Lieutenant John Pickering

He is described as "yeoman."

Biography

John Pickering, probably born in Salem, died in Salem. A farmer. Residence: Salem.

Lieutenant John Pickering and his wife were admitted to membership of the First Church in Salem in 1684, and he was admitted to full communion of the same on April 1, 1694.

By inheritance and by purchase from the other heirs, he came into possession of the family mansion and estate, where he continued to reside, and which property he transmitted to his son John. lie is best known to us in his connection with public affairs, and his continuous services prove that he was a capable, enterprising, and public-spirited man. Confidence in his good judgment is shown by the frequent mention of his name in connection with the administration of estates, the taking of inventories, and as an overseer in wills. He was a selectman of the town several times, a constable in 1664, and one of those appointed to run the Lynn line in 1669. He also filled various other offices.

His prominence, however, is most fully brought out by the part he took in military affairs. In 1675, he was appointed ensign of the Salem
militia, as is learned from the following order of the General Court: — "It is ordered that Richard Leach be leftent & John Pickering ensigne to the seccond foote company in Salem under the conduct of Capt John Coruin."

Before this last date he had certainly filled the office of lieutenant. He was generally known by this title, and had served in this capacity in the Indian war of 1670. Hubbard's version of this affair is as follows: — "Capt. Mosely's men coming suddenly upon them when they were pillaging of the dead, fell upon them with such a smart assault, that they drove them presently into a swamp, following them so close, that for seven miles together they fought them upon a march, charging them through and through. Perez Savage and Lieutenant Pickering, his Lieutenants, deserving no little part of the honour of that days Service, being sometimes called to lead the Company in the Front."

John Pickering was one of thirteen men who petitioned to the General Court to grant them a plantation at the bottom of Casco Bay, on a river called Swegustagoe, &c. June 11, 1680, the Court granted the petitioners five miles square, to be allotted out for a township, and two islands adjacent to the place. "We suppose this grant was for military services.

In 1664, Lieutenant Pickering had a suit with the owners of the "New-Mill " on the South River, he being the owner of the land bounding on that river. Previous to 1663, Captain Trask's corn-mills on the North River were the only ones in town. Complaint arose as to grinding facilities, and on Nov. 9, 1663, Walter Price, Henry Bartholomew, and John and Samuel Gardner were given permission to put up a mill on the South River. When these men began their mill John and Jonathan Pickering pulled up their stakes and threw their shovels and wheelbarrows into the river, and further brought an action against them, " for damming up the Channel or river below their land, and hindering them from coming by water to said land, or improving of it for a building place for vessels." John Pickering also brought an action for trespass, and the Proprietors brought an action against Pickering for .damages to their work.

John Pickering relied on proving the land to the river to be his by deeds and possession, while the defendants relied on testimony going to show that the lots of which John Pickering's land was part, did not run to the river, but there was a space of two rods between the land and the river for a highwav, and moreover that John Pickering had made an agreement with the town, on July 18, 16G4, to receive £20 for damages. To this John Pickering seems to have anticipated his answer, by saying that land could not be alienated" except it be under hand and seal and delivered, acknowledged & recorded, and posesion given by turf & twig."

The suit ended in the following judgment: " March 28, 1665. John Pickering, plaintiff against Captain Walter Price, Mr. Henry Bartholmew, Mr. John and Samuel Gardner, defendants in an action of review. The jury found for the defendants, cost 375."

Lieutenant Pickering was a legatee under the will of John Alderman, of Salem, July 3, 1657, as was his mother and his brother Jonathan. The bequest to him consisted of " one table, 2 stools, my cloke, a pair of cloth briches, a paier of Avorsted stockens & 21b barley."

The day and month of his birth have not been ascertained, but 1637 was recorded as the year of his birth in the family Bible of his son John. It corresponds with the age given on his gravestone, the inscription of which is printed in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, and is as follows: — "Here lyeth buried ye body of Leut. John Pickering. Dec'd. ye 5tli of May, 1694, in ye 57th year of his age."

This stone, with other early gravestones of the family, stood on a part of the land of what is now called the Broad Street Burying Ground, the old " Burying Ground on the Hill." "The Hill" is opposite the present Pickering Estate, and was formerly known as Pickering Hill. When that part of the hill where these stones stood was dug away, the remains of the Pickerings and their gravestones were removed.

The following account of this burial-place, in the handwriting of Mary Orne Pickering, is taken from an old Family Bible, bearing the imprint of 1736, which belonged to Deacon Timothy Pickering. The Bible is now in the possession of his great-great-grandson, John Pickering of Salem.

"A small private burying ground of the Pickering family existed for many years on the 'Broadfield' land abutting on that part of Summer Street which is the highest point, and east of the Public Cemetery. It was used as a burial place of the Pickering family, from the time of the earliest ancestors down to the time of Dea. Timothy Pickering, who died in 1778; whose remains were interred in the Public Burying Ground. In laying out Broadfield for building lots etc. extending Summer Street to the Mill Pond, it was necessary to provide a place of security for the relics existing in this ancient private burying ground. The graves of nineteen individuals, adults & children, were found. The gravestones were of slate, and much worn; with inscriptions upon them, more or less legible. Among them was one to the memory of Lieut. John Pickering. All these headstones, and the few remaining relics of the early ancestors beneath them, were taken up and carefully deposited, in November 1847, in the Public Burying Ground, in the sealed vault, over which is the granite monument bearing the names of John Pickering and Sarah Pickering: 1846."

Lieutenant Pickering appears to have prospered in a worldly way, constantly adding to the paternal acres. He left to his family a good estate, as appears, by the following abstract of his will.

This will was dated May 3, 1694, and proved: May 21, of the same year. He calls himself senior of Salem, and sick in body but of sound mind, and bequeaths his estate as follows : —

To my eldest son John Pickering, my homestead, where I now dwell, with the right of commonage; reserving to my wife, the use of part therein for her natural life. Also to my son John all my part of Broadfield by the Millpond, a piece of land formerly called Jeggels point in the Southfield, land at the glass house field, which I bought of Henry Reynolds and one-third part of land lying by land of George Darling deceased, within Lynn and Salem bounds.

To my sons Benjamin and William, to be equally divided between them, land where my son John now dwells, with the dwelling house and outhouses, which land 1 bought of Richard Adams, deceased, also land in the Southfield, which I purchased of the said Adams, and two-thirds of the land I purchased of George Darling in Salem and Lynn bounds.

To my sou Benjamin, my piece of marsh at Forest river, consisting of about one acre, also my lot in the Southfield, formerly called More's lot, after my wife's decease or marriage, he paying to my executor within two years after my decease, £10 for my daughter, the same to be held in trust.

To my son William after my wife's decease or marriage, Archer's lot in the Southfield, he to pay, within two years after my decease £10 to my executor, John Pickering.

To my daughter Elizabeth, £40, to be paid to her one year after her marriage, provided she marries with the consent of her mother, but otherwise, to remain in my son John's hands, to relieve her in her necessity.

To my daughter Hannah, £40 to be paid one year after her marriage if she marries with the consent of her mother but otherwise it to remain in my son John's hands to relieve her in her necessity.

To my wife Alice Pickering, one-third of my moveable goods and household stuff, and the eastern part of my now dwelling to wit; the chamber garret and low room and half of the cellar, with the use of the oxen and well, also £4 per annum, one-half to be paid by each of my sons Benjamin and William. To her my negro girl called Maria, and, during her widowhood, two lots in the Southfield, formerly called More's and Archer's lots, and one-quarter part of the barn, and outhouses, also £3 per annum to be paid by my son John.

To my grandchildren, John and Hannah Buttolph £10 each, when they arrive at age or at marriage.

To each of my grandchildren, that are already born 12 s, to buy a silver spoon when they arrive at age, or at marriage.

To my son John Pickering all the rest of my estate. My wife Alice and son John Pickering my executors.

From "The Pickering Genealogy"

Sources

• Ellery, Harrison and Charles Pickering Bowditch. The Pickering genealogy: being an account of the first three generations of the Pickering family of Salem, Mass., and of the descendants of John and Sarah (Burrill) Pickering, of the third generation, Volume 1 Page 28 GoogleBooks University Press, J. Wilson and Son, 1897.

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Husband of Alice (Flint) Bullock. John was her second husband.
Ensign of the Second Military Co. of Salem , Essex Reg, under Major Daniel Denison.
Earned rank of Lieutenant under Capt. Mosely at Deerfield, 1675. In King Phillip's War 1676.