This family spelled their names as Peckens. The family of David Pickens
and the family of William Pickens went to Pennyan, N.Y. in 1815, according to
land records. It is said that David acquired a reasonable amount of property
and was a well to do farmer until there arose some question about a title. The law suit and loss of a farm was a blow to them all. David lost his life in an accident soon afterwords and left a large family of small children.
Elisha, son of David, was able to rent a small farm and provide in a meager way for the family.
There is a family which applied to the DAR on this David, but the family
bible does not agree on the names or dates of children. We think there was an error made because there are several David Pickins. But only one whose father was the Rev. War soldier from Mass. The Pierce family is the proof, as they clearly identify the David, whose history they record.
D/o Abraham Pierce and Priscilla Reed.
Experience died at her sons', Alexander, home in Howell, Mich. at age 74
years. Many of this family still live there.
No further information.
Taken from the Strobridge Gen. pg. 33.
James Pickens, son of Martha Strobridge #6, was born 10 Oct 1765 in
Middleborough, Mass. (West Parish now Lakeville, Mass.); married 23 May 1788 to
Joannah (or Anna as it appears in Middleborough records). Clark, who died at
Wilton, ME. to which place or vicinity, nearly all of her children except
Joanna removed.
D/o John Pickins and Ruth Cushing
Polly was a nickname for Mary or Mary Ann.
This as the father of the PICKENS is also reported as being William Pickens. The link is not proven but supposed and of common legend. The stories of our side, Thomas, has been nearly identical to the Robert Pickens lines. Link is connected here for purpose of supposition, of comparing and tying them together. This link needs to be proven. Larry Anderson October 28, 2000
Larry Anderson
14223 W Promise LN
Chubbuck, ID 83202
Tel 208-637-0953To: HJJN21A JOYCE REAGAN Date: 08/07/[96?]
From: YBER27A P MITCHELL"...Do you know anything about the MATTHISONEs? William Pickens married I.
Matthisone (b. 10/27/1626 Edinburgh Parrish, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland.
Her parents were supposed to be David Matthisone and Marian Andersone.
Marian's mother was supposed to be Isobel ?.
Thanks - Peggy in MississippiFrom PICKENS GenForum: ORIGIN OF THE PICKENS NAME
(www.genforum.com/pickens/)
.............................
Posted by Charles PICKENS on July 19, 1998 at 00:09:01:
In Reply to: Pickens posted by V. Neuhaus, GA on July 01, 1998 at 21:38:51:
"There are several theories concerning the origin of the name PICKENS. The
family has been traced as far as the late 1500's with Robert Picon in Scotland.
However some theorize the family was originally from France, in particular, the area of the Pyrenes mountains, bordering Spain. The English PICKENS believe we came from France, while many of the old Scot clan think the family came from Spain. Dr. A. L. PICKENS suggests that the name sounds Spanish with many possible meanings, all relating back to something sharp or pointed. Perhaps our ancestors were peak dwellers and were referred to as a "picon". Perhaps we have ties back to both France and Spain, with ancestors on both sides of the border.
...............................
In Reply to: Re: origin of Pickens name - is it Scotch? posted by Clark Pickens on August 24, 1998 at 17:28:01:The name PICKENS is believed by some authorities to have been a variant of the ancient Saxon name of Piggin or Piggins which was probably derived from a nickname for Richard.
Other authorities claim that it had its origin in the word "Piccen" in the Lowland Scotch dialect, and was first used as a name in the ninth century. The word Piccen they claim, seems to have implied making sharp; to sharpen; as a lance or spear or other pointed instrument. The name is found in ancient British records in the various forms of Piggin, Piggins, Pickings,Picking, Piggyn, Piggyns, Pickyng, Pycings, Pickyn, Pickin, Pickins, Picken and PICKENS. Families of this name were to be found in various parts of Scotland and in the English counties of Norfolk, London, Northumberland, Worcester and Lincoln, and were for the most part of the landed gentry and yeomanry of Great Britain. The most "common" origin for the PICKENS name is said to have come from France.
According to tradition, Robert {Andrew?} PICKENS was living in France when the Edict of Nantes was revoked in 1685 and fled to Scotland and on to Ireland where the PICKENS family immagrated to the United States.
----------------------------------------------------------
Posted on PICKENS GenForum by Wm. M. Davis on August 19, 1998 at 18:43:03: (www.genforum.com/pickens/
In Reply to: Pickens database posted by Terry Pickens McLean on March 07, 1998 at 16:30:40:
"I have a 1932 geneology written by a Robert Lemuel DAVIS that has an serious relationship with the PICKENS in migrating to US. "Beginning with (1) Robert DAVIS b. 1680: m. Anna PICKENS in Tyrone Co. Ireland. The PICKENS were Huguenots from Normandy France to Holland and from there through England to Ireland was the way by which thousands of those Hugeunots fled during the 16th & 17th centuries while the religious persecutions were going on in France.They came from (Drumquin) in Tyrone Co. Ireland. The DAVIS & PICKENS came to America in 1736 landing at Paxton near Phila. Pa. Remained there till 1741. The 4 families, Robert DAVIS, Robert PICKENS, John and Andrew PICKENS; all removed to the Waxhaw section in the Carolinas."
AN UNKNOWN ARTICLE from an unknown publication has been in my possession for
many years. Dated Weaverville NC, it appears to have been a local newspaper
account of a large PICKENS family reunion of the area. It offers some
tantalizing comments: [FILE: Enc #156 - this copy is a handwritten transcript - tmc]
"Weaverville, NC, Aug 4, 1955. A Professor of genetics today traced the
PICKENS Family History back to its beginnings in Ayreshire, Scotland through 15 generations. The geneticist, Dr. Andrew L. PICKENS of Queens College, Charlotte, addressed 200 fellow members of his family and their guests at 48th annual PICKENS Family reunion at Frank PICKENS home here.Dr. PICKENS has been to England and to Scotland and examined court records there to find the first Andrew PICKENS, then spelled 'PICON'. He traced the accomplished of the family under King Henry IV of France and then the migration of three brothers to the U.S. and the part they played in the Revolutionary War.
Later he showed how members of the clan were allied on either side in the War Between the States, mentioning several places in the south where a PICKENS had been in action. Mrs. Asbury BARNETT, State President of the United Daughters of the Confederacy spoke on days in her girlhood in Alabam when the government [sic] of the State was a PICKENS. Miss PICKENS recognized Troy PICKENS of California as the one who traveled the greatest distance to attend the reunion."
From Lynn Ramsuar, April 1994, Enc #P-107 - source unknown, a document outlining PICKENS early descent as:
Robert PICON - born c 1560 in France, died Scotland
Andrew PICON - born c. 1600 in Scotland, died Scotland
Robert PICON/PICKEN - born c 1640 in Scotland, married c 1665 in France to Jean BONNEAU, died c. 1700 in Ireland.
[the next generation gives information about a William PICKENS, but has
been highlighted and is not legible on the photocopy]
[outlining history of Pickens in PA the sources goes on to name]
William PICKENS, son of Robert and Jean (Bonneau) PICKENS, born c 1670 in La Rochelle? France, married c 1692 in Ireland to Margaret PIKE, died c 1730 in Montgomery or Lancaster Co, PA
Issue:
I. [has been highlighted, making the copy illegible]
II. Margaret PICKENS, b c 1695 in Ireland, married? Robert RAMSEY (not
proven) or
III. Robert Pike PICKENS, b c 1697 in Ireland, married Miriam DAVIS, died 1793 in Abbeville Co SC.
Issue: Robert md Dorcas HALLUM; Eleanor md John PRATER; Jane md John
NORWOOD; Andrew md Margaret GILLESPIE; Anne md John SIMMONS; John died Adams
County MS; David died Pontotoc County MS; Samuel.
IV. Andrew PICKENS born c 1699 in Ireland, married c 1725 to Nancy Ann DAVIS died 1756 in Lancaster Co., SC (Inventory recorded Brunswick Co VA?)
Issue: Andrew Jr., b Sep 19, 1739 in Bucks County PA - married March 19
1765 to Rebecca CALHOUN - died Aug 11, 1817 in Pendleton County SC; Joseph, md Eleanor PICKENS, his cousin; John, md Mary CALDWELL; Katherine md 1747 in VA to William DAVIS; Jane, md Robert MILLER; William.
V. Lucy PICKENS, b. c 1704 in Ireland, married 1) September 2, 1722 in
Montgomery Co PA to Matthew GILLESPIE; 2) c 1730 to John KERR died Rowan Co NC?
Issue: of mg (1) to Matthew GILLESPIE:
A. Matthew GILLESPIE, Jr., born c 1726 in PA, married 1) Anna _____ in Augusta Co, VA; 2) Frances PATTERSON in Abbeville Co, SC, died 1793 in Abbeville Co, SC
B. Margaret GILLESPIE, born c 1728 in PA
of mg (2) to John KERR
C. William KERR born c 1732 in PA
D. Barbara KERR born c 1734 in PA
E. Lucy KERR born c 1736 in PA
F. Martha KERR born c 1738 in PA
G. Isabel KERR baptised Oct 19, 1740 in Augusta Co, VA
H. Elizabeth KERR baptised Feb 6, 1743 in Augusta Co, VA
I. Letitia KERR baptised Sep 22, 1745 in Augusta Co, VA
J. Margaret KERR baptised Aug 2, 1747 in August Co, VA
K. Mary KERR baptised Feb 27, 1749 in August Co, VA
VI. William PICKENS, Jr., born c 1705 in Ireland, married 1) c 1735 to
Elizabeth KERR?; 2) to Ann OLIVER, widow of Samuel SCOTT, died 1783 in
Montgomery Co, VA
Issue:
of mg (1) to Elizabeth ?KERR: Thomas born c 1736 married Sarah _____;
Margaret born c 1739 married James BASKIN.
of mg (2) to Ann OLIVER: Benjamin; John married Letitia HANNAH.
VII. John PICKENS, born c 1710 in Ireland, married c 1738 to Eleanor _____, died Lancaster Co, SC
Issue:
A. John PICKENS, Jr., born c 1739 in Lancaster Co, PA, married Sarah
SWEARINGEN, died 1796 in Anderson County SC
B. Elizabeth PICKENS baptised Mar 29, 1741 iln Augusta Co, VA C.
William PICKENS, baptised May 30, 1742 in Augusta Co., VA
D. Israel PICKENS baptised Oct 7, 1744 in Augusta Co, VA
E. Eleanor PICKENS, baptised Dec 1746 in Augusta Co, VA, married c 1760 in Mecklenburg Co, NC to Joseph PICKENS, her cousin.
F. Robert PICKENS, baptised May 16, 1749 in Augusta Co, VA
G. Andrew PICKENS born 1753 in Augusta Co, VA, died 1844 in Fayette
County, TN
H. William Gabriel PICKENS, born Oct 18, 1760 in Camden District SC,
married Rebecca CALDWELL, died after 1833 in Livingston Co, KY.
VIII. Gabriel PICKENS, born c 1715 in Ireland, married c 1742 to Zerubiah
SMITH died 1777 in Abbeville Co, SC.
Issue: Margaret baptised Aug 13, 1746 in Augusta Co VA; William, baptised Apr 27, 1749 in Augusta Co VA; Jonathan, born c 1750 in Augusta Co, VA; Abraham PICKENS born c 1755 in Augusta Co VA'
[Next two lines were highlighted on the original, making the photocoy
illegible - but obviously is a reference to Israel PICKENS - see Israel's notes] "...joining the Dutch Reformed church at Bensalem, Bucks County PA in 1722. He seems to have been married twice although this has not been proven. If so, he probably married first around 1725 in Bucks County. He married secondly about 1740 to Martha, whose maiden name is unknown (some say DAVIS). Israel PICKENS moved to Orange County VA with his brothers and sisters and lived near Staunton, VA before 1740. He moved about 1743 to Brunswick County, VA on Cub Creek where he died and was buried at Cub Creek Presbyterian Church in 1749. This area would become Charlotte Co, VA in 1764. The inventory of his estate was submitted by Martha PICKENS with no date. From this we have:
... Israel PICKENS... born c 1693 in Limerick or Antrim County Ireland, married
1) c 1725 to ______; 2) c 1740 to Martha ______, died 1749 in Brunswick Co., VA.
Issue: William (presumed by first wife)...no issue.
Issue by Martha ______: Margaret; Samuel; [is highlighted illegible]; Hannah."Letter dated 19 Feb from E. M. Sharp to W. S. O'Neal (Enc #P-181) [sent to me by Jean Danielson, 1 Dec 1994 - included for possible historical background information only - tmc.]
"...Somerset Co.MD [is on] the little peninsula of the Eastern Shore that
extends down into VA which is across the bay from the mainland. The history of this area show it was settled by a lot of Scotch-Irish quite early and came about as follows:
Soon after Jamestown was founded and the Established Church was the legal one, some Puritans from Massachusetts came and settled in VA. They got rather cold treatment and so crossed the bay and lodged on the Eastern Shore and many Scotch-Irish settled there in the years following. When the lands at the "head of the bay" in MD was opened for settlement around 1700 (Cecil Co. MD) [several families] on the Eastern Shore of VA., & MD migrated north and settled there.
This tract of land, a huge one, was called New Munster, and it was a block of territory including NE MD & SE PA., including Chester Co. Later [many of the families] that you can find on the Eastern Shore, who went to Cecil Co., MD
turned south to Mecklenberg Co., NC.
When you are familiar with the patterns and trails of migration in those
years, it becomes quite easy to understand how people of apparently widely
separated areas followed each other.
[Those born in Ireland, may have had] kin folks already in America on the
Eastern Shore, and as we know from the PICKENS and other families, they kept
migrating for generations, each generation sending over successive waves of
cousins...."ID Number: 12
ID Number: M-UNKN3962
Death records on page 132, 133, Middleboro death records.
Cyrus McCully married twice, Airvilla Berry and second to Annie Pickens.
He was a grandson of John McCully and Jane PickensID Number: 1221
Andrew Pickens of Freetown was the administrator of the estate of Thomas
Pickens, appraisle March 28, 1740.
There is an Samuel, sometimes confused with this family, that married 28
May 1780. Since there is no further information on many of the children of
these families, it is likely one of the cousins is named Samuel.
Baptism of Andrew's children are listed in the church records of Rev. Sam
Tobey.
Descendents of Andrew and Elizabeth Pickens live in Middleboro, Mass. Mrs. Mildred Westgate furnished much of the material used here.
Mary Pickens, says that she personally saw a day book of great age that
gave 5 generations of the family.ID Number: 1222
D/o Joseph Reed and Sara Dean
Wednesday, September 5, 1894, Knox County Republican
MR. JAMES SUMNER of Orange township, and for many years a resident of the county, lost his life last Saturday morning, at the fairgrounds crossing. He was a member of the Knox County Agricultural Board, and had been at the grounds attending to some of the work of the fair, and while crossing the track was struck by the morning passenger train and instantly killed, his neck being broken and his skull crushed.
James H. Sumner was born in Highland County, Ohio, Nov. 28th, 1814, Emigrated to Illinois in the fall of 1837, and settled in Canton, Fulton County. In the spring of 1838 he moved to Knox County, near where Gilson now is, and has ever since resided in that vicinity, until death. May 12th, 1847 he was united in marriage [in Knox County] to Rachel Epperson, and departed this life Sept. 1st, 1894, aged 79years, 9 months, and 3 days, and leaves to mourn his sudden and cruel death, one brother, Thomas W. Sumner, two sisters, Mrs. Peter Godfrey and Mrs. Richard Maxey, two sons, Thomas and Carry Sumner, and one daughter, Mrs. Lewis McCoy, besides hosts of friends and neighbors to mourn his death, as he was a friend to the needy, a helper to those who were in want, a faithful, loving husband, a kind father, and respected by all who knew him.
The funeral was held at his late residence, conducted by Rev. N. G. Clark, and attended by a large concourse of people, and his body laid to rest beside his wife near Maquon.
ID# 1225