b.c.1600
Around 1633 two people named John Pickering came to New England, one settling in Ipswich and the other settled in Strawberry Banke from whom we are descended.
John Pickering, creditd unto Mr Ambrose Gibbens, in the yeares of the Lord, 1633 and 1634, as foll.:
Imp. For Thomas Crockett, 3 weeks diet..........................00: 12: 00
......................................................................................21: 16: 00
John Pickering, debtd unto Mr Ambrose Gibbens, pr prvitions
Deduct these two sumes, the one from the other ther remains
September the 6th, 1634
by me- The signe of X John Pickering
In witness of me John along with Jocelyn was a surety for Nicholas Frost in a Massachusetts court in 1635: "Henry Joslyn, gent., John Pickrin & Nicholas Frost, all of Paskataq have forfeited their recognizance of £100 for not appearing at this Court". Frost did appear on 5 Apr. 1636 and they were "discharged of their recognizance of £100".(3)
John was in Portsmouth on 25 May 1640 as he signed the grant for the glebe land there:
Whereas, divers and sundry of the Inhabitants of the Lower end of Pascataquack, whose names are hereunder written, of their free and voluntary mind, good will and assents, withou constraint or compulsion of any manner of person or persons, have granted.... several sums of money toward the building, erecting and foundling of a parsonage house, with a chapel thereto united, as also fiftie acres of Glebe land which is annexed and given to the said parsonage... twelve acres thereof adjoyneth to the said parsonage house... upon the edge of the salt creeke marsh... along beyond Roger Knight's field.... towards Strawberry Bank creeke... towards the river Pascataquack... up into the main land whereof there is three acres... for a corn field and a garden... the residue of the 50 acres... the full tenth part of the fresh marsh lying at the head of Strawberry bank creeke... the remainder of the 38 acres next adjoying to the said marsh... Now the said inhabitant... set over unto Thomas Walford and Henry Sherburne, Church Wardens of this parish.... all the said Parsonage house, chappell, corn field, garden, glebe land... for ever to the use of the aforesaid parish...
Given under our hands and seales this 25 of May, 1640... Francis Williams, Governor, Henry Sherburn, Ambrose Gibbins, Assistant, John Lander, William Jones, Henry Taler, Renald Fernald, Jno. Jones, John Crowther, William Berry, Anthong Bracket, Jno. Pickering, Michael Chatterton, Jno. Billing, Jno. Wall, Jno. Wolten, Robert Puddington, Nicholas Row, Mathew Cole, William Palmer (5) On 5 July 1643 "John Pickering enjoined to deliver the old Combination at Strawberry Banck the next court".(6) In 1647 John was an arbitrator in the Knight-Raynes suit. At a town meeting in 1651 it was agreed, that whereas there has been a foot path usually made over John Pickering's grounds from over his dam, and from thence along by the mill path into his next path, and towards the present meeting house, then near the site of the Universalist church, to be continued for the more ease of the inhabitants and others that shall have occasion to travel that way, at all times hereafter without leave of said John Pickering, or any one else, to be continued forever.(21) In Feb. 1655 the town granted John Pickering, senior, "the land lying between Swaden's creek and Pincomb's creek in the Great Bay, so that it be no man's right of property. The said land is to extend into the swamp, and no further." He was granted another 50 acres in that area in 1660. (20) On 1 July 1654 "Marke Hands of Boston, nailer," sold to "John Pickringe of the river of Pascataquacke an Irish servant man brought over by me Mr. George Dill as a captive & ordered by him to me to make sale of, for the term of five years."(7) On 7 May 1657 we find: "Denis Mekermecke the Irish man is ordered by the Court to serve his master John Pickringe the whole five years his said master having bond against him. By three evidences in court George Walton for stirring up Dennis the Irish man against his master John Pickringe in giving abusive words is fined five pounds."(8) John was a selectman in 1652, 1654, 1656-7, and in 1660. He was Coroner's jury forman on 7 May 1657. He took the Freeman's Oath on 11 July 1659 at the court in Portsmouth. (9) John had to appear at court on 2 Feb. 1663/4 on the charge of not going to meeting. He stated that it was not because of any discontent with the Rev. Moodey but because of his great deafness. The Court asked him to attend when he could during warm weather.(10) From June to Oct. 1664 John along with James Johnson gave bonds for the appearance of Abraham Corbett to answer charges of issuing warrants before being properly confirmed as Clerk of the Writs. He also swore to a warrant against the town of Portsmouth and had an attachment on Phillip Lewis "for detaining grants of land".(1) On 27 June 1665 John Sued "Richard Hill... in an action of the case for trespass by shooting with a gun a horse & a mare of said Pickering's which hath occasioned their death." The 18th of July, '65, John Foulsham sen. of Exeter being at Hampton, did produce certain wrightings to the vew of some then in his company. One of which was directed to the Kings majesty & entitled to bee the petition of Dover, Portsmouth, Exeter & Hampton. The contents of the said Pet. wear first a manifestation of great joy & raised expectations that they had upon his majesties sending over of Commissioners into these pts. 2ly. Sorrow that the said commissioners were so evilly entertained by the Bay Government, & themselves so much disappointed of that good which they hoped to receive by their meanes. By way of request that the King would take them into his immediate protection. That they might be governed by the knowne laws of England. That they might enjoy both the sacraments which they say they have bin too long deprived of. They concluded with desire of all temporal blessing &c.
Francis Champanoo, Abraham Corbit, Henry Sherborn, James Johnson, John Pickerin sen., Francis Drake, Robert Burnam, Edward Hilton, John Foulsham. This was the substance of the Petition & the names of most of the subscribers attests Samuel Dalton, & may be further evidenced by Henry Deering, John Sanborn, Abraham Perkins sen., Thomas Marston.
He sold to his son John 17 Nov. 1665 half his dwelling house, "all my neck of land" containing 40 acres of upland and half the marsh, as well as "all that my water grist mill".(11) John's estate covered the Point of Graves cemetery and extended over the site of the South Church to the mill bridge and the shore from the cemetery to near the site of the Universalist Church. His home was supposedly a few rods west of the the Marcy & Petigrew Shipyard and 50 feet further from the shore than the present front of the houses on Mill St. In 1754 when the cemetery on Pleasant street, near Livermore St., was given to the town it was stated to be "situated on Pickering's neck" where John had his farm 100 years before. (19) His son John gave the Point of Graves cemetery to the town as a public burying place and also bequeathed to the South Parish the lot upon which the Old South Church was built.(2) The Point of Graves burying ground is the scene of numerous ghost stories. Many visitors have stated that they have heard footfalls and felt an unearthly presence. The Vaughan tomb at the west end of the cemetery seems to be host to strange lights and odd glows. Perhaps John doesn't like us traipsing through his final resting place? Do visit this old graveyard as it has some of the best gravestone art in the country... and also visit the adjoining Prescott Park and Strawbery Banke Museum.
m. MARY ______
d. 18 Jan. 1668/9
bur. Point of Graves, Portsmouth
For stone-work to the chimney.........................................01: 00: 00
For the carpenter's worke, belonging to the chimney,
and lengthening the house the depth of the chimney...........02: 00: 00
7 C of 10d nails..............................................................00: 07: 00
For levelling the lower flower...........................................00: 05: 00
For plastering the chimney...............................................02: 00: 00
For 2 ladders and a wheelbarrow......................................00: 10: 00
For 26 C foote of boards, at 7s per C................................09: 02: 00
For the frame of the house from the
chimney to the south ende:...............................................06: 00: 00
delivered to him at several times,
as by account appears, the some of....................................10: 03: 04
due unto John Pickering the some of eleven pounds, twelve shillings and eight pence- 11: 12: 08
Rec'd of Mr. Ambrose Gibbens, in full satisfaction uppon the accoumpt, eleven pounds, twelve shillings and eight pence. I say rec'd the day and years above written, in beaver, at 10s per lb.
Charles Knill
Despite is age and deafness John was constable for Portsmouth for the year following 25 June 1667.(12)
On 17 September 1667 "Jno. Pickering Senior for not permitting his servant Hen[ry] Brooking to come to the public ordinance, not proved, Jno. Pickering professing that he did & doth send him, he is discharged." (13)
On 30 June 1668 John Pickering Senior sued "Ano. Stanniell … in an action of the case for that the said Staniell hath not made good an engagement of £110 upon condition of a marriage of said Staniel's daughter with said Pickering's son: withdrawn." (14)
The 11 Day of ye 11 month 1668
In the name of god Amen: I John Pickern Senir beeing in pirfect Memory do give & bequeth my body to the dust & my Spirit to god that gave it
Likewisse I give unto My Deere sonne Thomas Pickrin my dwelling housse and land Ajoyning to the great beay with all the portinances belonging to it
likewisse I give My Horse to my sonn Thomas togethere with all the Houseall goods & tools belonging there too:
Likwisse I give to my soon Thomas Pickrin too stere Calves : together with the keeping of Sixe Cowes as Long as Antony Stanell of Hamton shall live :
Likwisse to My too doghters Rebecah and Abigall I give that fifty Pounds due by bill to be paid by Mr Antony Stanell together with an ocks Equally to be divided to them too together with fore swinee Equally to be divided between them too
Likwiss I give to my too doghters Mary & Sarah fore ocken : sixk Cowes sixk swine to be Equally divided be tweeene them tooThe Mark of John X Pickrin
Witness- Phillip Swaddon, Joseph Hall
The inventory was taken by Elias Stileman and John Sherburne 29 Jan. 1668/9 and amounted to £303.4.6. (16)
As noted John's which gave mostly to his son Thomas was disallowed 29 June 1669, "the will being imperfect", and administration was granted to his son John. Rev. Joshua Moody was guardian of Thomas, Rebecca and Abigail. (15)
I found a couple of interesting stories in "Rambles About Portsmouth" about John's sons, I think you will find them amusing!
"It could be well said of the early settlers of Portsmouth, that "there were giants in those days." Not long after Thomas Pickering had built his log hut on the Bay, and had commenced clearing the land, an English man-of-war came into the harbor of the Piscataqua. A press gang was sent on shore to obtain recruits for the service. Two of these minions went into the outskirts, as the best place to secure persons who might be found alone, and met Thomas Pickering on his premises felling trees. They stopped and conversed with him awhile, complimenting his muscular appearance, and after saying he was just such a man as his majesty needed, with official importance they commanded him to leave his work and follow them. Thomas declined, saying he had a young family and was needed at home. "No excuse, sir--march" were words which the lord of the forest could not brook,--so, seizing one of the officials by the back of his neck with his left hand, he placed his face in the ground, and with the right raised his axe in the attitude of chopping off the fellow's head. His terrified companion seized his arm and begged for mercy. Thomas permitted the arrogant fellow to arise, and the way they hasted from the scene was evidence that they felt they had escaped as from a lion's power."
"Capt. John [Thomas' brother] was a man of might, and was not willing that Thomas should excel him. One day a test of strength was made on a wager. It was made by carrying bags of corn up the steps into the mill. Capt. John had the bags piled up, until ten bushels were upon his back. This he thought sufficient, and with them walked into the mill. Thomas bore eleven and a half bushels, and with a firm step went over the same track. Such is the tradition." (18)
Issue-
Ref:
(1) MA- Vol.39, pp.206,208,212; also Provincial Papers, Documents and Records Relating to the Province of New Hampshire from 1686 to 1722- Nathaniel Boulton, Ed., Manchester, 1867- Vol. XL, pp. 195, 204
"Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire"- p.551