1850 "The oldest record of the district court of Bienville is dated March 11, 1850. Ed R. Alcott, judge of the Seventeenth District, was then present, and mention is made of F. M. Gibson and W. B. Egan, attorneys. The next term was presided over by Judge Bullard, who appointed Henry M. Spofford district attorney, and Edward Fink deputy clerk. The grand jurors empaneled were Isaac Alden, Thomas D. Smith, Q. E. Roden, James M. Pickett, James C. Whittington, Alfred Price, L. B. Whitley, John Brewer, Thomas L. Prothro, Isaac Andrews, James Ratcliffe, Addison S. Vansant, Edward Toms, Hayner Balance, Luke E. Burnett, James Williamson and George G. Waller." [1]
1850 James M Pickett (age 32, born in NC), a farmer with estate valued at $900, and Eliza Pickett (age 24, born in Alabama) lived in the Western District of Bienville County, Louisiana with children Nancy Pickett (age 7, born in Georgia) Micajah Pickett (age 3, born in Louisiana), Martha Pickett (age 1 born in Louisiana), and Nancy Thomas, age 55 (likely mother-in-law). [2]
1850 James M Pickett was named with 1 male mulatto enslaved person, age 11, in Bienville parish, Louisiana. [3]
1866 Lucy Isaiah Sargent, daughter of James M Pickett and Elizabeth Thomas, was born on July 10 in Texas. [4]
1870 James Pickett (age 53) and Eliza Pickett (age 44) lived in Falls, Texas with Mikada [Micajah?] Pickett (age 23), Elizabeth Pickett (age 18), Casandra Pickett (age 15), Wingfield Pickett (age 13), Sally Pickett (age 12), Virginia Pickett (age 9), and Lucie Pickett (age 5). Elizabeth Thomas (age 33) a likely sister-in-law, and children lived next door. [5]
1877 James Pickett wrote a letter to brother Micajah in Florida [6]:
Grassy Dale, Hamilton County Texas
Sunday and rainy 11th Feb 1877
My Dear Brother Micajah
With a small scrap of dirty paper upon my knee and inkstand on the stove, I sit by the fire, in company with my youngest child, Lucy, and her mother and being persuaded by the mother to write to you I take the liberty to scratch you off something.Did you get the Hamilton Herald that I ordered to you for 6 months.
Lucy and Micajah are not very well, but hope they will be in a day or so & all the rest are.
Our first crop was made at the new home last year. pretty good. house built, no chimney yet, one partly done. 30 acres in cultivation. Some stone fence, about 100 Rods, rest poles and forks(?) bad fence, keep trying, make it better after ? had plenty of melons and corn & molasses, Scarce times come again, had to pay for house. Hard times, money hard to get. Clothes very scarce. rags. County new. all come at once makes things scarce. Get better by & by, no schools or churches except in town. Store keepers do well, Sell for cash. We mean to do well. beg & pray for Blessings. Sure to come - if in earnest. in the faith. Can hardy make both ends meet yet. Son in Law GM Robbins & Son Micajah live in Sight on adjoining farms. 2 Sons in law at a distance...
1874 J. M. and M.A. Pickett were taxed for 160 acres in Hamilton County, Texas. [7]
1875 J. M. and James Pickett were taxed for 160 acres in Hamilton County, Texas. [8]
1876 J. M. and M.A. Pickett were taxed for 160 acres in Hamilton County, Texas. [9]
1877 MA Pickett was taxed in Hamilton County, Texas. [10] Kate Pickett. [11] J.M. Pickett. [12]
1878 James M. and M.A. Pickett were taxed for 160 acres in Hamilton County, Texas. [13]
1880 J.M. Pickett (age 63, born North Carolina, parents born NC and SC) and Lisa Pickett (age 55, born Alabama) lived in Hamilton County, Texas with children Lucy Pickett (age 12), Virginia Pickett (age 17), Sallie Pickett (age 19), Whitfield Pickett (age 22), and Casandra Pickett (age 23). Their children were born in Louisiana. Geo and Martha (age 30, born LA, with parents born in NC and GA, daughter Martha Pickett?) Robins with sister-in-law C Pickett (age 24 born LA with parents born in NC and NC) lived next door. Perhaps the sister-in-law is a double listing for Casandra, as reported by her brother-in-law George Robins. On the next page was likely son M.A. Pickett age 32, born LA with parents born in NC and GA. Daughter Nancy Coley age 38 born GA with parents born NC and GA was listed next to MA Pickett. [14]
1882 M.A. and B.P. Pickett were taxed in Hamilton County, Texas. [15]
1884 J.M. Puckett was taxed in Hamilton County, Texas. [16]
1930 Mrs Luisa Elizabeth Maedgen, daughter of J M Pickett and Carolina Thomas, died on February 10, 1930, at age 76, in Troy, Bell County, Texas. Mrs Luisa Elizabeth Maedgen was born on March 24, 1854, in Louisiana. [17]
1937 Lucy Isaiah Sargent, spouse of George M, died on April 17, at age 70, in Seaton, Lubbock County, Texas. Lucy Isaiah Pickett Sargent, child of James M Pickett and Elizabeth Thomas, was born on July 10, 1866, in Texas. [18]
Research Notes:
Many researchers report the name James Monroe Pickett. We have found no documents that use that name. Son Winfield Thomas Fell Pickett dictated an autobiographical story naming his father as James Madison Pickett. [19] [20] Son Micajah Augustus Pickett named James Madison Pickett as his father in an application for native American citizenship. [21]
[1] Bienville history website, [URL].
[2] United States Federal Census, 1850, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[3] 1850 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[4] Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[5] United States Federal Census, 1870, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[6] Family Document, From the files of Elizabeth Brown Mills Stokoe.
[7] Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910, bottom, [FamilySearchImage].
[8] Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910, [FamilySearchImage].
[9] Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910, bottom, [FamilySearchImage].
[10] Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910, [FamilySearchImage].
[11] Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910, [FamilySearchImage].
[12] Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910, [FamilySearchImage].
[13] Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910, [FamilySearchImage].
[14] United States Federal Census, 1880, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[15] Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910, entries 27 and 35, [FamilySearchImage].
[16] Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910, entry 43, [FamilySearchImage].
[17] Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[18] Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[19] Winfield Thomas Pickett, Library of Congress, [URL].
[20] Winfield Thomas Pickett, Library of Congress, [URL].
[21] Oklahoma and Indian Territory, Dawes Census Cards for Five Civilized Tribes, 1898-1914, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].