Whereas, I Rebecka Pickering of Green County and State of Tennessee, being in good health
& of sound mind and understanding, thanks be to the authour of my existance for it. - and calling
to mind that all are appointed once to die. I do make & constitute this to be my Last Will &
Testament and as touching my worldly estate, I give and dispose of in the following manner, to wit.
First, That ll my Just debts & funeral charges be paid out of my moveable estate.
Secondly, I give & bequeath unto my Son Jonathan thirty acres of my land situate lying &
being in the Southeast corner of my one hundred & forty acre tract. to wit, Beginning at the
Southeast corner of my said tract, of land running north to a stake, then Due west dividing my
apple orchard equal, giving one half thereof unto said Jonathan, continuing west to a stake for
compliment land then running South to the original line of my said * the beginning Including
said thirty acres with my present Dwelling house, out houses, Barn, one half of my said apple
orchard Joining next to my said buildings, with all & singular the previledges & advantages
appertaining thereunto, for him to be in actual possession there of at & after my death to sell &
convey the same as he, his heirs or assigns may see fit.
Thirdly, I give will & bequeath the remainder of all my lands with all & singular the
previledges & advantages thereunto belonging unto my five sons namely Samuel, Ellis, Enos, Benjamin,
and John. to be divided equal in value between them by appraisement or otherwise as my Executors
may think best, on conditions herein after named.
Fourth, I will give & allow my son John to have his * Dwelling house & out house & spring,
where he now lives clear & entirely free from the above aluded appraisement or valuation, of my
lands mentioned in the third paragraph hereof, that is to say, my meaning & will is that my son
John shall have & hold said buildings & spring and have & hold and equal part with my four sons
named in said third paragraph in said lands keeping said spring & building out of the valuation
thereof.
Fifthly, I give & bequeath one third part of all my house hold & kitchen furniture & wearing
apparrel unto my four grand Daughters namely, Mary, Heta, Rachel & Elizabeth Neal daughters of my
daughter Rebeckah Neal, Deceased who was wife of Henry Neal, to be divided equal between them by
appraisement or otherwise as my Executors may think proper and the other remaining in two thirds of
said furniture & wearing apparrel, I will & give unto my other two daughters namely Mary Johnson &
Elizabeth Johnson to be Divided equal between them as my Executor may think Just & equal.
Sixly, the remainder of my moveable estate, I will and allow to be divided equal between my
above named six sons. to wit; Samuel, Ellis, Enos, Benjamin, Jonathan & John as my Executors shall
Direct
Seventhly, I direct & its my will that my six sons above named be and pay each and equal part
of my said Just debts, funeral charges & expenses of attending on me in sickness or extreme bodily
infirmities.
Lastly, I conclude constitute make & appoint my two sons, to wit; Samuel & Jonathan my sole &
absolute Executors of this my last will & Testament hereby revoking & Disannulling all former Wills
by me in any wise named willed or bequeathed hereby ratifying & confirming this & no other to be my
last Will and Testament. In witness, whereof. I have hereunto Set my hand & affixed my seal, this
fifth day of te fifth month, in the year of one thousand eight hundred & twenty four.
Rebeckah Pickering
Signed, Sealed & pronounced by me Rebeckah Pickering this to be my last will and Testament. In the
presence of
James Jones
William Pickering"
* illegible
The Wills of Benjamin and Rebecca name nine children (six boys and three girls.) There were possibly others who did not reach maturity. The known children of Benjamin and Rebecca are as follows:
129331 Samuel6 Pickering born July 25, 1776 in Frederick County, Virginia; died April 30, 1829 in Greene County, Tennessee; married first on August 19, 1799 to Susanna Ellis who was born January 26, 1769 in Berkley County, Virginia the daughter of Thomas and Madaline (Carlin) Ellis and died 1824. Samuel married second to Nancy Jane Hunter Monteith. (I have seen data that suggests that Susanna Ellis was the daughter of Enos and Elizabeth Ellis.)
129332 Ellis6 Pickering born January 23, 1780 in Frederick County, Virginia; died February 22, 1836 in Greene County, Tennessee; married August 31, 1799 in Greene County to Deborah Jones.
129333 Thomas6 Pickering born December 15, 1781 in Frederick County, Virginia; died before August 2, 1806; married Maggie Potts. (This child may not belong in this family. More evidence needs to be presented.)
129334 Enos6 Pickering born about 1784 in Virginia; Will written February 3, 1855, probated 1857; married first Elizabeth Harrold who was the daughter of Jonathan Harrold, Jr. Elizabeth died February 11, 1834, five days after child birth. Enos married second (or third) on June 23, 1848 to Mrs. Mary A. Johnson.
129335 Rebecca6 Pickering born March 10, 1785 in Frederick County, Virginia; died before 1826 in Greene County, Tennessee; married on April 11, 1804 in Greene County to Henry Neal.
129336 Mary6 Pickering born October 7, 1787 in Frederick County, Virginia; married on April 8, 1808 in Greene County, Tennessee to Benjamin Johnson.
129337 Benjamin6 Pickering born July 28, 1789 in Frederick County, Virginia; married Hester McCool. They moved to Henry County, Indiana in 1847 then on to Iowa. Benjamin and Hester had eight children.
129338 Elizabeth6 Pickering born May 7, 1791 in Frederick County, Virginia; died July 6, 1857 in Greene County, Tennessee; married May 26, 1813 in Greene County to William Johnson.
129339 Jonathan6 Pickering born November 8, 1793 in Frederick County, Virginia; married first Anne Straton who was born 1807 in South Carolina; married second Nancy Anna W. (according to the 1850 and 1860 Greene County, Tennessee census.)
12933A John6 Pickering born October 5, 1795 in Greene County, Tennessee; married first on August 18, 1814 in Greene County to Sally Parkins who died 1830; married second on December 5, 1832 in Greene County to Sallie Morelock Stacy. John moved from Greene County to New Market, Tennessee. He was the father of eight children.
12933B Hannah6 Pickering born December 22, 1798; died September 18, 1799.
129332 Ellis6 Pickering (Benjamin5, Samuel, Jr.4, Samuel, Sr.3, Jonathan2, John1) born January 23, 1780 in Frederick County, Virginia; died February 22, 1836 in Greene County, Tennessee; married August 31, 1799 in Greene County to Deborah Jones who was born March 11, 1780 in Virginia the daughter of John and Jane (Ellis) Jones; died May 5, 1866 in Greene County. Ellis was born in Frederick County, Virginia. North of Winchester on Apple Ridge is located the old Quaker Church of the settlement that began there in 1732-34. His parents grew up in that part of Virginia. They were Quakers of earliest Pennsylvania. His father, Benjamin, was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Ellis' parents had come to Virginia settlement in 1763. His mother, Rebecca Ellis, was the daughter of Quaker parents who were in Virginia before the French and Indian Wars 1757-1763. Ellis and Deborah were married at New Hope Church, Greene County, Tennessee. Ellis' parents came into Greene County in 1793 and settled in the farming area northeast of Greenville, Tennessee which was then a frontier new settlement and did not become a state until 1796. This was the frontier area called "The Free State of Franklin" by its settler in their stuggle for statehood. All the children were born and grew up in the old homestead which still is a homestead today (1976). The original log home of Ellis and Deborah is now enclosed within a two story home on the farm by the Big Spring in Greene County. Of the children - Phenias, Jonathan, Mary, Rebecca and Benjamin and their families all migrated to new frontier in Indiana between 1837 and 1852. Jane, Nathaniel, and Levi lived their lives in Greene County. Several of the sons were with the Union Army during the Civil War. Below is the Will of Ellis Pickering.
This is the last Will and Testament of me Ellis Pickering of the County of Green
and State of Tennessee being of sound disposing mind Memory & understanding which will
I make as followeth vis. -
First, I order and direct my Executors to pay and discharge all my just debts and
funeral expenses out of my moveable Estate.
I then give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Deborah all my land during her natural
life or while she remains to be my widow. I also give my wife all my moveable estate except
as hereafter to be named, during her natural life of while whe remains to be my widow.
I then give & bequeath to my three sons, Nathaniel, Ellis, & Levi each of them a horse
beast and saddle worth Eighty dollars at trade on top to be paid to them by my wife or
executors as they Severally arrive to twenty one years of age, my other four sons, Enos,
Phineas, Jonathan & Benjamin have each of them received that amount of me. I then give &
bequeath to my daughter, Jane, Sixty five dollars, in a saddle, Cow, feather bead and bedsteads,
and bedding & kitchen furniture at trade rates to that amount to be paid to her when she
arrives to the age of twenty one years, my two daugthers Mary and Rebecca have each of them
already received that amount of me.
At the death of my wife or at the end of the time she remains to be my widow I will
to my son Enos, part of my land lying in the North East Corner including the house where
Willis White now lives. Beginning at my white oak Corner, thence with my line South Sixty Seven
poles to a stake, thence west Sixty Six poles to a stake, thence North Sixty seven poles to a
Stake on my line, thence East sixty poles with my line to the beginning Containing twenty
seven & a half acres best the same more or less, to him the said Enos Pickering his heirs
I assign forever. And the remainder of my land I will that it be equally divided between
my six sons Phineas, Jonathan, Benjamin, Nathaniel, Ellis, and Levi to them their heirs and
assigns forever.
Whatever of my moveable Estate my be remaining after what is above willed is paid out
at the death of my above named wife, or at the end of the time she remains to be my widow,
as the case may be, I will and direct that the balance of my moveable estate be equally divided
between my three daughters, Mary, Rebecca, and Jane.
I then appoint my Brothers Enos Pickering and Jonathan Pickering my Executors of this
my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills and testaments at any time
heretofore made by me.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this nineteenth day of the
second Month in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and thirty six -
Ellis Pickering - Seal Signed sealed & acknowledged as my last will & testament in the
presence of
William Johnson
Henry Thompson
Aaron Hammer
Ellis and Deborah were the parents of eleven children who were all named in his Will except his first born John, who preceeded him in death. All their children were born in Greene County, Tennessee
-
- 1293321 John7 Pickering born January 18, 1801; died August 23, 1806 in Greene County.
- 1293322 Enos7 Pickering born March 11, 1803; married three times.
- 1293323 Mary7 Pickering born May 10, 1805; died December 18, 1902 in Union, Hardin County, Iowa at the home of her son, Levi Marshall; married July 26, 1827 to Jesse Marshall, the son of Abram and Martha (Doan) Marshall, who died October 4, 1864 in New London, Howard County, Indiana. Mary and Jesse moved to Henry County, Indiana in 1847.
- 1293324 Phineas7 Pickering born July 30, 1807; married February 22, 1828 to Rachel Wright who was born January 28, 1806 in Greene County the daughter of Jesse and Ann (Clearwater) Wright. They moved to Bear Creek, Henry County, Indiana in 1844.
- 1293325 Rebeckah7 Pickering born April 20, 1810; died November 27, 1858; married January 4, 1836 in Greene County to Wesley Grubbs; both are buried in Alto, Indiana.
- 1293326 Jonathan7 Pickering born July 11, 1812; died March 28, 1877 in Alto, Indiana; married March 3, 1834 in Greene County to Jane White who was born July 14, 1814 in Tennessee, the daughter of Jacob White and died January 22, 1877. Jonathan was a blacksmith. Both are buried in Alto, Indiana.
- 1293327 Benjamin7 Pickering born March 21, 1815; married July 25, 1835 in Greene County to Melinda White who was born 1817. They moved to Indiana and then to Iowa.
- 1293328 Nathaniel7 Pickering born May 17, 1817; died March 15, 1876; married first Rebecca Thompson born December 25, 1816 in Greene County and died November 27, 1857 and is buried at Quaker Knob Cemetery. Nathaniel married second on February 14, 1860 in Greene County to Elizabeth Monteeth who was born October 1820 in Tennessee the daughter of George Monteith and died 1904. Elizabeth was the sister of Leah Monteeth who married 129332A Ellis Pickering, Jr.
- 1293329 Jane7 Pickering born December 16, 1819; died May 6, 1903 in Greene County; married on February 25, 1839 in Greene County to John Robertson who was born May 22, 1819 in Tennessee and died September 12, 1902. Both are buried at Union Temple Cemetery, Greene County.
- 129332A Ellis7 Pickering born August 15, 1822; died May 20, 1898 in Cooke County, Texas; married March 16, 1844 in Greene County to Leah Monteeth, sister to Elizabeth Monteeth, the second wife of his brother 1293328 Nathaniel Pickering.
- 129332B Levi7 Pickering born December 13, 1824; died April 28, 1881 in Carter County, Oklahoma; buried Bomar Pt. Cemetery, Carter County; married March 31, 1849 in Greene County to Cynthia Ann Ervin who was born 1830-31 in Tennessee.
NOTE --- The above data on Levi was provided by Wendy Pickering Jacobs.
There were two Levi Pickerings about the same age in Greene County in 1850. This has caused some serious confusion. One Levi was living with John and Jane (Pickering) Robertson in household #272 on the 1850 census, age 26. Another Levi, age 28, who had married Annice O. Gaunt had established his own household #285 by 1850. Levi and Annice were again on the 1860 Greene County, Tennessee census as household #207. The other Levi is not found in Greene County in 1860.
NOTE --- The below data is provided by Ruth Marshall Strong and Kay Crum on the Levi for whom they associate with this family.
- 129332B Levi7 Pickering born December 13, 1824; died November 16, 1895; married in Greene County on February 9, 1848 to Annis Olympus Gaunt who was born February 16, 1829, the daughter of Malachi and Sarah (Ford) Gaunt and died May 22, 1911. Annis was a physician and has the distinction as being the first female practicing physician in Tennessee. Levi and Annis are both buried at Quaker Knob, Greene County. Malachi and Sarah Guant are buried at Babb Cemetery, Kingsport, Hwy 93 on the farm of Carl and Anna Babb. Anna Babb is the sister of the aforementioned Ruth Marshall Strong. Levi enlisted in the Union Army in 1861.
1293322 Enos7 Pickering (Ellis6, Benjamin5, Samuel Jr.4, Samuel Sr.3, Jonathan2, John1) born March 11, 1803 in Greene Co, TN; married first August 2, 1826 to Jenny Barnes in Greene County, Tennessee; married second in Greene County on July 8, 1847 to (Kiness) Phinias White who was born born about 1811 Tennessee; married third in Greene County on September 19, 1858 to Mrs. Sarah Jane Drennan who was born about 1818 in Virginia. (Sarah Jane had at least three children by her first marriage: Martha E. born about 1845 Tennessee, Nancy E. born about 1846 Tennessee, Sarah J. born about 1846 Tennessee. Also, I have seen a date of death for Enos as December 7, 1857 in Jefferson County, Iowa. If this is 1293322 Enos, he obviously could not have married Sarah Jane Drennan.)-
- 12933221 John E.8 Pickering born October 3, 1849; died April 13, 1921?; married 12933289 Sarah Jane Pickering who was born November 15, 1858 the daughter of 1293328 Nathaniel and Rebecca (Thompson) Pickering and died February 13, 1940. John and Sarah Jane's fathers were brothers.
- 12933222 Nathaniel Ellis8 Pickering born October 15, 1854 in Greene County, TN; died January 28, 1939 at Troy, Pontotoc County, Mississippi; married September 9, 1874 in Pontotoc County, MS to Minerva Hassletine Griffin was was born March 29, 1856 and died January 28, 1945. [I place Nathaniel in this family for the following reasons. 1) His known brother John married Sarah Jane and was from Tennessee; 2) Family photos of John in TN as well as in Mississippi clearly identify the John of TN as the John who visited Nathaniel in MS; 3) Nathaniel named one of his children “Kindness” after his mother and one child “John” after his brother. 4) Nathaniel was raised by “Aunt Jane” which would be Enos’ sister Jane Pickering Robertson.]
(There was also a James White 3 years living in household of Enos in 1850. James was probably (Kindness) Phinias' son from a previous marriage or possibly a younger brother of (Kindness) Phinias'. Some people have suggested that this individual is actually James White Pickering and son of Enos and Kindness)
The Eighth Generation
 |
Brothers Nathaniel Ellis Pickering
and John E. Pickering
12933222 Nathaniel Ellis8 Pickering (Enos7, Ellis6, Benjamin5, Samuel Jr.4, Samuel Sr.3, Jonathan2, John1) born October 15, 1854 in Greene County, Tennessee; died January 28, 1939 in Troy, Pontotoc County, Mississippi; buried Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Pontotoc County; married before 1875 to Minerva Hassletine Griffin. Nathaniel's birth date was taken from his death certificate. A newspaper article on his 64thwedding anniversary, states his birth date was March 8, 1854. Not much is known about "Hess." Supposedly, she was an only child or possibly an orphan. The 1860 Pontotoc County Census, page 188 Township Tallibenela, shows a "Minerva H. Griffin" age 4 in household #1227 of Thomas H. Ward and family. The age would be right, but more proof is needed. Nathaniel and Minerva H. are both buried at Pleasant Grove Cemetery, located on Hwy 41 South, six miles southeast of Pontotoc, Mississippi. Nathaniel Ellis and Minerva Hassletine were the parents of ten children all of whom, except Adolphus, are buried with their spouses in Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Pontotoc County, Mississippi.
 |
Nat and Hess Pickering
64thwedding aniversary
It is known that 12933222 Nathaniel Ellis8 Pickering came from the Chuckey, Tennessee area. Chuckey, Tennessee is near the county lines of Greene and Washington. Greene County was formed in 1783 from land once in Washington County, North Carolina. The 1860 Greene County, Tennessee Census has a Nathaniel E. Pickering living with John Robertson. Nat is listed as 6 years old and born in Tennessee. The listing is on page 391 township of Newmansville. A Jane Pickering married a John Robertson on March 13, 1839 in Greene County. The surety was by Benjamin Pickering. Nathaniel was obviously related to the Robertsons, possibly a nephew. Information from the grandchildren of Nathaniel Ellis Pickering, said he lived with an "Aunt Jane" and that he had a brother named John (possibly a sister named Mary) and also another aunt named Mary. If "Aunt Jane" were an aunt in the way kinship is figured today, one of Jane (Pickering) Robertson's brothers would have been Nathaniel Ellis Pickering's father. Through a process of elimination it could be said, but not proven, Nathaniel was the son of 1293322 Enos7 and Kindness (White) Pickering. There is a slight possibility that our Nathaniel was the son of 1293349 Enos7 and Lucinda (Johnson) Pickering.
Nathaniel Ellis Pickering came to Pototoc County at the age of nineteen. He came from Chuckey, Tennessee near Greeneville down to Pontotoc, Mississippi. He married Minerva Hassletine "Hess" Griffin. Hess was an only child. Not much is known about her family. After reaching Pontotoc County, Mississippi, Nathaniel began working on the farm of a "Doc Givhan".
- 129332221 Myrtle C.9 Pickering born September 15, 1875; died December 15, 1958; married Manual Lee Perry who was born July 8, 1871 and died August 28, 1949.
- 129332222 Josephine C.9 Pickering born July 22, 1877; died May 25, 1902; never married. Buried in Pleasant Grove Cemetery.
- 129332223 Martha Lou9 Pickering born July 6, 1879; died October 8, 1966; married on December 21, 1898 to Oma Calloway "Rube" Rackley who was born December 20, 1875 and died May18, 1960.
- 129332224 John Edward9 Pickering born November 22, 1882; died April 7, 1949; married 1905; to Cora Cobb Lambert who was born December 19, 1888 the daughter of John T. Lambert and Sarah Caroline Foster (who was the daughter of Edwin Foster). Cora Cobb died December 30, 1960.
- 129332225 Adolphus Lee9 Pickering born January 5, 1885; died November 10, 1959.
- 129332226 Vila P.9 Pickering born July 13, 1887; died March 14, 1973; married Clofus Gann who was born December 8, 1885 and died September 23, 1963.
- 129332227 Maude Kindness9 Pickering born September 27, 1889; died June 9, 1989; married Francis Lee Jackson.
- 129332228 Jettie Lee9 Pickering born July 4, 1892; died July 11, 1971; married on February 27, 1910 to Clarence L. Hardin who was born October 2, 1887 and died March 2, 1964.
- 129332229 Loyd Ernest "Big John"9 Pickering born March 4, 1896; died March 22, 1992
- 12933222A Erskin Mitchel9 Pickering born December 31, 1898; died December 17, 1969; married Dovie Mae ---- who was born September 11, 1904 and died October 4, 1953. They are both buried in Pleasant Grove Cemetery.
