1702 William Pickett was not of age when Henry Pickett's will was probated. His brother, John Pickett was made his guardian. "... the condition of obligation is such that if the aforesaid bound John Pickett, guardian of William Picket, orphan of Henry Picket, deceased, ..., and that he (John) will turn over William's legacy when said orphan attain lawful age .. signed John Picket, James Broughan and James Fullerton." [1]
1717 An action of debt between William Pickett plt & John Lax def't is dismisst in the Essex County Court. Perhaps dated July 17 (see page 63). [2]
1717 William and John Pickett witnessed an Essex County deed from Bryan Ward to Anthony Samuel for land in St. Ann's parish. The deed was dated May 20. [3]
1718 William and Sarah Pickett of St. Anne's parish, sold land to John Stodgill on September 30. They were involved in several land transactions. [4]
1737 Thomas May and wife Lucy sold land to William Pickett of Essex County on March 12. The land, on the head of Cockle Shell Creek, was originally patented to Robert Payne. [I have not found Cockleshell Creek on a map. Other deeds naming Robert Payne, John May, and Cockleshell Creek also name Occupation Creek, which is very close to Piscataway Creek, the original homestead of William's father Henry Pickett.] [5]
1737 William Pickett, perhaps this one or his nephew William son of John, received a land patent on February 9 for 183 acres in Orange County North side of Conway's R. above the land of William Terrell. [6]
1743 The will of William Pickett included "To my loving wife Sarah, twelve negroes. To my cousin, Lucy Norell, six negroes, and if she dies without heirs, then to her sister Martha Norell. To Hannah, wife of Peter Richardson, 20 pounds of current money. To Succa Boughan, daughter of Augustine Boughan, one Negro. To my cousin Henry Pickett, son of John Pickett, Senior, my plantation I purchased of Thomas May, and all my wearing apparel. To my cousin Lucy Norrel, one good feather bed with furniture and 3 heifers. To my loving wife Sarah, my dwelling house and plantation with all my land adjoining thereto during her natural life and after her decease to my cousin William Pickett, son of John Pickett. Residue of my estate to my wife Sarah. My estate to be neither inventoried or appraised. My wife Sarah and Samuie Hipkins to be executors. Witnesses: John Melcar, William Hord, Cornelius Vaughn. Signed William Pickett. [7] [8] [9] [10]
1743 William Pickett's widow Sarah made bond of 1000 pounds sterling as executrix. An inventory was made and listed 22 negroes, 40 head of cattle, 20 head of sheep, 42 hogs, 2 horses, 1 riding chair with harness, 100 gallons of Virginia brandy, and other items. [11] [12]
1744 The inventory of William Pickett's estate listed 22 slaves. Signed by Sarah Pickett. [13] [14]
1752 George Green, of Essex County, was bound to Samuel Hipkins for 460 pounds on July 21. "Whereas the said George Green did sometime marry with Sarah Pickett, widow, who was posessed of a considerable estate which was to vest in the said George Green by virtue of said marriage, in consideration whereof the said George Green did previous to ye said marriage agree that said Sarah should have forever notwithstanding her coveture by any writing by her executed to dispose of ye sum of 230 pounds current money and that the said George would in case he survived her pay the said sum of money to such person or persons as the said Sarah should be such Writing appoint & that in case she survived him he would leave her at least ye said sum of money at her disposal." ...[15]
Research Notes:
An extensive research report about William, son of Henry Pickett is given by [16]
The notes above are intended to relate to William Pickett, son of Henry Pickett. There was another William Pickett, an attorney practicing in Essex County in the 1690's. The attorney was not William, son of Henry, who was a minor at the time of Henry's death in 1702. It is difficult to know which William Pickett was named in some of the documents noted below, and the notes might be incorrectly attributed.
1714 Wm. Pickett was on a list of Quit Rent Arrears for Essex county, Virginia. [17]
1715 William Pickett, perhaps this one, paid quit rent for 300 acres in Essex County, Virginia. [18]
1715 William Pickett signed the will of Robert Thomas of St Maries parish, Essex County, Virginia on January 1. [19]
1715 William Pickett, perhaps this one, co-signed a bond for the estate of George Ducksbery on December 20. [20] [21]
1716 William Pickett and others made inventory for the estate of William Butler in Essex County, Virginia. [22]
1722 Catherine Berry named William Pickett, of Essex County, on July 19, as her attorney in a dower case. [23]
[1] Patricia Finn Hunter, Pickett Cousins, a 350 year history 1640-1990 (self-published, 1991), 3, [GoogleBooks].
[2] Essex County, Virginia Order Books, 5-84, [FamilySearchImage], [FSCatalog].
[3] John Frederick Dorman, Essex County, Virginia Records 1706 - 1707, 1717-1719 (1959), 43, Essex Deeds and Wills 15-36-38.
[4] John Frederick Dorman, Essex County, Virginia Records 1717 - 1722 (1959), 2.
[5] Ruth and Sam Sparacio, Virginia County Court Records, Deed Abstracts of Essex County, Virginia (1733-1738), Deed Book 20 (1989), 84.
[6] William Lindsay Hopkins, "Virginia Land Patent Books 17, 18 and 19 (1735-1741)," Magazine of Virginia Genealogy (Genealogical Society Quarterly) 25 (1987), [1]55-74, [2]55-73, [3]60-76, [4]47-76, at 73, [Ancestry_VGSQ].
[7] "Essex County Wills, 1743-1747," The Virginia Genealogist 15 (1971), 137-48, 222-9, at 146, [AmericanAncestors].
[8] Essex County, Library of Virginia Microfilm, reel 43, Wills, No. 7, 1743-1747, p 65-68, 118-122, [Library_Virginia].
[9] Clayton Torrence, "Pickett Family of Virginia," The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 49 (1941), 80-86, 186-190, at 186, [JSTOR(UM)], [JSTOR(UM)].
[10] Patricia Finn Hunter, Pickett Cousins, a 350 year history 1640-1990 (self-published, 1991), 2-3, [GoogleBooks].
[11] "Essex County Wills, 1743-1747," The Virginia Genealogist 15 (1971), 137-48, 222-9, at 146, [AmericanAncestors].
[12] Clayton Torrence, "Pickett Family of Virginia," The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 49 (1941), 80-86, 186-190, at 186, [JSTOR(UM)], [JSTOR(UM)].
[13] "Essex County Wills, 1743-1747," The Virginia Genealogist 15 (1971), 137-48, 222-9, at 226, [AmericanAncestors].
[14] Clayton Torrence, "Pickett Family of Virginia," The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 49 (1941), 80-86, 186-190, at 186, [JSTOR(UM)], [JSTOR(UM)].
[15] Ruth and Sam Sparacio, Virginia County Court Records, Deed Abstracts of Essex County, Virginia (1751-1753), Deed Book 25 (199?), 45.
[16] Rosemary B. Hill and Dixie J. Clark, A Gathering of Picketts, Vol. 1 Virginia & Kentucky (self-published, 1998), 65-75, [GoogleBooks].
[17] John S. Hopewell, "Quit Rent Arrears for Essex county, 1714," The Virginia Genealogist 45 (2001), 289-293, at 291, left column, [AmericanAncestors].
[18] John Bailey Calvert Nicklin, "Quit Roll Rent for the year 1815 - Essex County Virginia," William and Mary Quarterly, Second Series 18 (1938), 203-206, at 205.
[19] Beverley Fleet, Virginia Colonial Abstracts (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1961), 46, [GoogleBooks].
[20] Beverley Fleet, Virginia Colonial Abstracts (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1961), 63, [GoogleBooks].
[21] Beverley Fleet, Virginia Colonial Abstracts (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1961), 65, [GoogleBooks].
[22] Beverley Fleet, Virginia Colonial Abstracts, Vol. 9, 80, Essex County Wills and Deeds, 1711-1714, (Book Ex 9, p 629).
[23] Ruth and Sam Sparacio, Virginia County Court Records, Deed Abstracts of Essex County, Virginia (1721-1724), Deed Book 17 (1988), 13, Essex County Deed 17-75.