A biosketch reports [1]:
William Pickett (1725-1795) the second son of James Pickett Sr and wife, Hannah, came to Anson county about the year 1761, and established his home on the Pee Dee river section in that section which later was formed into Richmond county. He bought land from his elder brother who preceeded him to Anson county by a few years. in later years William Pickett owned considerable wealth and was a promninent and influential citizen of Anson county. He rendered outstandiing servise as a civilian county officer, and as prooter of the s=cause of American freedomm during the days of the War of the Regulation and the subsequent Revolutionary War. He was made shariff of Anson county in the year 1769. He was a delegate to the second provincial Congress at Hillsboro, N.C., August 29, 1775, and was there appointed dcaptain of the first regiment of the N.C. line. At the Provincial Congess which met at Halifax, N.C. April 4, 1776, he was a delegate and was elevated to the position of major of the first regiment, N.C. line. Later he was a delegate to the Provincial Congress which met November 12, 1776, at Halifax, N.C.
...
Major William Pickett may have been married twice, but his will shows that he was married to Mourning Raiford (Robards), widow of William Robards, Sr., and two children were born unto this union, a son, James, who married a Kimbrough, and a daughter, Hannah, who was married to Walter Leak. This branch is well-known in Richmond and Anson counties. They have descendants who have been active in the civic, iondustrial and social development of this section of North Carolina. Walter Leak and wife, Hannah, had one son, Walter F. Leak, who married Mary Cole. ...
1758 Samuel Wilkins of Anson County, to William Pickett, of same, for £100 proc. money ... 300 acres on south side Great Pee Dee, whereon the Court House for Anson Co, now stands, granted to William Phillips ... Samuel Wilkins (seal), witnesses: Thos. Prestwood, Will Terry, Cornelius Robison. Dated October 24. [2]
1762 William Pickett married Mourning Rayford, the daughter of Matthew and Mourning Rayford and the widow of William Robards. William and Mourning Pickett were named as guardians to her four children. [3]
1763 William Pickett, planter of Anson County, North Carolina sold 300 acres on the south bank of the Pee Dee River to Cornelius Robinson for £50. Seal by William Pickett and Morning Pickett. Witness: J Pickett. Dated November 1. [4]
1765 William Pickett, of Anson, to John Stephens Jr, of Cumberland County, North Carolina for £80 proc. money ... land on south side Pee Dee, below the mouth of Brown Creek ... 260 acres & 25 acres, part of Thomas George's land as pr. deed from Zachary Phillips to Joseph Oats dated September 5, 1761, and then sold to William Pickett on September 20, 1763 ... William Pickett (seal), witnesses: Morgan Brown, William Temple Cole. Dated January 29. [5]
1765 William Pickett was ordered to account for the state of the Robards children. [6]
1770 William Pickett, perhaps this one, was Sheriff of Anson County, North Carolina and James Terry was Deputy-Sheriff and they had trouble with the people while executing the duties of their office. (They had trouble with the Regulators). [7] [8]
1771 William Pickett purchased 100 acres in Anson County, North Carolina on the Peedee River. [9]
1771 William Pickett Esq produced a commission from the governor appointing him sheriff of the county of Anson. July 10. [10]
1771 William Pickett and James Pickett were named as sheriffs responsible for collecting taxes in the counties of Anson, Rowan, Orange, and Mecklenberg, North Carolina and were given an extension for payment of those taxes to the justices of the inferior courts. The extension was granted in New Bern on the fifth day of December in the eighth year of his Majesties reign. [11]
1776 William Pickett and James Pickett were appointed, with others, for the purpose of erecting courts in Anson County, North Carolina. [12]
1778 William Pickitt entered 100 acres in Anson County, North Carolina. Dated October 21. [13]
William Pickitt enters 100 acres of land in Anson County lying on the S.W. side of Chucks Creek Joining Usreys line on the SW including the pmprovements made by William Usrey.
1783 William Pickett and Thomas Pickett and others were listed in a court case concerning the estate of William Thomas. [14]
1790 William Pickett Senior lived in Richmond County, North Carolina, in a household with 1 males age 16 and over, and 1 females. [15] James Pickett Jr was listed adjacent.
1793 Estate papers were filed by Morning Pickett. [16]
1794 William's estate was being settled. Wm Pickett administrator. [17] [18]
1795 Mourning Pickett filed suit against James, son of William and Mourning Raiford, who was in possession of large portions of the estate.
1800 Mourning Pickett deeded lots as gifts to several grandchildren. [19]
1803 Mourning Pickett's will, proved in March 1803, named son James as executor. [20]
Research Notes:
A lineage by the Daughters of the American Revolution names William Pickett (1725-95) was captain, 1775, and, 1776, the Provincial Congress of North Carolina appointed him major. He was born in Caroline County, Va.; died in Anson County, N.C. m. 1765 M. __ (1745-93). [21]
[1] Alabama, U.S., Surname Files Expanded, 1702–1981, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[2] Brent H. Holcomb, Anson County, North Carolina Deed Abstracts, 1749-1766, Abstracts of Wills & Estates, 1749-1795 (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1980), C1-324, [AncestryImage].
[3] Rosemary B. Hill and Dixie J. Clark, A Gathering of Picketts, Vol. 2 Virginia & Kentucky (self-published, 1999), 33, [GoogleBooks].
[4] Brent H. Holcomb, Anson County, North Carolina Deed Abstracts, 1749-1766, Abstracts of Wills & Estates, 1749-1795 (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1980), 3-266, [AncestryImage].
[5] Brent H. Holcomb, Anson County, North Carolina Deed Abstracts, 1749-1766, Abstracts of Wills & Estates, 1749-1795 (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1980), 3-283, [AncestryImage].
[6] Rosemary B. Hill and Dixie J. Clark, A Gathering of Picketts, Vol. 2 Virginia & Kentucky (self-published, 1999), 33, [GoogleBooks].
[7] Walter Clark, The State records of North Carolina, Vol. 22 (Goldsboro, NC: Nash Brothers, 1907), 411, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[8] William L. Saunders, The State records of North Carolina, Vol. 8 - 1769-1771 (Raleigh, NC: Josephus Daniels, 1890), 307, [InternetArchive].
[9] Margaret M. Hofmann, Colony of North Carolina 1735-1764 Abstracts of Land Patents, Vol. 2, (Roanoke News Company, 1982), 232.
[10] North Carolina. County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions (Anson County), Minute docket, 1771-1777, 1848-1858, 1868, 52, [FamilySearchImage].
[11] Walter Clark, The State records of North Carolina, Vol. 25 (Goldsboro, NC: Nash Brothers, 1906), 520-521, [HathiTrust].
[12] Walter Clark, The State records of North Carolina, Vol. 23 (Goldsboro, NC: Nash Brothers, 1907), 992, [HathiTrust].
[13] Anson County (North Carolina). Register of Deeds, Land entry records, 1778-1795, 165, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[14] Brent H. Holcomb, Anson County, North Carolina Deed Abstracts, 1749-1766, Abstracts of Wills & Estates, 1749-1795 (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1980), [AncestryImage].
[15] United States Federal Census, 1790, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[16] FamilySearch.org, [FamilySearchRecord].
[17] Rowan County, North Carolina estate files, P, [FamilySearchImage].
[18] Rosemary B. Hill and Dixie J. Clark, A Gathering of Picketts, Vol. 2 Virginia & Kentucky (self-published, 1999), 33, [GoogleBooks].
[19] Rosemary B. Hill and Dixie J. Clark, A Gathering of Picketts, Vol. 2 Virginia & Kentucky (self-published, 1999), 34, [GoogleBooks].
[20] Rosemary B. Hill and Dixie J. Clark, A Gathering of Picketts, Vol. 2 Virginia & Kentucky (self-published, 1999), 34, [GoogleBooks].
[21] DAR Lineage Book, Vol 120 (1915), 57. 119175, see also 82205, [URL].