luption and Rachel Bull by the Opeckan MM. ^[5]

William Pickering, his wife and four children were identified in the August of 1757 Philadelphia MM Minutes as among the families in need at the Opeckan Meeting (later known as the Hopewell Meeting) as having been driven from their homes by "Indian Enemy" (some for two years).^[6] Money was distributed to assist these families in 1758.^[7] An April 24, 1758 receipt signed by William Pickering appears in the records of the Philadelphia MM. ^[8][5]

A September 3, 1758 Meeting minute of the Philadelphia MM contains a letter from the Opeckan Meeting responding for a request, in light of recent concern over Indian attacks (1756-1758), for the ages and sex of members' children and an identification of household goods. For William Pickering, his children were identified as follows: one daughter, age 7, one son, age 5, one daughter, age 3 and one son, age 1. Other family members discussed in the letter were James Wright, Jr. and Isaac Wright. ^[9]

In 1771, William Pickering and Samuel Pickering were among the Committee appointed to establish the Smith Creek Friends Meeting house.^[5] The same year, William Pickering and Samuel Pickering were among those appointed to meet the Committee from the Quarterly Meeting at Pipe Creek, Maryland. ^[5] William was also on the Committees to formally establish the Crooked Run Monthly Meeting, Nineveh, Virginia, and the Center Monthly Meeting, Winchester, Virginia.^[5]

In 1775, both William Pickering and Sarah Pickering acted as Clerks for the Hopewell MM.^[10] William was also a Committee Member at the Hopewell Monthly Meeting.^[5]

William served on the 1788 committee charged with planning the enlargement of the Hopewell Monthly Meetinghouse.^[5]

After the "Indian troubles", the Hopewell MM Meeting for the Sufferings raised funds in their acknowledgment that the "Native Owners" upon whose lands they had settled were not properly compensated. Among the subscribers in the 1778^[11] and 1782^[12] subscriptions for funds for the "Native Owners" were William Pickering. Samuel Pickering, Jacob Pickering (1778) and several members of the Wright and Lupton families.

A meeting was held in 1791 with four Chiefs in the area to determine the original tribal owners of the land in question. It was thought that the Tutelo occupied the land at the time of settlement.^[13] Nonetheless, much discussion continued through 1795 and beyond, but appears that little went to the original owners. Instead, it was sent to other causes.

Library of Virginia, Land Grants issued to William Pickering:

• 28 May 1751, 210 acres on Back Creek. Frederick County, Virginia.^[14]
• 9 Oct 1766, 348 acres on both sides of Isaac's Creek a branch of Back Creek, Frederick County, Virginia. The land was surveyed by Isaac Wright, William Pickering's brother in law. ^[15]
• 31 Oct 1777, 244 acres on the Dividing Ridge between Brush Creek and Isaac's Creek, Frederick County, Virginia.^[16]
• 9 Oct 1779, 300 acres on the drains of Isaac's Creek and Back Creek, Frederick County, Virginia. ^[17]
• There are six other Land Grants issued to William Pickering in May of 1789 and April of 1801 in Frederick County, Virginia, but most, if not all of these, were likely issued to William's son William Pickering, Jr. ^[18]

Hampshire Co. Land and Other Records: Joyner 4: 8, 9.

• Bryan Bruin of Frederick Co 2 warrants 1764 for 3,530 a. on Green Spring Run br. of North Br. adj. own land bought of Peter Casey , John Airsom. cc-Stephen Conner & WM PICKERING; pilot Wm Dobson, surv John Moffett.
• Bryan Bruin assignee in 1765 of Wm Dunn, warrantee, 323 a. on Creamer's Run, dr. of South Br; adj. Mary Creamer, Thos Bulls, Simon Airsom, Isaac Sparks. cc John Airsom, Stephen Conner, Marker WM PICKERING, surv. John Moffett.
• Bryan Bruin of Winchester assignee of WM PICKERING in 1767 10 Feb 1762; 400 a. on drs. of Sleepy Crk on S. side Timber Ridge called the Indian Camp, cc: Thos Pugh & Samuel Rubb. Richard Rigg.
• John Rogers, son & asee in 1777 of Evan Rogers, son of John Rogers for whom survd, nor war't surv'd 26 Dec 1754, 114 a on head of Lick Br. of Gt Cacapehon including marsh. cc JOHN ADAMS 7 John Lonem srv. John Mauzy; 28 Nove 1777 Wm PICKERING & Jesse Pugh on solemn affirmation sd John Rogers died without a Will & Evan is reputed oldest son & widow dead many years. Joyner 4:60
• William Adams and Jacob Pickering chain carriers for surveyor Richard Rigg. Note: Chain carriers usually lived in same area they were surveying. Survey for Johanthan Perkins/Parkins: Frederick Co, 18 Mar 1775- 17 Aug 1778. 286 acres on Isaac's Crk, branch of Back Crk, adj. Matthew Harrison, Charles Smith, William Pickering's 348 a tract.
• William Pickering & Jesse Pugh witness to Isaac Wright to George Potts bond in Frederick Co, Virginia, 10 Feb 1752. for tract of land near Bear Gardin whereon Wm Gaddis now lives 29 Nov 1762.

Death Date Conflict: January 10, 1789 given in Friends records and January 19, 1789 at FindAGrave. But, his will was executed on August 22, 1789 and proved on October 6, 1789-- AFTER the date in Friends records.

There is a grave clearly marked Pickering dated 1789 at the Back Creek Quaker Cemetery, Gainesboro, Frederick County, Virginia which could be William Pickering.^[19]

Last Will & Testament:

On August 22, 1789, William Pickering of Frederick County, Commonwealth of Virginia, executed his Last Will and Testament leaving his Estate as follows: first, to his wife Sarah Pickering, a life estate in his real property and a full estate in his personal property; second, to his son John Pickering, the remainder estate in the real property upon which the testator then lived, subject to specific gifts below; third, to his son Jacob Pickering, the remainder estates in the saw mill and mill seat located on the lands upon which the testator then lived and one-half of the tract of land upon which Jacob Pickering then lived; fourth, to his daughter Hannah Berry, the remainder estates in a tract of land described by metes and bounds upon which she then lived, another tract purchased of Enoch Fenton, and a third tract adjoining the home tract and Josiah Jackson's tract; fifth, to his son Jonathan Pickering, reminder estates in a tract of land upon which he then lived, being the remainder of the tract devised to Hannah Berry, in a tract of land being the remainder of the Enoch Fenton land, and in a tract of land being the remainder of the home tract adjoining the Jackson tract; sixth, to his daughter Mary Ellis, £30 to be paid to her by her brother John Pickering; seventh, to his daughter Lydia Adams, a case of drawers; and eighth, to Ann Reese (relationship not identified) a blue chest. Sons John and Jacob Pickering were nominated as Executors. Witnesses were Jonathan McCoole, Theodore Ellis and Elisha Ellis. The Will was proven on October 6, 1789.^[20]

Children:

With Sarah Wright:^[21][22]

1. Hannah (Pickering) Berry, b. 30, 10,1750.
2. John Pickering b. 23, 3, 1752.
3. Lydia (Pickering) Adams, b. 11, 7. 1754.
4. Jacob Pickering, b. 10, 12, 1756.
5. William Pickering, b. 22, 2, 1759.
6. Mary (Pickering) Ellis, b. 25, 7, 1763.

Research Note

There are two William Pickerings living in Virginia at this time-one in Frederick County and a second in Rockingham County.

Sources

1. ↑ U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 Available on Ancestry here
2. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #130479440
3. ↑ U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 Available on Ancestry here
4. ↑ Cartmell, T.K. Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants: A History of Frederick County, Virginia, The Lupton Family of Applepie Ridge, p. 454 (Winchester, Virginia: The Eddy Press Corporation, 1909) Available here.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7} Wayland, J.W., Hopewell Friends History, 1734-1934, Frederick County, Virginia, Records of Hopewell Monthly Meetings and Meetings Reporting to Hopewell; Two Hundred Years of History and Genealogy, Father's of the Colony, pp. 72, 75, 83-84, 99, 118-119, 148, 529, 531 (1936) Available here
6. ↑ Philadelphia Meeting of Suffering Minutes, 1757 Available on Ancestry here
7. ↑ 1758 Accounting of Relief Money Available here
8. ↑ Receipt bearing Wm. Pickering signature can be found here on Ancestry
9. ↑ U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Minutes, p. 124 Available on Ancestry here
10. ↑ U.S. Quaker Records, Virginia, Frederick, Hopewell MM, p. 325 Available on Ancestry here
11. ↑ Subscription of January 6, 1778 Available on Ancestry here
12. ↑ Subscription of March 6, 1782 with Transmittal Letter signed by Wm Pickering Available on Ancestry here
13. ↑ Memorandum of February 6, 1791 Meeting with Native Chiefs Available on Ancestry here
14. ↑ 1751 Land Grant available of the Library of Virginia here
15. ↑ 1766 Land Grant available at the Library of Virginia here
16. ↑ 1777 Land Grant available at the Library of Virginia here
17. ↑ 1779 Land Grant available at Library of Virginia here
18. ↑ List of 1789 to 1801 Land Grants available from the Library of Vrignia here
19. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #204510306
20. ↑ Virginia, Frederick County, Will Book 5, p. 222 Available here
21. ↑ Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy Vol. VI., p. 429 Available on Ancestry here
22. ↑ List of Children, Hopewell Friends History p. 479.Free link

• Hinshaw William Wade, et al., compilers., Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy. 6 vols. (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1936–1950. Reprint 1991–1994.), [Page 429]
• Excerpts of records of the Hopewell Quaker Monthly Meetings, compiled from official records 1734-1834. Hopewell Friends, assisted by John W. Wayland. (Strasburg, VA: Shenandoah Publishing House, Inc. 1936)
• Wilmer L. Kerns, Frederick County, VA: Settlement and Some First Families of Back Creek Valley 1730-1830 (Baltimore, MD: Gateway Press, Inc., 1995) p156
• Joyner, Peggy Shomo, compiler, Abstracts of Virginia's Northern Neck Warrants & Surveys 1653-1781 (private-Joyner.) Vol 5: Abstracts of the Northern Neck Surveys-Surveys Not Acted On.: 89; General Records, p. 9 (witness to Wright)
• J. Estelle Stewart King, Abstracts of Wills, Inventories and Administration Accounts of Frederick Co, VA 1743-1800 (Baltimore: Gen Pub Co, Inc. 1982), p.40.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Sara Patton for creating WikiTree profile Pickering-548 through the import of hayzlett-hughart-black-waln-adams.ged on Mar 10, 2013.